Russell Mania

by Akula Wolf on May 2, 2011 2:05 PM EDT

Joe Schad reports today that Russell Wilson is "95 percent" certain to play football next year, and that 12 schools have contacted him since he was released on Friday:

Wilson has been contacted by multiple unidentified SEC schools and hopes to play for a BCS automatic qualifying team outside the ACC, the source said. Among the SEC schools that could be interested in a transfer quarterback are South Carolina and Auburn.

Schad adds that Wilson could report to his new school in June, which would really cut his baseball season short. He's finally starting to hit the ball well, too: .296/.472/.556 over his last 10 games. His full-season OPS is now 20 points above league average, though his average remains low.

Among the schools that have reached out to Wilson, per James Henderson: LSU, Auburn, South Carolina, Ole Miss, Arizona State, Wisconsin. Yep, this is going to get painful. But I'll be rooting for Russell wherever he ends up.

Jim Young has some thoughts on the ordeal, while EDSBS has a guest post from Tom O'Brien in which he lists other things that have disappointed him with their lack of commitment. I have to disagree with TOB on the Wheat Thins/Triscuit issue, though. Triscuits are far superior, in my opinion.

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But really?

One year of eligibility, learning a new offense, committed to / interested in baseball? Seems missing spring practice would be more detrimental at another school. Beyond the churning in my stomach over Wilson not being back at State this year, I’m not loosing too much sleep over what he can / might do elsewhere. I’d love to think State had the chance to be playing against a Wilson-led SEC team in a BCS game in 2012 – win or lose a game like that and at least we know we’ve got a QB that’s succeeding and committed for the future of the team.

Good luck to Russell though – hate to see it, but ready to move on.

by TX_Wolfpacker on May 2, 2011 3:20 PM EDT reply actions

will someone, anyone, please, please! inform me on how

Wilson can leave his current baseball team in June to play football and think that he can return to the Rockies in the future. is he giving up on baseball? does his contract allow for this? if his contract allowed for him leaving in June, July, or early August, would not he have committed to returning to State in the fall, which he never did until just recently.

by sbas2 on May 2, 2011 3:56 PM EDT reply actions

From twitter.

Per someone close to the situation, Russell Wilson will have to break the conditions of his contract w/ Rockies to play football this fall.

(For those who aren’t familiar with Dave—the guy who tweeted this—he seems to be pretty well connected to the football program.)

This is the first I’ve heard of a potential contract issue.

Backing The Pack

by Akula Wolf on May 2, 2011 4:08 PM EDT up reply actions

I assumed there would have to be some kind of contract issue. An MLB team isn’t going to let anyone, especially a 4th round selection, dictate when they play baseball. These teams protect their investments, even the bad ones. Once you sign a contract, your ass is there until they don’t want that ass no mas.

by chip24spb on May 2, 2011 4:29 PM EDT up reply actions

If he's throwing away good money I have to question wilson's decision making ability

I can’t think that a half a season into his first “full time” foray into minor league ball (full time meaning it wasn’t widely known he was also playing football in the fall) that he’s given up on a pro baseball career, so why breach your contract to play a sport you are generally considered to be a long shot for a pro career at best?

Its not like there aren’t backdoor routes to the NFL (not that wilson is an NFL caliber QB IMO) should baseball flame out. There is always arena ball, the UFL, or Canada.

by ginger avenger on May 2, 2011 4:42 PM EDT up reply actions

I thought since the Rockies allowed him to play football last year the same would be the case this season. Guess not.

Backing The Pack

by Akula Wolf on May 2, 2011 4:58 PM EDT up reply actions

I thought he was drafted late last year or early this year

Doesn’t baseball have more than one draft a year?

At the very least, I’m sure he wasn’t drafted this time last year, because we was still playing at State. But, then, I don’t know enough about MLB and how their draft works to know.

by WolfpackSteelersFan on May 2, 2011 8:17 PM EDT up reply actions

The MLB draft is in June each year

But he played both baseball and football while under contract with Colorado, which is what I was talking about. Maybe they only allowed him the one year of football in their deal.

Backing The Pack

by Akula Wolf on May 2, 2011 8:37 PM EDT up reply actions

Ah, ok

I guess it just goes to show how little I know about MLB.

by WolfpackSteelersFan on May 3, 2011 1:12 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

not rooting for wilson

i’m a state fan.

he’d rather be a starter for another school than a backup for ncsu.

i won’t disparage him. but why in the world should i cheer for him?

by drspaceman on May 2, 2011 4:24 PM EDT reply actions

he’d rather be a starter for another school than a backup for ncsu.

The guy is trying to get to the NFL—he’s doing this because it’s what’s best for him.

If he’d simply been given an equal opportunity to start here, he’d still be here even though he’d have no guarantees.

Backing The Pack

by Akula Wolf on May 2, 2011 5:02 PM EDT up reply actions

Thing is - I think he has a better shot in the NFL than MLB

I mean, like – I think the chances of him playing Major League Baseball are south of 10%.

I think he had a 1-in-3 chance of playing in the NFL… screw his size, but if he focused on football only, I believe he’s a Heisman candidate who goes in the 1st round and gets a legitimate shot. Kid should’ve learned from Mike Thomas 15 years back.

I feel bad for him – he loved both sports too much to realize that he HAD to choose one. He couldn’t do it… so he’ll be like most NCAA athletes – he’ll go pro in something besides sports.

by wolfonthehill on May 2, 2011 6:38 PM EDT up reply actions

That was always going to be the case, IMO

But now, instead of being an NC State legend/ambassador for the rest of his life, he’ll be sort of ours and sort of someone else’s, at best. At worst, he basically cuts ties with the school.

I keep harping on it – what everyone who says “TOB did the right thing” is missing is how short-sighted this us for NC State as a school. It might be the right move for TOB in the two years he has left before he retires, but it’s an awful move for NC State.

by TVP on May 2, 2011 9:37 PM EDT up reply actions