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1/1/2011 at 12:27pm

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Ohio State quarterback Terrelle Pryor speaks with media on Saturday.

Ohio State quarterback Terrelle Pryor has seen plenty of recent attention after the school and NCAA announced he was being suspended for the first five games of 2011. Pryor was one of five Buckeyes ruled to have received improper benefits.

That’s led to nationwide criticism and scrutiny of Pryor and No. 6 OSU (11-1) entering Tuesday's Sugar Bowl game against eighth-ranked Arkansas (10-2).

After Pryor’s pre-Sugar Bowl media appearance on Saturday, don’t count on that attention to die down anytime soon.

Pryor, who apologized earlier in the week with teammates for breaking NCAA rules by selling team memorabilia, came off as less than apologetic Saturday. He admitted to knowing what he did was wrong — something that seems to counter OSU’s defense that it didn’t properly educate players — and took a parting shot at former Buckeye quarterback/ESPN analyst Kirk Herbstreit.

Below are a few memorable moments from Pryor’s 22 minutes with media:

It ended with his comment on Herbstreit, who recently said if Pryor left for the NFL it would be “addition by subtraction” for OSU. Essentially, the former Buckeye was saying the program would be better off if Pryor wasn’t around.

Asked to respond Pryor said:

“I don’t worry about what Kirk Herbstreit says, to tell you the truth.”

A Sugar Bowl moderator thanked media for coming and attempted to end the interview with Pryor. The quarterback leaned back into the microphone for a parting shot at Herbstreit:

“Has he beat Michigan?”

Pryor was knocking Herbstreit for his winless record against the Buckeyes’ chief rival. It was the final statement of Pryor’s time with media, but hardly the only one that will generate headlines.

Asked what he’d learned through the process and looming suspension, Pryor said:

“I always thought, it was two years ago, you know. So I already knew what I shouldn’t have done back two years ago that I know now. To tell you the truth, I really haven’t learned much because I already knew what I shouldn’t have did about two years ago. I wouldn’t make the same decision. So I can’t tell you that I learned something because I already knew what I did wrong.”

Pryor was asked a follow-up about knowing what he did was wrong two years ago. (OSU has said players didn’t know and used that as part of its defense of Pryor):

“I guess every time we had them little meetings, compliance, every time they would say something you’re like, “Man, I did it. I did that. So, I mean, it’s over with man. We’re not really stressing about it anymore.”

OSU coach Jim Tressel said earlier in the week that Pryor and the other suspended players “pledged” to return for 2011. They wouldn’t have been allowed on the Sugar Bowl trip if they hadn’t promised not to leave for the NFL. Pryor said he didn’t consider he’d “pledged” to come back, but was merely saying, “sorry.”

“Not just from my standpoint, I think it’s important to keep your word, but at the same time, some guys have different situations, you know? I think some guys pledged — we were basically saying, ‘Sorry.’ I know other guys are in different situations. I can’t really speak if they would choose to leave or anything like that, that they are breaking a pledge. I wouldn’t say that we, automatic, I think some guys have different situations. Speaking for them, you can’t go off like that."

He added:

Once you pledge to something, I think you’ve got to keep your word for it. I’ll tell you that.”

And, by the way, Pryor doesn’t like being compared to Auburn’s Cam Newton. Both are similarly sized and skilled, but Pryor bristled at the notion the two are alike, pointing out the two run completely different offenses.

Pryor has said before he thinks he could be more effective in an offense that allowed him more freedom to run:

“I won’t compare myself to anybody. I’m sorry. I don’t.”

 Hey, credit the guy for being honest. That’s got to count for something, right?

Tagged: The Ohio State Buckeyes, Michigan Wolverines, Terrelle Pryor, Kirk Herbstreit, Jim Tressel, Arkansas Razorbacks