Back to school

One year ago, Zack Asack seemed to be on top of the world as he was wrapping up his freshman year at Duke University. Asack started at quarterback as a freshman in the fall of 2005, and looked solid in spring practice, but a mistake off the field almost wiped out all of that.

It was a foolish mistake, he'd be the first to tell you. Asack, who graduated from Xaverian in 2005, knew what he was doing was wrong, but he was just so tired, and this was an easy way out.

"I was taking a Cultural Anthropology class," said Asack. "I was working on a paper, it was late, and I was tired, so I took a shortcut. I used some words as my own, which weren't mine."

Asack got caught and was suspended by Duke University for plagiarism for one year. His life could have gone in a number of different directions from that point. He could have transferred to another school, and perhaps hide from the scrutiny.

Yet Asack owned up to the charges from the beginning. He knew he had a long road ahead of him, and it was the first step that would prove to be the most difficult: Informing his family.

"It was the hardest thing I ever had to tell anyone," said Asack. "I was home, but my mom was out of town. I kept thinking about how I was going to tell my dad. I didn't know what I was going to say, but then God just put the words into my mouth. I even broke down, crying. My dad was obviously really upset, but was also very supportive."

He was in the headlines for all of the wrong reasons. Bloggers who didn't know anything about him, or his case, hurled insults of all kinds.

"I didn't expect it to get to the news as fast as it did," said Asack.

Indeed, his timing couldn't have been much worse. The now infamous Duke lacrosse scandal was in full swing. For those hiding under a rock for the last year, the men's lacrosse team drew national attention as the most egregious example of jocks behaving badly in March of 2006. The squad held a house party where minors were served alcohol and strippers were hired as entertainment. One of the strippers would later accuse three of the players of rape. Without further investigation by the university, the team forfeited the 2006 season, and the coach was fired.

Just last month all three players were declared innocent of the rape charges.

Additionally, J.J. Redick, the senior captain of the Duke basketball team, and soon to be an NBA lottery pick, was arrested in April 2006 for driving under the influence of alcohol.

"It was awful timing," said Asack. "We were under such scrutiny with both of those cases going on. But rules are rules, and I broke one."

Asack moved back home with his family for the year. Not playing football, and not enrolled in classes, he was going to have to find ways to stay sharp both athletically and mentally. Asack no longer had the structure that school life brings, and he needed to keep busy. It was then that he returned to familiar surroundings, working with the Xaverian football team.

Asack with Xaverian coach Charlie Stevenson.

"It was great to be able to be on the sideline for the games," said Asack. "I got to see a different side of the coaches. They were more than just coaches. They are role models, and really great men."

As luck would have it, Asack was not the only former quarterback returning for a season as a volunteer assistant. Brian Mann, class of 1998, was also back in the area working with the Hawks.

"I had always heard about him," said Asack. "But it was great to be able to work with him. I loved talking to him, because he could relate to what it felt like being on the sideline. Even though we both went on to play in college, we both wanted to strap on the Xaverian uniform one more time. I definitely want to stay in contact with him."

Asack was also afforded the opportunity to watch his younger brother play. Paul, a junior at Xaverian, played wide receiver and defensive back, in addition to kicking extra points.

"I never really got a chance to watch him play before, because I always had games, too," said Asack. "It was great to be around for that. He's at the point now where he�s going into his senior year, and he�s being recruited. I'm so proud of him. I'm just trying to do the best I can to help him through it."

Former teachers would also recommend books for Asack to read, covering a variety of topics. He read "Into Thin Air" by Jon Krakauer, a first-hand account of a catastrophic expedition up Mount Everest; "Education of a Coach", by David Halberstam, which provided a biography of Patriots coach Bill Belichick, and "We Die Alone: A WWII Epic of Escape and Endurance", by David Howarth. Asack also listened to books on tape en route to practices or the gym.

"That helped to keep my mind active," said Asack. "Not being in classes this year, I really needed to stay sharp."

His high school connections would continue to pay off, as he got a chance to attend Patriots practices and see the team up close. One of Asack's teammates at Xaverian was Chris Fox, who went on to receive a scholarship to Boston College. Fox's father, Tim, was a safety for the Patriots in the late 70s and early 80s. After his playing career was over, Tim remained in the area, where he still has a close relationship with the Patriots, working as an analyst for WBCN (104.1 FM) on its game-day broadcasts.

"Mr. Fox put me in touch with them," said Asack. "It was really too cool. It was almost a blessing in disguise. To see how hard they work, being around Tom Brady and coach Belichick, they're just great men and individuals, on and off the field."

Asack got to know some of the players, all of whom pretty much had the same message: Go back to school, hit the books, and get your education.

He has every intention of doing just that. Last month, after enduring the process for readmission, he got the news he was hoping for -- he was accepted back at Duke and will take classes this summer.

Of course, things will be different. While he was off the team, Asack continued to go see the Blue Devils play.

"I didn't realize how hard it is... not playing football," said Asack.

It was a brutal experience, watching from the stands. Perhaps the most difficult time was seeing the Blue Devils travel to Chestnut Hill for a game at BC. Asack had been looking forward to taking the field in front of friends and family, and squaring off against some of his high school teammates.

"Growing up, I was always going to BC with my father and brother," said Asack. "We used to go practice on the field under the bubble. I went to football camps there, so I'm very familiar with the campus."

It's unlikely that Duke will play at BC in Asack's final three years. But he has more to worry about than that. In his absence, freshman Thaddeus Lewis stepped in and started all 12 games for the Blue Devils in 2006. That, and a new offensive coordinator, means Asack has some catching up to do. Lewis is the incumbent, and Asack knows it.

"It's a good situation," said Asack. "We're both going to push each other to get better. I've been going to meetings, just trying to pick up the system."

With all that he learned off the field in the last year, being back in uniform should be a breeze.

"I'm just glad to be back on campus," said Asack. "I can't wait to get on the field."