By Chris Duncan
The Associated Press

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Aurelia Ragone is a football fan. She watches the NFL on Sundays and has followed the careers of Dan Marino, Vinny Testaverde and other players who share her Italian heritage. But when it comes to games involving Louisville senior quarterback Dave Ragone, her youngest son, Aurelia Ragone can't get far enough away.

The thought of seeing him injured is too much to bear.

"I get so emotional. I worry too much," she said. "Each year, I think maybe, 'Next year, I'll do better.' But I continue to be the same."

She leaves her Cleveland home and takes long walks whenever the Cardinals are on television. She relies on friends to fill her in on the details later.

And she's never seen one of her son's college games in person.

Dave Ragone accepts how his mother is. That's why Saturday's game with UAB - Ragone's last game in Papa John's Cardinal Stadium - is so important to him.

Aurelia Ragone will be there.

"This is the biggest game of my career. I've been looking forward to this game since I was a freshman," he said. "I just want to put on a little show for her. I don't know how many games she's ever going to watch again. I can't wait."

His mother isn't sure if she's ready.

"I say, 'God, give me strength,"' she said. "I hope I won't get so emotional. For him, I want to be there. That's the least I can do."

About 40 friends and relatives will also attend the game and help her through it.

"She mustered up all her courage and put all her eggs in one basket," said Ragone's oldest brother, Vito. "She can brave it out for one game, I think."

Ragone can earn his 27th win as a starting quarterback, which would be a school record. He won't eclipse any of Chris Redman's career passing records on Saturday, but he needs only 11 yards on the ground to become Louisville's all-time rushing quarterback.

His mother doesn't care. The 40 sacks Louisville has allowed this season are all that concern her.

"When I see him knocked down so many times, I wish I could be there to pick him up. But I can't do that," she said. "They'll say, 'Oh, my God, there's a mama's boy. He'll never be a man in this world."'

But Ragone has become known for his toughness and grit, something he learned as a boy in rough pickup games with older brothers Frank and Vito and their friends.

Now, Ragone, the two-time Conference USA Offensive Player of the Year, is one of the top quarterback prospects for next summer's NFL draft.

Despite this year's struggles, Ragone is satisfied with what he's achieved in college. His senior class will become the winningest in school history if Louisville (6-4, 4-2) beats the Blazers (5-5, 4-2) and Houston (4-6, 2-5) the following week.

"I knew Redman's records were unattainable. Those are astronomical numbers," he said. "But the one thing I knew I could do was put my team in a position to win and play as hard as I could. I really don't know how many wins I have under my belt, but I feel fortunate to have played with the guys I've played with.

"The quarterback who follows me will try to beat my record, and that's great. I hope he does, because that will mean the program is at a different level than when I left it," he said. "Hopefully, 10 years from now, when I come back to this place, it'll be at an even higher level. That's something I've always wanted."

His mother couldn't be prouder.

"I'd never know he would become so big and tall it would become an ambition," she said. "I pray to God that he stays healthy and accomplishes what he wants to accomplish and grows up to become a respectful young man.

"Sometimes, when things don't go so well, everybody's got their own opinion," she said. "For me, he will always be my son. For me, things won't change."