OSU QUARTERBACK Zwick or Smith? Tressel won't tell

He explained that each is a deserving candidate.
COLUMBUS (AP) -- Ohio State coach Jim Tressel won't say who will start at quarterback when the Buckeyes play No. 2 Texas Saturday night.
Tressel sidestepped 15 questions about the quarterback rotation Tuesday, saying only that Justin Zwick and Troy Smith would play for No. 4 Ohio State.
"Exactly who will play when, obviously we're not going to outline for you today, but I think Troy's performance in the '04 season, his performance in the spring and his performance in preseason warrants him deserving to play," Tressel said. "I think Justin's performance last season and this spring and this preseason and now game one of this season warrants that he should play."
Histories
Zwick started Ohio State's 34-14 win over Miami (Ohio) last week, going 17-of-23 for 155 yards and one touchdown with an interception. The junior also was the starter at the beginning of last season as the Buckeyes won their three non-conference games and then went 0-3 in the Big Ten.
Smith, also a junior, replaced him and led Ohio State to wins in four of the next five games. The high point was a memorable game against Michigan. Smith rushed for 145 yards -- the second highest total for a Buckeyes quarterback -- and passed for 241 yards and a touchdown in a 37-21 victory.
Not long after that, however, Ohio State discovered Smith had accepted $500 from a team booster and was suspended for the team's Alamo Bowl trip. The NCAA also suspended Smith for the 2005 season opener. Zwick played well in a 33-7 bowl victory over Oklahoma State.
Smith also encountered another question about his eligibility this summer after he missed class to participate in a camp put on by Tennessee Titans quarterback Steve McNair. The NCAA later cleared him of any wrongdoing in that matter, although it added to a public perception that Smith could not stay out of trouble.
Now he's available to play, causing a logjam.
"I'm glad that's Coach Tressel's decision," center Nick Mangold said. "A lot of guys make mistakes off the field that they've regretted immensely. They've come around and they've matured since. Not just Troy, but other guys who've made mistakes and they've admitted their faults. You can't hold something over somebody's head forever. I think everybody needs that second chance."
Both Zwick and Smith have strong arms, although Smith's numbers were superior a year ago. Smith hit 55.7 percent of his passes for eight touchdowns with three interceptions while Zwick completed 52.4 percent with six TDs and six interceptions. Smith is far more mobile, rushing for 339 yards to Zwick's 32 a year ago.
Focus on the team
Wide receiver Santonio Holmes said the Buckeyes were trying to concentrate only on the Longhorns.
"We're not going to focus on who's going to be our quarterback because that would take away from our team," Holmes said.
Tressel has always said he doesn't want to have a two-quarterback system. He has cited examples in the past where teams have struggled when there wasn't a clear-cut starter.
At the same time, the Tressel said a two-headed quarterback is sometimes the best way to go.
"If we do well, I could be comfortable doing just about anything," he said. "If it's the best thing for our team to play two guys at quarterback, we will. So it could go this way the whole year."