Throwdowns > Closed

Bigalke said 12/16, 09:52 PM
With Rich Rodriguez heading to Ann Arbor, Terrelle Pryor has thrown Michigan into his short list of teams in the running of his dual-sport services. But Michigan wouldn't instantly become a contender with just Pryor on the roster. Ohio State and Penn State still are in the running as well, and Florida also stands a chance with a great option for his skill set... although the current Heisman winner is only a sophomore and in the starting role for the Gators for at least one more season...

In my opinion, Oregon would be the most natural fit for his skill set, where he could slide into the Chip Kelly offense as a Young/Dixon-style QB to replace senior Dennis Dixon and play in the rising Pac-10. In basketball, he would follow in the footsteps of recent blue-chip recruits O.J. Mayo and Kevin Love in going to a Pac-10 school. Oregon was a top-tier school this season with Dixon at the helm, and went to the Elite Eight in last season's NCAA Tourney...

Which team to you feel provides Pryor with the best opportunity for success in both basketball and football? Pick one team and let's hammer out some sound debate...

Bigalke said 12/16, 10:13 PM
No problem... but I hope you don't mind me making some more arguments in favor of Oregon here in anticipation of your choice of school...

The Pac-10 was recently featured on SI's Men's Basketball Preview cover -- Love v. Mayo, UCLA v. USC -- and yet Oregon was last season's Pac-10 Champion. Pryor, a "do everything forward", would have immediate impact next season with Mitch Platt and Maarty Leunen graduating after this season. Oregon basketball is on the rise, and Pryor would fit in well with rising star Tajuan Porter, senational freshman Kamyron Brown, and improving forward Joevan Catron to keep the Ducks a force through the end of the decade.

With a mobile quarterback calling the shots, the nation saw what Chip Kelly's spread-option offense could accomplish for the Ducks, both at Autzen Stadium and on the road. Pryor would be a great fit to replace Dixon in the offense...

And then there is the substantial benefits of moving to what has essentially become Nike U. With all the "swoosh-bucklers" walking around the Eugene campus, Oregon provides better facilities for recruits than some professional teams. Phil Knight's dollars provide significant perks for Oregon athletes...

Bigalke said 12/16, 11:35 PM
Pryor could certainly come in and be the next great Buckeye quarterback... but where is the basketball team headed? Greg Oden and Mike Conley, Jr. only saw fit to stay a season. Thad Matta can certainly recruit, but can he retain talent to bring consistent success? His teams are always competitive, no doubt... but where is the continuity? In Oregon, Catron can help assist Pryor as he grows into a dominant forward... and a Dixon-style spread will certainly suit Pryor's skills better than a Troy Smith-style offense.

Tressel could mold a system to effectively utilize his dual-threat skills at quarterback. Matta could design the Buckeyes around him. But would they be willing to share him?

Only Oregon has illustrated any willingness to allow football players to play basketball and vice versa. Kent and Bellotti have proven they can work together to get the most out of an athlete in both sports. The Pac-10 provides equivalent or greater competition than the Big Ten in both sports, and no recruiting machine has a bigger booster than Phil Knight, he of the recent $100 million Duck Athletic Endowment donation... a headliner in a new Eugene basketball arena and at magnificent Autzen...