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Bearcats' Starting QB Job Sorts Itself Out - August 12th, 2008

By Jordan Walters
WagerWeb.com Contributing Writer

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The University of Cincinnati’s starting quarterback job now is officially senior Dustin Grutza’s after 2007 starter Ben Mauk’s appeal for another year of eligibility was turned down by the NCAA.

Mauk passed for 3,121 yards and a school-record 31 touchdowns last year in leading the Bearcats to a 10-3 record and No. 17 ranking in the final Associated Press poll.

It was the third time that Mauk's request for another season has been rejected by the NCAA.

"I'm disappointed for Ben," coach Brian Kelly said. "But he's a pretty resilient kid. Obviously he's quite disappointed himself. But he's got a lot of good options out there."

Mauk broke his arm and separated his shoulder in the season opener for Wake Forest in 2006, then transferred to Cincinnati unsure whether he would ever be able to play again, but he was a huge success story last year.

Afterward, he appealed to the NCAA for a sixth year of eligibility because of the injuries, but was turned down. He appealed again on a different basis, pointing out that he redshirted his freshman year at Wake Forest in part because of different injuries. The NCAA again turned him down.

Grutza was the Bearcats No. 1 QB on the depth chart before Mauk arrived. Grutza played in two games for an injured Mauk last season, completing 39 of 55 passes for 432 yards and four TDs to no interceptions. The Bearcats were 2-0 in those games.

 “So I’ve got to feel confident in that sense that at least we’ve got somebody who’s got experience,” Kelly said. “We’ll give him the opportunity and see where he goes with it.”

 

Grutza says he’s ready for the challenge. He was a two-year starter in former coach Mark Dantonio's power I scheme and had completed 58.1 percent of his passes for 3,431 yards - albeit with a poor 20/24 touchdown to interception ratio.

“I’ve played and I’ve been around the game for awhile now,” Grutza said. “Being able to recognize defenses, I’ll be able to get the team in the right plays, make the right decisions and move the ball down the field.”

The backup and No. 3 QB spots are up for grabs among Chazz Anderson, Zach Collaros, Troy Pike and Demetrius Jones, the former Notre Dame starter.

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