Krenzel Is a Matinee Idol Only to Ohio State Fans

In terms of box-office star power and magnetism, Denzel Washington is always going to have it over Krenzel-Washington.

As a character actor, though, Ohio State senior quarterback Craig Krenzel continues to steal scenes from A-list performers.

It's funny that Krenzel is never mentioned as a Heisman Trophy candidate but is always compared to them.

It's also funny how often Krenzel comes out on top when pitted against all this "superior" competition.

Saturday night at Columbus, Washington trotted out quarterback Cody Pickett, the latest Heisman prospect to invade Krenzel's turf.

At game's end, it wasn't even close as to which player was the better pro prospect (Pickett) and which player dominated the game (Krenzel).

Pickett threw a prettier spiral and exhibited prototype NFL skills; Krenzel floated enough complete passes to keep the defense honest and, on foot, twice beat defenders to end-zone pylons.

It has happened too often now to be coincidence. You go into an Ohio State game hyping someone else and exit talking about Krenzel.

Last year, Washington State quarterback Jason Gesser's Heisman candidacy died in the dust of a 25-7 loss to Krenzel's Buckeyes in Ohio Stadium.

In the 2003 Fiesta Bowl, Krenzel faced a Miami team that featured two Heisman finalists, quarterback Ken Dorsey and tailback Willis McGahee.

Krenzel played both men off their feet and outperformed his own award-worthy teammate, Maurice Clarett.

Krenzel will never put up the kind of numbers that make voters want to punch his ballot.

No offense taken.

"I don't care if I throw the ball 10 times a game or 50 times," Krenzel said Saturday. "As long as we're moving the ball and scoring touchdowns and we're playing well and winning football games, that's all I care about."

Krenzel always has excelled at patience. He was so far down the depth chart in 2001 he was allowed to sit out a game to attend his sister's wedding. He is a 4.0 student majoring in molecular genetics and requires no preferential jock treatment in the classroom. In fact, in terms of Krenzel's pro potential versus his future in medical science, the NFL's gain might be society's loss.

Imagine the setback had Jonas Salk thrown a 95-mph fastball?

Krenzel is a better college passer than given credit for and faster than he looks, but he's certainly no Michael Vick.

What Krenzel does have is the uncanny knack of being good when it counts most.