The following is a response to comments made by former NC State quarterback Russell Wilson during a commencement address at the University of Wisconsin, in which Wilson suggested he was denied the opportunity to return to the Wolfpack football team for his senior season. The full quotes and story by CBSSports.com’s Will Brinson can be found here.
No one may care, but I feel given my unique yet similar experience, I need to comment on this fiasco.
I have met Russell Wilson only once, and I’ve had a one-on-one conversation with Tom O’Brien twice. I have no proof of what was said between them and know little more than any other passionate fan about the situation. I played football for NC State for three years. I’ve spent the last four years of my life as a physician and naval officer on Marine Corps bases taking care of Marines and their families. I also realize that most of the people who played under O’Brien, several of my former teammates, loathed the experience.
All that being said, I don’t think for a second that O’Brien said what Wilson claims he did in his commencement address. Here’s why.
To put it gently, I was a not-very-good walk-on quarterback without a chance of ever seeing the field. In the winter of my junior year when O’Brien was starting his job and Wilson was preparing to join the team, I was working very hard in winter drills and studying for the MCAT to get into medical school. Doing both was killing me, so I asked if I could talk to coach O’Brien. He gave me a meeting in his office.
I told him frankly it had been my dream to play for NC State since I was a kid, but my calling was to be a physician. I loved the last three years being a part of the team, and I really wanted to play my senior year, but I feared if I continued I would sacrifice my potential career. I only hoped he would allow me to come back, but I didn’t have the guts to directly ask that of him. I expected to leave that office with a firm “thanks for your time, goodbye.” There were guys like me all over campus knocking down the door to call themselves a Wolfpack QB. No-name walk-ons don’t get to take winter drills off and come back for summer camp, especially not with a brand new coaching staff. I left it up to coach O’Brien.
He looked me in the eyes and told me in not so many words, “You gave us three good years. Take the spring, work your butt off and do well on your test. When you’re done, your spot will be here waiting for you.”
I was floored and ecstatic. The man made it clear to everyone on the team, even rising seniors like myself, that we all were starting from scratch. I was a nobody, and he still gave me the benefit of the doubt. I did well on the MCAT, but I ended up deciding to not go back. The second time I talked to him, he thanked me again and wished me luck.
I think I can see the mindset of a man like O’Brien, a former Marine officer. Decisions are black and white to men like that. You assess risk and potential gain, and you move, committing fully to your decision. Regarding Russell Wilson, he probably made the wrong decision.
The established course of events seems more likely. He asked Wilson to choose, and when he didn’t choose football, O’Brien moved on. I don’t believe he degraded Wilson or disregarded his potential.
If ever there were anyone with no football potential to brush aside, it would have been me.
I have been the most ardent of fans and supporters of Wilson, but there have been a few instances over the last few years that have caused me to question his authenticity. This most recent debacle is the most egregious, and to me the most obvious, I think Wilson has sold out to an image he has tried too hard to embrace. Not with malicious intent, mind you, but he’s sold out just the same. He’s still a positive role model, Lord knows if this is the worst he does he’s ahead of most pro athletes.
But this is personal for me. O’Brien may not be well-liked, but he is what he is and doesn’t seem to waver. I think these are tall tales. And these tall tales aren’t fair to coach O’Brien, they aren’t fair to NC State.
