The Heisman Trophy's First Tandem Winner: The Cincinnati Quarterbacks

"And the 2009 Heisman Trophy goes to the Cincinnati quarterback."  That's right, if the Heisman Trophy was being presented in this, the 10th week of the college football season, the dual entry of Tony Pike and Zach Collaros would claim the prize for the Bearcats.

I can't take credit for this revolation completely.  Bleacher Report's very own Jux Berg wrote an article entitled, "Cincinnati Football: Quarterback Controversy Brewing for Brain Kelly?".

Berg made us realize how far Zach Collaros has come.  I'm just taking it to the next level.

Everyone knew about Cincinnati's senior quarterback Tony Pike. Before he got hurt in the South Florida game he was a top 5 Heisman Trophy candidate with a quarterback rating of 155.1.  The 6'6" Cincinnati gunslinger was burning it up before he re-injured his fragile left arm.

Collaros replaced Pike in the first half of the USF game and in the three games he's been calling signals he's outplayed Pike.  Yes, Collaros has outplayed his teammate and true Heisman candidate.

In three games Collaros has thrown seven touchdowns and only one interception.  He's completed 75 per cent of his passes and thrown for 253 yards against Louisville and 295 yards against Syracuse.

In the USF game Collaros only threw the ball seven times but he ran for 132 yards and scored two touchdowns on the ground.

If Notre Dame's Jimmy Clausen is Heisman worthy with a quarterback rating of 164.2, what do you call Collaros, his rating after three games is 218.4.

Collaros, a 6'1" sophomore from Steubenville, Ohio is another Brian Kelly prototype athlete who came out of high school as a two-star recruit.  Cincinnati was his only offer and in two short years--he's playing as good as any five-star in the country.

Zach Berg raises a real question.  "What happens when and if Pike returns?" 

Kelly may not have the answer at this time but one thing is certain--Pike can take his time and heal properly because the Cincinnati Bearcat offensive machine is in good hands.

It's hard to remember a situation like this--a top Heisman Trophy Candidate getting hurt and getting outplayed by his replacement.  It's unique and what would be even more unique would be hearing "The 2009 Heisman goes to the tandem of Tony Pike and Zach Collaros!"

EXTRA POINT:  The Big East, the conference slighted by pollsters when they didn't put one team in this year's preseason top 25 has sure produced some good quarterbacks.

Along with Pike, Pittsburgh's senior Bill Stull has done a great job and could work his way into the Heisman talk if the Panthers' keep winning.

The conference won't be short of great quarterbacks of the future because along with Collaros, USF's BJ Daniels and Rutgers' Tom Savage are starting to get recognized.  Daniels and Savage are both on everyone's short list of this year's best freshman quarterbacks.