North Carolina State University Athletics
Wilson at ACC Football Awards Banquet (12/5/08)
12/5/2008 12:00:00 AM | Pack Athletics
BY RUSSELL WILSON
The day at the ACC banquet has been a great experience so far. Last night I had to finish some papers and I didn’t go to bed till 1:30 a.m. I then had to get up at 5 to catch my flight, which left Raleigh at 6:45. I got to the airport and on the plane without any baggage, so it was a quick trip through the airport.
I got on to the plane and a young man named Ryan, a 13-year old State fan, sat next to me and I had a nice talk with him for awhile. It was a Southwest flight, so it was open seating and he asked if he could sit with me. I had to get some rest though after my late night, so I slept for the rest of the flight. I arrived in Tampa and we flew over the stadium, which was an exhilarating feeling. I wish my team, coaches, and the NC State fans could be here to play on Saturday.
I was picked up at the Tampa airport and we headed back to the hotel for a quick breakfast. We had the luncheon and the awards banquet at 11 a.m. for the dress rehearsal, so we had a couple of hours to kill before then. The luncheon was in a big room at the Marriott in Tampa.
I got a chance to talk to Bob Griese and Paul McGuire before the banquet, and we shared a table with Eugene Monroe from Virginia and Shawn Spence from Miami. The meal was great and each of the award winners had to give a quick speech.
I thanked God first and foremost before talking about the great coaching and support I got from Coach O’Brien and Coach Bible. I was also able to thank my parents and my brother, and of course, my NC State family and the ACC for all of its support.
I didn’t have much time after the banquet, as I had to leave the minute it was over to make my flight home. I could have stayed for the game and other activities, but I didn’t want to miss practice. A car picked me up and took me back to the airport so I could catch my 3:30 flight. I was only in Tampa for seven hours, but it was a great experience.
I hope the next time I’m at the ACC Championship banquet it's because my team is playing on Saturday.
The day at the ACC banquet has been a great experience so far. Last night I had to finish some papers and I didn’t go to bed till 1:30 a.m. I then had to get up at 5 to catch my flight, which left Raleigh at 6:45. I got to the airport and on the plane without any baggage, so it was a quick trip through the airport.
I got on to the plane and a young man named Ryan, a 13-year old State fan, sat next to me and I had a nice talk with him for awhile. It was a Southwest flight, so it was open seating and he asked if he could sit with me. I had to get some rest though after my late night, so I slept for the rest of the flight. I arrived in Tampa and we flew over the stadium, which was an exhilarating feeling. I wish my team, coaches, and the NC State fans could be here to play on Saturday.
I was picked up at the Tampa airport and we headed back to the hotel for a quick breakfast. We had the luncheon and the awards banquet at 11 a.m. for the dress rehearsal, so we had a couple of hours to kill before then. The luncheon was in a big room at the Marriott in Tampa.
I got a chance to talk to Bob Griese and Paul McGuire before the banquet, and we shared a table with Eugene Monroe from Virginia and Shawn Spence from Miami. The meal was great and each of the award winners had to give a quick speech.
I thanked God first and foremost before talking about the great coaching and support I got from Coach O’Brien and Coach Bible. I was also able to thank my parents and my brother, and of course, my NC State family and the ACC for all of its support.
I didn’t have much time after the banquet, as I had to leave the minute it was over to make my flight home. I could have stayed for the game and other activities, but I didn’t want to miss practice. A car picked me up and took me back to the airport so I could catch my 3:30 flight. I was only in Tampa for seven hours, but it was a great experience.
I hope the next time I’m at the ACC Championship banquet it's because my team is playing on Saturday.
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