All hope was lost last February. Was there any real hope in the first place?
Terrelle Pryor was never coming to Penn State. No, Pryor wanted to wear the scarlet and gray. He wanted to be a Buckeye.
But it wasn't that simple. Pryor dragged out his commitment, teasing Nittany Nation with the notion Penn State was still alive in the hunt for his services and God-given athletic abilities, even though he canceled an official visit to State College.
In the end, he shunned the Lions for the Bucks and created a fair amount of bulletin board material along the way. On Saturday night, his words may come back to haunt him. When Penn State's pass rushers line up across from him, you'd better believe Pryor's actions and words will be in the back of their minds.
Pryor told the New York Times during his recruitment that he didn't like the State College area. He didn't like Penn State's offense. He didn't believe Penn State coaches would use him in a way that would take full advantage of his abilities.
When Pryor led No. 9 Ohio State to a 45-7 thumping of Michigan State last weekend, he offered another tidbit that should light an even bigger fire under Penn State players this weekend.
After completing 7 of 11 passes for 116 yards and a touchdown and rushing for 72 more yards and another score, Pryor sounded off when asked about playing a team that recruited him from his home state of Pennsylvania.
"I don't care," Pryor told reporters. "I'm from Ohio now. That's still my hometown, but this is where I am now. I don't need to make Penn State happy."
It's not Penn State players' job to correct Pryor--he's actually from Jeannette, Pa.-- but that shouldn't matter come Saturday. Penn State will try to beat Ohio State in the Horseshoe for the first time since the Lions joined the Big Ten.
Pounding Pryor will be a nice bonus, though.
As the recruiting year wore on last season, it was becoming apparent that Pryor had narrowed his college search down to Ohio State and Michigan.
In the hunt for Pryor, Tom Bradley's charm wasn't enough. Promises to bring the spread offense were ineffective. The allure of playing in the nation's largest stadium didn't appeal to Pryor. Even a top-secret, last-second, desperate mission -- a visit from Paterno to Pryor in Jeannette, Pa. -- failed.
It was curtains for Penn State, but Saturday, the curtains could close on the Buckeyes if Pryor finds himself on his back or knocked out of the game.
He will be facing a pass rush that ranks seventh in the nation with 23 sacks. Pryor's number two might as well be a bullseye.
Penn State's front four will make him pay and make the true freshman wish he never shunned the Lions.
