N.C. State’s First All-American Wrestler Since 1996 Looking To Transfer

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Caldwell is N.C. State’s first All-American since 1996. A two-time NCAA qualifier and owner of a 62-9 career record, Caldwell won his second straight Atlantic Coast Conference championship this season. He also placed fifth in the NCAA Tournament at 149 pounds. As a 141-pounder, Caldwell was named the ACC’s 2006-07 Wrestler of the Year. He is the jewel of N.C. State’s program.

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30 Responses to N.C. State’s First All-American Wrestler Since 1996 Looking To Transfer

  1. SaccoV 05/29/2008 at 10:29 AM #

    Having coached one of the wrestlers on the current NC State squad, I was pleased to have witnessed such a talented young man dominate the conference. DC will be missed but NC State will still have a strong team for next year. Coach Jordan is amazing at all facets of coaching, and I am sure that he’s hurt but wishing the best for Darrion.

  2. TopTenPack 05/29/2008 at 10:29 AM #

    Why is he leaving?

    “Caldwell said homesickness and a desire to step back onto the gridiron — he was a Home News Tribune All-Area high school cornerback in 2005, but hasn’t played football since — have contributed, in part, to his decision to transfer.

    Kevin Caldwell said it was becoming a financial burden for he and his wife to attend Darrion’s matches, and that the family decided it would be better if his son could compete closer to home.”

    Caldwell has tons of excuses, but none that wash. He is young and still growing up, BUT he knew NC State was not near home and (I’m guessing) he knew that he would not make the football team here.

    He goes on to say that he feels like he his being stabbed in the back. Yet another immature response. Who is stabbing who in the back here? I don’t think it is too much for NC State to expect its athletes to stay here for four years. Its called an agreement. The student-athlete commits four years and NC State commits resources developing that student-athlete. He now wants to break that agreement.

    I understand that there are personal circumstances that NC State must understand and should give releases. From what I know, this is not the case here. Especially in the only ACC sports team to lose a scholarship due to academic under performance!

    NO RELEASE!

  3. El Scrotcho 05/29/2008 at 10:42 AM #

    Losing a year of eligibility is there for a reason, to discourage transferring without a good reason. I have no problem with a guy transferring, but you should sit a year to do it.

  4. BoKnowsNCS71 05/29/2008 at 11:01 AM #

    Sometimes living in the South just makes ones heart pine for the state of New Jersey. The part about playing footbal makes no sense though. He could do that here. Rutgers has a good team and walk-ons woulf find it tough to get on the team. If he is that good — then TOB would find a place for him — if asked. Sounds like the kid is just all over the map on his excuses.

  5. WolftownVA81 05/29/2008 at 11:21 AM #

    I too don’t get his stabbed in the back comment. Perhaps the school should demand reimbursement for his two years of free education as a condition of release. A contract is a contract.

  6. howlie 05/29/2008 at 11:34 AM #

    “Sometimes living in the South just makes ones heart pine for the state of New Jersey.”

    ‘ey, Tony Soprano–dat you?

  7. redfred2 05/29/2008 at 11:44 AM #

    He’ll walk, and he’ll never hear a whimper.

  8. SuperStuff 05/29/2008 at 12:16 PM #

    If he wants to sit out a year that’s his choice, but just do it with some class.

  9. packpigskinfan23 05/29/2008 at 12:29 PM #

    kudos to the Coach for saying what he felt about it!

  10. Great Dane Guy 05/29/2008 at 12:51 PM #

    you don’t have to sit a year for wrestling transfers, do you?

  11. Dr. BadgerPack 05/29/2008 at 1:02 PM #

    “Kevin Caldwell said he told Jordan the school’s APR is of no concern to Darrion.”

    If that’s the attitude, his athletic career at any school but NCSU should be of no concern to NC State.

  12. wufpaxno1 05/29/2008 at 1:52 PM #

    It’s hard to gain any true prospective from a news article as it is subject to the bias of the author, but it appears that there is a very heavy influence here from the father, Kevin Caldwell, and based upon his comments, he seems to be very self centered.

  13. tcthdi-tgsf-twhwtnc 05/29/2008 at 2:01 PM #

    “I don’t think it is too much for NC State to expect its athletes to stay here for four years. Its called an agreement. The student-athlete commits four years and NC State commits resources developing that student-athlete. He now wants to break that agreement.”

    Are not scholarships given on a year-to-year basis?

  14. mafpack 05/29/2008 at 2:11 PM #

    “Jordan said he genuinely has Caldwell’s best interest at heart. If that’s the case, Kevin Caldwell said, he wonders why the coach may still deny his son’s transfer release.”

    This statement just baffles me. First let me say that I would love to see DC stay at NC State and possibly bring home a NCAA Championship in the next few years, he’s definitely capable and he’s obviously excelling here at State.

    The simple answer to the question I’ve quoted above is the same reason any parent gives/understands for why we discipline our children. Children, as they mature, must learn that there are actual *real* consequences for their decisions, including commitments and promises they’ve made. Coach Jordan, as all coaches do, functions as a mentor, teacher and disciplinarian for these young men while they’re attending NC State. To think that he would neglect his duties in this kind of situation involving any of his athletes is just plain silly.

    I’ve considered elaborating more on the topic, but any non-biased adult can see the simple, obvious lessons to be taught and learned in this situation, so lets just hope it plays out well for all concerned.

  15. Lunatic Fringe 05/29/2008 at 2:18 PM #

    “Kevin Caldwell refuted that allegation, stating that Darrion has not been in contact with any other university.”

    ^^Darrion might not be (I still question that), but that does not mean that Kevin (his father) has not been.

    I understand that it is rampant by all schools, but I still do not understand why the NCAA does not have more regulations around schools talking to current enrolled students. The NCAA seems to be sticklers for everything else, but than lax as hell on others.

    I am glad Coach Jordan spoke his mind.

  16. choppack1 05/29/2008 at 2:20 PM #

    This one is ugly. If you believe our coach, it sounds like in the current college wrestling culture, this is just not that uncommon. What is scary is when the parents get involved. However, they could have a point – if you believe their argument – what w/ the price of gas and all. (Keep in mind, I’m not saying that I buy it.)

    One thing our wrestling coach and athletic department could do is demand an investigation of Rutgers for tampering.

  17. john of sparta 05/29/2008 at 6:15 PM #

    that’s just the steroids talking.

  18. melikesncsu 05/29/2008 at 6:19 PM #

    granting a release tells any future all-american that they, too, are welcome to transfer when another offer comes along.

  19. redfred2 05/29/2008 at 6:26 PM #

    Time to grow up and cut the ties.

    I think that statement might possibly hold even more truth for DaDa in this one.

  20. Daily Update 05/30/2008 at 6:41 AM #

    Personally, I don’t see how you can’t allow the transfer. Rutgers isn’t a national power and he wants to play football. He can’t do that here.

  21. Dr. BadgerPack 05/30/2008 at 7:05 AM #

    ^Do you really think he can play football at Rutgers? It appears the coach is more than willing to allow him to go to a 1AA school, where he can actually stand a realistic chance at playing football. That seems pretty darn reasonable.

  22. packpigskinfan23 05/30/2008 at 8:08 AM #

    If he could play football at Rutgers, he could most certainly play football for North Carolina State.

  23. 66pack 05/30/2008 at 9:53 AM #

    subject change but see where WF AD Wellman named AD of year by STREET & SMITH .Is this possible with Lee being an AD?

  24. Classof89 05/30/2008 at 10:28 AM #

    Now that this has hit the newspapers, I think it is pretty much a foregone conclusion that he won’t be at NC State next year…talk about poisoning a team’s chemistry…can you imagine DC staying after he and his dad are quoted in a newspaper in this manner?

  25. Daily Update 05/30/2008 at 10:58 AM #

    Even if he can’t play football at Rutgers, then we should still allow him to transfer. There is really no need to keep someone here who doesn’t want to be here.

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