<div>Zach Collaros to start against West Virginia, but Pike will play too.
CINCINNATI (AP) - Quarterback Zach Collaros will start for
fifth-ranked Cincinnati against West Virginia on Friday night, with
Tony Pike expected to play as well for the first time since he hurt his
non-throwing arm.</div>
<a href="http://images.video.msn.com/js/ch/channels.css" target="_blank">Coach Brian Kelly announced Collaros will be his
starter Tuesday. The sophomore backup has played spectacularly and kept
the Bearcats (9-0) in the national title conversation while Pike heals
from surgery to replace a metal plate in his left forearm.</a>
<a href="http://images.video.msn.com/js/ch/channels.css" target="_blank">Collaros
threw for 480 yards â€" the second-highest total in school history â€"
during a 47-45 win over Connecticut on Saturday night. Pike warmed up
before the game, but didn't play. Kelly said the senior will run some
plays against West Virginia (7-2).</a>
<a href="http://images.video.msn.com/js/ch/channels.css" target="_blank">"We're going to try to put a
couple different packages in and just go from there," Pike said after
practice Tuesday. "Obviously getting back out there and practicing is
one thing, but in the game it's a different speed. That's the biggest
thing.</a>
<a href="http://images.video.msn.com/js/ch/channels.css" target="_blank">"With how well Zach's playing right now, it's going to be
a little better for him to be able to mix me in there a little bit and
go from there and see how I'm feeling."</a>
<a href="http://images.video.msn.com/js/ch/channels.css" target="_blank">The Bearcats have a bye
next week, giving Pike a couple more weeks of practice to sharpen his
skills after so much missed time. Kelly said the plan is to have Pike
start against Illinois on Nov. 27 in Cincinnati.</a>
<a href="http://images.video.msn.com/js/ch/channels.css" target="_blank">Pike's injury
and Collaros' remarkable job as the fill-in presented a conundrum for
Kelly. Pike was one of the nation's top passers before he got hurt,
earning mention as a long shot for the Heisman Trophy. Collaros has won
his first three collegiate starts, bringing a new element to the spread
offense with his mobility.</a>
<a href="http://images.video.msn.com/js/ch/channels.css" target="_blank">
Now, Kelly has to choose between them with a second straight
Big East title on the line. If he goes ahead with his plan to start
Pike against Illinois, he'll be benching a backup quarterback who threw
for 480 yards in a big game.</a>
<a href="http://images.video.msn.com/js/ch/channels.css" target="_blank">
"That's new territory for me," Kelly
said. "I can't say that in 19 years of being a head coach that I've had
that kind of a dilemma, if you will. Again, the nice part about it is
that our football team has absolutely no concerns over who's leading
them, if it's Zach or Tony. That's a great thing to have.</a>
<a href="http://images.video.msn.com/js/ch/channels.css" target="_blank">
"Where
controversies come in is when your room is split. There is no split.
They know they can win and win at a high level with both these guys.
That's a very unique circumstance."</a>
<a href="http://images.video.msn.com/js/ch/channels.css" target="_blank">
Pike is more of a pro-style
passer, 6-foot-6 with a strong arm. Collaros is barely 6-feet tall and
much more adept at running the ball. Both have flourished in Kelly's
no-huddle offense.</a>
<a href="http://images.video.msn.com/js/ch/channels.css" target="_blank">
Leading receiver Mardy Gilyard said Tuesday
that both quarterbacks have done so well the players have equal
confidence in them. Gilyard has given both of them nicknames.</a>
<a href="http://images.video.msn.com/js/ch/channels.css" target="_blank">
"Zach
has moves, so I call him the joystick," Gilyard said. "And I call Tony
the pistol. I think the names fit. Zach's a little wiggly guy, a little
squirty guy back there, sort of like a joystick (in a video game). Of
course, Pike has the cannon, so that's why I call him pistol."</a>
<a href="http://images.video.msn.com/js/ch/channels.css" target="_blank">
Pike
broke his left forearm last season, had a plate inserted to help the
healing, and returned after missing two games. The plate was damaged on
a hit during a 34-17 win over South Florida on Oct. 15, and he had a
new one inserted. Pike got a special splint late last week and was able
to fully practice again for the first time in nearly three weeks.</a>
<a href="http://images.video.msn.com/js/ch/channels.css" target="_blank">
Collaros'
impressive play has allowed Cincinnati to give Pike more healing time.
In his three starts and three other games off the bench, Collaros has
completed 76 percent of his passes for 1,229 yards, 10 touchdowns and
one interception. He also has run for 311 yards and four touchdowns.</a>
<a href="http://images.video.msn.com/js/ch/channels.css" target="_blank">
"Clearly
when Zach has come in, he's played at a high level," Kelly said. "It's
allowed us now to set that bar a little higher for Tony in the sense
that now we don't have to put him back in there until he's 100 percent.
But when Tony's back to that level, he's our starter. He's not quite
there yet."</a>
Kelly said Pike and his doctors are involved in deciding when he plays because some risk will be involved.
<a href="http://images.video.msn.com/js/ch/channels.css" target="_blank">
"What
we don't want to do is put him in a situation where there's a high risk
factor," Kelly said. "Why play him at all? Because we think that the
risk has been minimized. He has risk in anything he'll do for the next
three months, quite frankly."</a>
<a href="http://images.video.msn.com/js/ch/channels.css" target="_blank">
When Pike returned after missing
only two games last season, he had some numbness in the left hand and
had to leave a couple of games early. Pike said with Collaros playing
so well, it made sense to give him more healing time this year.</a>
<a href="http://images.video.msn.com/js/ch/channels.css" target="_blank">
"Last
year, we kind of pushed it a little bit too early," Pike said. "This
year with how well Zach was doing, there was no need for that."</a>
<a href="http://images.video.msn.com/js/ch/channels.css" target="_blank">
Kelly
said running back Jacob Ramsey has a sprained foot and won't play
against West Virginia. Ramsey is second to Isaiah Pead in carries and
yards, and Kelly uses both of them in games. John Goebel, who has
missed most of the season with an injured hamstring and broken hand, is
likely to play more.</a>
[url]http://msn.foxsports.com/cfb/story/10349346/Collaros-will-start-for-Cincy,-but-Pike-will-play[/url]
Edited by: Colonel_Reb 
