werperry
08-18-2006, 07:38 AM
what a bush-league article! printed in the toledo blade. why does musselman have to rub salt in the wounds...? complete BS
mussel@theblade.com
Article published Thursday, August 17, 2006
Zwick never lived up to expectations
by Ron Musselman
COLUMBUS - Justin Zwick's career can best be defined by one word: disappointing.
He was one of the marquee recruits in Ohio State's stellar 2002 class that included Maurice Clarett, A.J. Hawk, Nick Mangold, Santonio Holmes, Troy Smith and Bobby Carpenter.
Zwick was being heralded as a possible Heisman Trophy winner.
He was considered the best high school quarterback prospect in the state since Art Schlichter.
Zwick redshirted as a freshman - he watched from the sideline as Craig Krenzel led the Buckeyes to a 14-0 record and the national championship - and played sparingly as a backup to Krenzel and Scott McMullen in 2003.
Zwick's 2004 season began with tape recorders and television cameras in his face.
At long last, the wait was over.
Or so it seemed.
Zwick was the guy everyone was counting on to deliver another national title for the Buckeyes - not Smith.
After holding off Smith's strong challenge three seasons ago, Zwick started the first six games before injuring his shoulder early in the second half against Iowa.
Ohio State's offense was struggling, and so were the Buckeyes - they were 3-3 overall and 0-3 in the Big Ten for the first time since 1988. Coach Jim Tressel decided to yank Zwick and turned his offense over to Smith.
Smith went 4-1 down the stretch, beat hated Michigan and saved Ohio State's season. But when Smith was suspended from the 2004 Alamo Bowl and the 2005 season opener against Miami (Ohio) for taking money from a booster, Zwick resurfaced from the scrap heap.
He led Ohio State to a 33-7 victory over Oklahoma State in the Alamo Bowl despite a mild hamstring pull, and a 34-14 win over the RedHawks.
Zwick started last year's 25-22 loss to Texas, but he and Smith shuffled in and out against the Longhorns.
Smith returned as the Buckeyes' starter the following week, and Zwick has barely gotten off the bench since then.
That's not likely to change this season. Barring an injury to Smith, a preseason Heisman candidate, Zwick will be a full-time clipboard carrier.
Talk about a cruel twist of fate.
"It's been tough," Zwick said. "It's been a roller-coaster ride for me. That's just how life goes - there are going to be ups and downs.
I just try to keep an even head about it and keep working hard.
"You come out [of high school] and you expect everything to go the same way it was, and that's just not how things have happened. Life's going to throw adversity at you and you've got to come back and fight. When you get knocked down, you've got to get back up. I'm working on that now."
Zwick, a fifth-year senior, has had to pick himself up off the canvas more often than Butterbean. That has toughened him, although he admits he considered transferring to another school in the offseason.
"I have a lot of great friends here, and I've had a great time here," he said. "To get up and leave my last year just didn't seem right, didn't feel right. I decided to stick around. I'm just going to try and have as much fun as I can."
Zwick is not thrilled about playing second-fiddle to Smith, who has lapped him twice. But Zwick has accepted his role as the No. 2 guy.
Smith is 13-2 as Ohio State's starting quarterback, while Zwick is 5-4 in his star-crossed career.
"Troy Smith is a great quarterback," Zwick said. "He has done some great
things and he will continue to do that."
Zwick, on the other hand, has never lived up to his hype.
The one-time prep phenom from Massillon has been aclassic underachiever.
mussel@theblade.com
Article published Thursday, August 17, 2006
Zwick never lived up to expectations
by Ron Musselman
COLUMBUS - Justin Zwick's career can best be defined by one word: disappointing.
He was one of the marquee recruits in Ohio State's stellar 2002 class that included Maurice Clarett, A.J. Hawk, Nick Mangold, Santonio Holmes, Troy Smith and Bobby Carpenter.
Zwick was being heralded as a possible Heisman Trophy winner.
He was considered the best high school quarterback prospect in the state since Art Schlichter.
Zwick redshirted as a freshman - he watched from the sideline as Craig Krenzel led the Buckeyes to a 14-0 record and the national championship - and played sparingly as a backup to Krenzel and Scott McMullen in 2003.
Zwick's 2004 season began with tape recorders and television cameras in his face.
At long last, the wait was over.
Or so it seemed.
Zwick was the guy everyone was counting on to deliver another national title for the Buckeyes - not Smith.
After holding off Smith's strong challenge three seasons ago, Zwick started the first six games before injuring his shoulder early in the second half against Iowa.
Ohio State's offense was struggling, and so were the Buckeyes - they were 3-3 overall and 0-3 in the Big Ten for the first time since 1988. Coach Jim Tressel decided to yank Zwick and turned his offense over to Smith.
Smith went 4-1 down the stretch, beat hated Michigan and saved Ohio State's season. But when Smith was suspended from the 2004 Alamo Bowl and the 2005 season opener against Miami (Ohio) for taking money from a booster, Zwick resurfaced from the scrap heap.
He led Ohio State to a 33-7 victory over Oklahoma State in the Alamo Bowl despite a mild hamstring pull, and a 34-14 win over the RedHawks.
Zwick started last year's 25-22 loss to Texas, but he and Smith shuffled in and out against the Longhorns.
Smith returned as the Buckeyes' starter the following week, and Zwick has barely gotten off the bench since then.
That's not likely to change this season. Barring an injury to Smith, a preseason Heisman candidate, Zwick will be a full-time clipboard carrier.
Talk about a cruel twist of fate.
"It's been tough," Zwick said. "It's been a roller-coaster ride for me. That's just how life goes - there are going to be ups and downs.
I just try to keep an even head about it and keep working hard.
"You come out [of high school] and you expect everything to go the same way it was, and that's just not how things have happened. Life's going to throw adversity at you and you've got to come back and fight. When you get knocked down, you've got to get back up. I'm working on that now."
Zwick, a fifth-year senior, has had to pick himself up off the canvas more often than Butterbean. That has toughened him, although he admits he considered transferring to another school in the offseason.
"I have a lot of great friends here, and I've had a great time here," he said. "To get up and leave my last year just didn't seem right, didn't feel right. I decided to stick around. I'm just going to try and have as much fun as I can."
Zwick is not thrilled about playing second-fiddle to Smith, who has lapped him twice. But Zwick has accepted his role as the No. 2 guy.
Smith is 13-2 as Ohio State's starting quarterback, while Zwick is 5-4 in his star-crossed career.
"Troy Smith is a great quarterback," Zwick said. "He has done some great
things and he will continue to do that."
Zwick, on the other hand, has never lived up to his hype.
The one-time prep phenom from Massillon has been aclassic underachiever.