What We Learned: Bearcats’ Kelly wins with what he has

Tue, Oct 20, 2009

Sporting News’ Matt Hayes analyzes what Tuesday’s buzz means to college football.

The QB shuffle

In the spirit of yet another quarterback at Cincinnati getting hurt, let’s take a look at how Bearcats coach Brian Kelly has had to adjust at the most important position on the field since fall camp of 2008:

With Brian Kelly calling the shots, it doesn’t matter who’s under center for the Bearcats.

• Ben Mauk is denied a sixth year of eligibility from the NCAA; UC moves to backup Dustin Grutza.

• Grutza breaks right leg in Week 2 vs. Oklahoma; UC moves to Tony Pike.

• Pike breaks his left (non-throwing) arm in Week 4 victory over Akron. Zach Collaros finishes the game and leads UC to the go-ahead, fourth-quarter drive. But Kelly chooses Chazz Anderson to start the following week against Marshall.

• Pike returns in Week 7, leaves at halftime with no feeling in his left hand; Anderson finishes the game. Pike returns in Week 8.

• Grutza replaces Pike in fourth quarter of the season finale against Hawaii and throws game-winning touchdown pass.

• Pike starts 2009 season, and reinjures his left arm in a Week 6 victory over USF and is replaced at halftime by Zach Collaros. The school announced Tuesday that Pike underwent surgery, yet could still play Saturday against Louisville.

With all that tumult as the background, the Bearcats have won 17 of 20 games since the start of last season. Yeah, this Kelly guy can coach.

It’s probably safe to say Cincinnati can find a …