Wednesday, December 15, 2004
Ken Gordon
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
Having recovered from a battered shoulder and a bruised ego, Ohio State quarterback Justin Zwick yesterday said he has no plans to transfer.
Speculation and rumors have been rampant that the deposed third-year sophomore would leave, not wanting to sit behind Troy Smith for the next two seasons.
In his first public comments since he was injured Oct. 16 at Iowa, Zwick admitted to thinking about a transfer at some point, but he sounded as if that point may have passed.
"The thought crosses your mind," Zwick said, "but as of right now, I’d say I’ll be here next year. I feel good about the guys I’m with and I like Ohio State.
"I grew up in Ohio, you’re at Ohio State, I’ve been there before — I was starting — and some things happened. Bad timing for some things, but you live with it, you go on and fight and just hope that one day you get that chance."
If he would transfer to another Division I-A school, he would have to sit out 2005 and would have just one season of remaining eligibility. If he went to a Division I-AA or Division II school, he could play right away.
"That’s crossed my mind, but it’s not something I’ve definitely researched a lot into," Zwick said.
Zwick was 3-3 as a starter and the Buckeyes were on a three-game losing streak when he suffered a separated throwing shoulder at Iowa.
Smith took over and went 4-1, including a dazzling effort in an upset win over arch-rival Michigan on Nov. 20 that cemented his starting status for the Alamo Bowl on Dec. 29 and heading into 2005.
"At first, it was tough," Zwick said. "Any time you get injured and you’re not able to do what you love to do, it’s hard. We had a couple tough games, and then all of a sudden it’s topped off with an injury and you’re just sitting there like, ‘What else can go wrong?’
"And once you get past that, you realize that you’re here to make this team better. The team was having good success the second part of the season, so after you got over feeling sorry for yourself, you start to realize that things are going good and you’re happy for the team."
Zwick said he could not have played in the three games after Iowa. He figured he was about 85 percent healthy for Purdue on Nov. 13, but not ready for a game until Michigan.
Rick Shepas, Zwick’s coach at Massillon Washington High School, has talked to Zwick regularly this season. He said his advice has been to stay at OSU and fight.
"I don’t believe Justin Zwick went to Ohio State to transfer out at the first sign of competition," Shepas said. "And with all due respect to Troy, you never know when you’ll get another opportunity. He’ll get another chance."
Buckeyes coach Jim Tressel said he has noticed "a pretty good bounce" in Zwick’s step lately in practice, a sign that he has recovered mentally as well as physically.
"He made a couple throws today like, ‘Wow, how did he see that?,’ " Tressel said. "And I thought he’s had progress and he’s had good bowl practices."
Zwick did not sound bitter or have a hang-dog look yesterday. He wasn’t hopping up and down with excitement, either.
Instead, he acted like someone who had been thrown a curveball, fouled it off and was just now stepping back into the batter’s box.
"Things happen," Zwick said. "You never know what’s going to happen. But if you just stay persistent and keep fighting, keep working hard, someday — maybe not here at Ohio State, but someday in life — if you’re a hard worker and do things right, something good is going to happen.
"It’s just another one of life’s lessons."
