It is just the way Brian Kelly is. He won't rule anything out. One reason why he has the UC Bearcats perched on the 4th rung of the Associated Press' top 25 college football rankings. You don't get there by imposing limitations on yourself.
So by extension, he is once again not ruling quarterback Tony Pike out for Saturdays' visit from the UConn Huskies. Why would he do that when the Reading High product is about to try out a new state of the art flexible brace on his broken but mending left arm. "We'll know more after he practices Wednesday and takes some snaps. If he feels comfortable and can be protected, well...let's just say we'll know more as we get closer to Saturday."
But if he doesn't make the line up, it is no big deal. Zach Collaros has seen to that. He's won Big East honor roll mention for orchestrating wins in his first two college starts and is brimful of confidence that he can do it again. "Coach Kelly's next man in philosophy dictates that you prepare yourself as if you are starting, so that if something happens, you know you are as well prepared as the starter," he told reporters Tuesday. "I have a great offensive line, the same one that blocks for Tony, so what's the difference?"
Asked what happens if Pike is healthy, Brian Kelly flatly stated, "Tony will start." What will Zach say if that happens Kelly was asked. "He'll take it like the team player he is. He won't like it. I wouldn't want him to like it but he'll do whats best for the team."
Zach added, "That's gone through my mind, but Tony's one of my good friends on the team. As long as we're winning, that's all that matters."
