O.K., you can guess by my title what I am going to be talking about here. You guessed it, Terrelle Pryor. As we all know, he has decided to delay signing with a school and has until April 1 to make up his mind. The sad thing about this is that he has left himself open to criticism from the press, and internet bulletin boards like this one. The reason why I say sad is that he's just a kid. He's a child, and apparently a very confused one. This is a big decision. For those on this site who are old enough to be in college, attended college, or graduated from college the decision on where you are going to spend the next four years of your life is a huge one. I will speak for myself, and tell you that it took me weeks of going back and forth over my acceptance letters before I finally decided upon the school. I didn't regret my decision, and there is no need for Terrelle to regret his.
Every school has it's weaknesses and it's strengths. Oregon has an offense that is tailor made for him. He can set up in the shotgun, and have read run/pass options all day. It's also an offense that has been established and launched Dennis Dixon to near Heisman trophy winner status, if not for a leg injury. It also has beautiful facilities. I remember watching an ESPN interview of Phil Knight and his tour of Oregon's facilities left me speechless. It almost made me wish I was an athlete. I would have said hell yes on the spot to an Oregon scholarship. However, Oregon is about 2,000 plus miles away from Western Pennsylvania. That's a long way away from friends, family and the support he is accustomed to and will need. Now, that should not stop him from being a Duck but it just might.
Michigan is an intriguing choice because of new coach Rich Rodriguez and the spread offense. Rich Rod apparently sees Pryor as a bigger Pat White. The only downside to Michigan is that Rodriguez just got there. The offense isn't in yet, so here will be a kid taking snaps as a true freshman behind an offensive line that isn't suited to the spread. While that is a problem, the biggest problem he is going to have is with fans expectations. He will be stepping into a situation similar to Notre Dame's Jimmy Clausen where he will have to be the savior. Michigan has had some nice seasons, but nice doesn't cut in Ann Arbor. He's going to have to be Championship ready right away and that's going to be a serious challenge for this kid. It might be serious enough to send him away.
Right to Columbus Ohio that is. The Buckeyes is a wonderful situation for him (which is tough for me to say as a Wolverine fan). Todd Boeckman is unquestionably the guy so Pryor would more than likely redshirt giving him enough time to learn the offense. Also, Coach Tressell employed the spread for Troy Smith and all he did was have two spectacular seasons that culminated with the Heisman. The only downside to Ohio State might be the distance from his father who is wheelchair bound and reportedly has a hard time making it to games that are far from his home.
Which would leave Penn. State as the alternative. The home state boy leading the home state school back to National glory would be a great story. Also, it would keep him closer to his father who I am sure would become a fixture on the sidelines at Happy Valley. At Penn. State he could start right away, or at least split time with Daryl Clark or Pat Devlin. He would be coached by Methusaleh himself, Joe Paterno. Learning at the feet of a legend would prepare him for his ultimate goal: the NFL. However, Penn. State is a bit of an also-ran. They bring in talent, but with the exception of making the Orange Bowl a couple of years ago, they tend to underachieve. Maybe Pryor could change that but that's a big maybe.
In my heart of hearts I believe Pryor will be a Buckeye, but I do believe that he needs to take all the time he has to take with this. I have to commend him in a way, because unlike a lot of recruits who tend to commit and de-commit Terrelle never chose a school and changed his mind. He didn't make quick decisions, and change them time and time again. He is taking the process for what it is...a life changing one and one that he needs to take his time with.
Consecutive Playoff Streaks
Comments (21)
"He's going to have to be Championship ready right away and that's going to be a serious challenge for this kid. It might be serious enough to send him away."
No, Michigan fans are not expecting them to be national contendors, if they are true Maize and Blue fans. In no way will he be expected to be championship ready in the next year or so...
DetroitFan* BS: Haha Harris! | 02/08/08, 04:42 PM
Report Offensive CommentYou are right about true fans, but you and I both know they are going to be some rabid die hard fans out there.
There are some on this site.
J. HOVA: BROOKLYN'S OWN | 02/08/08, 04:43 PM
Report Offensive CommentIf anywhere, Ohio State would be the place that he would have superior pressure on him in his mind, because what if Boeckman goes down? He will be under a lot of pressure, because Ohio State is expected to be in the National Title game again.
Where would he take less crap from fans?
Losing a game in Michigan this year, or losing a game in Ohio State?
Losing a game in Ohio State for sure!
DetroitFan* BS: Haha Harris! | 02/08/08, 04:45 PM
Report Offensive CommentIf you are a true die-hard fan though, Hova, you will understand that your team can only do so much. Others who think they will be in a BCS Game are not really true fans, that is just crazy talk. Literally though, if you know your team, you will know how much they could do, and if you are a true fan, you will realize that Michigan doesn't have the National Championship talent yet.
DetroitFan* BS: Haha Harris! | 02/08/08, 04:47 PM
Report Offensive Commenti dont think there is more pressure on him anywhere because if his coaches and team mates support him and understand he is only a freshman he wont feel pressure from anyone but himself and maybe some ignorant fans......i agree with hova that he should take his time and weigh his options but at the end of the day i believe ohio state is the best place for him considering the talent pool he will have around him...not to say um or psu dont have the talen but i jus beleive the bucks have more overall talent than any other big 10 team.
i'M StEvIe{iii r0Ck} | 02/08/08, 05:08 PM
Report Offensive Commenti agree with DetroitFan* nobody said Michigan has the highest of hopes
sure we wanna have a good season but doesnt everybody
and if he goes to Oho State and Boekman goes down then waht
they then expect him to become a star right then and lead them
and u say about Troy Simth ye hes really good 5th round selection for a heisman winner
and him and Pryor are nothign alkie
u cnat compare them simth is 5'10 and Pryor is 6'6 nough said
b_ball_star_1 | 02/08/08, 05:33 PM
Report Offensive Commentbballstar
troy smith and tp are both dual threat quarterbacks..one is just a lot bigger than the other...and troy was only a 5th rd draft pick because of his size...waht nfl team would invest millions in a 5"10 quarterback?are you saying troy smith wasn't a heck of a quarterback while at osu?
i'M StEvIe{iii r0Ck} | 02/08/08, 06:31 PM
Report Offensive CommentOH-IO!Pryor is a very special QB that puts much hope into the future with any school he desides to go to.Hopefully The Ohio state University.
Cincy weekend! | 02/08/08, 06:35 PM
Report Offensive CommentWherever he goes, J., he's setting himself up for criticism. I don't envy him making this decision.
DC Sports Nut: Art's in!!! | 02/08/08, 06:48 PM
Report Offensive CommentPenn State might be the better choice. Ohio State and Michigan present an awful lot of pressure on this young man. Pressure that could impede his development. If Penn State turns out to be more than expected, he will receive most of the credit.
Hllywd: Old Schoolin' | 02/08/08, 07:18 PM
Report Offensive Commenthllywd
anywhere this kid goes he'll have pressure on him because he is the number 1 prospect at the most important position on the field....penn state will put just as much pressure on him as would any other program and if he goes there he wont have anyone to throw the ball to after williams and company are gone..if he goes to the bucks he has robo,hartline,small and future stars like devier posey,lama thomas,jacob stoneburner,devon torrence,taurian washington ,dane sanzenbecher and many more.
i'M StEvIe{iii r0Ck} | 02/08/08, 07:28 PM
Report Offensive CommentI don't think he'll go to Michigan. As you said he'll have the same problem that Jimmy Clausen had at Notre Dame except much worse...there won't be any capable quarterback behind him. I do think that even with all the distance problems of Oregon he'll end up being a Duck. I think the Ducks are best suited for his capabilities...there's the tradition of being a great spread team
badgerfan07 | 02/08/08, 08:57 PM
Report Offensive CommentI expected to get killed on this, and so far I see that. Look, please do not question my Wolverine love but I was just stating something I have read on another chat board, If I made it out to be that every Wolverine fan feels that way then forgive me.
J. HOVA: BROOKLYN'S OWN | 02/08/08, 08:59 PM
Report Offensive CommentChoosing a school can be a big deal. Especially when you haven't gone to one yet. I remember weighing my decision very heavily at the time like it was life in the balance. In retrospect, it wasn't such a heavy issue.
Where you do your undergrad or beyond isn't as life altering as much as what you decide to study when you're there. I say this for athletes and non-athletes alike. No one's guaranteed a shot at the pros or a big endorsement.
So it's best to pick something you'd actually like to do some work in, and something that you'd actually be able to obtain work with your degree.
But then again, you can always go back and take out more student loans to change your career path.
That was completely off topic, but it is good to see Pryor being deliberate in his decisions.
Oso's back-Sort of | 02/09/08, 08:47 AM
Report Offensive CommentTerrell is doing the right thing by waiting-let some of the media folks go away and give Terrell and his family some time to sort things out without a camera or microphone in front of them. This young man and his family obviously got more attention than they expected. I hope Terrell realizes that no matter how dysfunctional his family may be, they are still his family. My wife says a dysfunctional family is any family that has two or more members in it. Terrell's life won't end with this decision it will begin. I know how many times I've changed my mind on things and they always work out. As a Michigan Fan, I think Terrell and Sam in the same backfield would change the playing field in the Big Ten. To be able to watch these two players grow together would be beyond words. I know how special Terrell is as a player having watched him play in High School. I wish Terrell well he has a bright future ahead of him.
blue balls | 02/09/08, 12:32 PM
Report Offensive CommentIf Boeckman goes down during next season, Antonio Henton is Ohio State's 1st backup, at this point, I believe.
I don't think the thinking in TP's mind goes like this: "I don't think I want to go to Ohio State or Michigan or PSU because the PRESSURE might be too high. So instead, I think I'll go to Slippery Rock U, where the expectations are much lower."
I can guarantee you that TP is not concerned about having too much pressure wherever he goes.
On the contrary, I think he enjoys it, because look at how he is manipulating those in the media. This kid loves the spotlight, for better or worse. He's the "Paris Hilton" of incoming '08 Freshmen.
buckeyedude | 02/09/08, 07:42 PM
Report Offensive CommentOne other thing: picking a college or university is an important decision, yes, but not nearly as important as PICKING YOUR SPOUSE.
buckeyedude | 02/09/08, 07:44 PM
Report Offensive Commentblue balls
i hear you on the tandem of mcguffie and pryor but when i watched the army aa game pryor looked better playing with lamar thomas who probably has more explosion and diversity than mcguffie...if pryor chooses the bucks he'll have more talent to work with that both psu and michigan.
i'M StEvIe{iii r0Ck} | 02/10/08, 06:11 PM
Report Offensive CommentEJ-- great blog.
I delayed choosing a college for as long as I could-- I was trying to weigh all the factors, and I didn't have the media pressure that a top tier athlete does.
I applaud TP (unfortunate initials, huh?) for taking his time, and I'm not sure whether to blame him or the press for all the hype regarding his signing. When he does it, he does it. I'm HOPING he'll choose OSU, but he has to make the best choice for himself, and Buckeye Nation will go on, with or without him.
And blue balls, I once heard a saying that I love and apply to my family: "We put the 'fun' in dysfunctional."
:)
buck-i-girl | 02/11/08, 08:57 AM
Report Offensive CommentBuckeyedude: I'm sure you are right about picking a spouse. I'm not married but the way I go back and forth with women, I guess I could call myself the TP of dating.
TP: Poor kid. I can hear him getting just mocked in stadiums for those initials.
J. HOVA: BROOKLYN'S OWN | 02/11/08, 02:35 PM
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