We’ve all thought about it, probably more than we’d like to admit.
We’ve had our hearts broke more than once since January, but we remained dedicated to our Buckeyes. When legendary Buckeye coach Jim Tressel resigned under all the scrutiny brought on by “Tat-Gate”, we stood-up for interim coach Luke Fickell.
At the start of the season, when Luke named … ahem … Joe Bauserman, the starter for the season opener against Akron, we were all for it. The trust we’ve had in this university, in this coaching staff, for the last decade, allowed us to believe that Luke knew what he was doing by naming Joe the starter over highly-touted freshman, Braxton Miller.
Ohio State’s blowout over Akron was like a valium for Buckeye Nation. It put us at ease. The players seemed to really grasp the whole, “Us against the world”, and “Next man up” philosophies we had crammed down our throat by Luke and the rest of the team. Maybe it’s because we were still feeling the effects of the valium, but little did we know, that the next game against Toledo wasn’t just a fluke. The team’s disappointing play against the lesser Toledo Rockets was, in fact, the calm before the storm.
From there, we know how the season has played out. We’ve dealt with the heartache and controversy, with the additional suspensions and lackadaisical coaching efforts, to now sit at 3-3 on the season, and 0-2 in the conference for the first time in seven years.
Yes, we’ve all thought about it – “What could have been?”
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I think we know, most of us anyway, where this Ohio State team would be if “Tat-Gate” wouldn’t have every happened. We’d still have our beloved head coach, we’d have a Heisman Trophy caliber QB and a running back with, at least, a shot at the NFL.
We’ve heard about how sorry the players that have received various suspensions, are for their actions. And we’ve no choice but to support the idiots who went out and got themselves suspended for additional games. After all, they’re still Buckeyes.
I think it’s a safe bet to say that most of Buckeye Nation was ecstatic when Pryor announced he was leaving Ohio State to pursue a career in the NFL. We all know, or at least hope, that Pryor will never be successful at the next level, especially at QB. When NFL Commissioner, Roger Goodell, upheld the NCAA’s 5-game suspension for Pryor, Buckeye Nation stood-up and applauded the often criticized leader of the NFL.
Because of his return to the field, albeit the practice one, this week against, ironically, a team from Ohio, Pryor recently did a radio interview with 97.3 The Fan, in Pittsburgh, to talk about his future in the NFL. It didn’t take long before Pryor was asked about this season’s version of the Ohio State Buckeyes. His response, was enough to make anyone in Buckeye Nation puke.
Pryor expressed sympathy for the Buckeyes, saying, “In a way, it hurts me,” followed by statements like, “Right now it saddens me. I get sad sometimes watching the guys because I know I can be on the field helping them guys,” and, “but I can’t think about that right now. I am on the next page and trying to take care of business.”
Um, Mr. Pryor? On behalf of Buckeye Nation… Go to Hell!
It’s because of Mr. Pryor, that we’re in this mess to begin with. I know I know, there were others involved, but Pryor was our starting quarterback – our leader. This was his team, and he should’ve put a stop to anything, and everything, that was going to risk further success for the football team at Ohio State.
Obviously, he didn’t do that. No, he gave his word that he would return this season, serve out his suspension, and then return to the team to try and salvage the rest of the season. Instead, Pryor reneged on his word, and bolted for the next level as soon as Coach Tressell resigned.
Even trying to move forward with his career, Pryor’s ego was center stage. He turned down offers from the CFL and UFL, setting his sights squarely on the NFL where, he assumed, he’d be able to put everything at Ohio State behind him, and live out his life as a star on the world’s biggest sports stage as a millionaire.
Only there was one problem – Roger Goodell saw right through Pryor’s ego and the B.S. that spewed from his mouth every single time he was spotted making statements in the media. When he decided to sign an agent with just as big of an ego as his, Drew Rosenhaus, we knew that the Pryor drama wasn’t over.
Mr. Goodell wasn’t going to let Pryor enter the NFL’s supplemental draft, claiming that he was trying to “cheat the system”. As a result, Pryor began to whine, and became the one thing no one ever wants to be – a nark.
It was up to Pryor to prove to Mr. Goodell that he would’ve, in fact, been ineligible to play at Ohio State this season, even after his suspension was up. I think it’s safe to assume that Pryor’s agent, Mr. Rosenhaus, advised him to tell Goodell anything and everything he thought the commissioner wanted to hear.
Keep in mind that, despite all the drama, the Ohio State University did Pryor a favor, and deemed him ineligible to return this season to the gridiron. Nonetheless, that didn’t satisfy Mr. Goodell, and Pryor was still left to defend himself as he pursued an NFL career.
There’s no doubt that everything Pryor admitted to Roger Goodell, it led to the suspensions of two starters, Jordan Hall and Travis Howard, and a key defensive reserve, Corey Brown, for the season opener. Because Pryor chose to be a nark, Daniel “Boom” Herron and Marcus Hall, were suspended for the Nebraska game. Devier Posey, one of Pyror’s best buds at Ohio State, was suspended an additional five games because of his ex-teammates’ selfishness. Herron and Posey were originally slated to return against Nebraska.
We listened to how sorry Pryor was on television as he sat alongside Drew Rosenhaus. I don’t think anyone, absolutely no one, believed a single word coming out of his mouth as he sat there and apologized to his former teammates, Coach Tressell and Buckeye Nation. Anyone who, for some reason, chose to believe this B.S., should, by now, know that it was, in fact, B.S.
In hindsight, Pryor should’ve just kept his mouth shut. The Auburn situation is a prime example as to how to approach the NCAA when faced with allegations. Lie, lie, lie…and when all else fails, deny, deny, deny. It’s clear that the NCAA doesn’t operate under what most of us would classify as, “common sense”, therefore Auburn, was free to go.
Pryor, eventually, would’ve got his shot at the NFL. He might have had to take the UFL or CFL route first, but he would’ve gotten there. Although with the passing of Raiders’ owner Al Davis, maybe he wouldn’t have. However, anything Pryor would’ve decided to do this year in terms of football, was bound to be met with more success than the Ohio State football team this year.
What a shame. What could’ve been a special season for Ohio State, was ruined by an ego-maniac who couldn’t keep his mouth shut. Although there’s not a damn thing that I, as a fan, can do about it, I can say this…
Dear Mr. Terrelle Pryor,
No one in Buckeye Nation gives a crap about how sorry you are. If you were really – really – sorry, you wouldn’t have thrown the entire university under the bus. You would’ve realized how bad you really screwed Ohio State, and because of that, as a man – a real man, you should’ve realized that the right thing to do would be to take whatever opportunity that came your way, NFL or not.
Back before all this started, Buckeye Nation supported you, and defended you. When the rest of the college football world was dogging you, and calling you an egotistical maniac, we turned to your on-field performances as proof that it didn’t matter, because you were a proven winner.
We filled Ohio Stadium every home game. 100,000+ packed the Horseshoe each and every Saturday to watch you play. We applauded you in triumph and, yes, we were critical in defeat, but only because we thought we knew what you were capable of. We wanted, so badly, for you to lead our Buckeyes to that ever elusive National Championship. We bought into the hype; we had the number one overall high school football player leading our team.
To be fair, we should’ve seen this coming Terrelle. When you made your announcement that you would take your talents to Columbus to play for, THE University of Ohio State, that should’ve been our first sign. When you weaseled your way into the starting line-up, ahead of a quarterback that had just lead us to the very goal you hoped to achieve, it should’ve been a sign of things to come in dealing with your ego. In hindsight, your numbers were good, and you have an impressive win/loss record, but you rarely stepped-up when your team needed you the most.
Incase you’re wondering, at home against Penn State (‘08), at home against USC (‘09) and on the road at Purdue – yes, that Purdue – the same year, all come to mind.
The current state of Ohio State’s football program, is your fault. It was you, our quarterback and leader, who allowed “Tat-Gate” to even happen. It was you who took advantage of Jim Tressel’s kindness and willingness to put his players before himself. When the stuff hit the fan, you sat by while our beloved head coach was stoned, and lynched by the media and Gene Smith.
You’re so sure that you’re going to be successful in the NFL as a quarterback. We all knew you would eventually find your way to an NFL roster, that all it took was an incompetent owner like Al Davis (R.I.P) to take a chance on your undeniable talent and your physical gifts, despite being the head-case we all know you to be.
Your ego; that big, huge, nasty ego of yours, broke the hearts of every single person who ever supported you while you were at Ohio State. You didn’t care what it took or who you had to black-ball, you were going to achieve your dream, while crushing ours in the process. I mean, isn’t that what college football is anyway? A stepping-stone to the NFL? That’s fine, but we’re use to the heartbreak of those who chose the NFL over their senior year, not this.
We as Buckeye Nation, can’t change the past. We can’t fix what you have broken. While we’re suffering through a devastating college football season, you’re living the dream. We’ve accepted that, but please – please – do us all a favor…
Leave the following words, out of your mouth: Ohio State, Ohio State University, the University of Ohio State, Ohio State Buckeyes and Buckeye Nation.
Really, you know what you are Terrelle? A streetwalker, a tramp, a pavement princess. You’re like that girl that everyone wants to be with because she’s smart and pretty. She says the right things, does the right things and leads you to believe that you’ve, finally, found the one. However, to no one else’s knowledge but your own, you’re also “gettin’ yours on the side” – if you know what I mean.
In other words, you’re a two-faced (insert any profanity filled phrase), that we, Buckeye Nation, want nothing to do with anymore.
It’s not very often that I grow to hate a former Buckeye. Now there are exceptions. LeCharles Bentley, for example, is just an over-weight version of yourself, Terrelle, though I’m not sure he’s as physically gifted as you are. I can now add you to that list, Terrelle, as I, and I’m sure a few others, hate you – despise you. After this season is over, I’m sure there will be a few others that are even less fond of you as they are now.
You make me sick. You had it all, playing for one of the most storied college football teams in the history of the sport, and you didn’t seem to care. You never really fully embraced Columbus, and Buckeye Nation. It was always about Terrelle Pryor and what he had to do to get to the next level. Not once, ever, did you put your teammates ahead of yourself.
You were never a Buckeye, and you never will be. You’ll never know what it’s like to be an alum of one of the greatest universities in the entire country. You’ll never be referred to as one of the “Buckeye Greats”, and anyone who calls you a legend, should be kicked in the ass on the spot. You’re a disgrace to the Buckeye Nation, and college athletes everywhere. We should’ve known better than to view some idiot from Pittsburgh as the leader of a great Ohio football team.
This will all pass, and maybe you will go on to have a Hall of Fame career in the NFL, although I highly – highly – doubt it. Trust me, Terrelle, Drew Rosenhaus is just as full of crap as you are. Even if had you stayed at Ohio State, and weren’t suspended, you’d never – in another million years – be the top pick in the NFL Draft. The signs are everywhere, from your “University of Ohio State” comments, to your Wonderlic score, your failures are just as apparent as your successes, and because of your ego, it will always be that way. (Speaking of your Wonderlic score, how in the HELL did you get into OSU? Are you really that damn dumb?)
We scoffed at your sympathetic comments about the current state of the Ohio State football team, and now that you’ve put us in the headlines once again, let it be the last time. Forget that you ever stepped foot inside of The Horseshoe. Pretend that you went to that disgusting state up north; your ego would’ve paired with Rich Rodriguez perfectly.
Buckeye Nation, and I’m sure the University itself, would rather forget you – although no one at OSU would ever admit it to the media. If we could make you disappear, we would, but we can’t because every single time we turn around, it’s something else negative. More often than not, it’s because of something that YOU said.
Yes, we may dwell on what could have been, but leave us alone. I know, it’s hard to do, but at least try. Believe me, you’re not welcome here anymore.
And next time you decide to mention something else you got away with while playing at OSU, make sure the media knows that Joe Bauserman was with you. Paint Joe as your best bud, your partner in crimbe. Hell, call him your lover for all I care. Maybe then, and only then, could you be forgiven, but I sincerely doubt it.
With much disrespect,
A Proud Member of Buckeye Nation – Something you will never be able to ruin.
