Terrelle Pryor had a decision to make:
Do I go to Michigan and lose to Ohio State every season? Or do I go to Ohio State and lose to some SEC team in the BCS Title game every season?
He chose the latter—and is now the apparent quarterback of the future for the Ohio State Buckeyes.
Too bad Jim Tressel has no idea what to do with a good quarterback.
Not that any of us have any idea whether or not he actually is a good quarterback.
Just because Rivals.com says it's so, doesn't make it gospel. Terrelle Pryor could be the next Tim Tebow, but he could also be the next Rocky Hinds.
The pressure put on these kids to become immediate superheros just because they dominated high school is out of control. Some live up to the hype, some fold under the pressure.
Some just weren't that good in the first place.
Look people, I was an OK defensive back in high school. I’m 5'8" and it takes me about six second to run 40 yards.
Basically, I’m the white Ellis Hobbs.
Anyway, point is, if I can be OK in high school at any position on the football field, then high school isn’t a great measure of football talent.
Some questions worth pondering...
Does the commitment of Terrelle Pryor make Ohio State the odds on favorite to win the next few BCS Titles?
No, but the convoluted and broken BCS system and the overrated Big Ten already made them the favorites to get to the National Championship Game.
Once there, anything’s possible for Ohio State—except beating Florida, of course.
Does Todd Boeckman ride the bench his senior season after taking the Buckeyes to the National Championship Game in his junior year?
I don’t think so.
Tressel will have some packages specifically for the freshman, but you can’t sit a senior who just led your team to the BCS title game.
Especially if you’re an old fashioned coach like Tressel (just look at the sweater vest...doesn't get any more old fashioned than that).
Is SeanMC happy that he randomly chose Ohio State as his college football team because of his random hatred for Doug Flutie and everything he represents (including his college)?
Absolutely. I’m a front runner. My buddy, who is one of those crazy Ohio State fans, swears to me that Wednesday was better than Christmas for us.
Is SeanMC excited to see what losing out on Pryor does to Michigan's offense? Especially considering that he's pretty sure he can play quarterback as well as anyone on their roster?
You bet.
ESPN said that once he officially accepted the job as Michigan head coach, Rich Rodriguez’s first call was to Pryor.
Before he even told his own team, he called Pryor and began recruiting him to Michigan. He put everything he had into recruiting that kid.
And instead of becoming his new quarterback, in an offense that he’s reportedly perfect for, he chose to go play at THE Ohio State.
I couldn’t have written a better script.
I’m SeanMC.
SeanMC is a Senior Writer at Bleacher Report. His archive can be found here. You can find everything he writes, including articles for other publications, here.
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6 months ago
Look, I understand what happened to the buckeyes the last two bowl seasons, but these sweeping statements are getting out of control... Didn't Michigan beat some SEC team last year? Connect the dots, and you realize the difference isn't that bad. The big ten's record is right around .500 over the last few years against the SEC. Total embarassment two years ago in the BCS title game, but last year was also a rebuilding year. Next year they are loaded. Also, I know you guys are from Pac 10 country.... the convoluted and broken bcs system also helps them. I'm sure you will try to defend Stanford and Cal though.
6 months ago
Too bad Jim Tressel has no idea what to do with a good quarterback. What a joke...Coach Tressel molds the talent he has and makes them better players. Quarterback or otherwise. I agree time will tell if Pryor lives up to the hype, but make no mistake, Tressel is a great coach that only makes players better.
6 months ago
Ummmm....did Troy Smith get drafted on Day 1 or Day2 And he has done what in the NFL?
Tressel does a great job preparing linemen.
If Rodriguez put so much stock into getting this kid, and his plan didn't go as he wanted, does this mean he will take his filing cabinet and move on to some other school?
Any molding Tressel does has nothing to do with COLLEGE football. Maybe the old-fashioned sweater-vest should do something about his graduation rates. I know I know that is another topic in and of itself. Or is it?
from 6 months ago
Ohio State's graduation rates hover around 52% - slightly below the average for college football players in D-I (around 60%). Slightly below average but all college coaches (save a few exceptions - BC has a 93% graduation rate) struggle with graduating their players. I wrote a fairly extensive article about this so it's not just Tressel being the culprit. If i'm not mistaken, R-Rod's graduation rate while he was at WVU was even worse...
Tressel does a great job preparing players. Who cares whether Troy Smith even got drafted?? He went from a one-star prospect to a Heisman Trophy winner. Brian Robiskie was about a 2-star and he's the star receiver on the Bucks. Anthony Gonzalez was a low star and he was a first round draft pick...I could go on. Tressel doesnt get his qbs drafted that high because he hasn't ever recruited a top 10 college quarterback. Boeckman was maybe a top 15 guy. So we'll see what he can really do with a highly touted QB. You saw already how #1 prospect Beanie Wells has developed...
6 months ago
This is because he has a better chance of becoming an NFL quarterback under a pro-style system. He is not that tremendous of a passer and would not get much better under Rodriguez and the spread. He doesn't want to be Pat White #2. I am still surprised he didn't play basketball, where a career is more sustainable. All in all, good choice for Pryor.
Get ready for Darrell Scott. Go Buffs!
6 months ago
Look Ohio State SUCKS!!!! They blew it 2 years in a row. They're always ranked number one because they play powder puff teams in the Big 10. The whole Big 10 Confrence sucks!!!! Also Playing D1 AA teams and beatting them doesn't make you the best football team ever. Terrelle Pryor is a decent player....I just feel bad for him for choosing Ohio State. GO LSU!!!!
from 6 months ago
you are simply stupid. lsu is going to suck next year. ohio state will return to glory this year with an amazing quarterback as field commander. we have 8 top 100 recruits from this highschool recruiting class and we are returning all of our defensive and offensive stars. again...lsu sucks...ohio state will be awesome...the big ten is not a pushover conference...the sec on the otherhand will suck balls next year...check your facts before you start passing judgement
6 months ago
Hahahaha that's real good.
Stop reaching for a branch you can't hang onto. I think you are being a little bit over dramatic about Michigan not having a quarterback.
Here comes the chest thumbing.. It's Michigan, they always have a Quarterback.
And if we need someone to run around back there and run some option sets, Antonio Bass should be healthy enough. He played some QB back in the day.
6 months ago
Gee, Sean, after watching OSU march to three Big Dances in Tressel's seven year tenure at Ohio State, I'd say he has a better-than-average idea on how to get the most out of ALL of his players, not just the QB. No other team besides USC has come close to that kind of dominance in a college football division that is much ballyhooed for its parity. Beneath that innocuous sweater-vest lies the heart of a cold-blooded hunter. This man is very good at managing the talent that he has, and thanks to his genuine, no BS recruiting approach - and follow-through - he surrounds himself with the best.
No doubt his critics will never get off him until he beats - soundly - an SEC team in a BCS Championship game. The day will come, and soon. How can I be so sure? The best predictor of future performance is previous history. So beginning with the 18 starters coming back - then adding in a talent-laden freshman class labeled "dominant" by one recruiting expert - and those clicking sounds you hear coming from the 'Shoe must be the chambers being reloaded in Ohio's capital city...
- Royal3
from 6 months ago
Wait....The best predictor of future performance is previous history?
When the heck was the last time Ohio State beat an SEC team in a big game? Seriously, I'm 28 years old...has it happened in my lifetime?
I like Ohio State...I choose to root for them every season due to the lack of a real college football team in the New England area...but seriously...
They're loaded...in the Big 10. In the SEC, they're a 3rd or 4th place team.
But like my buddy says, if you just get to the Championship game, there's always a chance you'll pull off a NY Giants-like upset victory. So it's much better being the that guy than being the 4th place team in the SEC....
6 months ago
Royal.. One word - NICE!
6 months ago
I don't know about this. If you are great in high school football, you'll be good in college. If you are better than great, you'll be a great college football player. Ohio needs great skill players. Terrelle can't do much without any skilled wideouts or tight ends.
6 months ago
Good for Ohio St. They need all the help they can get. maby in a few years they can be competative in one of the MNCG's.
6 months ago
Wow...you might be retarded. I cannot believe that you think Tressel doesn't know what to do with great quarterbacks. He made troy smith in to the heisman winner. He took a mediocre talent in Todd Boeckman and made him an incredibly efficient passer. Also with the addition of the other ridiculous recruits ohio state has, like three of the top ten linemen and the return of a stacked receiving corp he has a stacked passing game. If he has an off game he can hand it off to beanie wells one of the best running backs in the nation. The defense is only getting better too. Again we have the number one recruit at inside linebacker to compliment Laurinaitis and the d line and secondary are always solid as a part of ohio state tradition.
Before you start talking about ohio state sucking...check your facts.
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