Terrelle Pryor Out at Ohio State; What’s Next for Buckeyes?

Cleveland Plain-Dealer reporter Doug Lesmerises broke the news today that Terrelle Pryor is leaving Ohio State. Appropriate mood music for this latest Buckeye development is Derek and The Dominos’ “Layla” in the classic GoodFellas.

The melodic, piano outro juxtaposes the elimination of all connections of Jimmy Conway, Tommy DeVito and Henry Hill to a seven-figure heist. First there was Jim Tressel’s Memorial Day retirement, now Pryor’s departure is the removal of another key piece connecting OSU football to significant NCAA violations. Could Gene Smith be next? There’s certainly recent precedent of the athletic director hitting the sacrifical alter as alms to the NCAA — very recent. Mike Hamilton stepped down at Tennessee earlier today amid the NCAA’s investigations into former Volunteer coaches Lane Kiffin and Bruce Pearl’s tenure.

The truth is a hat-in-hand approach that includes cutting as many connections to violations as possible is the best way of softening an NCAA blow. USC’s two-year postseason ban and scholarship reduction could be attributed as much to its defiance amid allegations as the violation itself. Undoubtedly, OSU wants to avoid a similar fate and the bigger the allegations, the greater the penance.

Pryor’s departure probably has less to do with saving future Buckeye teams as it does ensuring he plays football. As of this morning, he was slated to miss five games. Rumors of a car carousel that would impress Jay Leno almost assured that suspension would be extended. No question, whether intentional or not, this is a self-preservation move and OSU’s benefits are byproducts. Gone from a college roster, Pryor will be under no obligation to answer investigators’ questions, which at the very least will force the NCAA to do a lot more digging than it would have to otherwise.

Pryor had a surreal tenure as a Buckeye, beginning before he ever even donned the colors. His recruitment was a PT Barnum production that his actual play failed to ever meet. He was a maddening figure in Columbus as Scarlet And Game expresses via open letter. However, he’s the only quarterback the Buck offense has known since 2008. With talent around him capable of winning capable of winning the Big Ten, Joe Bauserman may be under more pressure than any Buckeye not currently under investigation.

That’s the thing about NCAA turmoil. For every figure dropping into the background, someone else has to step up. For Pryor, it’s Bauserman. For Tressel, it’s Luke Fickell. A Pat Haden should be waiting in the wings should Smith go next. “Layla” may fade out, but the movie plays on.