oriental andrew

December 25th, 2010 at 10:21 AM ^

It's already been posted, but my recollection of Herbstreit's comments include:

TP is immature and selfish.  Partially a product of his upbringing b/c people were telling him he's the greatest thing since he was in 7th grade.  Still, has a lot of growing up to do.  Wouldn't be surprised if TP were the "ringleader" in getting the others to sell these items and accept free services.  osu needs to focus on being a team and not revolving around TP.  He's grown on the field, but immaturity still shows in his interactions with public/media. Toward the beginning, said he doesn't really know TP that well personally. 

Steve Lorenz

December 25th, 2010 at 11:01 AM ^

Everyone says this, but I'd be willing to bet at Michigan he would have developed a better character than he has at Ohio State. Either that, or it wouldn't have gotten this far in the first place. Say what you want about our fanbase, but "win at all costs" is not a prevailing trait of theirs. 

BlockM

December 25th, 2010 at 11:17 AM ^

There are times when winning is the last thing on the alumni's minds. "That guy's not a Michigan man." "That kid has had some trouble in his past." "The stadium better not have any effing ads."

Sometimes it makes sense, sometimes it doesn't, but I guess that's what we signed up for!

Tater

December 25th, 2010 at 11:26 AM ^

He would have been utilized properly, which would have helped.  Also, I agree that he would have developed better character at Michigan.  Mainly, in place of golden handshakes, hostesses, and "tutors" to do his academic work for him, Pryor would have gotten mentoring, people to stand up to him and tell him his excrement does, indeed, stink once in awhile, and he would have grown from actually having to do his own academic work. 

It might have made a difference, and it might not have made a difference.  But he would have had a better chance to grow as a human being and as a player.  At this point, TP looks like a guy who leaves early, washes out in the NFL, eventually bounces around between various arena football leagues, and spends the rest of his life wondering where the cheers went. 

All becuase nobody has ever stood up to him and told him he isn't the greatest invention since the wheel. 

Michigasling

December 25th, 2010 at 11:58 AM ^

A lot of the players who abandoned M when RR came in were the entitlement divas.  I don't think TP would have made any kind of miraculous turnabout here.  He probably would have been a divisive force.  If RR had removed his wings (which we now know he's willing to do, even with star QBs), I suspect he would have flown.  Tate was young and immature, but he had the courage to stay and grow up.  Can you imagine TP doing the same? 

(At least TP became a brilliantly deranged contributor to MGoHere.)

mfan_in_ohio

December 25th, 2010 at 11:59 AM ^

He was 18 years old, he wasn't someone you can just make into a good kid.  The fact that he chose Ohio State for the reasons that he did show why he wasn't a good character fit.  Simply put, he cares more about his supposed NFL career than about anything having to do with college.  To him, college was a 3 to 4 year free (even compensated, apparently) training program.  He knew that Michigan was a better fit for his skill set, and that it is overall a better school, but at 18 years old, he already felt he was bigger than college football.  For all the problems that Carr had with Mallett in one year, I can't imagine what would have happened with Rodriguez and Pryor if he came in with this kind of attitude.  Actually, I can: he probably would have transferred by the end of his freshman year.

Fuzzy Dunlop

December 25th, 2010 at 9:05 PM ^

I fail to see how choosing a program that he believes will help him develop skills he needs for a pro career is a sign of bad character.  If anything, it shows foresight, and a willingness to work to develop skills that he currently doesn't have.

Pryor is scum, but choosing Ohio State because he felt it was better for his career path is not a sign of that.  Don't most of us choose our college for that very reason?

dearbornpeds

December 25th, 2010 at 12:13 PM ^

     I would never root for tOSU (maybe against N.D.) but my second favorite team and second favorite qb this bowl season will be wearing arkansas colors.  Here's hoping Mallett can do what we couldn't.  Sooooooey!!!!

mackbru

December 25th, 2010 at 12:29 PM ^

I detest TP and am glad we "lost" him. But I disagree with part of Herbie's critique of the guy.

It made perfect sense for TP to select a school based on NFL considerations. He chose the wrong school, but that's a separate issue. When you're the highest-rated recruit in years, the NFL factor matters. You'd be crazy to ignore it. Especially if you come from a poor background. Most top recruits have to be practical.

Herbie is being sanctimonious and unrealistic, and is pandering to the old-school "purists" who want to believe it's still 1971. And I don't believe he fully believes what he's saying. 

SFBlue

December 25th, 2010 at 4:58 PM ^

I am surprised KH is so quick to throw Pryor under the bus.  Yes, Pryor is an ass, but had this happened at UM, I would be pulling for the guy to come back and do what he can with the 7 games he has.  TP really does have a chance to step up and be a leader.

bluebrains98

December 25th, 2010 at 6:13 PM ^

I think the point is that this was not an isolated event. It fits TP's personality, and as KH says, even the suspension isn't going to change him. We always root for guys to recover after making mistakes, but this mistake seems to be the product of a deeper character flaw that isn't going away any time soon.

Stuck in Ohio 2

December 26th, 2010 at 1:09 AM ^

Does anyone else puke slightly when TP gives his shoutouts to buckeyenation and professes his love for them on Twitter. Yet he turns around an puts a black eye on them and the university seemingly every other week??

On a related note, of the buckeye fans down here I talk to most  (okay, 35% of them but thats a lot given the typical buckeye fan's IQ) of them call Pryor a disgrace and embarassment

umichzach

December 26th, 2010 at 2:12 AM ^

really happy that someone else in the media sees that Pryor THINKS he is a 1st round pick AND acknowledges he isn't.  herbstreit is making it hard for me to hate him.  please someone post a video that reaffirms my hatred of him.  p.s if any of that came across as garbled i blame copious amounts of various types of whisk(e)y.