2009
Fast-forward again, to 2009. Terrelle Pryor was named Big-Ten Player of the Year before the season started (can we say overrated?), and the highly ranked Buckeyes were ready to dominate during the season. The superstar would get revenge on USC for what they did the year before, and he would become the second sophomore to win the Heisman (Bradford was a redshirt, and doesn't count). Clearly, the Buckeyes would make it to Pasadena and play in the National Championship, and they would beat whomever (hopefully Florida) they found there.
Of course, this didn’t pan out like it was planned. Instead, the Buckeyes lost a close one to USC, and they almost lost to Navy. The season started to look better, as the Buckeyes shut out Toledo and Illinois, back-to-back. Pryor looked to be gaining some composure, though he was still making mistakes. Purdue, however, decided that it was time to show the Buckeyes that their winning ways were over.
Now
Now that the Buckeyes lost a game to Purdue, and have debuted at 
#19 on the BCS initial standings, what is next for Ohio State. If you look at the fan blogs, as well as the comments on the site of the local paper, it is clear that the fans want Jim Tressel to be fired. Never mind that has the highest win percentage of any OSU coach (well, any that has coached for more than a year), or that he keeps on beating Michigan, or that he has five Big Ten Titles – nope, he must go.
Me, on the other hand, I wonder why we don’t just let Pryor go. I mean, face it, Tressel is a great coach, and the kid just plain sucks.
Pryor is clearly one of those quarterbacks who were overrated when he came into college. He has talent, and lots of it, but he just can not use it. The kid doesn’t run at the right time, doesn’t throw well, and he looks down his receiver. That might have worked back in high school, when he was playing against a bunch of tiny towns and small programs, but it doesn’t work at college, especially not at a nationally ranked school. He also has a lack of judgment, which the Michael Vick incident clearly exemplifies. To make it worse, he has fumbled the ball 12 times (5 for turnovers) and thrown eight interceptions (on only 10 touchdown passes). Clearly, this kid is not that great.
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.