Running back P.J. Pope returns to the Cincinnati area Tuesday (Associated Press photo)

Bowling Green running back P.J. Pope, a graduate of Wyoming High School, will come home Tuesday night to play Miami on national television in what could be a preview of the Mid-American Conference championship game. Pope, a 5-foot-9, 210-pound sophomore, is averaging 84.9 rushing yards a game - 5.1 per carry. He also has caught 26 passes for 267 yards. As a senior at Wyoming, he rushed for 2,330 yards and 36 touchdowns. Pope took time out from his preparations for the Miami game to do the 2-Minute Drill with Enquirer reporter Bill Koch.

How much did the University of Cincinnati and Miami recruit you, and why did you choose BG over them?

I got letters from UC, but no calls from any coaches. I got recruited by Miami a lot. I even went to a Miami-Akron game. It was heavy at first, but it seemed to have dropped off. I decided to come to BG because it felt like home.

What do you miss about the city of Cincinnati?

Coming from a large city and then to BG is different, but I really miss my family.

Are you a Bengals fan, and what do you think of the job Marvin Lewis is doing?

I am a 49ers fan, but I like to see (the Bengals) win. Marvin Lewis is going to change them around.

How much are you looking forward to playing on national TV, so close to your hometown?

I am looking forward to playing there a lot. I am going to have a lot of family there, so it should be exciting. There should be at least 20 relatives there.

Do you think the MAC has earned national respect after what BG and Northern Illinois have accomplished?

I think so. All of us knocked off some big teams this year. NIU has defeated Maryland and Alabama, while Miami has beaten Northwestern and Colorado State. I think the MAC has earned more respect than we have ever had.

What upsets you the most when people downgrade the MAC?

When they don't see us play day in and out. They only hear about Ohio State and Florida State, so they just assume that they are so much better than us.

How do Miami quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and Bowling Green quarterback Josh Harris compare?

I think Ben Roethlisberger stays in the pocket and slings it around, while Josh would rather stay in the pocket, (but) if (pressured) he can get around and hurt you with his feet.

What do you like most about college football that you did not know about before you got here?

Playing in front of a bigger crowd is great. The level of competition is much tougher. Back in high school, many games were over by halftime. But just getting to play football is great.

You were a two-time all-city baseball player at Wyoming. What positions did you play, and why did you decide to go with football over baseball?

I played second base (as a kid), then moved to third during my freshman year. Throughout my final three years, I played shortstop as well as some center field. Football is much more exciting to me. I love the action of football.