Look at Me, I’m an Attention Whore
Likes media attentionLots of Terrelle Pryor news floating around, not the least of which is a report in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette stating that Pryor is now thinking about delaying his decision beyond Wednesday’s signing day.
He’s even handing out odds:
“I’d say it’s about 50-50 that I’ll push things back.”
Evidently, he’s considering that visit to Oregon after all and pushing back his signing may enable him to visit Eugene.
Pryor also received a visit from late-charging JoePa and Penn State. Paterno has received no shortage of criticism for basically being too old to visit recruits, but Pryor’s talent and the proximity of State College to Jeannette conspired to briefly put motorists in Western Pennsylvania at risk.
Of course, Pryor’s quarterback coach at Jeannette was quoted earlier yesterday saying his gut was telling him that Terrelle would be Columbus-bound, but at this point, who in the hell really knows?
Look, the kid obviously loves the limelight, but there’s a growing chorus of Buckeye and Wolverine fans that are wondering if maybe their schools may be better off without Pryor. What’s your take?
In other recruiting news, it was confirmed that DeVoe Torrence had his scholarship yanked by Ohio State for reasons that were not publicly known. The excellent new Buckeye blog Our Honor Defend got all CSI on us and offers up a possible reason why Torrence is no longer part of the 2008 class.
Rumors have been swirling for weeks now, but let’s hope for DeVoe’s sake the latest isn’t true.
40 Responses
Knowing how much he loves the attention, it’s probably a safe bet to say that he reads this blog and every other one with his name in it. I think we are all a little frustrated by this kid and maybe a little cautious because we have seen an attitude like this before.
TLB - January 31st, 2008 at 8:44 am - #
I’m quickly joining the club of those hoping OSU doesn’t end up with Pryor … from everything I’ve seen of him (his personality, etc., not necessarily on the field), he’s the polar opposite of a Jim Tressel guy. Too flashy. Too me-oriented.
Guess we’ll see …
Tim - January 31st, 2008 at 8:51 am - #
I think we all need to step back & remember that TP is just a kid. How old is he? 17 or 18 at the most? It’s not his fault that the media has thrust this attention on him. He played football with his given talent & all of this attention has fallen into his lap. Maybe he does have a huge ego, but who wouldn’t have some sort of ego in his position.
I was growing tired of his antics too until I really thought about this. I trust that Coach Tressel would not persue a person that is not team-oriented or a good person. DeVoe Torrence seems to be a trouble maker, so OSU has backed off. So you know they take this seriously.
Think about it. How will you feel if you kept wishing this kid away & he ends up being a Vince Young-type QB? What if he has an ego but is a total team guy? How will you feel if you wished this kid away from the Buckeyes & then he leads the team up North to the promised land? I really hope he comes here myself…regardless of the antics.
Mark - January 31st, 2008 at 9:06 am - #
I’m not finished…
Don’t most QB’s have an ego? Doesn’t that come with the territory? I’m just thinking back to my playing days in high school. I was an offensive lineman (hence the Orlando Pace gravatar). Our QB had a huge ego. But he was also one of the biggest team guys around. Yes, he was a “me” type person…got all of the ladies, smart, etc. But he’d also make sure everyone on the team was prepared & ready. He also made sure that everyone was invited to the party…even the shlubs who never played. By the way, he ended up going to Yale Law School & played safety for the football team.
What I’m getting at is…we really don’t know what this dude is like. We are all making assumptions off what picture the media is painting.
I’ll take my chances on this kid in a second.
Mark - January 31st, 2008 at 9:18 am - #
I just hope he gets over this attention needing phase. He’s starting to look like a “diva” with this whole “look at me” attitude.
Mark, I understand what you’re saying about him just being a kid……but try comparing him to other big name recruits of recent years. He seems to be enjoying the lime-light more than most. And now he’s going to delay his commitment past signing day? That seems suspect, how many other recruits have played basketball and still had time to schedule their visits and make their decision? That being said, he does have an ill father so it’s very hard to say how that could have affected his recruiting trips, because as Mark said, he is just a kid, and that kind of stuff is still going to be hard for him as a 17-18 year-old…….no matter HOW big of a recruit he is.
Wil - January 31st, 2008 at 10:07 am - #
Provided we take care of business on the left coast in September, Buckeye Nation will again be on the big stage for all of the marbles WITHOUT him.
We will also be a power for years to come WITHOUT him because again we have one of the top 5 recruiting classes WITHOUT him.
We don’t truly know what this kid is like but it sure is shaping up like he is some distant relative of the last kid to take campus by storm then almost blow it up all by himself due to his me first attitude.
That all said, this kid is a flat out FREAK of nature when it comes to athletic ability. Check out what this kid is doing on the basketball court as well as his football credentials. Whomever lands this kid will benefit extremely from the upside of what this kid brings to the table.
However they may also sweat it out from the downside. Do we really need to take a bite?
Mark brings up a great point should he go elsewhere and come back to haunt us. I for one lose sleep neither way. Reason? What I opened with here at the start of this take. Best of luck to this kid wherever he goes.
I will close with this thought.
If he does come here, I think the laughing around the country will cease a lot sooner than anyone planned on.
Kelly - January 31st, 2008 at 10:12 am - #
Terrelle, Buckeye fans still love you. And quite frankly we need you. I have no idea how good or bad Henton might be, but I doubt that he’s the gamechanger you are. And as unfair as it might be, I’ll always remember the time when I thought Henton was going to get kicked off the team for trying to pick up a hooker.
With you, there is more potential. I don’t mind the fact that you know you’re good. As long as you have confidence but remain coachable, come to OSU. And yeah, enjoy it while you can. One day you’ll be in the NFL, and football and celebrity will be a lot less fun.
jbenz - January 31st, 2008 at 10:13 am - #
Also, for all the crap he is getting, try and remember that this kid has had no run-ins with the law and, according to rivals.com, is still carrying a 3.4 GPA. He has done nothing for us to dub him as a “bad kid,” he just seems to, as T.O. would say, “like me some me!”
Wil - January 31st, 2008 at 10:29 am - #
Since we’re talking about stud QB’s I thought I should enlighten everyone to this news story that my brother (Wolverines) broke:
Breaking News
The NFL MVP Tom Brady, also the favorite for a Super Bowl MVP, is all over
the news after reports of his most recent visit to a Children’s Hospital in
Tempe, AZ. Numerous agencies are reporting that while visiting the
hospital Brady was approached by a blind boy seeking an autograph from his
favorite player. After signing the autograph and listening to the boys
stories of listening to the Patriot games on the radio Brady was overcome
with emotion. In a touching moment he went to one knee and whispered into
the boy’s ear, and after a short embrace he boarded the team bus back to
the hotel.
Back in the hospital chaos took over, it appears a miracle had happened as
the small boy had regained his sight! On further questioning the boy
revealed what Brady had whispered to him. “The games are much better if you
watch them.”
After the Patriots Super Bowl win Tom Brady is scheduled to release
scientific research that show positive testing in the cure for cancer.
Following that he is heading over to the Middle East with his new Peace
plan and to bring Osama back from the hole he is hiding in for his atrocities
against the USA.
Associated Press
Wil - January 31st, 2008 at 10:49 am - #
Sounds like you guys have already resigned yourself to the fact that he’s a Wolverine…I guess it’s good to start hating the enemy as soon as possible. Regardless of personality, he’s stupid-talented.
I’m sure tOSU has never had any egos on their roster like him…What would Coach Tressel ever do with such a conundrum?
boilerdowd - January 31st, 2008 at 11:17 am - #
Boilerdowd, thanks for the comedy. OSU fans will live without TP, but Michigan pretty much needs him. Don’t get me wrong, we’d love to land him (and I still say he comes here), but we’ll get by without him.
You may now resume planning your next black-out.
Boeckman Fett - January 31st, 2008 at 11:40 am - #
Reminds me a lot of Patrick Patterson (elite basketball recruit) and his games with the media last year. “P-Pat” drank in the attention like nectar and loved every second of the recruiting process. He announced at the last possible moment in his high school gym and said beforehand that they might need to secure temporary seating on the court because the bleachers would be filled with fans eagerly anticipating his announcement.
Well, turns out only 50 or so people showed up, and he announced for Kentucky over Florida, probably because they do treat their hoops players like divas up there. (Can you tell I’m bitter?) Anyway, kid’s a solid player, so there’s no real corollary here other than being concerned over media whoring 17-year olds makes me feel a lot older than my 33 years.
Gatorpilot - January 31st, 2008 at 11:41 am - #
“You may now resume planning your next black-out.”
Come, come now, Fett. That’s a terrible thing to say. You and I both know that this isn’t “Black-Out” planning season. This is tough time for BoilerDowd. Purdue fans have nothing to do this time of year but watch every local athlete of merit declare for another school. I feel for the guy.
It’s okay, though. This coming season marks the dawning of a new cycle. Soon enough, Purdue will have accumulated enough talent and experience to rise up to that glowing 7-5 high mark they achieve every three years.
Joe - January 31st, 2008 at 12:17 pm - #
I told this to Wil about two weeks ago…I want him to choose another school.
If he wants to go to Michigan and get his face kicked in for a few years until they’re back on their feet then be my guest.
If he wants to go to LSU and be on a good team once in every 6 years then go ahead.
If he wants to go to Oregon where he’ll be lucky to get any national coverage or win the PAC 10, then I say good luck stealing the spotlight from USC.
Or come to Ohio State that is rich in tradition and is always turning out quality players to the NFL and have a legit shot at the title every other year if not every year.
I’m done with him.
KJB - January 31st, 2008 at 12:30 pm - #
Anyone who would say OSU is better off without Pryor is delusional, and their sincerity as an OSU fan is debatable. Pryor is a once in a lifetime talent.
Don’t get so wrapped up in what the papers are saying about him. They’re all just trying latch on to the next big thing. He enjoys playing with the media. It doesn’t make him a bad person…..it makes him an 18 year old kid. Troy Smith was a more questionable characted when he came to OSU, and look at what Tressel was able to do with him. Just let Tressel do his thing, and sit back and enjoy the ride Pryor’s about to take OSU on for the next 3-4 years.
RockKing - January 31st, 2008 at 12:34 pm - #
I will verify that KJB has been saying this for weeks. (Would’ve been longer but his wife wouldn’t let him talk for the 1st week after the debacle in New Orleans because she didn’t want their beautiful baby girl’s first words to be F**k the SEC)
Wil - January 31st, 2008 at 12:39 pm - #
What has TP done to draw attention to himself? The media will not leave him alone. He wants to make more visits to school but it is hard for him to schedule them around his basketball games. He is not sure if he wants to visit Oregon or not, and if he decides he does, then he will need to push his signing day back (Keep in mind, National Letter of Intent day is only the FIRST day kids can sign with schools.) He doesn’t have to sign on the 6th if he doesn’t want to. We shouldn’t be demanding that from him
This particular blog entry, as well as a good number of the comments to it, was written with little knowledge of the situation. I find that to be rather irresponsible, pompous, and detrimental to whatever eventual success this blog may have in it’s future.
Craig - January 31st, 2008 at 1:03 pm - #
Don’t get me wrong I’d love for him to be a Buckeye…just tired of the games. Just make a decision already.
KJB - January 31st, 2008 at 1:05 pm - #
He’s made a decision KJB. Don’t worry about the newspapers….they have to write SOMETHING, and since Pryor won’t talk to them, they make stuff up. Pryor is coming to OSU and will announce it on Feb 6th at noon. The only way this changes is if he decided he needs to see Oregon, which seems to be unlikely at this point.
RockKing - January 31st, 2008 at 1:19 pm - #
Craig, you might recall him pointing at a Buckeye sticker on his helmet during the Army All-American game. Thanks for sharing your opinion, though. We’ll try to get better to please you.
Jason - January 31st, 2008 at 1:30 pm - #
Craig, you stated “This particular blog entry, as well as a good number of the comments to it, was written with little knowledge of the situation.â€
But yet you started your comment by asking what TP had done to draw attention to himself. This makes me think that YOU have no knowledge of this situation. It may just be me, but I think that having a newspaper dedicate a section of their paper to your diary, as explained in this article:
http://www.elevenwarriors.com/2008/01/terrelle-pryor-has-his-own-diary.html
is indeed a way of drawing attention to oneself.
Wil - January 31st, 2008 at 1:37 pm - #
Will, that question was asked in jest, because I know full well that TP hasn’t done anything more than any other recruit as far as being an “Attention Whore”. Newspapers cover the kid because he is one of the biggest prospects to come around in a long time, especially out of Pennsylvania. You think Terrelle asked them to dedicate a section of the newspaper to him? Leave the kid alone. He is as good as advertised, and taking shitty, uninformed attitudes toward him will only alienate us from him. We need him.
Craig - January 31st, 2008 at 1:44 pm - #
Oh, and Jason, Keep in mind, all of the other OSU recruits has buckeye leaves on their helmets, guess they are all attention whores too. Christ, did you even watch that game? Every kid there did something similar to that. Its the age we live in today, deal with it, instead of writing name-calling articles about 17 year-old kids.
Another thing to consider…
Do you realize that Michigan has all but put all of their eggs into one basket trying to recruit TP? The longer he holds out from announcing (And yes, he is coming to OSU.), the more time michigan wastes trying to recruit a lost cause QB, for their newly installed spread offense, and not spending any time recruiting another spread-QB. In this case, I hope TP waits until the last possible day to sign with tOSU.
Craig - January 31st, 2008 at 1:53 pm - #
Joe,
You know what we like to do this time of year? Focus on basketball…it is basketball season afterall. I guess you guys could call it “lamenting over our end-of-season loss” season…or “lamenting over losing Pryor to Michigan” season…we’ll stick with basketball; speaking of I think my alma mater just beat your favorite football team’s basketball affiliate…and the crazy thing is that it was with a bunch of Freshman.
Unlike tOSU, we don’t just treat the football team like it’s a professional franchise…probably because it’s not. It’s part of an athletic department that’s part of a school. I root for the other teams from that school as well…especially in the winter.
Purdue’s recruiting is what it is in football. Tiller’s tired, I’ve been saying that for 4 years. I’m looking forward to the changing of the guard in ‘09-’10…You guys have a good time complaining about a recruits’ personality…I’ll wait to see how they are once they’re on campus.
boilerdowd - January 31st, 2008 at 1:56 pm - #
Craig, the difference being that the other recruits with Buckeye leaves on their helmets had already verballed to OSU.
There’s that and the point Wil brought up about him starting a diary. There’s no question he’s enjoying the attention and living in the moment. It’s really hard to blame him, given his age, though. I’ll give you that.
I’m honestly afraid you want to see Pryor in Buckeye gear so badly that you’re worried about something we would say negatively impacting his decision on where to sign.
We are not the Dispatch, but merely a blog. A blog with a very small reader-base at that. We’re allowed to talk some trash and have some fun with our headlines.
Thanks for your comments.
Jason - January 31st, 2008 at 2:12 pm - #
Getting away from the TP debate and pleasantries being tossed around here today, Devier Posey has separated his shoulder and will need surgery. It should be healed by fall camp.
As for TP, I think we all keep in mind that he is only a teenager and he is HOUNDED by everyone on a daily basis. I can not imagine how many phone calls and text messages he gets a day from people he doesn’t even know. As Craig pointed out this is a different era we live in, but if TP has something different to say on a daily/weekly basis in the papers, then he is going to be the subject of a lively, spirited debate on many web/blog sites, until his decision is made. I think blame can be put on both parties. If I remember correctly, TP called Scout.com to report RR was leaving WVU and Michigan was added to his list, before anyone had heard about it.
Corey - January 31st, 2008 at 2:32 pm - #
Well, Jason, I will tell you one thing. Surely you are aware of the Ted Sarniak situation with Terrelle Pryor. According to my source, one of the big things that turned TP away from Michigan was the fact that coach Dick Rod told Terrelle that he needed to cut Sarniak out of his life, and that he was no good for him. Sarniak has been a friend of Terrelle and his family since way before it became clear that TP was going to become a heavily recruited. Telling a kid to cut a long time friend out of his life probably isn’t the best thing to do if you are trying to win him over. Anyway, and my point in all of this, is that the whole Sarniak story, or lack thereof, was broke in “merely a blog”.
Craig - January 31st, 2008 at 2:36 pm - #
Adding to what Corey said. The Terrelle Pryor recruiting diary on the PPG website is really the only outlet we have straight from TP’s mouth. It is the only insight there is out there on what Terrelle may actually be thinking regarding the recruiting process, which is very important to us who are involved in and follow college recruiting. It’s not as if TP is jumping at every chance to talk to the media, and trying to force himself on the media. If anything, by the accounts I have read and heard, it seems like TP is actually tired of this media hoopla.
Also Corey, the scout.com rumor was actually confirmed as false by the scout.com writer that broke the story.
Craig - January 31st, 2008 at 2:43 pm - #
Thanks for the update Craig, I am still a bit skeptical of the rumor though. Perhaps Scout.com found out about RR leaving and instantly called up Terrelle for his opinion, this still may have been before RR’s team at WVU found out, but we will never know.
That story about RR telling Pryor to stay away from Sarniak is very interesting, my future in-laws live just south of Morgantown and they have told me about RR coming across as a complete a-hole, thinking he could do no wrong at West Virginia. They have been WVU season tickets holders since the late 70’s and the entire family is convinced he threw the Pitt game. There are bitter feelings in WV, more than I think people realize and until he pays that $4 million, he is going to be dragged through the mud and I believe WVU will settle for no less than 4 million. It is going to be an interesting 6 months.
Corey - January 31st, 2008 at 3:03 pm - #
I totally believe that RR is an asshole, you could tell that from interviews with him, right down to that asshole look he has on his face all the time.
As far as the scout story, TP was the first person, outside of his family, that DickRod told about his plans to go to UM.
Craig - January 31st, 2008 at 3:12 pm - #
Craig, 2 things:
1) Having a diary IS the attention grabbing display that Pryor is doing that other recruits aren’t. If you think other big time recruits aren’t offered the same types of things then you’ve been hanging out with Alonzo Spellman. As a matter of fact, here is an article about the last BIG TIME recruit that did something similar to that:
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/writers/andy_staples/01/30/official.visits/index.html
Now, in no way am I comparing TP to Willie Williams because by all accounts TP is NOT a criminal. I’m just stating that these types of activities are more or less NOT good decisions.
2) If you think RichRod is only going after TP then you (again) are not as knowledgeable as you claim to be. Please read this article on 4 star QB and #8 overall Dual-Threat QB B.J. Daniels:
http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080131/SPORTS06/801310417/1048/SPORTS
His rankings are hurt because he is only 6’1†which we all know (a la Troy Smith at 5’10â€) doesn’t matter as much as people think.
In my opinion as soon as this kid sees the facilities at Michigan he will have his mind made up.
Wil - January 31st, 2008 at 3:17 pm - #
Thanks for clearing up the RR recruiting Wil, being that RR has stated that he would like to get 2 qbs ever since Mallet’s departure. Daniels has been getting a lot of attention for awhile now from Michigan.
“All our eggs in one basket” I think not.
As for Pryor, you really think he is not enjoying the press? Have you even heard how he talks about himself? If RR and Pryor’s cousin can talk him into joining them at UM then great.
“Asshole look on his face”…who is that other coach playing this weekend with an asshole look on his face?
Yeah, as long as you win nobody gives a shit.
And I guess he didn’t attempt to draw attention to himself by wearing a UM sweatshirt to the Army game and then having a Buckeye sticker on his helmet.
Wolverines - January 31st, 2008 at 4:19 pm - #
Sorry the above comment got a little out of order, trying to particpate in a conference call at the sametime…
Wolverines - January 31st, 2008 at 4:26 pm - #
Him not committing on signing day sounds kinda stupid. I dounna know if it is possible for him to get any more attention than he has already gotten. Hopefully he will just make his choice and begin to focus on his future.
Britton - January 31st, 2008 at 6:23 pm - #
Recruting is weird, creepy, and frustrating…but you’re crazy if you don’t want this kid.
Run Up The Score - January 31st, 2008 at 8:23 pm - #
Agreed RUTS. I think some ran with this, but if you read the post, I merely made an observation about Buckeye and Wolverine fans wondering if he was more trouble than what he’s worth and then asked for reader feedback on their opinions.
He’s a hell of a talent and any school would love to have him.
Jason - January 31st, 2008 at 8:54 pm - #
“You know what we like to do this time of year? Focus on basketball…it is basketball season afterall. I guess you guys could call it “lamenting over our end-of-season loss†season…or “lamenting over losing Pryor to Michigan†season…we’ll stick with basketball; speaking of I think my alma mater just beat your favorite football team’s basketball affiliate…and the crazy thing is that it was with a bunch of Freshman.”
I think it’s terrific that you all won the first head-to-head matchup this year between our teams. I guess I was too busy counting the last few Big T(elev)en basketball conference titles OSU has won to notice. Or reminiscing about the three first-round NBA picks we lost last year. Or noticing that the larger portion of our team this year is comprised of freshman players.
I guess I’m just surprised to see you here, posting on an OSU blog. I would imagine that with the hopping, busy schedule your athletic department has, and the illustrious noise your basketball team is making on the court this year, you’d be busy enough on the Purdid blogs to post here. Interesting….
*sigh*
As an aside, I wonder what the m*ch*g*n coaches will tell Daniels during his official visit this weekend? “Sorry, kid, but RR isn’t here to answer your questions, take you on a tour, promise to be your coach during your four years here, etc. He’s off in Pennsylvania, watching the kid we really want play a friggin’ basketball game, and that was more important than being here to talk to you in person.”
Call me crazy, but I’d give m*ch*g*n the cold shoulder, if that was proffered to me.
Joe - January 31st, 2008 at 8:58 pm - #
Relax. TP is coming to Columbus. My sources (in PA) have verified his inclination to go Buckeye.
Further, he is a good guy and the guidance that Tressel brings to the table will only help to expand his abilities. It would be insane… to not want this kid at OSU.
Jim Thorpe - February 4th, 2008 at 8:35 am - #
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