GoDaddy Bowl Countdown: Ben Roethlisberger warms up for NFL

Ben Roethlisberger-Pittsburgh Steelers Career Highlights

In anticipation of the GoDaddy Bowlbetween Bowling Green and Georgia Southern at 7 p.m. CST Dec. 23 at Ladd-Peebles Stadium, AL.com is counting down the bowl through the years, with the fifth game today:

Before leading the Pittsburgh Steelers to two Super Bowl victories, quarterback Ben Roethlisberger looked NFL-ready in leading Miami (Ohio) to a 49-28 win over Louisville in the GMAC Bowl at Ladd-Peebles Stadium on Dec. 18, 2003.

Roethlisberger completed 16-of-20 passes for 291 yards and four touchdowns in the first half to send the RedHawks to a 35-7 lead on their way to their 13th consecutive victory. He finished 21 of 33 for 376 yards.

After the game, "Big Ben" said he was leaving school early for the NFL Draft, and the Steelers took him with the 11th pick about four months later.

"The Big 12 officials were officiating this game. They said they think we should have a revote," Miami coach Terry Hoeppner said, referring to the 2003 Heisman Trophy awarded to Oklahoma QB Jason White.

Roethlisberger even got off a punt that pinned Louisville at its 2 in the last minute of the first half.

The game featured 1,089 yards of offense.

Cal Murray rushed 15 times for 142 yards and a touchdown and Martin Nance had nine catches for 169 yards for Miami.

Louisville QB Stefan LeFors was 17 of 26 for 224 yards. Wide receiver J.R. Russell caught seven passes for 144 yards and three touchdowns. Lionel Gates rushed 12 times for 128 yards, including an 88-yarder, for the Cardinals, who lost in Mobile for the second straight season.

Miami (13-1) got two key defensive plays in the fourth quarter after Louisville (9-4) rallied to make a game of it. Matt Pusateri returned an interception 35 yards for a touchdown, and linebacker Terna Nande picked off another pass in the end zone.

Miami had five future NFL Draft picks Roethlisberger, guard Jacob Bell, defensive back Alphonso Hodge, Nance and wide receiver Ryne Robinson. Louisville had 14 -- running back Eric Shelton, LeFors, defensive back Kerry Rhodes, linebacker Robert McCune (from LeFlore High School), Gates, Russell, center Jason Spitz, defensive end Elvis Dumervil, linebacker Brandon Johnson, defensive tackle Montavious Stanley, defensive tackle Amobi Okoye (from Lee High School in Huntsville), running back Michael Bush, running back Kolby Smith and defensive back William Gay.

Source: http://www.al.com/sports/index.ssf/2015/12/godaddy_bowl_countdown_ben_roe.html