Ohio State QB returns to site of first big win
It was his third start as a hyped freshman quarterback at Ohio State — but his first under fire. Terrelle Pryor’s maiden voyage outside of Columbus came at night, at Wisconsin, in raucous, deafening Camp Randall Stadium.
Pryor passed the test, directing the Buckeyes’ winning drive, which he capped with an 11-yard touchdown run with 68 seconds left, in a 20-17 victory.
On Saturday night, when he returns to No. 18 Wisconsin for another night game, the stakes will be raised along with the volume. Two years after his last visit, Pryor is a Heisman Trophy candidate and Ohio State is ranked No. 1.
“It’s always circled on the calendar, especially when it’s at Camp Randall,” Pryor told reporters. “The last time I was there, it was a great experience for me.”
The Wisconsin game was one of the few highlights of an uneven freshman season, in which Pryor struggled as a passer and finished as a wide receiver in a 24-21 Fiesta Bowl loss to Texas.
A year later, however, Pryor was spectacular in a Rose Bowl win over Oregon, a game viewed from the sideline by Wisconsin coach Bret Bielema, who now marvels at the 6-foot-6, 235-pound dual-threat playmaker.
“He’s so gifted,” Bielema said. “He’s grown into the ideal player for them.”
While Wisconsin (5-1) has struggled in big games under Bielema, losing seven straight to ranked Big Ten foes, Ohio State (6-0) has thrived in similar situations under Jim Tressel. The Buckeyes have won eight straight games on the road against ranked conference foes, keying their five straight Big Ten titles.
Wisconsin will try to counter the trend by keeping the ball out of the hands of Pryor. The Badgers have a low-risk, ball-control offense propelled by their “Thunder and Lightning” backfield of 6-1, 255-pound junior John Clay (692 yards rushing, nine touchdowns) and 5-10, 198-pound freshman James White (485 yards, eight touchdowns).
There also will be the notorious Wisconsin fans, who leap and stomp in unison at the start of the fourth quarter when “Jump Around,” a tune by House of Pain, is piped into Camp Randall.
“The place jumps,” Pryor marveled, shaking his head.
“It was ridiculous,” Ohio State linebacker Brian Rolle said of the 2008 game. “I believe that student section is the best in the country.”
