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Home > Blogs > Buckeyes Beat > Archives > 2008 > October > 04 > Entry
Pryor not dazzling, but good enough
Ohio State may not be quite ready to test the elite teams in the nation just yet, but the defending Big Ten champs pulled out a season-saving, 20-17 victory at Wisconsin on Saturday night and appear to have rid themselves of that post-Southern Cal funk.
Quarterback Terrelle Pryor looked more like a freshman than a budding superstar much of the night, but he showed plenty of panache on an 80-yard game-winning TD drive in the final 6 1/2 minutes.
He came up with key completions to keep the scoring march humming — yes, his throwing motion is a little funky, but accuracy and arm strength aren’t an issue — and he showed how dangerous he can be with his feet on the 11-yard TD scamper with just over a minute to go.
With the Badgers’ defense looking confused, Pryor took a shotgun snap, ran the option to the left with Beanie Wells, tucked the ball away and barreled into the end zone.
Many doubted whether the rookie QB could hold up in an inhospitable venue like rowdy Camp Randall Stadium, but Pryor had the moxie to do it. And the important thing from an OSU standpoint is that the positive outcome on the road should only bolster his already considerable confidence.
“They kept hanging in there, the whole team kept fighting,” OSU coach Jim Tressel told an ABC sideline reporter after the game. “Wisconsin is a good football team (that was) playing at home and fighting for their Big Ten lives. That’s the way conference play is. We’re proud of the poise we had.”
The Buckeyes still have plenty of work to do — they simply can’t muster much of a pass rush with just their front four, and the Beanie Wells-Terrelle combo hasn’t gotten into a rhythm yet — but they went into the year as the preseason pick to win the Big Ten and that feel-good triumph shows they’re still worthy of being considered the league favorites.
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Comments
By Chuck
October 5, 2008 10:34 AM | Link to this
WHEW ! ! Tough One ! !By SEC1
October 5, 2008 11:01 AM | Link to this
wow…you beat Wisconsin…who lost to Michigan…who lost to Illinois…who lost to USC in the Rose Bowl last year, the same USC who cracked your head open a couple of weeks ago. Pryor is Vince Young lite…OSU is still the SEC’s beeotch..By Dan
October 5, 2008 11:27 AM | Link to this
SEC1 I saw an article on Fox Sports identifying top 10 programs scheduling easy non-conference games. Guess who had 5 teams out of 10 on that list. You guessed it the classless SEC. Stop being whimps. You play bowl games at home and regular season games are south of the Mason-Dixon and east of the Mississippi, except for Arkansas. Spare me the Bull.By steve
October 5, 2008 2:46 PM | Link to this
Pryor will just keep getting better. Now he’s passed two major tests, first start and first start on the road in the Big ten (at night no less). Who would’ve thunk it. Bring on sc for the rematch.By Tim
October 5, 2008 9:22 PM | Link to this
Sec 1 should be aware envy & jealousy are traits of a beeotch. This is buckeye nation…. Love us or leave us. The only thing good about the SEC is all the teams choke against each other opening the door for O-State to slide on thru… OHH ITS TRUBy Tim
October 5, 2008 9:30 PM | Link to this
Pryor’s respect to tradition is a clear sign of greatness. I could see how sharing the field with atleast 3-5 future 1st rounders acting like big brothers could be humbling… This year he embraces the spotlight next year watch out!!!!By VietVet
October 6, 2008 7:09 AM | Link to this
Just got by Wisconsin. If OSU plays like that against Penn State, it may not be pretty. OSU looks flat.The offensive line doesn’t have the talent this year. Wells has to do most of the running work himself with little to no help from the line. Saine doesn’t impress me for being the player of the year in Ohio.Defense, at times, gives up some big yards.Still think the offensive and defensive coaches are way too conservative in their approach. Need to watch the SEC to change style.Tressel wins, but sometimes lives on the edge doing it. Pryor is still very tentative/hesitant after the ball is snapped. He lives on the edge each play. He’ll get better, but hold on to your hat until he does. Bucks need to show us they can dominate a Big Ten team. Just getting by now.By randy
October 6, 2008 8:19 AM | Link to this
accuracy and arm strength aren’t an issue bull crap thats everything pryor needs alot more reps thats what i learned in saturdays gameBy randy
October 6, 2008 10:32 AM | Link to this
although he had his chance i think jim should start boeckman aginst big ten teams hes used to them and you could still let pryor play but i think todd deseves it watchin him on the sidelines made me sad because if you think about it he took osu to a national championchip last year and won the big ten and helped beat michigan its not right to bench him just because the o-line wouldent block and give him time if you had jerry rice on your team would you bench him because he droped a ball i dont think so because you would prolly have to much respect for him i have respect for boeckman and i think he should be starting no offence to pryor but he is not ready to lead he should be learning the playbook and watching boeckman to learn so he wont make mistakes like that int. he did in this game i mean come on that was horrible and im not comparing boeckman to rice im just saying boeckman is a veteran and should be starting everyone makes mistakes thats how we learn.By Roho Radio
October 6, 2008 12:59 PM | Link to this
SEC1….Go ahead and believe the hype. In bowl games since 2001, in head-to-head between the SEC and Big 10, the SEC leads 10-9. Beeotch? Don’t think so. Looks pretty even to me. You’ve been listening to Mark May on ESPN too much. The media creates more illusions than David Blaine.By BoroBuckeye
October 6, 2008 2:55 PM | Link to this
VietVet - although the O-line isn’t playing great, it isn’t lack of talent. This is the same group of guys that were there LAST year when everyone was talking about how great they are. They just aren’t playing with any passion and are getting beat by speed. There is talent - they need to work harder and get mean and punish some people. THAT will make the difference.By chris
October 6, 2008 4:16 PM | Link to this
I thought the defense this year was supposed to be the greates defense since the steel curtain,,they are a bunch of slow overweight hamburgersBy Matt
October 7, 2008 8:52 AM | Link to this
Ok, will everyone please get over the SEC. You guys let the crappy teams in your conference beat you, but for some reason it isn’t because those teams are over-rated, its because the “SEC is that good”… that is crap, get over yourselves.. Roho put it best, and you can’t argue those facts.. and Randy, although i have all the respect in the world for Boekmon, its Pryor’s time..By Tim
October 7, 2008 12:22 PM | Link to this
Randy my man, I do hope you recognize the goal is to win the national championship as well as the big ten each season. Yes Boekman is a gamer but him and Alex Boone have played major roles in us looking inferior to our recent foes(SEC/USC). Isn’t that what buckeye nation is trying to put behind us to overcome recent letdowns on the big stage? True fr Mike Adams 6-8 322 should be playing more especially when Boone hurts the team like against USC& Minn….By Chris
October 7, 2008 3:13 PM | Link to this
With the logic used by SEC1… Ohio State beat Michigan last year who beat Florida in a bowl game… so OSU owns UF by that reasoning… GO BUCKSBy Chris
October 7, 2008 3:14 PM | Link to this
With the logic used by SEC1… Ohio State beat Michigan last year who beat Florida in a bowl game… so OSU owns UF by that reasoning… GO BUCKS