Pryor keeps college, finals in perspective
It's true you learn something new with every step you take.
From the cell phone calls you accept, and the ones you don't, to the meetings you schedule with a half-dozen of the most influential college football coaches in the country.
Unbelievable at times, all are courting me, quarterback Terrelle Pryor.
Without question it's a crazy thing, but you have to stay focused, pretty much line up when the whistle blows and take care of business. From now until Saturday night, lunch with Tennessee's Phillip Fulmer, or more cozy dialogue with Oregon's Mike Bellotti or Ohio State's Jim Tressel can wait.
Believe me, Dunmore High School has my full attention.
With my team, the Jeannette Jayhawks, rolling into Hersheypark Stadium with a shiny WPIAL title and 15-0 record, I'm glad Pryormania, as one news outlet pegged these dogged recruiting days, couldn't break us.
Having dropped that 29-28 state championship match to Wilson Area one year ago, we knew we had the talent to earn a return voucher. We already knew everybody we watched on film and we let nothing hold us back.
Now it's just time to finish the deal.
Don't get me wrong, I think I deserve to be mentioned as the nation's top high school football prospect. That's just the attitude I have. Playing against other teams, they know what they are up against, and every time we play a team that thinks they will be the first to beat us, I try to do something to change their minds.
Take last week's 41-21 PIAA Class AA semifinal victory over Wilmington. All I did was add 158 rushing yards, 143 passing yards and a 100-yard interception return for a touchdown to my resume.
The newspapers also mentioned that I'm believed to be the first football player in the state to surpass 4,000 yards rushing and passing in a career. Personally, it was a nice bonus.
That's not being cocky or buying into all the hype. It's just having a positive self-image, knowing that you're willing and able to handle your business. That's exactly how I feel.
I'll also be the first to tell you my offensive line blocked perfectly last week.
Truthfully, that group has been near-perfect all season, and I've been fortunate to play alongside players who desperately want to win. I often call my backfield mate, Jordan Hall, the best back in the state.
These guys are just as hungry to complete this storybook season as I am. It's a big reason why head coach Ray Reitz and the Jayhawks have this chance. Again.
Off the field, Coach has helped a lot with this crazy process.
He keeps telling everyone that he understands it's a special kind of season. From those seeking autographs for profit to unannounced visits during school hours and requests for interviews, Coach Reitz has seen it all.
Equal parts coach, parent and security guard.
I think it's kind of funny you can log onto eBay right now and buy a basketball signed by me, a 6-6, 225-pound high school senior, for just under a hundred bucks. I honestly don't know how that happens but I'm not signing balls anymore.
Anyway, I can't worry about that stuff. Honestly, I don't when I'm on that field. I'm just trying to score for our team, trying to throw all completions. It's incompletions that worry me, actually.
Moving the chains and scoring touchdowns, that's on my immediate agenda. Dunmore is a good, sound defensive team, but we're going to attack. Hard.
Even though I've collected over 3,000 yards (1,590 rush, 1,538 pass) this season and totaled nearly 50 touchdowns, our team has produced a shade less than 6,000 yards from the line of scrimmage. That means the District 2 champion Bucks have their work cut out for them. If we take care of the little things, we can't lose.
You can imagine how easy it would be to lose sight of simply playing the game, the right way.
A representative from ESPN the Magazine was at school not long ago, and it seems like a new video clip on YouTube.com shows up every week. Naturally, everyone keeps asking which college program is first in line for my services.
I can tell you that counting those schools mentioned above, Penn State and West Virginia also are on my current list. All have great traditions and coaches who are committed to winning.
But, there is still the matter of continuing my basketball career, too. I think it's possible to excel at both sports at the next level, but I'll leave that decision for another day.
These immediate hours are spoken for. Right now I'm playing for my teammates, coaches, family and friends. That's where my allegiance stands.
Through the years I've worked hard on my presence in the pocket, and learned a lot about being a leader. Time to keep delivering. I'll be focused, that's for sure.
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