By Bill Koch
The Cincinnati Enquirer

It seems as if Gino Guidugli sets a University of Cincinnati passing record every week. Already this season, UC's junior quarterback has set career records for most plays, passing yards, passes attempted, touchdown passes and total offense.

He needs 14 completions today to break Danny McCoin's record of 544.

UC (3-2, 1-1) plays UAB (2-3, 1-1) at 4 p.m. today at Legion Field in Birmingham, Ala.

Running back Richard Hall, UC's leading rusher and receiver who suffered a concussion last week against Southern Miss, is not expected to play.

Redshirt freshman Derrick Eddington (210 yards, 40 carries) is expected to start in Hall's place.

Guidugli's records accentuate the Bearcats' inability to take full advantage of the best quarterback in school history. When he should be at the top of his game in his final two years at UC, Guidugli finds himself in an offense that's ill-suited to his talents.

After averaging 253 passing yards per game last season, Guidugli's production is down this year to 184 yards a game through the Bearcats' first five games. He threw 22 touchdown passes last year. At the halfway mark today, he has only six.

"Our passing game has been a little slower to come around than we had hoped," UC coach Rick Minter said. "We're missing that wide-open passing game right now where you can pretty much throw it wherever you want to whoever you want and feel like it's going to be pretty well-executed."

The running game has averaged 205 yards a game. But on a team that was supposed to be built around Guidugli's arm, Hall ran 34 times in less than three quarters last week against Southern Miss.

"That's a lot of carries for three quarters," Minter said. "We'd like to be a lot more balanced than what we've been."

The Bearcats also have been hurt by graduation.

When wide receivers LaDaris Vann, Jon Olinger and Tye Keith were around last year, Guidugli was able to pass downfield more frequently. That facet of UC's offense is missing this year.

"I had those guys for two years," Guidugli said. "We had great chemistry. But you've got to move on and reestablish chemistry with the guys you've got."

Minter says he understands Guidugli's frustration.

"We're trying to break seven (receivers) in at the same time with a great quarterback," Minter said of the situation. "I'm sure it is disappointing and frustrating to Gino. We would like to see him be doing more and utilizing the great skills that he has. But we've got to be smart, too."

Cincinnati at UAB

Kickoff: 4 p.m. today, at Legion Field (80,601), Birmingham, Ala.

Records: UC 3-2 (1-1 Conference USA), UAB 2-3 (1-1).

Radio: WLW-AM (700).

TV: None.

Series: UC leads 5-1.

Line: UC by 5 1/2.

What to watch: UC probably will play this game without its leading rusher, running back Richard Hall, and with quarterback Gino Guidugli operating at less than 100 percent because of a sprained left knee.

UC	Team stats	UAB
391	Offense avg.	335
205	Avg. by rush	101
185	Avg. by pass	233
329	Defense avg.	372
85	Avg. by rush	168
244	Avg. by pass	204
28	Avg. points for	16
21	Avg. pts. against	22

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E-mail bkoch@enquirer.com