Zwick finds himself right back where he started

After losing the Ohio State starting quarterback job to fellow sophomore Troy Smith when he separated his shoulder in the sixth game of the season, Zwick appears right at home running plays as the Buckeyes prepare for the Alamo Bowl.

"I'd been there before, and not a whole lot has changed," he said. "It's still the same guys in the huddle, and the same plays. It's not a whole lot different. It just felt good to get more reps and work on things a little bit more."

Smith, who led the Buckeyes to a 4-1 finish that included a 37-21 win over Michigan, was suspended from Wednesday's game against Oklahoma State after accepting an improper gift from an Ohio State booster, in violation of team and NCAA rules, The Columbus Dispatch reported.

The quarterback change forced Oklahoma State to alter its defensive preparations a bit -- Zwick isn't nearly as much of a running threat as Smith.

"Troy gave them a mobile characteristic, there's no denying that," Cowboys coach Les Miles said. "But I think they're still going to be plenty dangerous even without him."

Oklahoma State was eighth in the Big 12 in passing defense, allowing 225.5 yards per game.

"When they had Troy Smith, they were pretty much multi-dimensional," safety Jamie Thompson said. "I think with Zwick they'll go back to passing the ball and a power running game.

"That's the Big Ten, and they're a Big Ten team."

Zwick ran the plays during Ohio State's practice on Thursday at Trinity University.

"It'd exciting finally to get back in there and have a little bit more on my shoulders, and I'm just excited about the opportunity," Zwick said. "I'm out here trying to get better and make this team better."

The Buckeyes struggled with Zwick as quarterback, losing three consecutive conference games.

Zwick said he's glad to have the opportunity to lead the team again but isn't getting caught up speculating about what his performance might mean in the long term.

"I just look at it as a chance to go out there and do what I love to do, and that's about as far as I'm going to get into it," Zwick said. "I'm just trying to get better, help the team keep going with what we were doing at the end of the season, and get a win in the bowl game."

Smith won't be the only player to miss the Alamo Bowl. Oklahoma State senior cornerback Darrent Williams was kicked off the team for having a bad attitude, the Dispatch reported.

Williams fractured a forearm in Oklahoma State's 36-7 over Iowa State on Oct. 2. He tried to return five weeks later in a 56-35 loss to Texas but reinjured the arm three plays into the game. He was cleared to play against the Buckeyes earlier this week.

When he's healthy, Williams, a preseason All-American and All-Big 12 honoree, is among the top all-around players in the nation. He was clocked at 4.25 seconds in the 40-yard dash earlier this season.

Originally published Saturday, December 25, 2004