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Award-winning columnist Tom Archdeacon — an old-school storyteller in a brand-new venue — writes about sports, the city, southwest Ohio and anything else that catches his fancy… or yours.Home > Blogs > Through the Arch > Archives > 2011 > June > 07 > Entry
Terrelle Pryor’s departure no surprise
A week ago I wrote that I didn’t think Terrelle Pryor would ever play for Ohio State again and I had some people disagree with me - a few quite nastily — saying I was selling the kid short.
They said he was being made the scapegoat in the scandal that has rocked Ohio State football and cost coach Jim Tressel his job and much of his reputation.
Some of that may be true. Pryor was an easy target. But he’s also a deserving target. That doesn’t lessen Tressel’s culpability one iota - he deserved to lose his job — but Pryor is old enough and savvy enough to be responsible for his actions, too.
And since he’s come to Ohio State his actions have been Me-First, the university, the team, his teammates second.
So it comes as no surprise to me that he informed Ohio State tonight that he’s not returning to the Buckeyes for his senior season. He was to start the season with a five-game suspension for his involvement in Tattoo-gate - trading memorabilia and autographs for ink work and cash - but he had promised Tressel he would return for the 2011 season.
Of course much has happened since he made that vow. Tressel has been forced out for his part not just in covering up the transgressions of Pryor and other players, but for all the other problems and improprieties — alleged and not — that keep popping up and have prompted an NCAA investigation and coast to coast bad press for the Buckeyes football program.
Pryor is at the epicenter of this uproar and the more that comes out - the investigation into all the cars he’s had, his relationship with the Pennsylvania businessman who acts as his mentor and just what all went on at that tattoo parlor he hung out at — the more his OSU legacy comes into question.
I thought Pryor showed his true colors almost from the moment he took over as the OSU starter just a few games into his freshman season. When Todd Boeckman lost his job to Pryor, the fifth year senior from St. Henry - as OSU coaches wanted him to do — he tried to help the young phenom succeed and tried to offer some suggestions about coverages and tendencies from the sidelines.
Rather than listen or thank him, Pryor pushed Boeckman away and — as was confirmed by other players on the sideline that day — cursed him in the process, basically saying “I don’t &%#%ing need you, get %&#! out of my face.”
From the get go it was all about him.
Boeckman could have taught him some things, especially on how to comport himself off the field.
So now Pryor is going to declare for the supplemental NFL draft … a move that hinges on the NFL labor problems being resolved.
As for how he will do, I think he’ll get some interest, but not as much as he thinks. To me he’s a mid-round pick. He has to develop more as a quarterback … and as a guy you can count on off the field.
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Comments
By OSU Joe
June 25, 2011 8:27 AM | Link to this
if Chris Wright was NBA material, he would not have played at lowly ud.
By Lack of Class
June 18, 2011 11:01 AM | Link to this
My guess is when Pryor was recruited he was promised the starting job to get him to come to OSU. Doesn’t make any difference that Boeckman had taken OSU to 2 title games in 4 years, I think that is correct, how often does that happen to a school. Tressel sold out Boeckman in favor of Pryor who has played in no title games and now is leaving with his classless attitude. After all this I am now losing my interest in OSU football, how can you cheer for an organization who operates this way??? Jim Tressel had so much going for him, he sold himself and his school out to satisfy his own ego. I say Good Riddance to Tressel and Pryor.
By Ed Fowler Jr 72
June 15, 2011 10:18 PM | Link to this
Great story Arch!!! On to more important things. What do you know about Chris Wright draft status…. I really like the kid and intrigued with his possibility of being drafted.
By Steve
June 14, 2011 1:38 PM | Link to this
Tom, my old neighbor, guess the boys got what they deserved and who knows maybe more to come. Your right about Pryors’ swollen head and I thought Todd Boeckman showed he deserved more respect than what he got also. Kinda makes one wonder- what else?
By RudyFlyer
June 10, 2011 8:53 AM | Link to this
The opinions expressed in the column are dead on. Pryor is responsible for his actions as is Tressel but Pryor doesn’t understand this and just wants to move his self centered life to the next level. Who is to blame for this ask “fans”, well find a mirror and look into it. You all support this sham of amateur athletics with zeal and live and die on Saturdays when the Bucks play. You buy the tickets, buy the jerseys, and provide enthusiastic support for these self centered pampered little (or big) 19 year old kids. The OSU makes a ton of money off this cash cow (and spends a ton feeding the cow). The student athletes are few in this program and they are satisfied with an education for payment of services but the non student athletes like Pryor and Clarrett, Small, and many others want something they value more than education. That being fame, money, cars, women, dope, etc are what they expect for putting forth the effort on the field and for making millions for OSU and the NCAA. The NCAA needs to stop providing a minor league system for the NFL and the NBA. These big time athletes who want something other than an education should be able to be payed in a minor league system that doesn’t include going to school and pretending to be students. Why in the world does the NCAA permit this to happen. Is it because a bunch of rich fat cats are getting their egos and wallets filled every Saturday? Probably.
By CEF
June 10, 2011 6:37 AM | Link to this
Well the OSU purists have what they wanted. Pryor is gone and the NCAA continues to fool everyone. The NCAA pimped the five players so the Sugar Bowl could make its cash. Tressel is out and now OSU can start from scratch. Tom I just hope the paper still allows you to cover OSU when they begin to take their lumps. You know how they shy away from yeams that are not winners. Similar how they did when OSU hoops was strugling. smile - But I forgot Braxton Miller is still close enough and give you reason to hang around. Then again he could transfer out depending on the sanctions that come down. Maybe you can go back to covering Flyer football on a regular basis - Take care
By craig
June 8, 2011 7:27 PM | Link to this
Still waiting on that e-mail Tom.
By JerryFairchild
June 8, 2011 3:49 PM | Link to this
Nothing wrong with covering Otterbein football.
By Higher Learning!
June 8, 2011 3:25 PM | Link to this
Maybe an institute of higher learning will learn something from all this? I doubt it! To much money at stake. College sports are out of control. It’s more about money, not education. Get rid of this system and pay these kids, it’s all a joke..
By The Gipper
June 8, 2011 2:40 PM | Link to this
Score now is NCAA 2 OSU 0
By preacher,franklin ohio
June 8, 2011 12:50 PM | Link to this
ipray for terrell pryor for salvation and healing god bless him praise jesus put trust in god noting else god bless you all love in chirst.
By fergison
June 8, 2011 11:46 AM | Link to this
SO, WHEN DOES PRYOR GO AND SAY IM SORRY TO JT?? YES JT WAS WRONG FOR COVERING THIS UP….BUT THIS IS TOTALLY THE PLAYERS FAULT!!! IF U DONT THINK THAT JT AND ADMINS TOLD THEM HUNDREDS OF TIMES WHAT WAS WRONG A ND RIGHT .!
By ohiodale
June 8, 2011 10:47 AM | Link to this
For all bashing Pryor you are passing the buck. OSU broke the rules so stop trying to pass the blame to the athelets. All please do not be so naive. Every single school is giving the good athelets payment in some way. Name me one school that doesn’t give players something during recruitment. I do not blame the players for the NCAA tactics. The NCAA goes after the big schools every couple of years to make it appear they actually inforce rules. Stop watching college football if you want to make a dfference.
By Mike R
June 8, 2011 10:33 AM | Link to this
Arch is right on this one. I knew there would be problems with Pryor when he more eye-black with the name VICK in early ‘09. Vick was in prison for slaughtering dogs and a convicted felon. When asked after the game why he wore eye-black with VICK Pryor responed, “he’s my idol, I want to be just like him.” When Tressel was asked about it he said he didn’t have any policy on personal expressions. I knew right then there would be problems…It was a red flag for anyone with their eyes open to see.
By Buckfan03
June 8, 2011 10:05 AM | Link to this
It is time to clean house at OSU. These kids that come to this university need the tough love that they should get at home but to often don’t, and for these adults to coddle these kids for the almighty dollar is sending them the wrong lessons. There are people at the schools, (the compliance dept), that get paid to watch for these things and they are not doing there jobs. The words “YOU’RE FIRED” should be heard in a lot of offices at OSU.
By Jeff
June 8, 2011 9:36 AM | Link to this
Pryor said he wanted to re-write the OSU record books. The NCAA will start the re-writing process with an eraser.
By Abused car salesman
June 8, 2011 8:54 AM | Link to this
Now Momma can get him a car. No more OSU discount.
By chuckles
June 8, 2011 8:49 AM | Link to this
I said when this thug signed on at OSU that he would bring the program down, and low and behold. whats that old saying - you cant take the thug out of———-
By old buck
June 8, 2011 8:32 AM | Link to this
This has become a sad chapter in Ohio State football but for those who bash Pryor and Clarrett remember you would have not won that many games with out these guys.I guess we go the way of Vanderbilt in recruiting then none of us could talk about football anymore.Arch could spend his Saturdays covering Otterbein FootballWEEEEEEEEEEEEE
By OSU Joe
June 8, 2011 8:03 AM | Link to this
OSU is a big time program that has rampant violations going on. Wait until the NCAA comes in and uncovers more! I am so proud of “The” Ohio State University.
By Randy
June 8, 2011 7:28 AM | Link to this
buckfan you pretty much summed it up! It wasn’t like he became scum after he came to .OSU, he was before too. It was only that the opportunities became more enhanced with the bigger trinkets dangled before him
By buckfan
June 8, 2011 7:14 AM | Link to this
Jim, I am am so dissapointed in you for not watching the program better but I am even more dissapointed that you still pursued Pryor even after his all about me attitude when he delayed his signing so he could have center stage instead of signing the day everyone else did. That should have told you volumes. When you recruit punks you get punks.
By c'mon man
June 8, 2011 6:38 AM | Link to this
See ya around Prior. Good luck taking hits in the NFL. …on to page 2
By Maxwell Powers
June 8, 2011 1:36 AM | Link to this
Pryor really had no choice. The heat was too high for him. The reason you don’t want the NCAA pulling at the strings of your skirt is that often times the whole fabric unravels and all kinds of unseemly things topple out. Chances are excellent that they were going to declare him ineligible anyway, so it makes sense for him to exit stage left. Afterall, I’m assuming all of his sources for ready cash are now off-limits. From a stricly analytical standpoint, this is a disaster for his pro career. This year’s class is chock full of QBs with better intangibles than Pryor. He would really have benefited from everyone seeing Cam Newton and Michael Vick this year and fantasizing about Pryor. Now, he’s got to make it on his own.
By Anti-Kool Aid
June 7, 2011 11:36 PM | Link to this
All of you die hard OSU fans will just not give it up. Anyone who thought Pryor was coming back after his post bowl game on field interview is crazy. He was lying through his teeth to Tressel and when asked about coming back by a reporter it was clear he was dodging an answer. I called it then and it came to pass.
By Peter Goesenya
June 7, 2011 11:34 PM | Link to this
Good riddance you worthless punk! Art Schliester happily lays his head down tonight knowing now he is the second biggest scumbag QB in Ohio State history.
By nyc
June 7, 2011 10:58 PM | Link to this
arch…what is it that you do???…you must have nightmares at night and wake up with this fictitious ..unfactual bullchit
By oldtimer
June 7, 2011 10:45 PM | Link to this
Sadly, Woodrow Wayne is right. Unlike some other places, the OSU athletic department operates as an independent subsidiary of the university, with only minimal control by the administration. Gee was only half jestsing when he said “I just hope Jim Tressel doesn’t fire me.” The athletic department sets its own rules and pays its own way including salaries of all coaches. It is the tail that wags the dog so to speak.
By jimmie
June 7, 2011 10:31 PM | Link to this
ESPN now reporting Pryor took $20-40K cash for autograph signings. This story is not finished just because Pryor is leaving.
By Craig
June 7, 2011 10:11 PM | Link to this
Wow Tom, I would love to see your proof of what Pryor said to Boeckman. I’m not defending his actions, but I’m calling BS on this one. You have my e-mail, so please send me what you got.
By jimmie
June 7, 2011 9:32 PM | Link to this
We can only hope Gee and Smith follow. Lack of institutional control.
By Ms. Title IX
June 7, 2011 9:15 PM | Link to this
Thank you Terrelle, for funding ladies volleyball, basketball, tennis, field hockey, golf & other unknown sports, too numerous to mention. You are my hero!
By Bob
June 7, 2011 8:51 PM | Link to this
Terrelle Clarett is gone? This kid was as crooked as the vest. Tressel was dirty at YSU and it carried over to another dirty school. Hey Pryor, don’t get caught robbing people of their cell phones.
By Not from Miami
June 7, 2011 8:47 PM | Link to this
Mr. Archdeacon has, with little insight, hammered Mr. Tressel, for reasons he never disclosed, all the way back to the Clarett scandal. TA claimed that this was an example of what happened at Youngstown State. You had to admit you were wrong then, just as SI has. Now you attack Terrell Pryor. Once again, your comment demonstrates no research or insight….this is just a big “I told you so.” You are a very disappointing reporter.
By Woodrow Wayne
June 7, 2011 8:16 PM | Link to this
Tommie, Tommie, Tommie - don’t you realize by now that the term “student-athelete” is an anacronism? College football is a multi-million (or billion) dollar industry and has been for a decade or two. Universities are farm teams for the NFL. Anyone, including the NCAA, who believes otherwise is a fool. Cashing-out jerseys & trinkets for cars & tats is chump change. The real money is in the millions that the universities & conferences are raking in. Want to know where the REAL scandals are? - Follow the money, stupid!