Not even three minutes after he took the podium in Northwestern's visiting media room, Daryll Clark answered the first question about Terrelle Pryor.
How much do you have to avoid that and have it be Penn State vs. Ohio State?
"You answer the questions and talk about how you feel about it," he said at the time. "But at the end of the day, it's Ohio State and Penn State. Period. Not Daryll Clark versus Terrelle Pryor. We're not gonna play that type of chess match. It's not what it's about."
Oh well. At least one quarterback understands what Saturday is about.
"They're going to tear me up," Pryor said last Saturday after the Buckeyes' win against New Mexico State. "I'm sure they're going to be giving me a lot of stuff, maybe throwing stuff, saying a lot of things. But I won't hear any of it.
"I got my family with me, all 75 [teammates], and we're going to be ready to rock. I can't wait."
Pryor referred to himself six times in his quote. Clark referenced one "we."
It won't matter if Pryor throws for 300 yards, rushes for another 200 yards and scores five touchdowns. If Penn State wins, Pryor is the loser, Clark is the winner. Penn State has the inside track to the BCS, Ohio State can start booking its flight to a Florida bowl.
Both quarterbacks are the faces of their teams. Fair or not, the result in some way gets pinned on them.
Nevermind two of Clark's three interceptions against Iowa were deflections. From what I recall, Clark was on the sideline while Nick Sukay got pushed aside by Adrian Clayborn on a season-changing blocked punt.
When asked what adjustments Clark made from the Iowa loss to now -- considered to be the best period of football he's ever played at Penn State by Jay Paterno -- Joe Paterno resented the question. It's even worse with Pryor.
His four-turnover performance against Purdue three weeks ago had some fans calling for his benching. Some believe his biggest impact can be made at wide receiver because of his size and strength.
But the task both Clark and Pryor face Saturday in Beaver Stadium is one neither can complete on his own. Defenses will rule, as will field position.
And, regardless of who comes out on top, look for the two signal callers to meet in the middle of a crowded field, shake hands and offer the best of the luck the rest of the way.
After that, it's over. Period.
