GREENSBORO — N.C. State coach Tom O'Brien is prepared for the possibility that quarterback Russell Wilson will play just one more season for the Wolfpack football team.
Wilson, a first-team All-ACC selection as a redshirt freshman last season, is on an accelerated academic schedule that has him on track for graduation in the spring of 2010. He also is a baseball prospect who's eligible for the 2010 MLB draft.
O'Brien said family health issues – Wilson's father suffered a stroke about a year ago – could factor into his decision.
"If baseball is the way he has to go to help his family or it's best for him, then certainly we'll support him in that," O'Brien said. "We'd love to have him, but as I told you, he came in with a plan. He's going to graduate in three years. He's got the baseball side and the football side, and he likes whatever he’s doing that minute."
With Wilson's future uncertain beyond this season, O'Brien plans to play highly touted redshirt freshman backup Mike Glennon for a series in the first half in each game.
Other notes from O’Brien’s news conference:
・Tight end Matt Kushner is at full strength after recovering from a knee injury last season. O'Brien said safety Javon Walker, who's also coming back from a knee injury, might not be ready for the start of preseason camp. But Walker is closer to being ready than wide receiver Donald Bowens, who’s out until at least October while recovering from knee surgery.
・Linebacker Nate Irving's collapsed lung came as the result of a puncture by a broken rib, O’Brien said. O'Brien supplied more detail on the injuries Irving suffered in a one-car wreck in June. Originally, N.C. State announced that Irving had a broken leg and a collapsed lung. O'Brien said the leg injury was a compound fracture, and Irving also separated a shoulder.
Irving is out indefinitely, and O'Brien expects to know more about his status after a mid-August doctor appointment. If Irving is cleared at any point this season, O’Brien plans to play him, because he is not eligible for a redshirt.
・N.C. State is playing two Football Championship Subdivision opponents (Murray State and Gardner-Webb) because of moves to accommodate a three-way scheduling plan calling for East Carolina to play the Wolfpack or North Carolina – but not both – each season, according to O'Brien.
East Carolina visits North Carolina on Sept. 19. O'Brien said having two FCS opponents will be a plus financially because it gives N.C. State eight home games in difficult economic times.
Comments
Back to Wilson
Tue, 07/28/2009 - 14:39 — sitlingtonAnyone want to speculate as to why O'Brien is speculating about his first team all-ACC quarterback? Seems like it only complicates Wilson's life - makes O'Brien look like he has moved on already. Most coaches won't look past the next game let alone an entire season....
It's a question that he's
Tue, 07/28/2009 - 15:15 — Heels20It's a question that he's going to be asked in every media conference. Maybe he thought that if he went ahead, cleared the air and gave his answer, then it will be less of a distraction during the season. That's probably the same reason he released more details about Irving's injuries. As far as any one knew, Irving could be out anywhere from the first four games of the season all the way to the entire season. Releasing the details made it clear that an early return is unlikely and it put the spotlight on other guys who are stepping into his spot.
True - it may get the issue
Tue, 07/28/2009 - 16:34 — sitlingtonTrue - it may get the issue out of the way. I just cannot recall a coach speculating about a player like that - usually the coach is the one dampening the guessing. Maybe its tough to have the talented, prototype QB who you recruited on the sidelines while a part time, undersized, come-from-nowhere kid takes the team and the ACC by storm. Just speculating...
just because you might be
Tue, 07/28/2009 - 16:55 — mad_maxjust because you might be petty, doesn't mean everyone else is. i seriously doubt that TOB's ego is affected by mike glennon sitting on the bench. if he cared that much, then he would make glennon the starter...i mean, it is ultimately his decision. i'm just glad we actually have somebody to back up our starter. the whole "let's just have rivers lead our team and not even worry about a back-up or replacement" strategy didn't work out too well for us.
glennon
Tue, 07/28/2009 - 22:07 — gvillegatrhow do you really know that you have a guy who can back up your QB? all we really know is the pedigree ... and that wasn't anything exceptional.
i'd be careful ASSuming the pack have a back-up QB till you actuallly see him play in a game that matters.
my point is that mike
Wed, 07/29/2009 - 05:18 — mad_maxmy point is that mike glennon is and has been aware of the rw situation, and therefore should be ready to take over when the time comes. especially since TOB is gonna make sure he gets to see some action...even early on in the opener against SC.
glennon has the pedigree, he's got a low-pressure situation right now, and he's had TOB and staff coaching him up for the past year and a half...not to mention he's been able to watch and work with rw. glennon already has much more going for him than the qb's that directly followed phillip rivers.
Yes, I'm sure he's learned
Wed, 07/29/2009 - 10:10 — Heels20Yes, I'm sure he's learned a lot from RW, seeing as he's also 5'9'' and a scrambler...
State's offense will look different with Glennon. If you went to the spring game, you would have noticed that they're slowly phasing out that spread option they ran last year. I was shocked to see even Wilson lining up under center in an I-formation. State will keep winning games with RW at QB in the spread, but they don't have the personnel necessary to adjust to the offense that fits Glennon. Those offensive linemen are going to get him killed.
OK - it was petty.
Tue, 07/28/2009 - 19:47 — sitlingtonOK - it was petty. However, I think a coach does an athlete a real disservice by making public comments like that. Wilson has been hounded by questions about his future and he has chosen to answer them in a way that keeps his options open - that seems like his prerogative as long as he shows up with his best effort every day. TOB not only amped up the speculation but even jumped in with a comment about Wilson's father and his health - it just seems unnecessary and a little unsupportive of a guy who gave the team a pretty good season. As a point of reference, a friend who follows NC State football saw me this morning and immediately asked if I saw the "smackdown" on Wilson in the paper - a second friend made a similar comment later in the day. In other words, I'm not the only one who read it as an unfortunate comment.
My petty speculation comes from wondering what good purpose is served by a coach getting out ahead of his team's leader in the media and making headlines over something that is just guesswork. There are enough other people out there doing the guesswork - the coach has to have your back.
Smackdown?
Tue, 07/28/2009 - 20:51 — JPDOhioI don't think so.
I listened to the audio of the comment and it sounded like a coach commenting on something that is pretty obvious to everyone already. And he said they would sit down and talk about it after the season.
TOB could have played hardball about Russell's commitment to baseball (he is on a football scholarship), but he was very flexible this year. There is no doubt he has Russell's best interest at heart.
He probably does have his
Tue, 07/28/2009 - 21:43 — sitlingtonHe probably does have his best interest at heart - but I think he made a mistake here. Wilson has been asked this question a thousand times by the media and he has practically been robotic in answering it the same way every time - I like both sports, I'm taking it day by day and I'll make that decision later. Maybe he wanted O'Brien to end the speculation - but I doubt it. If it calms the issue down, then TOB was right and I am wrong and would be happy to be wrong. It made a lot of headlines today and well beyond North Carolina.
Big money...
Mon, 07/27/2009 - 22:11 — willncsu...in baseball. Dont blame him at all.
oh B.S.
Tue, 07/28/2009 - 09:07 — gvillegatreveryone of you guys will be on the edge of a tall building ASSuming he has another good year with the pups.
you will blame him in the name of all who suffer in C-F. "you ain't got to lie CRRRAIG!"
And FTR, i'm not trying to stir a pot or anything just stating an obvious. the guy is a good QB. thats why most all of you will be upset IF he leaves next year which is the indication ...
I will respond in January.
Tue, 07/28/2009 - 09:53 — JPDOhioAfter Russell makes his decision. If he decides to go and my response is cut-off, you'll know that I hit the pavement before I had a chance to finish.
Russell will have options
Tue, 07/28/2009 - 08:59 — JPDOhioIf Russell chooses to pursue a pro baseball career, he will have to make this his last football season. His natural talent and leadership ability make him a sound prospect, but the going back and forth has hurt his baseball numbers. At this point, I think he will be drafted based on potential, but not necessarily be able to command huge money, at least not yet. He will need to focus on baseball this spring and have a solid year to improve his draft status and contract prospects.
All that said, I wouldn't rule out Russell sticking with football. He is probably too short to be considered an NFL QB, but he could be a Hines Ward/Randall-El type player. Or he could take the Flutie route and go to the CFL, where he could have a long and perhaps lucrative career.
In any event, I am looking forward to this season and hope that Russell can stay healthy, for his own good and the Pack's. I have confidence that Glennon will be a better backup than we've had the past few years (not exactly a high hurdle to leap), but Russell gives State its best chance for success this year.
Agree
Tue, 07/28/2009 - 08:52 — heelsno1Russell Wilson is a phenominal player, leader and total class act! I hope he becomes a big-time, big-money baseball player.
Even as a Tar Heel...
Mon, 07/27/2009 - 21:38 — Heels20I'm going to hate to see Wilson leave early. Very classy guy, extremely fun to watch. Best of luck to him this season (except for on November 28).
I disagree
Mon, 07/27/2009 - 20:17 — aideanI enjoyed reading about the knick knack stuff.....Like Willie young trying to catch fish and the funny comments he made to the media (Nate running to catch the bus).
me too. that's how we get to
Tue, 07/28/2009 - 16:57 — mad_maxme too. that's how we get to know the personalities of a lot of people that we would otherwise know nothing about. yeah, willie young was very entertaining.
wow gatr, you need to take a
Mon, 07/27/2009 - 18:42 — mad_maxwow gatr, you need to take a chill pill...just relax man, it's gonna be okay. one day unc might get a legit qb too.
I probably do need a chill pill
Mon, 07/27/2009 - 18:56 — gvillegatrbut it doesn't have anything to do with UNC having or not having a legit QB.
what I do know, though, is UNC has a QB that WANTS to play football first!
wow, i didn't realize how
Tue, 07/28/2009 - 17:00 — mad_maxwow, i didn't realize how bad it really was. our qb's number one sport isn't even football, but he still smokes your qb like a left-handed cigarette in comparison. that's got to be tough to deal with gatr. if i didn't know any better, i might actually sympathize with you! lol all in fun
no worries
Tue, 07/28/2009 - 22:09 — gvillegatri'm not as sensitive as some. lol.
i think it is going to be fascinating to see Yates and Wilson play QB1 this year. I'm sure we'll all be comparing one another throughout.
"what I do know, though, is
Mon, 07/27/2009 - 20:46 — HeHateMeToo"what I do know, though, is UNC has a QB that WANTS to play football first!"
... you mean 1st, not counting frisbee.
Too many puff pieces
Mon, 07/27/2009 - 19:40 — JPDOhioI agree with Gatr that there were too many puff pieces (who cares about Spiller's wrist bands, for example). They end up crowding out the articles that we may want to comment on, like the Summer Kickoff, Parts 1 and 2, that disappeared way too quick.
Maybe some of the articles could have been combined into one. Or maybe JP could have delayed the summer kickoffs until after the ACC meeting. Whatever. Some of the stuff has just been unnecessary.
I'm not sure whether the article about TOB's comments on Russell fall in that category. It is obviously an item of interest, although my hope is that we can just enjoy the season without the distraction of constant "will he or won't he" articles.
Let's just let Russell lead the Pack to the ACC Championship that they will so richly deserve. Then Russell can make his decision after the January BCS Bowl game that he leads State to glorious victory in.
4 questions and 2 statements
Mon, 07/27/2009 - 16:52 — gvillegatrwhy is that we have a 1000 fluff pieces written about this that and the other?
The AJC (Mr Barnhardt) has announced from Greensboro that Mr Dwyer is the ACC pre season POY.
The AJC (Mr Barnhardt) has announced UNC and LSU have agreed to play in next years Georgia Dome game to kick off the season.
How come ACCNow has not reported either of those? what are you waiting on? Is the service too slow over at JP Looney's??
nevermind the 1st question
Mon, 07/27/2009 - 16:56 — gvillegatrI see the ACC pre season POY votes were buried in another article. go figure. thats not important enough to get its on blog like all the other puff pieces have.
Awww
Tue, 07/28/2009 - 15:54 — wolfpackcaniacWould you like some cheese to go with that whine?
no amount of cheese can
Tue, 07/28/2009 - 17:03 — mad_maxno amount of cheese can adequately compliment THAT whine