The Sorrow Continues In Columbus with Pryor: Where Do the Buckeyes Turn?

Courtesy of http://www.detnews.com

The slogan centered around the Ohio State Football Team over the years includes all the fans telling each other through, thick or thin, “OH..(and the other responds)..IO”; with the latest controversy coming out of Columbus, Ohio, however, it has quickly become “OH…OHNO!” All jokes aside, the news of Terrelle Pryor’s departure surfaced around 6 p.m. yesterday evening. ESPN News reported that Pryor’s attorney said the Quarterback would not return for his senior year; this after news came out earlier last week when ex-Head Coach Jim Tressel was fired about Pryor receiving improper benefits (cars, etc.). Coincidence? I think not.

Shouldn’t it be extremely curious that Pryor made his decision to leave The Ohio State University the day after USC got their 2004 National Championship ripped for the ineligible benefits that 2005 Heisman Trophy winner Reggie Bush received throughout his collegiate career? Regardless, the fact stands that in the middle of the allegations and investigations being held by the NCAA at Ohio State, Pryor chooses to leave. Clearly, with legal help, Pryor has made a decision that benefits himself in a much greater than it does Ohio State. Granted, Pryor realizes that a lot can happen from early June to late September; meaning he could have been sitting on the sidelines for quite a while longer than just the five games for which he has been suspended.

Truth be told, the Buckeyes could actually benefit from this; process what I am about to say. Let’s say – for the sake of argument – that Terrelle “Always Second to Cam Newton” Pryor stayed with the Buckeyes. Throughout the whole entire summer and into the season, Pryor would probably be in the news and Ohio State would receive more publicity and attention than it actually needed after the loss of Tressel. The investigation would have been carried out and most likely – the way that 90% of these things work out – Pryor would be tagged with more suspensions and Ohio State would more than likely be ripped of it’s 2011 Sugar Bowl win over Arkansas. This is definitely why Pryor was advised to leave, before things got too extreme and he was stuck sitting on the sidelines all year.

Now think…when has barely any media attention, no egos, and virtually no expectations – still with the talent in the run and pass games that Ohio State has – ever added up to cause a team harm? That’s what I’m saying, now that Tressel and Pryor are gone after months upon months of a down spiral, the Buckeyes have a chance to start on the ground level and sneak their way back up the ladder – deserving every step that they climb. Not to mention the fact that NCAA might die down a bit after all this commotion in Columbus, maybe saving the Buckeyes their Sugar Bowl win in early January of this year. Although, now that USC lost their 2004 win over Oklahoma in the Championship game, it’s a little far-fetched Ohio State will maintain what was a great win in the 2011 Sugar Bowl game.

So now with Pryor gone, only time will tell what the Buckeyes will do with the hand that they have been dealt. Many questions are yet to be answered dealing with their starting line-up for the first five games of next season and how they will respond to such a rancid offseason. Although, one thing is for sure, Luke Fickell has one hell of a job has been placed down in front of him. The only reason Ohio State will be in the news now is if they hire a new coach. So where, who, or what do the Buckeyes turn to now? Only time will tell the story.