Zolak Will Finally Get His Chance to Star at Maryland

Scott Zolak grew up in this western Pennsylvania town of nearly 10,000 located in a valley along the banks of the Monongahela, Allegheny and Ohio rivers. Its history is one of steel and coal mines and passing freight trains, symbolic of the hard-nosed, blue-collared people who still live here.

But there is another tradition that runs just as deep.

“Steel, coal and quarterbacks,” says Zolak with a smile. “This place is like a haven for them.”

Western Pennsylvania has produced quite a few. Beaver Falls had Joe Namath. John Unitas and Dan Marino were from Pittsburgh. East Brady was the home of Jim Kelly. Monongahela had Joe Montana.

Now the hopes of a football team, the possible future of a coach and a potential pro career are riding on another strong right arm from western Pennsylvania.

Zolak, a 6-foot-5, 221-pound senior, is the University of Maryland’s starting quarterback for the 1990 season.

The Terrapins will open their season Saturday at home against Virginia Tech.

In four previous years, Zolak didn’t even throw a first-half pass, playing mostly in a mop-up role behind Dan Henning and Neil O’Donnell. Zolak’s career statistics at Maryland: 45 completions, 91 attempts, 535 yards, two touchdowns, three interceptions.

Now Zolak gets to start. Not only is he carrying the reputation of a western Pennsylvania quarterback, but he also is following in the footsteps of some great predecessors at Maryland, such as Boomer Esiason, Frank Reich and Bob Avellini.

Pressure?

No way. Remember the background.

“I’m sure there is a little pressure, but around here I played in front of nearly 10,000 every Friday night,” said Zolak. “If I’m in high school and can handle that kind of crowd, I’m sure I’ll be able to concentrate and get it done at Maryland.

“I’ve been waiting for this moment -- to start -- since high school. Actually, I see this as the start of my college career.”

Zolak learned early about concentration and desire. His mother, Daryl, an armchair quarterback, is her son’s toughest critic. His father, Paul, who was Joe Montana’s high school quarterback coach, was a longtime coach at Ringgold High and now is the school’s athletic director.

Paul Zolak played a significant role in Scott’s development.

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“I was in midget league and got stopped twice for a touchdown on a quarterback sneak,” said Scott Zolak, his eyes getting larger and his voice getting louder. “We get home, and later that night my father took me out in the garage away from everybody. He says, ‘Son, don’t you ever, ever let anybody stop you on a quarterback sneak again.’

“I’ve never forgotten that because it has made me work so much harder. My father has always been there for me, helping me with my release, footwork or just playing catch. It always helps when you have your father as an assistant.”

In Monongahela, football is gospel. People can’t wait to climb into their pickup trucks and head down to the Friday night game, easily the week’s biggest social event.

And they don’t play option football in western Pennsylvania. This is pro-set territory. Straight drop-back quarterbacks are the norm.

“The competition in this area is just so intense, and that’s part of the reason Scott is so tough,” said Jim Chacko, a guidance counselor at nearby Charleroi High who also officiates high school football. “You know how they casually say every man wants his son to become a quarterback; well, around here, they really do want their sons to become quarterbacks. It’s embedded.”

Kent Nichols, Zolak’s coach when he was a sophomore at Belle Vernon High and later in Zolak’s senior year at Ringgold, said Zolak didn’t become a major college prospect until his senior year. As a sophomore, Zolak had a decent arm, but slow feet, Nichols said.

But in his senior year, Zolak grew a few inches, added weight and completed 79 of 153 passes for 1,251 yards and 10 touchdowns. He left Nichols with a lot of special memories.

“There was one play that was unbelievable, even until this day,” said Nichols. “We were playing Belle Vernon, and late in the fourth quarter, Scott drops back to pass. Well, they blitz everybody, I mean everybody. And just as he is about to release the ball, Scott gets blindsided. But he still throws it 60 yards in the air for a touchdown, and we win, 12-7.

“Believe me, Maryland has a great quarterback. I’ve got a feeling he’ll be playing in the pros somewhere next season.”

For now, Zolak says, the pros can wait. He has waited too long for his chance to start. The waiting game, along with the departure of former head coach Bobby Ross, who went to Georgia Tech after the 1986 season, almost caused him to leave Maryland.

“When Coach Ross left, a lot of players considered transferring out,” said Zolak. “I went to Maryland because the school was going to bowls every year. They had a tradition of turning out quarterbacks, and the year before I came, they were ranked No. 1 in the preseason. And then all of a sudden I go home for a school break, and when I come back, the coach says he is leaving.

“I decided to stay because I felt comfortable with (head) coach (Joe) Krivak and the staff. As far as waiting my turn, I thought Neil (O’Donnell) and I had the same amount of talent physically--he was just a year ahead of me. I pushed him, and he pushed me. We both worked our butts off to get better. An advantage that I have going into the season is that as a No. 2 quarterback, you still had to prepare like you were the starter because any minute you could be in there. I know how to prepare.”

There’s no doubt who the starter is now. Zolak has been a daily inspiration at practice -- constant chatter, high-fives, butt slaps. He has even given a couple of rah-rah speeches, the old “We don’t get any respect” type.

“Scott has this air of confidence about him,” said Krivak, who is in the fourth and final year of his contract. “He has done everything we’ve asked of him. Personally, he’s the type of guy you really want to see succeed. He has waited so long and made all the necessary preparations. I’d like to see him light up the sky. Now he’s just got to do it.”

Zolak has the right ingredients. He has a strong, accurate quarterback’s arm on a body made for a tight end. He reads defenses extremely well. His mobility is not the greatest, but Zolak has what Ross calls “good evade-ability.”

Two years ago, he showed some of the brilliance that could surface.

Maryland was playing Virginia in Charlottesville, and O’Donnell had to leave late in the game because of an injury. The Terps were on the Virginia 30, and the Cavaliers were ahead, 24-17, with 2 minutes, 4 seconds to play.

Zolak’s first pass, on second down and 10, was dropped by running back Ricky Johnson. His next pass fell short to wide out Vernon Joines. Instead of getting frustrated, Zolak rifled a 24-yard pass to wide receiver Barry Johnson on fourth and 10. First down.

On the next play, Zolak threw a high, hard 3-yard pass to Barry Johnson on the wide side of the field. On the next play Johnson scored a touchdown on a pitch around the right end with 1:09 remaining, to bring Maryland to within a point, 24-23.

On the conversion play Zolak took the snap, rolled to his right and threw a pass between two defenders to Ricky Johnson, who seemed to hold onto the ball long enough for Maryland to win the game.

Seconds later, the officials ruled that Johnson didn’t have control of the ball.

Goodby, comeback. Goodby, heroics.

But the Zolak fan club was beginning to grow.

“I became a Scott Zolak believer that day,” said George Welsh, Virginia’s football coach.

Said Ross, “I think he’s a great quarterback. I think he’s a sleeping giant in our conference.”

Now it’s up to Zolak to fulfill that potential.

The challenge is certainly there, too. Maryland hasn’t had a winning season in Krivak’s three previous years. This year the Terps have nine starters back on defense, but only two on offense.

Maryland also will sport a new offensive look, the one-back set, after years in the pro-set.

“A lot of people have heard of the name Scott Zolak, and they want to see what I can do,” said Zolak. “I’m not going to think about winning, losing, the coach’s career or anything else, just doing the best that I can. Scott Zolak can’t win these 11 games alone; it’s a team effort.”