By Mark Schmetzer
Enquirer contributor

In the 1960s, it was Unitas vs.Starr, unless you followed the AFL. Then it was Dawson vs. Namath.

Gino & Ben

Gino Category Ben 88 Completions 105 159 Attempts 170 .553 Pct. .618 1,198 Yards 1,180 8 TDs 8 7 INTs 4 126.4 Rating 130.9 Last season's game Gino Category Ben 22 Completions 20 36 Attempts 25 .611 Pct. .800 206 Yards 264 0 Passing TDs 2 0 Rushing TDs 1 1 INTs 0

In the '70s, it was Bradshaw-Stabler. The '80s featured Elway-Marino. The '90s brought Young-Favre.

Now, on the collegiate level, Greater Cincinnati has Guidugli-Roethlisberger. They renew their rivalry in the 107th game between Gino Guidugli's University of Cincinnati Bearcats and Ben Roethlisberger's Miami RedHawks at 1p.m.Saturday at Nippert Stadium.

The fervor surrounding the annual "Victory Bell" game usually doesn't need additional spice, but the prospect of watching the second installment of what could be a four-year duel won't hurt attendance. Last season, Miami won 21-14.

"I'm sure a lot of people are going to come to see the matchup, but it's bigger than that," Roethlisberger said. "It's Miami and UC. It's been going on a long time."

Added fourth-year RedHawks coach Terry Hoeppner: "The ironic thing is the only time they'll be on the field at the same time is during pregame warmups and after the game, but I like it. It adds to the game. Whichever one has the best day will determine the outcome."

Roethlisberger said he'd never heard of Guidugli until the UC quarterback's debut. Guidugli came off the bench to throw for 311 yards and three touchdowns in the Bearcats' 24-21 comeback win at Army the week before last year's Miami game.

"All I knew was he was a year younger than me," Roethlisberger said.

The two are nearly equal in experience, making the matchup more interesting.

Miami University quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. (Jeff Swinger photo) | ZOOM |

"I have to go in just playing my game," Roethlisberger said. "We have to play our offense, they have to play their offense. I can't worry about what they do, and I can't worry about what Gino's doing. He'll do his thing. I just have to worry about myself."

Roethlisberger said the closest thing he'd experienced to a rivalry before arriving at Miami was his Findlay High School's relationship with Fostoria. But it was nothing like the RedHawks-Bearcats.

"I don't think anybody can be prepared for the rivalry and the intensity," Roethlisberger said. "The seniors stayed in my ear all week last year - `Get us that bell.' They made it important to me. Now, it's my job to install that in the younger guys. I'm telling them, `We've got to keep that bell.'

"It's one of those games where you go in and play your heart out. Every week during the season, that game that week is the most important, but in the back of your mind, there's always the UC game."

Miami at UC
When: 1 p.m.
Where: Nippert Stadium.
Records: UC 2-2, Miami 3-2.
At stake: Victory Bell.
TV: None.
Radio: WLW-AM (700), WMOH-AM (1450).