Nothing like stating assumptions and presumptions as ‘fact’.
Here are just a few actual facts:
Wilson was PROMISED he could play both football AND baseball when he was recruited. It was a deciding factor on why he chose NC State. u*nc’s OC (Cignetti, brother was on NC State staff) was pushing Bunting to offer RW, and RW wanted to attend u*nc. [The rest of this paragraph obviously stays from pure fact and includes my subjective color analysis] Luckily for us, u*nc had a meathead for a head coach at the time and he was busy kissing Mike Paulus’s and his daddy’s collective ass. That ass kissing included limitations on recruiting other QB’s. Bunting would not agree to the baseball/football deal to accommodate a no name, undersized, 2 star QB recruit, let alone risk hurting daddy Paulus’s feelings. Bunting likes to paint it differently now, but that’s how it went down. Amato, to his credit (as was his ‘knack’), saw the talent and agreed with Avent, to the baseball/football deal.
Without getting into why, Wilson stopped by my house before heading to Asheville to play minor league ball. When I asked him a few questions about his future, he told me was coming back to play football, that it was his goal to play professional baseball AND in the NFL. He was going to pursue both and trust in the Lord as to how, when, and where, and which path to follow if/when a decision had to be made. He would just plug away, making himself the best he could be. Things would work themselves out (hindsight appears to show that is exactly what happened). He then signed a few footballs for a few of my friends and I wished him well. I never asked for him to sign one for me (I didn’t like to impose upon his ‘celebrity’ for myself, now I wish I had) but I did get him to agree to owe me tickets when he “made it, big time”.
Wilson made no commitments to the Rockies that he would not play football.
Glennon had stated he would transfer if he was not the QB in 2011 (I do not blame him for this).
Glennon was TOB’s first big time recruit, some would say his ‘prized’ recruit. How many times did the staff compare him to Matt Ryan and refer to Glennon as an analogous cog to the NC State program?
RW paid back the balance due on his signing bonus to the Rockies.
When first rebuffed by TOB about coming to fall camp in 2011, RW requested only a chance to compete for the starting QB job.
TOB told RW he was not welcome in fall camp in 2011.
Opinions/assumptions/unprovable fact:
RW had become a headache to TOB, a fly in the ointment to his mapped out plans (for both QB and program) when he recruited and signed Glennon. Promises were made to a family savy to football recruitment and college football. One that had already experienced unexpected ‘detours’ along the road to college QB football glory.
If RW had not gone to UW, he would not be a starting QB in the NFL. UW provided an opportunity for him to showcase his ability when playing behind an NFL sized OL, as well as his intangibles (most notably, intelligence, focus, work ethic, and leadership). The publicity and stage provided him at UW is what got him drafted in the 3rd round to Seattle. Seattle was the perfect team for him. No established QB, a strong run game, a strong defense, but most importantly, and open minded, free thinking coach.
Had he stayed at NC State, he does not get nearly the level of publicity. He likely goes in the late rounds or signs as a free agent and is currently a backup.
Trusting in the Lord to provide his path and show him the way seema to have worked out ok for RW.
A bird in the hand beats two in the bush.
I understand the logic between the trading 2 year of Glennon for 1 year of Wilson, but it’s a dumb ass argument. You don’t sacrifice a known commodity of the caliber and talent of RW for a developing unknown 2 years away. I was saying this at the time. Myself and CD are the only ones I specifically remember, but I think there were one or two others that agreed. TOB was essentially admitting he had not recruited effectively, and had no plans to do so in the following year. I don’t care what was said to Glennon, players compete for playing time, period. If you can’t beat out the player ahead of you, tough cookies, that’s the way it goes. A third string LB wants to play just as much as a top QB recruit expecting playing time.
Like many fans on this site who were calling for Russell to move on so Glennon could have his turn, TOB did not appreciate what he had while he had it.
Now everyone likes to rewrite the story to fit their view. Some blame TOB, some blame RW, very few blame Glennon. I ‘blame’ none, it was just a confluence of situations. I’ve wondered why those who blame RW for supposedly not ‘committing’ to the team by not participating in spring ball in 2011 do not hold a similar opinion of Glennon for saying he’d bail on his teammates if he’s not made the starter. How would that go over if a CB, LB, OL, or WR made that pronouncement?
If a preponderance of the blame lies anywhere, it’s with TOB. A promise, a commitment, a deal was made with RW when he signed with NC State. TOB agreed to abide by it, then he did not. IMO, it was used as an excuse to remove Wilson so he could promote Glennon, as was his original plan when Glennon was the star of his recruiting class. TOB had an established blueprint to follow, and crusty TOB did not like to change his ways. RW was in the way.
