For the first time since suffering a forearm injury on Oct. 15, quarterback Tony Pike will be back under center for No. 5 Cincinnati this Friday against Illinois, head coach Brian Kelly announced today.
The move back to Pike will give the senior one full game under his belt before Cincinnati’s huge Big East showdown with Pittsburgh on Dec. 5.
“It’s going to be Tony Pike unless something happens during practice that’s unexpected,” Kelly said according to the Cincinnati Enquirer. “He will start Friday.”
Pike injured his left (non-throwing) forearm against South Florida, and underwent a surgical procedure to repair a plate that had been inserted when he broke the same forearm last season.
The senior played briefly against West Virginia before the Bearcats’ bye this weekend, tossing two touchdown passes in limited duty.
Zach Collaros started the four games Pike missed, and played exceptionally well in the first extended action of his collegiate career. The Bearcats were 4-0 in Collaros’ starts.
By far the UC Bearcats have provided the most excitement for a neutral fan like myself than any other football team this year. Pike was so exciting, but who can forget Collaros second play when Pike went down. He has been the best backup quarterback of any college team this year. Brian Kelly is so fortunate and a whole lot of other coaches should wish they too could so adequately prepare the backup qb. Go Bearcats Go. With Price, with Collaros, it will be okay.