Zach Collaros Is Right Choice for Cincy

CINCINNATI -- Cincinnati senior Tony Pike is rated as the third-best NFL quarterback prospect by NFLDraftScout.com. He likely will make a fine NFL quarterback one day.

Yet, the No. 4-ranked Bearcats are better off without him.

Last season, Pike led the Bearcats to their first Big East title. This year, he led Cincinnati to a 5-0 start before he re-injured his left (non-throwing) arm – the arm he broke last season.

Pike, who had missed the past 2½ games, was cleared to play Saturday against UConn, but he never left the bench. He should stay there the rest of the season.

That's because sophomore Zach Collaros is smokin' hot.

In Saturday's 47-45 victory against UConn, Collaros threw for 480 yards, completing 29-of-37 with one touchdown. He also rushed for 75 yards and two touchdowns. His 555 yards of total offense – in only his third collegiate start – broke Cincinnati's 41-year old school record and also was the most in Big East history.

In Collaros' three starts, he has completed a ridiculous 80.5 percent (66-of-82) for 1,028 yards and eight touchdowns.

"I don't think I should start," a humble Collaros told FanHouse. "Tony's my guy. We've played really well as of late, but there's no reason to think we couldn't have done the same thing with Tony.

"Tony's our guy. Tony's the starter. He's a great quarterback and he's our leader. Whenever he's ready to go he should start."

That's admirable of Collaros to say, but he's nuts.

Pike supposedly was ready to play Saturday. Cincinnati coach Brian Kelly said Pike had been cleared to play, but Collaros got the start. He never gave Kelly the opportunity to take him out of the game.

The Bearcats (9-0, 5-0 Big East) rung up 711 yards of total offense, the second-most in Big East history. Collaros' 480 yards passing were the fourth most in Big East history.
Last week, Kelly said when Pike was healthy he would return as Cincinnati's starter. He said before Saturday's game he had intended to get Pike in the game against UConn. But faster than you can say Wally Pipp, Kelly is now having second thoughts. And he should.

Kelly said Pike will not automatically start Friday against West Virginia, but instead Kelly will evaluate both quarterbacks this week in practice to determine the starter.

"He's made it hard," Kelly said of Collaros.

"I've changed my mind, based on the way he's played the last three games. I think I have to reconsider my decision [to automatically start Pike]."

UConn (4-5, 1-4) came into the game allowing only 323 total yards a game. By halftime, Collaros had already thrown for 333 yards.

A couple of weeks ago, Cincinnati wide receiver Mardy Gilyard remarked that Collaros added "spice" to the Bearcats' offense. Saturday's display was extra spicy.

"Zach went for, who knows, five million yards or something like that, whatever it was," Gilyard said. "Zach had an excellent day. We have a quarterback that can throw or run. We have so many weapons. It makes it hard for a defense to defend."

Collaros said Saturday's game was "an amazing feeling."

"It's an amazing feeling to be out there when our offense is clicking like that," Collaros said. "It's really a lot of fun. We have a very good offensive scheme.

"You've got to take something away. If you take away the run, it's just pitch and catch out there. One on one matchups, we execute that pretty well."

Two weeks ago after Collaros carved up Louisville for 305 yards of offense, completing 15 for 17, Cardinals coach Steve Kragthorpe said he actually would have preferred to have faced Pike.

"To be honest with you, I was hoping Tony would play today because I knew they would be one-dimensional and I knew they would throw it," said Kragthorpe after UL's 41-10 loss on Oct. 24. "I really felt that if Tony played, even if he hadn't been hurt, it would've been a lot better matchup for us. They're a little more one-dimensional with Tony in there."

The initial reaction to Kragthorpe's quote was "huh?" However, it turns out Kragthorpe knew exactly what he was talking about.

UConn coach Randy Edsall was asked if Cincinnati is better with Collaros instead of Pike.

"I really couldn't make that determination because Tony didn't play," Edsall said. "I just know Zach made a lot of good plays. His athleticism is something that helps their offense out quite a bit.



"I think Brian is going to have a very difficult decision to make as to who he's going to play at quarterback when Tony comes back. That's his worry, not mine."

With Pike in there, defenses have to worry about his big-time arm, but don't have to worry about Pike running. Pike can make any throw on the field and that's why he's coveted by the NFL folks.

But with Collaros in there, defenses have to worry about Collaros' running, elusiveness, and, yes, his pinpoint accuracy. They have to worry about his running and passing ability. Collaros is averaging 6.5 yards per carry, while Pike has maybe three runs longer than six yards all season.

Collaros or Pike? Pike or Collaros? Even die-hard Pike fans aren't sure what to think anymore.

One such fan was visiting the Nippert Stadium press box at halftime. The fan was wearing Pike's black No. 15 jersey under a flamboyant red jacket with stars on both sleeves. I asked him if Pike should regain his starting position.

Peering through his sun glasses, Cincinnati's best known funkster Bootsy Collins said he's not sure and admitted Kelly has "a dilemma."

"It's like they say," Collins said. "If it ain't broke, don't break it."

I couldn't have said it better.