Article published October 30, 2009
Heisman winner offers encouragement to Pryor
Troy Smith's support bolsters current Ohio State quarterback
Terrelle Pryor
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ASSOCIATED PRESS
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By MATT MARKEY
BLADE SPORTS WRITER
COLUMBUS - His turnover-laden performance against Purdue two weeks ago will be a career-long reminder of "what not to do" for Ohio State quarterback Terrelle Pryor. On the flip side, the sophomore is getting counsel from a number of different sources on the things he should do while running the Buckeyes' offense.
One of those in the inner circle of the Pryor support group is former Ohio State quarterback Troy Smith, who now plays for the Baltimore Ravens of the NFL. Smith and Pryor have kept the communication chain humming with text messages and phone conversations, and Pryor said this week that Smith has been a big source of encouragement, especially when Pryor's performance has dipped, and the criticism rains down on him.
Pryor said Smith, who won the 2006 Heisman Trophy and ranks third in OSU history in career total offense with almost 7,000 yards, encourages him to keep working, and keep improving.
"You can be better than me," is what Smith has told him, Pryor related.
"He just keeps on preaching to me that, 'At your age when I was there, I wasn't even playing, I was sitting on the bench and watching [other] quarterbacks throw the ball and make plays,'" Pryor said.
"Everything he says, I'm so glued in to because I look up to Troy so much. Whatever words he says, my ears are pinned open just listening and learning and just sponging it in. It just makes so much sense to me."Smith redshirted his first season at Ohio State, then played sparingly at running back and as a kick returner in 2003. The following year he was the backup to starting quarterback Justin Zwick, and Smith took over midway through the season when Zwick went out with an injury. Smith led the Buckeyes to wins in four of the final five regular season games but was suspended for the bowl game and the first game of 2005 for accepting cash from a booster.
Troy Smith
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After settling into the starter's role following the suspension, he led OSU to a Big Ten title and a Fiesta Bowl win over Notre Dame in 2005.
Smith led Ohio State to the No. 1 ranking, a 12-0 regular season record in 2006, and then won the Heisman with a record vote total. His career ended with an embarrassing loss to Florida in the national championship game, but Smith's three straight victories over Michigan cemented his lofty place in OSU lore.
"Just to hear from a guy like Troy, and the type of man he is and the way I look up to him, it's amazing," Pryor said. "Whenever I feel I need to talk to him, I give him a call. And when I call, he's always there."
Pryor bounced back from that Purdue loss with 343 yards of offense last Saturday as Ohio State routed Minnesota 38-7. Now 14-3 as a starter for the Buckeyes, Pryor said the regular advice from Smith and OSU head coach Jim Tressel has helped him learn how to handle the endless analysis of his every move, and keep focused on leading the Ohio State offense.
"Criticism - I don't really worry about it. It comes with the territory," Pryor said. "You've just got to let that stuff go by and you've got 10 men that you've got to make sure that they know that you're up all the time. If they see you're down and taking criticism, they'll think it's somewhat their fault. So, I can't let that happen. As a leader, I can't let that happen."
Tressel, whose team faces New Mexico State this week before ending the season with Big Ten road games at Penn State and Michigan sandwiched around a home game against unbeaten Iowa, said some of Pryor's best learning experiences have come when the young quarterback has struggled.
"I think as much as you hate to say it, the adverse things that happen - sometimes in life are very, very valuable," Tressel said.
"I think as you grow in your experiences and are able to assess your own experiences, you do become more relaxed. We talk and talk and talk about the effects of a turnover ... but sometimes when it happens, it becomes even more real, more deeply understood."
Contact Matt Markey at:
mmarkey@theblade.com
or 419-724-6510.
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