Sunday, December 02, 2001
Guidugli follows UK but keeps focus on his team
QB knows UC best place for him
By Bill Koch
Enquirer contributor
Gino Guidugli keeps his eye on the University of Kentucky football team just like most Bluegrass sports fans, but in Guidugli's case the interest is more keen.
Had it not been for an NCAA investigation that led to the exit of UK coach Hal Mumme last year, Guidugli, who originally committed to the Wildcats, probably would have spent this season standing on the sideline watching fellow Highlands product Jared Lorenzen play quarterback.
“I probably would have been redshirted,” Guidugli said.
Guidugli changed his mind when Mumme left, and he enrolled at the University of Cincinnati, where on Saturday afternoon he completed one of the most productive seasons for a quarterback in the school's history.
“I check Kentucky out every week,” Guidugli said. “I have friends on that team. But Cincinnati was definitely the best choice for me, with the offense, the coaching staff and the players here. Everything fit right in and the opportunity to play early on was the biggest thing I liked about here.”
Guidugli completed 17 passes in 30 attempts for 218 yards, with three touchdowns and one interception in UC's 42-10 victory over Louisiana-Monroe. He finished his freshman regular season with 2,572 yards and 16 TDs.
Only Greg Cook, with 3,272 yards in 1968, and Danny McCoin, with 2,831 yards in 1986, threw for more yards in a season. Only Cook, with 25 in 1968, and Danny Barrett, with 17 in 1982, threw more touchdown passes in a season.
The UC quarterback says he doesn't waste time wondering what could have been.
“I know what Kentucky is like,” Guidugli said. “I've been down there before. They really don't know what Cincinnati is like. But I'm not really worried about what's going on down there and what they think.”
I cheer for Kentucky and hope they do well, but I'm not all caught up in what they do. I'm just worried about what we do.”
BOWL CONTRACT:
This is the second and final year of the contract between the Motor City Bowl and Conference USA. Ken Hoffman, the executive director of the bowl, said the arrangement has been a good one for the Motor City, but that won't stop officials from looking to see what else is available.
“We've had discussions about it,” Hoffman said. “We, like all bowls, when it comes to renewal, take a look at the landscape. If there's something better for this bowl game, we'd have to look at it, but right now there's nothing out there.”
PEEK SACKS RECORD:
Junior defensive end Antwan Peek was credited with three sacks Saturday to break the UC single-season record of nine set by Andrew Stewart in 1987. Peek, who finished with 11.5, also topped the career mark of 18 shared by George Jamison (1980-83) and Nate Dingle (1990-93). Peek has 20. ... Jonathan Ruffin's six extra-point kicks gave him 37 for the season, surpassing the school record of 33 set by Tom Dallen in 1993.
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Guidugli follows UK but keeps focus on his team