By John Erardi
The Cincinnati Enquirer

In a teleconference to promote the Mid-American Conference championship game Thursday night at Bowling Green, Miami RedHawks quarterback Ben Roethlisberger shrugged off the bombastic entreaties of a radio talk-show host as though the golden throat were a flyweight free safety on a blitz.

Miami quarterback Ben Roethlisberger (left). (AP/file photo)

"No," answered the 6-foot-5, 242-pound junior from Findlay, he had nothing to say regarding whether he was coming out early for the NFL draft. Rather, he said, he was focusing all of his attention on completing a 13-1 season.

To achieve that record, the RedHawks (11-1) must beat Bowling Green (10-2) in the MAC title game at 7 p.m. Thursday and then beat Louisville (9-3) Dec. 18 in the GMAC Bowl in Mobile, Ala. Both games are on ESPN2.

Beating the Falcons, who are rated No. 20 in the AP Poll, is a tall order for No. 14 Miami, because the game is in Bowling Green, where the hometown team is unbeaten this season. The Falcons are hell-bent to avenge their 33-10 loss to Miami four weeks ago in Oxford and eager to solidify their own bowl position.

"We have to get to (Roethlisberger)," Bowling Green senior defensive back Jason Morton said. "Last time, we didn't touch him. He can beat you by himself real easy, so we just have to find a way. We can't let him pick us apart like that again."

The Falcons will be using everything they have to try to disrupt Big Ben's timing.

"We have to keep him off balance," Falcons coach Gregg Brandon said. "Last game, we didn't tackle him. When we did cover him and they broke down, he was elusive and got loose. We have to get to him and get our arms around him. He has to earn his pay, so to speak. Our defense has to fly around and get after him."

The Miami offensive line prides itself on protecting its meal ticket, who reciprocates by doing his darnedest to keep from getting sacked. Consider the decrease in Miami's sacks allowed the past three seasons: 41 in 2001, 31 in 2002, only 17.5 this year.

Those numbers feed these: Roethlisberger is completing 69.1 percent of his passes (295 of 427) for 3,670 yards and 29 touchdowns, against only 10 interceptions. On Tuesday, he was named the MAC's Offensive Player of the Year.

Part of Miami's success in creating big plays - and avoiding big losses - has more to do with the vision in Ben's head than the slitheriness in his shoulders. Miami's Terry Hoeppner, who was named MAC Coach of the Year Tuesday, was commenting on the magnitude of Roethlisberger's intangibles recently.

Sometimes, Hoeppner said, he and the rest of the RedHawks' braintrust can only wonder and watch as Roethlisberger sees something in the defense and checks off to another play.

"At times like that, we're as interested as the fans are about what's coming next," the head coach said.

Roethlisberger seems to check off at least once in every four plays, sometimes more.

"A lot of it has to do with the way Coach 'Hep' and the other coaches prepare us each week," Roethlisberger said. "He gives me the freedom to respond to what I see. But, then, there are times when I'm coming off the field and he gives me this look like, 'What were you doing out there?' About all I can say to that is, 'I'll try to do better next time.' "

MAC title game

Who: Miami RedHawks at Bowling Green.

When: 7 p.m. Thursday.

TV: ESPN2.

GMAC Bowl

Who: Miami vs. Louisville.

When: 7:30 p.m. Dec. 18.

Where: Mobile, Ala.

TV: ESPN2.