Chancellor Randy Woodson spoke to the Raleigh Sports Club Wednesday, highlighting the state of N.C. State Athletics and the connection between the classroom and the playing field.
One of these connections, according to Woodson, was highlighted by the actions of men’s basketball junior forward Calvin Leslie following the team’s victory against former No. 1 Duke. After the game Leslie picked up Will Privette, a senior studying communication-media who is confined to a wheelchair, after he was separated from his wheelchair when the students rushed the court. The occurrence has garnered national attention, along with the game itself.
According to Woodson, it created a window for those outside the University to see the spirit of N.C. State.
“You can’t buy that type of notoriety for N.C. State University,” Woodson said. “In this case, it’s good. In this case, it’s something that could’ve been very bad, but it ended well. It’s a big part of the University experience.”
He also spoke on how athletics has inspired other factions of the university at Cornell University, pointing out that athletic achievement is relevant at any type of institution.
In a landscape of off-the-field scandals in college sports, Woodson said having responsible leaders at the helm of not only the athletic but University administration is critical to the University’s success.
“All you can do, in my opinion, is make a culture of compliance where everyone understands their role and responsibility and knows that the administration and the University has their back,” Woodson said.
Woodson touched on some of State’s recent accomplishments, such as garnering a No. 37 ranking in the Director’s Cup, an award given nationally to the best collegiate athletics program in the nation. The two-year jump from No. 89 to 37 was the largest two-year improvement in the ACC. This achievement is largely accredited to Athletics Director Debbie Yow, who Woodson called the hardest working athletics director he’s ever worked with.
Yow’s decisions at the helm in terms of coaching changes were also addressed. He spoke in length on football head coach Dave Doeren and the optimism he is bringing to the program.
He cited the quick turnaround men’s basketball head coach Mark Gottfried provided in his first year as a source of hope for the football program. He also mentioned his expectations for steady improvement in the women’s soccer and softball programs under their new head coaches, Mike Barroqueiro and Shawn Rychcik.
When the topic of one-and-done players in college basketball came to the podium, Woodson received a large applause from the audience when he said he was against the NBA’s one-and-done rule.
“This is (on) the NBA,” Woodson said. “They have the opportunity just like baseball to change their rules to help us with this.”
Conference realignment was also a topic of discussion, prompted by a question addressing Maryland’s move to the Big 10 and the addition of Notre Dame, Syracuse, Pittsburgh and Louisville into the ACC.
Woodson said the Wolfpack will remain in the ACC.
