Last Saturday, the Purdue Boilermakers (2-5) embarrassed the Ohio State Buckeyes (5-2) during a 26-16 upset. Ohio State, who had been relying on their strong defense all season, just were out played, and plain beaten up, by the meek, and little, Boilermakers. This was not only an embarrassment to the team, but an embarrassment to all Ohio State fans. The reason for this embarrassment is one player, a guy who turned the ball over four times, though he tried to twice more, #2, Terrelle Pryor.
2007
After being manhandled in the BCS National Championship for the second year in a row, this time by LSU (which I attended, much to my disgust), OSU was on the search for a good backup quarterback. Troy Smith, winner of the 2006 Heisman Trophy, had left and their current starter, Todd Boeckman, who was a first team Big-Ten player, was starting his final year. The Buckeyes needed a good backup, and somebody who would be amazing when he started.
Looking to the east, Coach Jim Tressel found his backup in a young athlete from Pennsylvania. Terrelle Pryor was playing for Jeannette Senior High School, and was considered the best nationwide recruit of his class. The kid could run, pass, and score. It looked like Pryor would be a Godsend, and that all of OSU’s troubles would soon be over. With Pryor at the reigns, there would be Heismans, National Championships, and everything that a true OSU fan would desire. #11 signed with the Buckeyes, became #2, and the new era was upon us.
2008
Fast-forward a year, when OSU is playing USC out in California. The Buckeyes are decimated, and leave the state with a 35-3 loss hanging ov
er their heads. Boeckman had been sacked countless times, and the offense just stagnated. A week later, the Buckeyes took to the field, and #2 was leading the offense (apparently, I was one of the few students opposed to this idea). The new era had started, and Pryor was holding the reins.
With Pryor at the helm, the Buckeyes were looking decent. Well, the team was looking decent; Pryor was somewhat struggling. The kid fumbled the ball, threw many picks, and had bad judgment. He simply didn’t seem to understand the game at this level, and it was clearly a problem for him. Of course, he was a freshman, so we Buckeye fans were able to forgive him.
Article comments
1 - Matthew T. Sussman
Good points across the board, but Terrelle Pryor is an amazing player in the wrong system. The only reason I saw him going to OSU is they wanted to ensure Michigan didn't get him. (Tate Forcier thanks Tressel in advance.)
Bench him, and he'll probably transfer to another top school and shine. If he transfers within the Big Ten (like Illinois or Penn State), well, then that's just trouble.
Jim Tressel's defenses are traditionally (and still are) first-rate. It's his slightly outdated offensive scheme that can't match up against the greatest teams. It's why his teams are on a three-game BCS losing streak.
2 - Robert M. Barga
The thing is, Pryor picked OSU to make him a NFL quarterback. From what i understand, he has clauses indicating that he needs to drop back and pass often, which is what he wanted. This is crap, but how it is. Pryor will not leave because he wants to be good, but, he can't, as he isn't letting himself.
also, he was verbal to UM before Rod went over...
It is the big ten, defense is what they live on
3 - Chip Etier
Agreed, Pryor is probably in the wrong system. How amazing he could be at this level of competition remains to be seen. He certainly did not have the impact on OSU that Tebow did in FLA.
I liked your use of verifiable facts in your article even with your obvious bias! LOL I'm a loyal LSU fan and was also a Buckeye fan back in the days of Archie Griffin, Rex Kern, and Woddy Hayes.
Good article!
4 - Robert M. Barga
I am a student and devout OSU fan, which i am quite sure was clear. I did my best to ignore my hatred of the spread to show why Pryor wasnt using it
5 - gulfportcarl
Nice article, You get to see everything first hand. I only know what I read and see and what my years of football tell me.
I hope Tress does something to stimulate the Quarterback postion. I don't know much about Joe Bauserman. If he's good enough to be signed by Ohio State he's good enough to play. Can't do any worse than TP has done. I would have put him in at have time of the purdur game. Nice blog.
6 - Robert M. Barga
Morning Carl, how are you doing?
Thanks for the comment about the site, but we are a magazine, not a blog (petpeeve of mine)
anyways, I believe that Tres will do something next week if need be, but odds are that he won't have to. Pryor is simply going to stop trying to pass and run instead, I am sure of it. If he doesn't, I will be leading the "Pull Him" chants from the student secton
7 - Robert M. Barga
what other term would you use?
8 - Zanesville
The other term I would use is "he has his moments" as defined by Tressel.
It is more suttle for the word suck even though it has the same meaning.
Anyway, what is Tressel going to do?Bauserman looks to green to start with some big games coming up.
Do you ever see Terrelle and if so, does he walk around campus like he's the greatest thing since Mike Vick....lets not go there..
How does Mr. Pryor carry himself on campus?
I see on T.V. he has tattoos now, he reminds me of someone trying to be Mr. Cool Hip Hop.
The look on face reminds me of someone that looks clue less. Would say this is a fair assessment?
A Clue Less Mr. Cool Hip Hop who is way in over his head.
9 - Robert M. Barga
Okay, he has moments of glory, but normally sucks. Does that work?
The fact of the matter is that Terrelle is playing far below his caliber, and he just isn't performing. In any thing else, we would say 'suck'
I have seen him on campus, and he looks like he isn't pompus, but he still has that swagger
10 - Advisor
I do have to give Terrelle credit for his big game in the Rose Bowl.
He did play very well and he showed he is clutch and a big play maker.
The running game was stopped in the 2nd half and if it wasn't for T.P., we would have lost the game.