http://www.yardbarker.com/college_football/players/tony_pike/50061 Recent articles about Tony Pike en-us Forget about Tony Pike, Ben Mauk, and even Greg Cook – Gunner Kiel is nothing like Cincinnati has seen before at the quarterback position. Kiel’s decision to join the Bearcats is not only one of the biggest acquisitions in program history, but it just goes to show what Tommy Tuberville brings to the table. The Notre Dame transfer was a five-star recruit and the consensus No. 1 quarterback for the class of 2012, receiving scholarship offers from powerhouses such as Alabama and Oklahoma. Due to NCAA transfer rules, he’ll have to sit out this season – but will have three years of eligibility starting in 2014, where he has an excellent chance of earning the starting job. Seniors Brendon Kay and Munchie Leguax will have graduated by then, making redshirt freshman Bennie Coney (a solid counterpart) his only real competition. However, it seems as if he may have already received the nod for the ’14 season. Tuberville announced that he will be implementing a Pro-Style multiple... Thu, 11 Apr 2013 11:33:00 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/college_football/article_external/gunner_kiel_what_the_former_5_star_qb_means_for_cincinnati/13373545 http://network.yardbarker.com/college_football/article_external/gunner_kiel_what_the_former_5_star_qb_means_for_cincinnati/13373545 Gunner Kiel: What the former 5-star QB means for Cincinnati http://www.yardbarker.com/college_football/articles/gunner_kiel_what_the_former_5_star_qb_means_for_cincinnati/13373545 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png On this day in 2009, the Cincinnati Bearcats met up with the Pittsburgh Panthers in the defacto Big East title game. This game has been the zenith of Cincinnati Bearcats football. It was the game that fueled me to start this blog. I wanted to talk to Cincinnati fans about this game and enjoy the one of the best games I've seen with them. Dan Hoard said this was the best game he ever called.  I wrote this last November. I figured since it wasn't coaching rumors, no one would mind.  The greatest game in Cincinnati Bearcats football history was the win over Pittsburgh. It capped off an undefeated season, won the Big East, and put Cincinnati in a BCS game. It kept the slim hopes for a national title game shot alive as well. The game was a classic. Therefore, it was repeated on ESPN Classic. Since the game happened before I started the blog, I've never written about it. Until now. I recorded the game on my DVR, and have decided it would be fun to live blog the acti... Wed, 05 Dec 2012 15:00:48 -0500 http://network.yardbarker.com/college_football/article_external/on_this_day_in_2009_cincinnati_45_pittsburgh_44/12369853 http://network.yardbarker.com/college_football/article_external/on_this_day_in_2009_cincinnati_45_pittsburgh_44/12369853 On This Day in 2009: Cincinnati 45 Pittsburgh 44 http://www.yardbarker.com/college_football/articles/on_this_day_in_2009_cincinnati_45_pittsburgh_44/12369853 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png Early on in his time at Cincinnati, I remember reading a Sports Illustrated profile on former Bearcats and current Notre Dame head coach Brian Kelly. The article came out a long time ago and most of the details have long since been lost on me, but there was one that still sticks out. It had to do with the way Kelly handled former Bearcats’ quarterback Tony Pike. When Kelly arrived at Cincinnati prior to the 2007 season, Pike was buried on the depth chart, the kind of guy who was going through the motions, happy to be along for the ride, and collecting his scholarship money, even if he wasn’t really doing anything to earn it. Well at least Pike was, until one day when Brian Kelly bumped into him and in not so many words, basically told him: “Get the hell out.” That if Pike wasn’t going to start working harder and taking himself more seriously, than Kelly didn’t want him as part of the program anymore. Well apparently whatever Kelly said worked. Pike eventually went from “bu... Mon, 26 Nov 2012 10:28:44 -0500 http://network.yardbarker.com/college_football/article_external/brian_kelly_has_changed_who_he_is_as_a_coach/12295567 http://network.yardbarker.com/college_football/article_external/brian_kelly_has_changed_who_he_is_as_a_coach/12295567 Brian Kelly Has Changed Who He Is As A Coach. ... http://www.yardbarker.com/college_football/articles/brian_kelly_has_changed_who_he_is_as_a_coach/12295567 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/7/1/717530c9384be0dcf7c822dc8b8380f318480d5f/mini/West_Virginia_v_dac5.jpg The Keg of Nails is a beautiful work of art. Look at the picture above. What hasn't always been so beautiful have been the games between the Louisville Cardinals and Cincinnati Bearcats. Finding memorable games that showcased high skill and back and forth action have become somewhat of a common place the past few seasons. We saw some blowouts, a few of which made the list, in the mid 2000s Honorable Mention: Cincinnati 10 Louisville 7. October 26, 1996.  This game has nothing memorable about in action, but it does in spirit. This was the renewal of the series, as both teams joined Conference USA. UC and Louisville played every year from 1966 to 1992, then stopped for some reason. They have played every year since, thus putting the Keg of Nails to work. The Lord's work.  Honorable Mention: Cincinnati 25 Louisville 16. October 15, 2011 Louisville opened the game with the first 6 points thanks to Chris Philpott's right leg. Cincinnati took the lead in the ... Wed, 24 Oct 2012 14:21:46 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/college_football/article_external/the_10_most_memorable_keg_of_nails_games/12045637 http://network.yardbarker.com/college_football/article_external/the_10_most_memorable_keg_of_nails_games/12045637 The 10 Most Memorable Keg of Nails Games http://www.yardbarker.com/college_football/articles/the_10_most_memorable_keg_of_nails_games/12045637 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png Everett Golson has been officially named the starting quarterback at Notre Dame for the 2012 season opener versus Navy and now it's time to project out all of his amazing stats, wins, trophies, and more. Someone else can do that. We need to start by attempting to decipher how often this young man is gonna turn over the rock in the passing game. Tommy Rees threw a few too many big picks in 2011 and Brian Kelly proclaimed "taking care of the football" as priority #1 for whomever would seize the job. Let's all pretend that it shouldn't always be the #1 priority of the quarterback. Irish fans are well versed, recently, in the game-changing power of the terrible turnover. If Everett Golson can limit the damage in this area, which Kelly claims he did magnificently during Fall Camp, then the Irish should present a formidable challenge to every member of the difficult 2012 slate. Can I first puff out my chest just a little before delving into the topic at... Fri, 24 Aug 2012 02:48:03 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/college_football/article_external/everett_golson_realistic_2012_interception_totals_season_projections/11535958 http://network.yardbarker.com/college_football/article_external/everett_golson_realistic_2012_interception_totals_season_projections/11535958 Everett Golson - Realistic 2012 Interception Totals & Season Projections http://www.yardbarker.com/college_football/articles/everett_golson_realistic_2012_interception_totals_season_projections/11535958 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png The next man on the Bearcats Blog countdown is the most recent entry. He's also the last player from the last 5 years or so. He's also the last football player on the list. Sorry, Cincinnati basketball holds a bigger piece of my heart than Cincinnati football. Blame my dad for not being into UC football when I was growing up. We all make our own decisions, and while I love UC football, I was a total bandwagon jumper in 97 when they made the bowl game. Still, some people reading this site weren't alive in 1997, so I've been a fan longer than them and they suck. This is yet another case of me ruining the intro of another person by talking about myself. Which really sucks because the person that I'm writing about is Isaiah Pead. #8Isaiah Pead ResumeIsaiah Pead came to Cincinnati as a 3 star recruit. He would leave Cincinnati as a 5 star player. He had the unique talent of being able to hit the home run, but also handle the bulk of the carries. The last two years whe... Thu, 23 Aug 2012 13:21:37 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/college_football/article_external/the_bearcats_blog_top_30_countdown_8_isaiah_pead/11531974 http://network.yardbarker.com/college_football/article_external/the_bearcats_blog_top_30_countdown_8_isaiah_pead/11531974 The Bearcats Blog Top 30 Countdown: #8 Isaiah Pead http://www.yardbarker.com/college_football/articles/the_bearcats_blog_top_30_countdown_8_isaiah_pead/11531974 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/0/a/0a9604c040d88f5c6b6a223c7df8c47322191ef2/mini/Cincinnati_Bearcats_v_7457.jpg Player number 9 on the Bearcats Blog countdown has something in common with player 13. They were teammates. Zach Collaros threw many passes his way. 8 and 9 probably could have been flipped. That's the thing when you end up picking nits about some of your favorite players to wear a Cincinnati uniform. This player is recent, but not recent enough that I could ever write about him. That player is Mardy Gilyard. #9Mardy GilyardResumeMarshwan 'Mardy' Gilyard is known not just for his play, but for his story. His story would have been great even if he weren't a great player. His story was even better because he was a great player. Gilyard started off as a corner back at UC. He was mainly a special teams player. Like a lot of college kids, he didn't like school. Unlike a lot of college kids, he had a scholarship and not being a student made him lose it. Since he had registered for classes, he had to pay his tuition. Gilyard crashed with friends and worked 3 jobs to pay... Wed, 22 Aug 2012 13:29:07 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/the_bearcats_blog_top_30_countdown_9_mardy_gilyard/11522158 http://network.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/the_bearcats_blog_top_30_countdown_9_mardy_gilyard/11522158 The Bearcats Blog Top 30 Countdown: #9 Mardy Gilyard http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/articles/the_bearcats_blog_top_30_countdown_9_mardy_gilyard/11522158 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png The following member of the Bearcats Blog countdown club, I'm sure all the players who have been named so far are calling it the Bearcats Blog countdown club stay with me, is one of the most recent to have played. It's Zach Collaros. Even thought I've written about young Zachary for years, I still write Zack half the time. I blame Zack Morris for making me think everyone spell Zack like that. Zach Collaros doesn't have a lot in common with Zack Morris. Besides the pronunciation of their names. Collaros is from Ohio. Morris is from Indiana or California. Collaros has dark hair. Morris dyed his hair blonde. Both could get away with calling timeout though. The biggest thing that separates the men is that Zack Morris isn't real. Zach Collaros is very real. He's also the lucky number 13. I'm sure Collaros thinks the number 13 has mystic powers. After all, he's the only person in UC history who was stolen by ghosts. #13Zach Collaros ResumeZach Collaros came... Thu, 16 Aug 2012 01:00:00 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/college_football/article_external/the_bearcats_blog_top_30_countdown_13_zack_collaros/11472850 http://network.yardbarker.com/college_football/article_external/the_bearcats_blog_top_30_countdown_13_zack_collaros/11472850 The Bearcats Blog Top 30 Countdown: #13 Zack Collaros http://www.yardbarker.com/college_football/articles/the_bearcats_blog_top_30_countdown_13_zack_collaros/11472850 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/0/f/0f1476c6f0aa000f381bc4fda69db3a594842c09/mini/Connecticut_v_Cincinnati_1527.jpg The name Tony Pike will be well remembered by Bearcat fans for years to come. Pike, who helped power the Bearcats offensive attack to back-to-back BCS berths left his mark on his hometown program. Now another Pike is looking hard at the hometown team. Tue, 14 Aug 2012 22:48:00 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/college_football/article_external/another_pike_high_on_bearcats/11460553 http://network.yardbarker.com/college_football/article_external/another_pike_high_on_bearcats/11460553 Another Pike High On Bearcats http://www.yardbarker.com/college_football/articles/another_pike_high_on_bearcats/11460553 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/d/3/d304ede63a1399639f95ecb3de46d984a08893ef/mini/Allstate_Sugar_Bowl_b78a.jpg August has rolled around and football is in the air. I don't know about the rest of you, but I can not wait for football season. Even though my cable company was bought out by Time Warner and they dropped the NFL Network and Red Zone channel and I'm probably going to spend all the Sundays crying, I still can not wait. The next man up on the Bearcats Blog countdown is probably a name you have read a lot if you are a Bengals fan. It's the man who made the most famous catch in the history of Cincinnati football, Armon Binns.  #23 Armon Binns ResumeArmon Binns played 4 seasons as a Bearcat. In the history of UC football, only 8 receivers have eclipsed 1,000 yards in a season. Armon Binns was the last player to accomplish that feat. In two of the best offensive years in Bearcat history, Binns was a very reliable receiver. He did it the hard way, by earning his spot every year. It can be rare when we see progressions from year to year in this modern age, but Armon Binns did ju... Wed, 01 Aug 2012 13:12:28 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/the_bearcats_blog_top_30_countdown_23_armon_binns/11352493 http://network.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/the_bearcats_blog_top_30_countdown_23_armon_binns/11352493 The Bearcats Blog Top 30 Countdown: #23 Armon Binns http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/articles/the_bearcats_blog_top_30_countdown_23_armon_binns/11352493 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png The Bearcats Blog Top 30 Countdown rolls on this fine Friday. Does anyone else still think "Friday, Friday, gotta get down on Friday?" No? Me neither. I don't know who would think that. Certainly not me. And certainly not now. The countdown continues with the most recent player of the 5 this week will cover. That player is none other than Tony Pike. #26Tony Pike ResumeEvery so often, there are a player and coach who compliment each other perfectly. The coach was Brian Kelly and the player was Tony Pike. Kelly had a great system that a very accurate QB with a big arm could excel in. Tony Pike was a very accurate QB who could show off his arm. It was a match made in heaven. The product of Reading High, Tony Pike came to UC in 2005 and redshirted. In 2006, he was buried at the bottom of the depth chart. He finally got his chance his sophomore season. Pike played in 4 games that year. In his college debut against Southeast Missouri State, Pike went 6-9, 57 yards and 1 TD. ... Fri, 27 Jul 2012 13:03:50 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/college_football/article_external/the_bearcats_blog_top_30_countdown_26_tony_pike/11316268 http://network.yardbarker.com/college_football/article_external/the_bearcats_blog_top_30_countdown_26_tony_pike/11316268 The Bearcats Blog Top 30 Countdown: #26 Tony Pike http://www.yardbarker.com/college_football/articles/the_bearcats_blog_top_30_countdown_26_tony_pike/11316268 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/8/a/8a7525aac165716d85d363e4471d45c793d46cb3/mini/Illinois_v_Cincinnati_8da0.jpg Former University of Cincinnati QB Tony Pike is trying to revive his career, with the Cincinnati Bengals. Pike led the Cincinnati Bearcats to a 12-0 perfect season in 2009 and a Sugar Bowl appearance but has struggled his entire career with injuries. While in college, Pike suffered a break to his forearm on his non-throwing hand. After being drafted by the Carolina Panthers, he sustained an elbow injury which required surgery to repair. Pike was waived by the Panthers prior to the start of the 2011 season. Pike was considered an intriguing prospect heading into the NFL Draft. He brings a 6’6″ frame which allows him great visibility downfield, but his injury history and a very thin frame caused him to slip into the sixth round of the 2010 draft. In the 2009 season, Pike showcased good velocity on his throws and posted an impressive touchdown to interception ratio, 29-6. Pike has been out of football for one year while rehabbing from his elbow injury and showed signs of rust at the re... Sun, 13 May 2012 08:45:50 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/qb_tony_pike_tries_to_revive_career_with_cincinnati_bengals/10781099 http://network.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/qb_tony_pike_tries_to_revive_career_with_cincinnati_bengals/10781099 QB Tony Pike tries to revive career with Cincinnati Bengals http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/articles/qb_tony_pike_tries_to_revive_career_with_cincinnati_bengals/10781099 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/d/6/d6a77a79e49068a2d4cd8f5ea761adf99b5b33e7/mini/Cincinnati_v_South_0afb.jpg With the draft now in the books, the Bengals have pretty well filled out their roster, which the NFL has now expanded to 90. We have a while of nothing more than guys-in-shorts, but really, is it ever too early to start tinkering around with how the final roster might shake out? Of course not! Over the next couple of weeks I’ll be separating the known from the yet-to-be-seen on the roster and how I think things could shake out. Let’s begin with the field captains. Quarterbacks Starter On The Roster Camp Battle Long Shot Andy Dalton Bruce Gradkowski Zac Robinson Tony Pike Tyler Hanson Most teams carry three QBs, but last year the Bengals opted to keep just two so they could use the extra spot on another position. That made sense because, if the Bengals have to put their 3rd string QB in the game, there is almost no shot of winning. Could they make the same decision this year? (Would Sanu, who has played some QB, really be all that much worse than a 3rd stringer?) Start... Mon, 07 May 2012 09:30:19 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/who_makes_the_cut_qb_edition/10735448 http://network.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/who_makes_the_cut_qb_edition/10735448 Who Makes The Cut? QB Edition http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/articles/who_makes_the_cut_qb_edition/10735448 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png Tomorrow represents the last home game of the season for the Cincinnati Bearcats, and also the last home game for the UC seniors. Let's take a look at the men who are stepping on the field for the last time on Saturday. Alex AypanAlex Aypan is a redshirt senior. He has not seen a lot of playing time as a Bearcat. He has spent this season as the backup long snapper. 51 snapped the extra point for the 51st point in the opener, which was a nice touch. Alex is known more around this site for his photography. He's a nice guy to follow on twitter. Aypan brings the smarts to this team. He was nominated for the International Scholar Laureate Program Delegation on Engineering a couple years ago, and has a bright futureacademically. Alex is also applying to aerospace graduate programs at Stanford, MIT, Purdue, Georgia Tech, and Cincinnati. He's got sick chops and he doesn't quit.Zach CollarosZach Collaros came to Cincinnati as a 3 star recruit in 2007. After redshirting, Colla... Fri, 02 Dec 2011 00:00:00 -0500 http://network.yardbarker.com/college_football/article_external/honoring_the_seniors/8459716 http://network.yardbarker.com/college_football/article_external/honoring_the_seniors/8459716 Honoring the Seniors http://www.yardbarker.com/college_football/articles/honoring_the_seniors/8459716 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png Cincinnati quarterback Zach Collaros will have surgery for a broken right ankle, sidelining him for the Bearcats' last three regular-season games. Collaros hurt the ankle during the second quarter of a 24-21 loss to West Virginia on Saturday that left the Big East race wide open. He'll have surgery on Monday and miss games at Rutgers, at Syracuse and home against Connecticut. The Bearcats are hopeful that Collaros could return for their bowl game. Sophomore Munchie Legaux will replace the fifth-year senior, trying to lead the Bearcats to their third league title in four years. Cincinnati still leads the Big East at 7-2 overall and 3-1. Legaux hasn't started a collegiate game. He rallied the Bearcats from a 10-point deficit in the second half against West Virginia. The Mountaineers regained the lead in the fourth quarter, and Cincinnati's field goal attempt to tie it in the closing seconds was blocked. ''You never know when your time is going to come,'' Legaux said after th Sun, 13 Nov 2011 16:32:05 -0500 http://network.yardbarker.com/college_football/article_external/cincys_collaros_needs_surgery_on_ankle/8065603 http://network.yardbarker.com/college_football/article_external/cincys_collaros_needs_surgery_on_ankle/8065603 Cincy's Collaros needs surgery on ankle http://www.yardbarker.com/college_football/articles/cincys_collaros_needs_surgery_on_ankle/8065603 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/0/f/0f1476c6f0aa000f381bc4fda69db3a594842c09/mini/Connecticut_v_Cincinnati_1527.jpg