BY TOM GROESCHEN
The Cincinnati Enquirer

The University of Cincinnati football program has been on national TV before, but not with the spotlight it will enjoy Thursday night.

Stats leaders Rushing: Chad Plummer, 631 yards, 7 TDs Passing: Plummer, 80-of-175 for 1,107 yards, 6 TD, 9 int. Receiving: Cornelius Bonner, 26 for 357 yards, 1 TD Scoring: Eric Richards, 61 points Tackles: Brad Jackson, 152 Sacks: Derrick Ranson, 6 Interceptions: Tinker Keck, 4

UC (7-3, 2-3 Conference USA) plays at East Carolina (4-5, 3-2) on ESPN at 8 p.m. Thursday. The Bearcats, 9 1/2-point favorites and clinging to postseason bowl hopes, get a rare chance to be the big cheese on national TV.

''It's the most special college game you can be in, because you're the only game going at that time,'' UC defensive end Derrick Ransom said. ''The whole country is watching. It could be big for the program.''

UC has played on both ESPN and ESPN2, the former a 28-3 loss at Indiana in 1994 and the latter a 24-6 win at Boston College earlier this season. Both of those were Saturday games.

Still dreaming

UC remains a candidate for at least three postseason bowls, according to Conference USA assistant commissioner Brian Teter. The bowls, all with at-large spots available, are the Boise Humanitarian, Poulan Weedeater Independence, and Ford Motor City Bowl.

''UC is on their lists,'' Teter said Tuesday. ''But realistically, they have to win Thursday night. And then we'll all have to wait.''

UC concludes its season Thursday, well ahead of most teams. Most bowl bids probably will not be determined before the Nov. 22 weekend.

Other bowls which could have spots open, depending on different scenarios, are the Las Vegas and Copper Bowls.

Moving up

Senior kicker Eric Richards needs three points Thursday to break the UC career record for kick scoring. Richards has 201 points; leader Steve Schultz (UC 1976-79) has 203.

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