University of Cincinnati football players were eager to play Louisiana-Monroe on Saturday at Nippert Stadium. After their comeback win over Army last week, they were building momentum and eager to see if freshman quarterback Gino Guidugli could duplicate his debut, in which he threw for 311 yards.

        “We wanted to see what we had,” guard Kirt Doolin said.

        But they'll wait until next week vs. Miami to find out. UC postponed the game Thursday in the wake of Tuesday's terrorist attacks because Louisiana-Monroe wasn't sure it could arrive in time. Later Thursday, all Division I-A games were canceled.

        Both parties said they hoped to reschedule the game. The logical date would be Dec.1, the week after UC's regular season ends.

        UC coach Rick Minter said there is no guarantee Louisiana-Monroe will play here. The Indians' season ends Nov.17, and they might not want to wait two weeks for a game that probably will mean nothing to them. But the game could help secure a bowl berth for UC.

        “Within the next week or two, we hope to get this solidified on the schedule,” Minter said. “I'd love to play the game, but there is no game or sporting event greater than what our country suffered.”

        UC had planned on playing after athletic director Bob Goin con sulted with Conference USA athletic directors and commissioner Mike Slive and Louisiana-Monroe AD Bruce Hanks. “It was an individual-school decision based on the other team being able to get to the game,” said John Sheffield, UC's senior associate AD.

        Goin was driving back from Philadelphia and unavailable for comment Thursday.

        “Nobody has been in this situation before,” Hanks said. “We've been struggling with what we should do and also with what we could do. With all the uncertainties that were existing, we just decided in conversations with the University of Cincinnati to go ahead and cancel the game.”

        UC kicker Jonathan Ruffin said he wanted to play because relatives planned to drive in from New Orleans — and playing would have made a statement.

        “My feeling is that life goes on,” Ruffin said. “I think this is exactly what the terrorists want us to do, to stop everything. But I understand, and I'm sure the whole team does.”

        Said Doolin: “A group of us were talking yesterday about how easy we've really had it. We're all financially secure, and most of us have never had to go through a tragedy like this. That's why it's hit a

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