Zwick steps in at quarterback

Coach Tressel wouldn't say which quarterback will start against Texas.
By TOM WILLIAMS
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
COLUMBUS -- In the latest chapter of Ohio State's continuing saga "As the Quarterbacks Revolve," fair-haired junior Justin Zwick, the Buckeyes' once and future starter, completed 17 of 23 passes for 155 yards to engineer four scoring drives in Saturday's 34-14 romp over Miami (Ohio).
Not looking on was junior Troy Smith, the quarterback who replaced the injured Zwick last season after a devastating loss at Iowa and rejuvenated the Buckeyes' stagnant offense.
Last fall, Smith won four of his five starts, including a 37-21 victory against Michigan.
But in December, Smith was suspended for two games after being caught accepting $500 from a Buckeyes booster.
Zwick led the Buckeyes to a 33-7 romp over Oklahoma State in the Alamo Bowl.
Smith's suspension ended when the click ticked down on Saturday's game.
Who's starting?
With No. 2 Texas coming to Ohio's capital, the question on everyone's mind is this: Was Zwick's performance good enough to earn another start?
Buckeyes coach Jim Tressel isn't saying.
At least for now.
"I want you guys to have a mysterious weekend so when we get together again we'll talk about it," Tressel said at his postgame press conference.
Tressel indicated that he would name his starting quarterback on Tuesday.
Zwick said he thought the game "went really well. We weren't able to get into the end zone as much as I wanted, but it was good overall. Now I have to prepare for next week.
"I'm not really sure how they're going to grade it -- I'll find out on Monday," Zwick said. "I'll probably get a couple of big minuses for that interception."
Zwick was referring to one of the few Ohio State miscues against the RedHawks when he was intercepted in the end zone by cornerback Darrell Hunter in the second quarter.
"I thought Justin was very efficient," Tressel said. "He had that one play that we all wish we had back. There was a little bit of 'discommunication' with the running back, and instead of just throwing it through the goal post or up into the band, he tried to make something else happen.
"When you have a mistake, you don't want to compound it with another mistake, and that's what we did."
Zwick's view
Without saying so, Zwick hinted that he believes he played well enough to keep the starting job.
"I did enough to get a win today, to help the team get a win today," Zwick said. "That's all I can really worry about. We'll go watch film of Texas tomorrow and grade ourselves on this game on Monday, and move on from there."
Zwick said he's trying to take his roller-coaster career in stride.
"You never know what to expect but you expect that when you sign with Ohio State," Zwick said. "I guess I was surprised by the magnitude of the [scrutiny]."
Asked how he's keeping his emotions about wanting to start under control, Zwick said he's had a master teacher.
"When you're around Coach Tressel enough, you learn how to do it," Zwick said.
Center Nick Mangold, a senior captain, said "Zwick made the plays that he had to. I kinda yelled at him for the one interception, but he took it and said 'that's my mistake.'
"He's dealt with pressure ever since he became a Buckeye," Mangold said. "He had a lot of hype with recruiting and then went through last year."
Asked if Zwick deserves another start, Mangold said, "I don't know. That's a big coaching decision."
Stay tuned.