Cory Paus
By Joshua Mason
Daily Bruin Staff
It would take a huge twist of fate, but the chances of UCLA
quarterback Cory Paus facing his younger brother on Saturday have
significantly improved over the weekend.
In Washington’s 27-24 come-from-behind victory over USC,
Husky signal caller Cody Pickett sustained a separated shoulder
injury that will likely keep him out of action against the Bruins
this weekend.
The new scenario: Taylor Barton, who led the No. 10 Huskies to
victory, will start for Washington and true freshman Casey Paus,
the 6-foot-4 younger brother of Cory, will be the backup.
“Two years ago I couldn’t imagine playing my brother
in a game, and I have a hard time imagining it now,” Cory
said.
Casey has yet to see any playing time in his college career, and
the Washington coaches won’t push him into the role if they
can afford it.
“Casey’s been our third-team quarterback this
season,” Washington head coach Rick Neuheisel said. “He
hasn’t been able to get in a game because we’re trying
to save his redshirt year. This week he’ll be right with our
offense, and hopefully he’ll be ready to play if he’s
needed.”
University of Washington Media Relations Washington backup
quarterback Casey Paus prepares for a possible
matchup with UCLA quarterback and older brother, Cory, in
Saturday’s game at the Rose Bowl. After the Huskies’ success
in the Rose Bowl drew Casey’s attention, Neuheisel opted to
make the younger Paus his quarterback of the future last
season.
In 1997, it was the other Paus that was garnering the attention
of Neuheisel when he was coaching at Colorado.
“I thought (Cory) was a tremendous player when he came to
the Colorado football camp,” Neuheisel said. “I would
have offered him a scholarship right then, but I had already
offered one to Carson Palmer. The third guy that tried out was
Taylor Barton, which shows how small a world it really
is.”
Though Casey is taller than Cory by two inches, similarities
between the brothers abound.
“It’s easy to tell that they’re
brothers,” Neuheisel said. “They look a lot alike, and
both of them have bright futures ahead of them.”
As to any sibling rivalry, there doesn’t seem to be any at
this point in the two quarterbacks’ careers.
“I won’t root against him,” said Cory, who
would be matching up with his brother for the first time if Casey
were to make his debut. “I’ll be rooting against
Washington, though.”
For all it’s worth, the Bruins wouldn’t mind a
brother-brother matchup on Saturday.
“If (Casey’s) in the game, he’s a true
freshman,” UCLA head coach Bob Toledo said. “It’s
always hard to play with true freshmen.”