IF NEWTON IS VIEWED AS AN NFL QUARTERBACK, WHY NOT PRYOR?

Terrelle Pryor
TBT/Darla Dunkle-Hudnell

As Terrelle Pryor prepares for the NFL Supplemental Draft — which should take place sometime in July — many are questioning whether he has the abilities to be a quarterback at the professional level.

My answer to that is pretty simple ... if Cam Newton, who went No. 1 overall to Carolina in April's draft, is viewed as a sure-fire NFL quarterback, I don't see why the former Ohio State signal caller can't be seen as such.

BMV REPORT TUESDAY MAY SPARE OHIO STATE THE DEATH PENALTY

COLUMBUS — According to a 65-page report issued Tuesday by the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles, there was no wrongdoing found in the sales transactions between Ohio State football players and two Columbus-area auto dealers, the investigation revealed.

After state investigators looked into each of the sales, including certificates of title, dealer sales files, power of attorney forms and records of prior ownership, they found that the two dealerships — Jack Maxton Chevrolet and Auto Direct — made money on 24 of the 25 transactions to Ohio State football players between 2006 and 2010.

HERE'S A FEW SUGGESTIONS FOR MICHIGAN'S NEW MASCOT

Pictured is "Purdue Pete." (The Buckeye Times/Darla Dunkle-Hudnell)

When it comes to mascots, the Big Ten has some of the most popular in all of collegiate sports.

Ohio State has Brutus Buckeye, Michigan State has Sparty, Wisconsin has Bucky Badger, Purdue has Pete and Penn State has the Nittany Lion. Each of the aforementioned mascots are as much or more recognizable with their respective schools, as the players and coaches who make up the teams. I mean, some Ohio State fans may not know who Rod Smith or Evan Spencer is yet ... but they all know Brutus.

OHIO STATE HEAD COACHING GIG CERTAINLY NOT TOO BIG FOR FICKELL

Luke Fickell
(AP/Terry Gilliam)

COLUMBUS — In my opinion, there are three absolute certainties in sports today: Usain Bolt is going to run really fast, LeBron James is going to pack it in whenever the spotlight is brightest (and then cry about it afterward), and Luke Fickell is going to be a successful head football coach at The Ohio State University.

In the six seasons I've covered Ohio State football — all of which with Fickell serving as linebackers coach and co-defensive coordinator — the native of Columbus has been the one assistant on the OSU staff who I would observe in practices, games and media sessions, and think to myself ... "this guy here is going to be a head coach one day."

FICKELL LOOKS TO LEAVE LASTING IMPRESSION ON BUCKEYE FOOTBALL

Luke Fickell
(AP/Terry Gilliam)

COLUMBUS — While speaking at his introductory press conference as the interim head coach at The Ohio State University, Luke Fickell made it clear that the Buckeyes are ready to move forward into the future.

“The 2011 Buckeyes will not be about comparing and contrasting what we’ve done before, but what we believe we will need to do to move forward,” Fickell said. “It will be about respect, toughness and being men of action.”

LUKE FICKELL CONFIDENT IN FIRST MEDIA APPEARANCE MONDAY

Luke Fickell (The Buckeye Times/Darla Dunkle-Hudnell)

COLUMBUS — Ohio State interim head coach Luke Fickell addressed the media on Monday in Columbus for the first time since replacing Jim Tressel as the Buckeyes football mentor.

Fickell — who is the Buckeyes 23rd head coach in the school's history — spoke confidently about many different topics with the media Monday, including the direction of the team entering the new era under his guidance, his knowledge of the NCAA violations that eventually cost Tressel his job, and how he views the label "interim coach."

FICKELL NEEDS TO GO ALL-IN WITH FRESHMAN QB BRAXTON MILLER

Braxton Miller
(The Buckeye Times/Joe Stueve)

When one door closes, another door always opens.

With Terrelle Pryor calling it quits Tuesday as a member of the Ohio State football team, the Buckeyes are now left with the huge task of trying to find his replacement as starting quarterback.

It certainly won't be an easy decision for interim head coach Luke Fickell, who himself is trying to replace a legend in Jim Tressel.

PRYOR ANNOUNCES HIS PLAYING DAYS AT OHIO STATE ARE OVER

Terrelle Pryor (The Buckeye Times/Darla Dunkle-Hudnell)

COLUMBUS — Jim Tressel announced early last week that he would no longer be Ohio State's head football coach. On Tuesday evening, Terrelle Pryor announced that he would no longer be the Buckeyes' quarterback.

The three-year starting signal caller announced in a statement — read by his attorney Larry James — that he will forego his senior season at Ohio State.

"In the best interest of my teammates, I have made the decision to forego my senior year of football at The Ohio State University," Pryor said in the statement.

FORMER OSU COACH JIM TRESSEL MADE IT EASY ON THOSE AROUND HIM

Jim Tressel (middle)
The Buckeye Times/Darla Dunkle-Hudnell

I vividly recall the first time I met former Ohio State head football coach Jim Tressel. It was during a photo shoot at Ohio Stadium prior to the 2005 season, my first as an Ohio State beat writer.

While the players were spread about on the grassy field, getting photos taken and being interviewed by members of the media, I noticed that Tressel was casually talking to a woman who was standing beside him by the bleachers — where the team had posed for a group picture a little earlier.

I figured that if I wanted to tackle this beat hard I must introduce myself to the boss man, and get a little one-on-one time before the horde of reporters notice he is free and surrounds him like Seal Team 6.

SPURRIER IS CORRECT, COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYERS SHOULD BE PAID

Steve Spurrier

The 'Ole Ball Coach' is definitely on to something.

During the Southeastern Conference spring meetings on Wednesday, South Carolina head football coach, Steve Spurrier, proposed that its players should be compensated monetarily for their participation. He stated that the coaches themselves would pay those players who dressed — approximately 70 — $300 a game.