Big East: Huskies-Bearcats 110709
Cincinnati picks good week to survive a scare
November, 8, 2009
Nov 8
1:35
AM ET
Posted by ESPN.com's Brian Bennett
CINCINNATI -- Brian Kelly encountered an odd situation in the locker room after Cincinnati's game against Connecticut on Saturday night. He had to give his players a pep talk -- after a victory.
Judging from their muted shuffle off the Nippert Stadium turf or the downtrodden stares on some defensive players' faces, you might not have known the No. 5 Bearcats beat UConn. That's what a white-knuckle, 47-45 game will do to a team that's contending for the national title.
"I had to tell a lot of guys in there, 'We just won a football game,'" Kelly said. "They had that look about them defensively. But you've got to enjoy a win like this. It's hard to win."
Actually, winning hadn't been too difficult for Cincinnati (9-0, 5-0 Big East) before Saturday. Only one opponent had come within 10 points all season, and Fresno State never seriously threatened in that 28-20 decision.
It looked like another easy stroll for the Bearcats once they built a 30-10 halftime lead and a 37-17 cushion over UConn in the third quarter. But the ever-resilient Huskies stormed back, coming within a missed two-point conversion of erasing the entire deficit.
In the process, they exposed the warts, moles and scar tissue on the Big East's beauty queen.
"It was actually good for our guys," Kelly said. "Because we hadn't been in this kind of adversity all year."
In any other week, critics would tear apart Cincinnati, harping on an alarmingly poor defense (462 total yards) and special teams problems (UConn's Robert McClain had an 87-yard punt return touchdown). But the Bearcats picked the perfect week to scuffle, as several other Top 10 teams either also skirted by or got trap-doored.
No. 4 Iowa lost, allowing Kelly's team to move up one spot in the BCS food chain. No. 7 Boise State won a similar shootout at Louisiana Tech, 45-35. No. 8 Oregon gave up 51 points in a loss at Stanford, and No. 10 Georgia Tech needed overtime to beat Wake Forest at home.
Almost every championship team has to get through a scare. So even though the Bearcats had a rare showcase opportunity on ABC in prime-time, all they really needed to do this week was survive, not worry about style points.
"We'd all like to play our best in every phase of the game, but sometimes you've just got to find a way to win," Kelly said.
All the style Saturday night came from the offense, which continues to produce at a breathtaking pace. The Bearcats piled up a school-record 711 total yards without a single turnover. Mardy Gilyard summed up the night when he sat down at the postgame interview table, scanned the stats and said, "Oh, damn."
"It's just a beautiful thing to watch once we're clicking," said Gilyard, who had 12 catches for 172 yards.
Things are clicking like an overworked mouse pad behind backup quarterback Zach Collaros. Starting his third straight game for the injured Tony Pike, Collaros passed for 480 yards, the second most in school history, and broke the school and Big East record for most total yards (555).
Collaros has played so incredibly well with his arm and his legs that Kelly isn't sure if he'll start Pike next week against West Virginia. Pike was cleared medically and received a brace for his injured left forearm late last week. Kelly had previously said the senior would automatically regain his job once healthy.
"I think I have to reconsider my decision," Kelly said.
We know the offense can score no matter who's under center. This game raised major red flags about the defense, which came into the night third in the nation in points allowed. The Big East's beefiest offensive line -- UConn's guards and tackles all weigh between 315 and 333 pounds -- rammed through the smaller players in Cincinnati's 3-4 scheme. That causes questions about whether the Bearcats' defense could handle the offensive lines of, say, Alabama or Texas in a potential BCS title game.
But those concerns aren't as glaring in a week like this. This beauty queen may have some flaws, but so do all the other contestants in this pageant.
"It's always exciting when you don't your play best game and you still get the win," linebacker JK Schaffer said. "It shows you how much better you can be and how much more you can beat teams by."
CINCINNATI -- Brian Kelly encountered an odd situation in the locker room after Cincinnati's game against Connecticut on Saturday night. He had to give his players a pep talk -- after a victory.
Judging from their muted shuffle off the Nippert Stadium turf or the downtrodden stares on some defensive players' faces, you might not have known the No. 5 Bearcats beat UConn. That's what a white-knuckle, 47-45 game will do to a team that's contending for the national title.
"I had to tell a lot of guys in there, 'We just won a football game,'" Kelly said. "They had that look about them defensively. But you've got to enjoy a win like this. It's hard to win."
Actually, winning hadn't been too difficult for Cincinnati (9-0, 5-0 Big East) before Saturday. Only one opponent had come within 10 points all season, and Fresno State never seriously threatened in that 28-20 decision.
It looked like another easy stroll for the Bearcats once they built a 30-10 halftime lead and a 37-17 cushion over UConn in the third quarter. But the ever-resilient Huskies stormed back, coming within a missed two-point conversion of erasing the entire deficit.
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| Frank Victores-US Presswire | |
| Zach Collaros passed for 480 yards, the second most in school history, to keep Cincinnati's offense rolling. |
In the process, they exposed the warts, moles and scar tissue on the Big East's beauty queen.
"It was actually good for our guys," Kelly said. "Because we hadn't been in this kind of adversity all year."
In any other week, critics would tear apart Cincinnati, harping on an alarmingly poor defense (462 total yards) and special teams problems (UConn's Robert McClain had an 87-yard punt return touchdown). But the Bearcats picked the perfect week to scuffle, as several other Top 10 teams either also skirted by or got trap-doored.
No. 4 Iowa lost, allowing Kelly's team to move up one spot in the BCS food chain. No. 7 Boise State won a similar shootout at Louisiana Tech, 45-35. No. 8 Oregon gave up 51 points in a loss at Stanford, and No. 10 Georgia Tech needed overtime to beat Wake Forest at home.
Almost every championship team has to get through a scare. So even though the Bearcats had a rare showcase opportunity on ABC in prime-time, all they really needed to do this week was survive, not worry about style points.
"We'd all like to play our best in every phase of the game, but sometimes you've just got to find a way to win," Kelly said.
All the style Saturday night came from the offense, which continues to produce at a breathtaking pace. The Bearcats piled up a school-record 711 total yards without a single turnover. Mardy Gilyard summed up the night when he sat down at the postgame interview table, scanned the stats and said, "Oh, damn."
"It's just a beautiful thing to watch once we're clicking," said Gilyard, who had 12 catches for 172 yards.
Things are clicking like an overworked mouse pad behind backup quarterback Zach Collaros. Starting his third straight game for the injured Tony Pike, Collaros passed for 480 yards, the second most in school history, and broke the school and Big East record for most total yards (555).
Collaros has played so incredibly well with his arm and his legs that Kelly isn't sure if he'll start Pike next week against West Virginia. Pike was cleared medically and received a brace for his injured left forearm late last week. Kelly had previously said the senior would automatically regain his job once healthy.
"I think I have to reconsider my decision," Kelly said.
We know the offense can score no matter who's under center. This game raised major red flags about the defense, which came into the night third in the nation in points allowed. The Big East's beefiest offensive line -- UConn's guards and tackles all weigh between 315 and 333 pounds -- rammed through the smaller players in Cincinnati's 3-4 scheme. That causes questions about whether the Bearcats' defense could handle the offensive lines of, say, Alabama or Texas in a potential BCS title game.
But those concerns aren't as glaring in a week like this. This beauty queen may have some flaws, but so do all the other contestants in this pageant.
"It's always exciting when you don't your play best game and you still get the win," linebacker JK Schaffer said. "It shows you how much better you can be and how much more you can beat teams by."
Video: Postgame with Cincy QB Zach Collaros
November, 8, 2009
Nov 8
1:27
AM ET
Posted by ESPN.com's Brian Bennett
CINCINNATI -- It didn't look like Cincinnati would have to sweat much after building a 20-point halftime lead against UConn.
But the Huskies made the Bearcats earn every bit of this one. Isaiah Pead scored on a 13-yard run on 4th and 1 with 1:52 left to give Cincinnati a 47-38 lead. Connecticut came back for another score with 13 seconds left, but Charley Howard recovered the onside kick for the Bearcats to cap the wild and wooly 47-45 win.
Cincinnati improved to 9-0 and 5-0 in the Big East, but this was by far its toughest game of the season against an incredibly resilient opponent. The Bearcats now must answer questions about their defense, but they're just happy to face those queries after a win and not a season-crushing loss.
CINCINNATI -- It didn't look like Cincinnati would have to sweat much after building a 20-point halftime lead against UConn.
But the Huskies made the Bearcats earn every bit of this one. Isaiah Pead scored on a 13-yard run on 4th and 1 with 1:52 left to give Cincinnati a 47-38 lead. Connecticut came back for another score with 13 seconds left, but Charley Howard recovered the onside kick for the Bearcats to cap the wild and wooly 47-45 win.
Cincinnati improved to 9-0 and 5-0 in the Big East, but this was by far its toughest game of the season against an incredibly resilient opponent. The Bearcats now must answer questions about their defense, but they're just happy to face those queries after a win and not a season-crushing loss.
Posted by ESPN.com's Brian Bennett
CINCINNATI -- Unbelievable comeback by UConn. But will it be enough?
The Huskies have erased almost all of a 20-point deficit thanks to a punishing running game that Cincinnati has not been able to handle. Jordan Todman scored from two yards out on fourth down to make it 40-38, but Zach Frazer got sacked on the two-point conversion attempt.
There's 5:03 left. Zach Collaros has had one of the best passing days in Cincinnati history. Right now, he and the offense have to get some first downs, or the BCS title hopes die.
CINCINNATI -- Unbelievable comeback by UConn. But will it be enough?
The Huskies have erased almost all of a 20-point deficit thanks to a punishing running game that Cincinnati has not been able to handle. Jordan Todman scored from two yards out on fourth down to make it 40-38, but Zach Frazer got sacked on the two-point conversion attempt.
There's 5:03 left. Zach Collaros has had one of the best passing days in Cincinnati history. Right now, he and the offense have to get some first downs, or the BCS title hopes die.
Posted by ESPN.com's Brian Bennett
CINCINNATI -- The Bearcats have a game on their hands all of a sudden.
Cincinnati led 37-17 in the third quarter. But UConn just won't go away. A long pass to Kashif Moore set up a touchdown, and Jordan Todman completed a halfback pass for the two-point conversion.
All of a sudden, it's 40-32 and the Huskies are very much in this game. Well, if they can get a stop somewhere. Cincinnati has 652 yards of offense. Still, the Bearcats' defensive play in the second half is raising some very serious concerns.
CINCINNATI -- The Bearcats have a game on their hands all of a sudden.
Cincinnati led 37-17 in the third quarter. But UConn just won't go away. A long pass to Kashif Moore set up a touchdown, and Jordan Todman completed a halfback pass for the two-point conversion.
All of a sudden, it's 40-32 and the Huskies are very much in this game. Well, if they can get a stop somewhere. Cincinnati has 652 yards of offense. Still, the Bearcats' defensive play in the second half is raising some very serious concerns.
Posted by ESPN.com's Brian Bennett
CINCINNATI -- Robert McClain returned a punt 87 yards for a touchdown, bringing UConn back to within 37-24.
This is the most points the Bearcats have surrendered this year. They can't relax yet -- and they've sprung a few leaks that need to get fixed by next week, especially on special teams.
UConn is showing a lot of heart.
CINCINNATI -- Robert McClain returned a punt 87 yards for a touchdown, bringing UConn back to within 37-24.
This is the most points the Bearcats have surrendered this year. They can't relax yet -- and they've sprung a few leaks that need to get fixed by next week, especially on special teams.
UConn is showing a lot of heart.
How does Cincinnati take Collaros off the field?
November, 7, 2009
Nov 7
10:29
PM ET
Posted by ESPN.com's Brian Bennett
CINCINNATI -- Tony Pike will likely be back to start next week against West Virginia. He's not going to get Wally Pipp-ed by Zach Collaros.
But I can't think of an instance in recent Big East history where a player will be replaced for non-health reasons after being this good. Collaros just continues to do it all, and you could make a strong case that he belongs on the All-Big East team. He has basically won four Big East games at quarterback since the South Florida game was in doubt when he entered it.
Collaros ran 28 yards for a touchdown on a zone-read play. He's got over 400 yards of total offense. Surely, Brian Kelly will find a way to utilize his skills even when Pike comes back.
CINCINNATI -- Tony Pike will likely be back to start next week against West Virginia. He's not going to get Wally Pipp-ed by Zach Collaros.
But I can't think of an instance in recent Big East history where a player will be replaced for non-health reasons after being this good. Collaros just continues to do it all, and you could make a strong case that he belongs on the All-Big East team. He has basically won four Big East games at quarterback since the South Florida game was in doubt when he entered it.
Collaros ran 28 yards for a touchdown on a zone-read play. He's got over 400 yards of total offense. Surely, Brian Kelly will find a way to utilize his skills even when Pike comes back.
Posted by ESPN.com's Brian Bennett
CINCINNATI -- After six scores on six possessions on the first half, Cincinnati had to punt on its first possession. Yes, the Bearcats remembered how.
In all seriousness, no one would blame UConn too much for going through the motions in the second half after all the Huskies have been through. They can't have much left in the tank. But give them credit, because they came out and made a defensive stand early.
Jordan Todman just broke a big run to get this game back to 30-17. UConn will not lie down.
CINCINNATI -- After six scores on six possessions on the first half, Cincinnati had to punt on its first possession. Yes, the Bearcats remembered how.
In all seriousness, no one would blame UConn too much for going through the motions in the second half after all the Huskies have been through. They can't have much left in the tank. But give them credit, because they came out and made a defensive stand early.
Jordan Todman just broke a big run to get this game back to 30-17. UConn will not lie down.
Halftime analysis: Cincinnati 30, UConn 10
November, 7, 2009
Nov 7
9:41
PM ET
Posted by ESPN.com's Brian Bennett
CINCINNATI -- Quick analysis of the first half from Nippert Stadium, where No. 5 Cincinnati leads UConn, 30-10:
Player of the half: Cincinnati quarterback Zach Collaros continues to amaze in relief of Tony Pike. He's 19-of-25 for 333 yards and a touchdown and has run for a score in the first half already. The guy almost never misses.
Second guessing: UConn is vulnerable in the secondary to begin with, but the Huskies are playing too soft in coverage. Mardy Gilyard has all kinds of room to operate. With no pressure on the quarterback being applied, why isn't Connecticut dropping more help against the pass?
What it means: Cincinnati is showing the nation it is for real tonight. With other Top 10 teams faltering, especially Iowa, the Bearcats are going to be moving on up in the BCS standings come tomorrow.
CINCINNATI -- Quick analysis of the first half from Nippert Stadium, where No. 5 Cincinnati leads UConn, 30-10:
Player of the half: Cincinnati quarterback Zach Collaros continues to amaze in relief of Tony Pike. He's 19-of-25 for 333 yards and a touchdown and has run for a score in the first half already. The guy almost never misses.
Second guessing: UConn is vulnerable in the secondary to begin with, but the Huskies are playing too soft in coverage. Mardy Gilyard has all kinds of room to operate. With no pressure on the quarterback being applied, why isn't Connecticut dropping more help against the pass?
What it means: Cincinnati is showing the nation it is for real tonight. With other Top 10 teams faltering, especially Iowa, the Bearcats are going to be moving on up in the BCS standings come tomorrow.
Collaros, Bearcats offense an efficient machine
November, 7, 2009
Nov 7
9:26
PM ET
Posted by ESPN.com's Brian Bennett
CINCINNATI -- Four possessions, four scores for Cincinnati.
Connecticut can be thankful that the Bearcats had to settle for field goals on two of those. Cincinnati has 320 total yards of offense with 3:49 left in the half. Quarterback Zach Collaros has been brutally efficient, completing 16-of-20 passes for 219 yards. And Mardy Gilyard continues to dominate, with nine catches for 127 yards.
If this is a shootout, I don't think the Huskies stand a chance. And it's heading in that direction.
CINCINNATI -- Four possessions, four scores for Cincinnati.
Connecticut can be thankful that the Bearcats had to settle for field goals on two of those. Cincinnati has 320 total yards of offense with 3:49 left in the half. Quarterback Zach Collaros has been brutally efficient, completing 16-of-20 passes for 219 yards. And Mardy Gilyard continues to dominate, with nine catches for 127 yards.
If this is a shootout, I don't think the Huskies stand a chance. And it's heading in that direction.
ABOUT THIS BLOG
Brian Bennett
Bennett joined ESPN.com in August 2008 after nine years at The Courier-Journal in Louisville, Ky., where he covered college sports and the University of Louisville beat. He lives in Louisville.
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