North Carolina State University Athletics
Wilson Plans to Keep Throwing For Pack Offense
10/6/2009 12:00:00 AM | Football
RALEIGH, N.C. – Pass and learn, Russell Wilson says.
He won't forget about the two interceptions he threw against Wake Forest, ending his NCAA record for consecutive passes without a pick at 379. But he won't let it affect how he plays the rest of the games on NC State's football schedule.
"I just have to make better throws," Wilson said Tuesday morning. "I am going to keep throwing it. Interceptions are going to happen. I am going to keep believing in my wide receivers, my running backs, my offensive line and my tight ends, and keep throwing the ball."
It would be too easy for Wilson to say he would just forget about what happened at Winston-Salem's BB&T Field last Saturday, when the Wolfpack fell 30-24 to its ACC Atlantic Division rival and he doubled his total of career interceptions. But he'll keep those mistakes in the back of his mind as he moves forward.
"You never forget about a game," Wilson said. "You have to use it as motivation and as a teaching tool. The next time you step on the field, you have to know there are certain things you can do better. You take what you learned from that game and utilize it in the future.
"You never completely forget it, you just move on. I'm ready to go out and start a new streak."
Now, Wilson is ready for the next challenge, which comes at 4 p.m. on Saturday when the Wolfpack hosts Duke at Carter-Finley Stadium in a game televised by ESPNU. The Blue Devils have a veteran quarterback in senior Thaddeus Lewis, who leads the ACC's top passing attack.
Wilson is also quite familiar with the Blue Devils, the only other ACC program officially to offer him a scholarship. (He was also recruited by North Carolina, Virginia and Virginia Tech, but says none of them officially offered him a chance to play at those schools.)
"What I liked about Duke was that it was a great school," Wilson said. "And I felt like if I went there, I could maybe change the whole atmosphere when it comes to football. That's every player's mindset when you go to a school.
"I liked it because of the academics and a beautiful campus, and the future I might have there."
Like NC State, Duke was fine with Wilson being a two-sport athlete, playing football and baseball.
When he finally made his decision, NC State won out because of its atmosphere, its coaches and its players.
"I thought [coming to NC State] was a great situation, one where I might be able to play early," Wilson said. "I don't know exactly what it was, my heart just told me to come here.
"And it has worked out pretty well."
You may contact Tim Peeler at tim_peeler@ncsu.edu.
