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WVU's Stewart: You can't sit Collaros

By Paul Dehner Jr., CNATI.com Posted November 8, 2009 7:56 PM ET

Brian Kelly may not know what to do about his quarterback situation for Friday's game, but the opposing coach thinks he does.

"I don't know how you take the hot hand out," West Virginia coach Bill Stewart said during a Sunday teleconference. "He is playing well. Right now, I don't know how you take him out, to be perfectly honest."

On Saturday night, after Collaros led the Bearcats to a 47-45 victory against Connecticut by combining for 555 total yards of offense (480 passing, 75 rushing) Kelly admitted for the first time he is reconsidering his earlier decision to start Tony Pike when the senior returns from his injured left forearm. Pike is expected to fully return to practice this week.

Stewart was watching the UC game from home after his Mountaineers (7-2, 3-1) beat Louisville, 17-9, earlier in the day. He said he doesn't usually watch Big East games on television because he prefers to view the game film, but was trying to pick up some of the flow and tempo of the Bearcats.

Looking for answers, he came away with more questions.

"I don't know what we are going to do," said Stewart. "I have no idea."

Stewart also said he has a good relationship with some of Collaros' high school coaches and recruited the redshirt sophomore when he played at Steubenville High.  

"Zach...is playing lights out," Stewart said. "He is special. You got a head coach - you can't sit (Collaros) down. Tony Pike was up for the Heisman at one time and he can't even get him on the field. This is a juggernaut."

What Connecticut did was counter with an offensive juggernaut of its own. Stewart, however, is unsure if he will have all his weapons to do so.

Stewart does not know if star running back Noel Devine will be back this week from an ankle injury. Devine has 1,010 yards on 167 carries for a 6.0 average per carry on the season. He has scored 10 touchdowns, but hurt his ankle during the win against Louisville.

"Noel, I don't know if he will be able to play or not, he should be able to go," Stewart said. "Now we spend all week practicing for Noel not to play, even though I hope he does and think he will."

STUCK AT NO. 5: Despite the win against UConn, Cincinnati was jumped by TCU in the BCS standings on Sunday night.

The Horned Frogs were ahead of the Bearcats .8620 to .8580.

It was the slimmest margin dividing any two teams in the top nine.

UC was No. 5 last week behind previously undefeated Iowa. The Hawkeyes lost to Northwestern, 17-10, on Saturday.

The Bearcats (9-0, 5-0) were also ranked No. 5 behind TCU in the AP and USA Today polls. TCU beat San Diego State, 55-12.

They are one of four Big East teams now ranked in the AP Top 25. Pitttsburgh (12), South Florida (24) and West Virginia (25) are also in the mix.