University of Cincinnati Bearcats
Pike back, but Collaros starts
By C. Trent Rosecrans, CNATI.com Posted November 14, 2009 1:11 AM ET
After all the back-and-forth, both University of Cincinnati quarterbacks played in Friday's 24-21 victory over West Virginia, and both are likely to play in the future.
Tony Pike saw his first action since reinjuring his left forearm in the Oct. 15 victory over South Florida, throwing two touchdown passes in four passing attempts.
"You couldn't ask for anything better, the ovation the crowd gave me," said Pike.
Pike entered the game to finish off the Bearcats' first offensive drive and he was as surprised as anyone that he entered the game for Zach Collaros.
"When we got to the red zone, (Brian Kelly) said, 'Pike' and I was following along the sidelines and I thought he'd called me to talk about a play, but he told me to go in," Pike said. "I had trouble with my chinstrap I went in so quickly."
Collaros was just as surprised.
"We'd talked about Tony getting a series, but nothing about when we get to the 9 yard line, Zach you're coming out, Tony you're coming in," Pike said. "It caught me off guard."
With a first-and-goal from the 10, Pike's first throw was a strike to Armon Binns.
Kelly said he'd told Pike to be ready, but Pike didn't know he'd be called on so quickly.
"We felt like we wanted to minimize his risk and in the short field area, the red zone area, there was about three-to-four percent pressure in that area based on film breakdown and tendencies," Kelly said. "We knew we were going to get a lot more bracket coverage and Tony can fit it in the tightest spots in bracket coverage and he can see it a little better. It just worked out really well. I don't know if anybody's done that before, that was kind of crazy."
At the start of the second half, Collaros again led the Bearcats to a first-and-goal situation and again Pike came in. This time he threw two incompletions before finding D.J. Woods in the end zone to give UC a 21-14 lead.
"I was just happy to score any way we can," Collaros said.
The quarterback shuffle could continue. Kelly said after the game that Pike would likely be his starter against Illinois on Nov. 27.
"If everything continues to move in the right direction with him and he continues to progress the way he has - he's made great progress in the short period of time he's had - he would be the starter against Illinois," Kelly said.
Pike, of course, said he'd hoped to be playing these four games Collaros started, but like any Bearcat fan, he's enjoyed what Collaros has been able to do on the field.
"It's been fun to watch how Zach plays, all the stuff he's been doing here has been pretty amazing," Pike said. "The other part of that is it's your senior year and you want to be out there playing and it's tough to be out there and watching. To stay around and help out the guys and tell Zach what I see on the field."
Categories: College, Featured Stories, Football, News, University of Cincinnati Bearcats
Tags: Armon Binns, Brian Kelly, D.J. Woods, Tony Pike, UC, WVU, Zach Collaros
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