N&O: Wilson Didn’t Want To Leave

NCS Football90

It seems that Brett Favre Russell Wilson wants Wolfpack fans to know that he didn’t “want to leave.” To me, this situation has some similarity to the Favre/Packers soap opera of a few seasons ago. It’s the whole – “will he or won’t he”, while the entire team is left in limbo.

If Russell Wilson truly didn’t want to leave, then he should have committed to the team and been present for spring practice.  There are no doubt varying opinions on this, but I support Coach O’Brien’s actions. Russell Wilson is an amazing talent, but football is a team sport and you can’t leave the entire team hostage to what one player might or might not do.

 

About SMD

SMD graduated from NC State at a time when beating UNC-CH in both major revenue sports was a regular occurrence. This was well before a time when I could express my frustrated attempts at being a writer on the "internets." When I'm not talking about the Pack, I'm probably arguing politics.

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90 Responses to N&O: Wilson Didn’t Want To Leave

  1. Packfan28 05/01/2011 at 2:32 PM #

    I don’t understand why Russell said what he did to the media. All that accomplishes is having some people question TOB’s decision, and it puts more unecessary pressure on Glennon.

    Have to give Russell two thumbs down on this one.

  2. PackerInRussia 05/01/2011 at 2:42 PM #

    “We’ve been told that the NC State program under COB is a “performanced-based organization”. Not this time.”

    I think that this IS about being a performance-based organization. In my opinion, to let someone not indicate if they are going to play, then show up in the fall, and then to let him play over someone who had been working with the team the whole time is rewarding someone for not performing.

  3. PackerInRussia 05/01/2011 at 2:47 PM #

    “IMO the issue is not about “commitment” or missing spring practice. Wilson missed spring practice last year and it was acceptable to O’Brien and worked out well enough for Wilson, O’Brien, and the team. And he has been through more practices and, more importantly, more games than Glennon has”

    Yes, but with whom did he not go through practice? A group of receivers with a lot of practice AND game experience playing with him (last year) or a less experienced group who need to develop together with the QB (this year)? I’m not the first to say it on here, but I thought the same thing when it comes to comparing last year to this year (among other things mentioned). That could have been a great equalizer, thus making the decision easier to turn it over to Glennon.

  4. Tau837 05/01/2011 at 4:08 PM #

    I think it’s fair to say that if Wilson missed spring practice and also wasn’t there for the start of fall practice, there is no way he could compete for the job.

    Wilson has now been quoted as saying that he thinks he would not have been allowed to compete for the job in the fall. IMO this implies he is saying that if he showed up at the start of fall practice, he has been told (or at least has some reason to believe) he would not be allowed to compete for the starting job.

    I think the issue of timing with his new receivers is being a bit overblown. Wilson has spent as much or more time as Glennon practicing with all returning receivers. This argument and others seem to come from the stance that if Wilson returned for the start of fall practice and had a fair competition with Glennon, Glennon would win the job, whether because he gained an edge in spring practice or just because he is better and/or a better fit at this point in time.

    But if that is true, what is the harm in having that competition? Why force Wilson out?

    As I’ve already said, I think this decision was about preferring 2 years of Glennon to 1 more year of Wilson and Glennon leaving the program. IMO all of this stuff about commitment and experience with the new WRs is just window dressing.

  5. Wolfy__79 05/01/2011 at 4:15 PM #

    this wasn’t as sudden as people are making it out to be. i don’t think anyone who’s followed nc state football should be suprised. RW, TOB, Glennon all knew there options and that’s it..

    ^i think this decision is in the best interest of the program.

  6. newt 05/01/2011 at 4:24 PM #

    I’m not clicking that N&O link. Looking forward to seeing what we can do next year.

  7. coach13 05/01/2011 at 4:58 PM #

    IMO this is a pretty shoddy thing to go to the media with. I don’t blame Wilson for persuing baseball or TOB for moving foward, I think the first post in response is something a TOB hater would say instead of a rational person looking at the entire picture. I’d love to have him back as a backup to MG, and would be a great insurance if MG doesn’t do well. That said, I’m content to move foward the way we are. The Russell Wilson saga is getting old.

  8. ncsuallday 05/01/2011 at 5:08 PM #

    What an ignorant article comparing RW to Brett Favre. Wilson is a fantastic player and a well rounded man with character. We ran him off so TOB could save face and let Glennon play so he wouldn’t transfer. With such a weak schedule we could have won the ACC but now RW is going to go to another school and take them to a BCS bowl and he’ll be remembered for playing for whichever team that is. If he’s the better man, we should have let him play. Period.

  9. Lunatic Fringe 05/01/2011 at 6:04 PM #

    For those fans that throw out, “performance-based organization” or what is difference with this and a freshman coming In to compete…here is my view.

    Performance is measured in classroom, in community, on field, and IN PRACTICE. RW chose to play baseball (right decision for him), but that automatically removed him from participating in practice. Hard to ask rest of team to sweat it out during summer months, but give preferential treatment regardless of how good he was last year.

    Second, the freshman can compete IF they get to campus as soon as possible to start competing. A freshman who chooses to do something else during summer rather than get to campus to compete for PT will not competing for position under TOB…such is life.

  10. Tau837 05/01/2011 at 6:05 PM #

    Consider the scenarios if O’Brien had simply told Wilson that he could compete if he returns:

    1. Wilson doesn’t return at all. Glennon starts, no problem. 85th scholarship is then awarded to the most deserving walk-on for a year.

    2. Wilson doesn’t return until after baseball season, when State’s fall practice is over and the season has started. Easy decision to keep Glennon as starter and Wilson on the bench until such a time as Wilson proves to be the better player in practice, Glennon gets hurt, or Glennon performs poorly enough to get benched. There should be no issues here.

    3. Wilson comes back for the start of fall practice, he and Glennon compete in a fair competition, and Glennon wins. Glennon starts, and there should be no issues.

    4. Wilson comes back for the start of fall practice, he and Glennon compete in a fair competition, and Wilson wins. Wilson starts, and there should be no issues.

    5. Wilson comes back for the start of fall practice, and Glennon leaves the program. Wilson starts, and the program is worse off in 2012.

    #5 is a bad outcome avoided by the approach O’Brien has taken. #2 through #4 would create the possibility of QB controversy that he might want to avoid, but IMO that should fall into the category of a “good problem to have” and is not justification for O’Brien’s approach.

  11. Lunatic Fringe 05/01/2011 at 6:08 PM #

    We as a fan base have been extremely whiny over the past 2-3 months. MG is our QB….time to accept it and move on.

  12. eas 05/01/2011 at 6:40 PM #

    RW will always have my support wherever he lands. Great student, athlete, person, leader etc. A rare type of player in todays game. So I am sad he cannot return.

    HOWEVER, I think TOB made the right decision as a coach by moving forward. Glennon is an excellent QB with probably a short learning curve. It would be great if RW came back in case either option got hurt. The reality is RW is not going to come back and ride the pine. He cannot show case his talent being a back up. So I think he will be playing elsewhere next year and I will support each game no matter who he plays for.

    As for TOB……he did what he had to as a coach and move forward. As for RW…..he is a 22 yr old who has every right to be confused on what his future should/will be. I for one will not judge a flip flop decision by a kid trying to make a life decision. Especially one with as much character as RW. I will happily support MG at NCSU in the fall and RW with his new team.

  13. Frank Koontz 05/01/2011 at 7:24 PM #

    You cannot serve two masters!!! O’Brien is the boss. He maded the call. It’s tough, but that is why they pay him big bucks. Let’s get satisified and support our coach. Thank the WolfPack Nation that he can fish, instead of cut bait!!!!

  14. MickQ 05/01/2011 at 7:32 PM #

    RW has waffled, but this is not the NFL. He is a kid searching for a future, and he had to weigh his options, ie injuries, BB contracts, etc. Glennon is not RW and will be a project in making. Too bad Glennon does not have longer to gel, but he will be an ‘adequate’ QB. We have been spoiled by Wilson. Best of luck to RW, and best of luck to Glennon who has had to wait patiently on the sidelines.

  15. MrPlywood 05/01/2011 at 7:38 PM #

    As a lifelong fan of Green Bay, I think the comparison is valid. I was so tired of Favre pulling the retire/un-retire routine that I was happy to see him go. Like RW, Favre was not happy that he wouldn’t be given the chance to compete for the position. Like RW, some fans couldn’t imagine not bending the rules “for a guy who has done so much” for the team.

    When Rodgers finally took the reigns as the undisputed QB, good things happened. It took a season, but look where GB is now.

  16. gopack 17 05/01/2011 at 8:43 PM #

    Folks, let’s put this all into perspective. RW missed SPRING practice last year and clear to everyone he struggled knocking the rust off especially in game changing situations like the VT game. I don’t think that we can question the thought process of TOB. For anyone that has ever run a business–you have to take emotion out of it. Yea, I agree, RW did great things and is one heck of a player, athelete, and individual but at the end of the day emotion has to be taken out of the situation. If TOB has confidence in Glennon then so should the WOLFPACK Nation…..time to move on an run our new business.

  17. JSRy2k 05/01/2011 at 8:44 PM #

    Bravo, Coach! You made a tough personal decision, and it’s why you make the big bucks. As a personnel decision, however, I don’t see that it was very hard: Naming Glennon the starter cements team chemistry.

  18. newt 05/01/2011 at 8:50 PM #

    Tau – you’re removing all emotion from the scenario.

    Also, currently there is only one scenario. No uncertainty. That’s a good thing.

  19. Zak-Attack 05/01/2011 at 8:51 PM #

    Good luck to Russell next year where ever he plays football. Texas may pick him up or another national powerhouse. He is a proven winner and any school will be fortunate to have him. It’s too bad it came down this way. We might be thinking about what if in November? I hope the fans don’t start chanting RW during a game where we are losing. This could make it yough on TOB and MG.

  20. Red Rider 05/01/2011 at 9:29 PM #

    Can someone come up with an abbreviation that distinguishes MG – Mike Glennon from MG – Mark Gottfried?

  21. mak4dpak 05/01/2011 at 10:53 PM #

    Perhaps MGBB(basketball), or MGFB(football), as for the decision, it was the right one to make, no matter how it turns out. If we worked for a corporation, and someone transferred to another dept., and we replaced them, how would we fill if we were told we being replaced by the former person in that position. When you make the choice to change depts. (sports), you have to live with the consequences. But I do apprectiate what RW did for the program, and wish him well. Now it is time for us all to move on and get behind MGFB.

  22. ldr of the pk 75 05/02/2011 at 12:26 AM #

    Late to the thread, but have to agree with TOB. Every organization needs a boss, and it isn’t the player.

    If everyone is being objective they have to admit that RW made alot of mistakes last year that he did not normally make (pics in particular. He also was obviously cautious in the running part of his game. Almost obvious that he didn’t want contact to ruin his baseball or football chances.

    Perhaps that some of the reason TOB played tough. There is Spring Practice for a reason. If RW wasn’t willing to committ, I think TOB did what needed to be done. Glennon will have a brand new offense built around his set of skills. It’s playing the cards you are dealt for the betterment of a team, not one player.

    Best of luck to a great person and player, Russell Wilson. Hope the future is bright. Same to TOB and the whole Wolfpack team.

  23. rtpack24 05/02/2011 at 8:36 AM #

    The team that RW now plays for the Asheville Tourists last game is Sept. 4th and they play longer if they make the playoffs. Wonder if Wilson will quit baseball in time to go to someone’s fall camp, if so I think he would be in violation of his contract.

  24. Classof89 05/02/2011 at 9:12 AM #

    In making this call, I sure hope TOB knows something about his Offensive line that we don’t. Because there were several wins last season (GaT, UNC, and FSU come to mind) that would probably have been losses but for Wilson’s ability to scramble away from trouble (specifically, trouble pouring through an OL that was sieve-like against talented, quick DLs).

    It’s going to be a TOB bloodbath on here the first time we take a loss this fall and Glennon gets sacked 7 or 8 times (or, even worse, gets a concussion and is done for season).

  25. moreforw 05/02/2011 at 9:13 AM #

    Time will tell! Huge Mistake! If Glennon is so damn great why did he not beat Wilson out for the job two years ago???

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