The Curious Case of Terelle Pryor (or What the Hell Is the NCAA Doing?)

Movie fans are probably familiar with The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, in which the lead character, portrayed by Brad Pitt, ages backward.  It’s an amazing tale, asking the viewer to willingly suspend his or her disbelief and enter a fantasy world where everything is turned upside down.

Over the last several months an equally unbelievable yarn has been unfolding.   Though the epicenter of this tale is the blue collar town of Columbus rather than that glitzy capital of pretense, Hollywood, the story is just as incredulous.

The NFL determined last week that Terrrelle Pryor was eligible for the supplemental draft on August 22, where the Raiders (who else?) promptly selected him.  The decision was predicated on Pryor’s ability to demonstrate to the NFL that his eligibility status had changed after the NFL draft.  According to his attorney, David Cornwell, Pryor did so by delineating details of payments he received from his “mentor” Ted Sarniak while still enrolled at Ohio State.

Cornwell claims that this information was supplied to the NCAA back in May, along with supporting documents.   Ohio State spokesman Jim Lynch denies these claims, however.   Meanwhile, the NCAA concluded the Ohio State hearings on August 12 in breakneck speed, wrapping things up in about 3 ½ hours, or just enough time to take in a college football telecast.   Yet there was no mention by the NCAA of these new charges, leaving the average observer to wonder just who’s telling the truth, and who’s making (or covering) things up. 

Lost in this drama of duplicity and double-talk is the unfortunate saga of Baylor hoops star Perry Jones.   On the eve of his school’s Big 12 tournament game last March, the NCAA ruled that Perry was ineligible based on loans his mother received from an AAU coach before Jones enrolled in school. This ruling came on the heels of an earlier NCAA decision allowing Terrelle Pryor and five other Buckeyes to compete in the Sugar Bowl, despite benefits received while at OSU, citing the “unique opportunity” postseason games present.

In light of recent events involving the NCAA, we have to wonder - what’s the more fantastic tale: a baby born as an elderly man, or the capricious eligibility decisions rendered by the NCAA?  What’s less believable: a man growing younger, or the NCAA’s handling of the Ohio State affair?   Who’s the more outrageous character: Benjamin Button or Paul Dee, the man at the helm during two epic scandals at the University of Miami, yet selected by the NCAA as chairman of several Committees on Infractions?

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button concludes with Hurricane Katrina’s flood waters rising.  The Curious Case of Terrelle Pryor reminds us that there’s another storm coming, and its consequences may be just as devastating to the NCAA.  And if their recent actions and comments are any indication, NCAA officials are equally ill-prepared.