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He was probably getting a lot of questions after throwing down that dunk during halftime of the Men’s basketball game vs. Penn State on Wednesday.
Dontcha love social media?
It’s been pretty quiet on the TP front since the team’s exciting Rose Bowl victory. (I can’t count how many times I’ve rewatched that game). The team is officially starting their winter workout program tomorrow, but tonight Terrelle spent a few hours of his time supporting Ohio State’s #4 ranked wrestling team as they hosted (surprise!) #13 Penn State.
TP was an honorary captain for the match, which appeared to be a good move as the Buckeyes defeated the Nittany Lions 21-14.
Afterwards, Terrelle spoke to the media for the first time since New Years. He discussed how his knee is feeling now, and how much it affected him throughout the season, what he feels he needs to work on for the next season, as well as his leadership role. Watch the interview below, courtesy of the Plain Dealer, who has the full interview.
| Ohio State's Terrelle Pryor on preparing for next year, being a role model |
TP also talks about how active he is on Twitter. If you’re not already following him, you should do so: @pryor2two. He has to approve you, but he seems to accept all followers.
And for the millionth time, the Twitter account I use here (which is 100% unofficial) is @terrellepryor. If TP ever asked for it, it’d be his immediately! All he has to do is ask 
. I signed up for it in November 2008. I just didn’t want it to end up in the hands of someone who would misuse it. Y’all know how it is on Twitter with fakes.
The Buckeyes will kick off the 2010 season on a Thursday, instead of the traditional Saturday game. Ohio State will welcome the Marshall University Thundering Herd to the ‘Shoe on Thursday, September 2nd. Start time and TV information will be announced later.
Ok, so this is different.
There’s been talk that ESPN/ABC wanted to move the Ohio State/Miami game to Labor Day Monday, and were throwing a lot of money at both programs to make it happen. Of course, if that were to have transpired, something would have to be done with the Marshall game as you can’t play Saturday and then again 2 days later on Monday. Perhaps moving the season kickoff game to Thursday is the University’s way of compromising with ESPN since they weren’t willing to juggle the schedule to accommodate the big Labor Day game?
Who knows, really.
If ESPN wanted a marquee team — and from all accounts OSU will be very highly ranked going into the season — to help get the 2010 season started, then they choice wisely. I’m hopeful that this won’t start a trend. I don’t want to see Ohio State playing on Thursdays. The big boys play on Saturday. Kickoff weekend is an exception I’m ok with, though.
Thoughts?
As I watch the final quarter of the Rose Bowl, courtesy of the Big Ten Network replay, I’m already looking forward to next season. This team has a lot of potential and I can’t wait to see what they do!
There’s always work to be done and improvements to be made. As such, here are some things I’m keeping my eye on.
1. Special Teams. Special Teams. Special Teams.
Tress puts so much emphasis on special teams play. Coverage, returning, punting, kicking, & the whole she-bang. It’s a key part to Tressel-ball and it was pretty terrible this season by Tressel standards. I excuse the return game of the Rose Bowl due to the absence of Ray Small. And being that Smally is a senior and Lamaar Flash Thomas has transferred, the staff must find a new return man in this off season. Preferably one that doesn’t make everyone hold their breath wondering if he’s going to muff it. I don’t care if it’s a freshman. Just make sure he gets as many practice reps as possible, so he’s ready.
Kick coverage was atrocious this year. Opponents had way too favorable field position and the defense shouldn’t routinely be placed in that type of position. Oregon’s return yardage was unacceptable at 199 yards. Losing senior Marcus Williams, early in the season, didn’t help the coverage unit. I could be wrong, but I also believe Tyler Moeller was a special teams regular. Whenever a longtime special teams contributor is sidelined, it’s going to hurt. But I don’t think that’s the sole reason they underperformed. The unit simply has to get better. Wait! There’s more »
I made this last night. Quick little video to showcase the pwnage of TP’s arms vs. the Oregon defense.
Oh, and if you’re sensitive to cussing, make sure your sound is off. I busted out one of my favorite songs, by Westside Connection, because I thought it was appropriate.
Enjoy!
P.S. I don’t usually make highlight-ish video, so this is probably a little rough. I’ll leave the regular highlight vid creation to the pros, like the amazing lexco44. (Watch his Rose Bowl Highlight vid here) I just thought TP’s stiff arm display needed its own vid. This gets the point across, wouldn’t you say? Go Bucks!
Just a quick driveby of some interviews/pictures from today’s game and postgame activities.
ESPN Gameday interview (Postgame)
Big Ten Network interview (Postgame)
I haven’t been near my computer to make my usual kneejerk post. Too busy celebrating, know what I mean? I will share my thoughts later.
The below picture is how I feel about this win:
No, it’s not the BCS Championship, but this win kind of felt like it after the past few years as College Football’s whipping boy. It was simply huge for the Buckeyes!
TP’s message to his Twitter followers reads as follows:
Thanks for the support for the bucks we played a hell of a game. Go bucks god bless you all
Love it. Go Bucks!
It’s finally here! I feel like we’ve all be talking about this game for much longer than a month and a half. Remember, we knew we were Rose Bowl bound on November 14th, so the anticipation has been at a fever pitch for quite some time!
I could do my usual pregame post breaking down what the Buckeyes need to do in order to come out victorious, but you’ve probably read just about every angle on the game. I, like many others have just one thought: Just win, baby!
The Buckeyes need performances like the final November stretch. Run, run, and more running is on the menu. Now, don’t fret, Xbox fans. Just because I have a preference for seeing us pound the much smaller Oregon Dline doesn’t mean I want to see the exact same running play for every down on every series. Over the course of the season, we’ve run from multiple formations and mixed it up. I want to see more of that.
Terrelle met with the media today out in California (thus saving us from all the whining we would have heard had he been kept back at the hotel again). As usual he drew a crowd. He’s used to it. It would have been more of a shock had he had a smaller crowd around him, to be perfectly honest.
Media flock to him because, in the past, he’s been known to say some off-the-wall things. But, even when he doesn’t say anything controversial, some members of the press still look for an angle to cause controversy. I won’t name them. I think we all know who they are.
TP said a lot of stuff today and nothing juicy at the same time. That’s fine with me. The Oregon players are the ones providing unnecessary “bulletin board material” in their media sessions. I say unnecessary because, at this point, Ohio State shouldn’t need any extra motivation. Getting the BCS win monkey off their back should be good enough. “Just win, baby!”
He revealed that he has a partially torn PCL in one of his knees. The injury happened in the New Mexico State game. I’m guessing it was during the horse collar looking tackle that wasn’t called. I was clear on the other side of the stadium, but best believe I was screaming at the refs for that noncall. When TP came out after halftime, and wasn’t in uniform, we should have known something was up. That move was out of character for Tressel.
We knew he was hobbled by an ankle injury for the November stretch games, but the knee injury is news to most of us; his teammates included. Seeing how he dealt with it — running better in each game — tells me all I need to know about Terrelle and how he’ll fare in the Rose Bowl. He will play through pain as if nothing’s wrong and do just fine. I’m not at all worried about how he’ll do. His Oline will protect him and he’ll take care of business.
For some pictures from TP’s media session and today’s practice, visit The Ozone.
Merry Christmas to all!
The Buckeyes have descended upon the West Coast and are likely settling in and adjusting to the timezone change and the welcome improvement in weather!
You’re probably wondering what their schedule will be like in this last week before the Rose Bowl game, aren’t you? Thought so.
According to Coach Tressel’s website, the Bucks will have their first practice bright and early at 9:15 tomorrow morning. Which doesn’t really end up being that bad since their bodies will think it’s just after noon. Ohio State and Oregon will both practice at the Home Depot Center.
After practice, the team will head to Disneyland for presser and hopefully some fun as well. The Buckeyes that will be available to the media include Coach Tressel, Kurt Coleman, Jim Cordle, Austin Spitler, and Doug
Worthington. Shortly afterwards, the media will bitch and moan about how they don’t ever get to talk to Terrelle, and ask why is Tressel is such a Nazi. Ok, maybe not that last part, but best believe they will be complaining…like they always do. Get over it! TP will talk to you when Tressel damn well wants him to talk to you; and not a minute sooner. Whining about it isn’t going to make his media availability more likely, mmk?
Now that’s not to say that TP won’t talk to the media at all this week. He very well could. While he’s not scheduled for tomorrow, there are more media sessions on the schedule. One on Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday. I wouldn’t be surprised if he was present for the official Rose Bowl Media Day, which takes Wednesday, but I also wouldn’t be surprised if he weren’t. Everyone knows Tress likes to give the upperclassmen their shine at media events, regardless of the age of his starters.
Other events on the itinerary are The Rose Bowl Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, also on Wednesday, and Thursday’s Rose Bowl Game Kickoff Luncheon.
Bowl games aren’t all about business, though! The Bucks will have some downtime to enjoy Southern California.
On Saturday, their first full day in California, the Buckeyes will visit Disneyland. Coach Tressel has also scheduled a trip to the Hollywood Improv Comedy Club and the ESPN Zone. The players will also have a their share of free time to explore the area before getting back for curfew.
Have fun, guys! But y’all better not miss curfew! Don’t be “that” guy. Everyone worked hard to get to Pasadena. Additional distractions are not desirable.
