LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Senior quarterback Dave Ragone spent much of his summer at a computer screen in a windowless conference room near Louisville coach John L. Smith's office, surrounded by young receivers.

        With the click of a mouse, the two-time Conference USA Offensive Player of the Year could queue up any play from the 2001 season. Another command would send the image onto a pull-down film projector screen.

        As a play unfolded, Ragone would offer lessons like when linebackers drop coverage and when they don't, what receivers need to look for seconds before the snap, how to recognize if it's a safety or a cornerback that's going to cover them downfield.

        The receivers quietly hung on every word — and not just because Ragone is the one who'll throw them the ball this season.

        “It would be stupid not to listen to him,” said Tiger Jones, a sophomore. “He's the best quarterback in the conference and maybe the best in the nation.”

        High hopes for Ragone led the Louisville sports information department to distribute a bobblehead doll with the quarterback in a Heisman Trophy pose.

        Ragone, the dark-haired son of Italian immigrants, shakes his head in disbelief at the thought of the prestigious award.

        “It's an honor to be mentioned for things like that, but I'm a realist,” said Ragone, now a sturdy 6-foot-4, 250 pounds. “We're going to have to go undefeated for me to even be invited to New York. And if it doesn't happen, I won't lose sleep over it. It's just good that it gets the school's name out there.”

        Still, he's come a long way since 2000, when he was the rough-edged successor to Chris Redman, the local high school legend and current Baltimore Raven who's Louisville's all-time leading passer.

        Ragone answered skeptics by throwing for 2,621 yards and 27 touchdowns and leading Louisville to its first Conference USA title.

        Last season, he was out to prove his sophomore season wasn't a fluke. He threw for 3,056 yards and 23 touchdowns in 2001 as the Cardinals went 11-2, wrapping up the winningest season in school history with their first bowl victory in eight years.

        Now, the former star quarterback at Cleveland powerhouse St. Ignatius High School has never been more relaxed entering a season, simply because he's run out of doubters to disprove.

        He's also mastered his throwing mechanics and maintained the muscle he gained during a rigorous regimen last summer.

        “I've always felt like I've been looking over my shoulder, battling for a spot,” said Ragone. “I feel really good out there now, as comfortable as I've ever been.”

        The Cardinals were 1-10 in 1997, but haven't had a losing record since Ragone arrived the following year.

        Keeping Louisville on an upward swing has become Ragone's main goal.

        “What's very important to me is coming back here in 10 or 15 years and see that this great tradition has been built,” he said. “That would be more rewarding than anything.”

        Building a winning football program was never the goal growing up. The game was just something fun to do with his older brothers, Frank and Vito, and their friends.

        Frank is 10 years older and Vito 12 years older than Ragone, but the youngest brother learned fast that struggling against the bigger kids would pay dividends later.

        “I always had a pretty good arm, so I grew up playing quarterback. But it was rough. Even Frank would throw me down and say, 'Get up. It'll make you tougher,”' Ragone said. “It was a lot different than playing with kids my own age, but I knew it was better for me. If you play against better competition, no matter how young you are, it's going to make you better.”

        The backyard games forged a toughness he still exudes now. He gained 360 yards on the ground last season and has never been shy about stiff-arming a linebacker and then bouncing up with a mocking, “That didn't hurt a bit” grin after he's been tackled.

        “I'd always rather tuck it and try to get three or four yards than throw a bad pass,” he said. “Even getting back to the line of scrimmage is better than a turnover. Live to play another play. As long as you can do that, you've got a chance to make up for the play before.”

        This summer, Ragone was the one running the pickup games, summoning the team together twice a week no matter the temperature.

        Attendance was nearly perfect. Ragone would call the players who didn't show and wasn't above driving to their homes and dragging them to the practice field.

        “There you go, J.R.! Perfect route!” he yelled to sophomore receiver J.R. Russell one late July afternoon after the two connected on a deep pass.

        Another play fizzled, with the ball sailing over the head of sophomore receiver Joshua Tinch.

        “Didn't you see that coverage? You've got to see what I'm seeing,” Ragone calmly explained, using his hands like arrows, as Tinch returned to the line.

        Ragone has learned his share of lessons, too.

        “I've had to be a lot more patient this summer, and that's helped me become better,” he said. “I need to be more cerebral out there, I've learned not to force things if they're not there, I've seen on film plenty of times where I should've gone somewhere else with the ball.

        “It's all helped a ton. I'm as far ahead in a summer as I've ever been. I'm as excited as anybody just to get started.”