By John Erardi
The Cincinnati Enquirer

MOBILE, Ala. - Miami wide receiver Michael Larkin, the burner from St. Xavier, already knew to appreciate what he had.

But when he learned that Miami hadn't been to a bowl game since 1986, it made him appreciate even more the RedHawks' berth in the GMAC Bowl vs. Louisville (9-3) on ESPN2 Thursday night.

"I'm soaking in everything about the experience," Larkin said after practice here Monday. "We're playing this game for all the players between '87 and '02 who didn't get to go to a bowl game."

Larkin's 62 receptions this year would have been a single-season record had fellow receiver Martin Nance not shattered the existing record by an even bigger margin (total of 81 catches).

For his career, junior Larkin has 138 receptions and 22 touchdowns, both Miami career records, and he still has next year to play. Not bad for a 5-foot-8, 170-pound speedball who walked onto Miami's team three years ago at the suggestion of friend and Miami quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. Larkin had a good fall camp, and within one semester had a scholarship.

Larkin has had to overcome a prejudice against his size since he was 5 years old. Teams in Roselawn, Deer Park and Finneytown turned down his father's request to play, before Hilltop in College Hill finally accepted Michael because of his eagerness to play. Michael had been watching football since he was 2 years old. His father, Edward, a retired Cincinnati police officer, would come home from his third-shift detail (11 p.m. to 7 a.m.) and prop his son up in a car seat on the family-room floor to watch replays of the Bengals games.

"Watching football is the only thing that would calm him down," Edward said.

Michael Larkin quickly showed Miami's coaches that his speed, hands and leaping ability made up for lack of physical stature.

"I wanted a scholarship because my parents had already scuffled for years putting me through private schools and then St. Xavier High School at $8,000 a year," Larkin said.

"That's why I started out at the Air Force prep school. The Academy felt I could play for them, and the prep school was free. But, after four or five months, I could see it wasn't for me, and that's when Ben suggested I walk on at Miami."

Larkin and Roethlisberger, who is from Findlay, have known each other since their senior years in high school.

Each wore No. 7, and each won their team's Most Valuable Player award in the North-South All-Star game.

Their next all-star game was the "Big 33" between Ohio and Pennsylvania, and this time they played together.

The pair have been teaming up ever since Larkin returned from prep school.

They have been roommates for three years.

"I think it was just a matter of hitting it off right from the start," Larkin said. "We both like to joke around, and our families really get along, too, so that has made it extra-special."

At a glance

Kickoff: 7:30 p.m. Thursday.

Matchup: Miami vs. Louisville.

Where: Mobile, Ala.

TV: ESPN2.