Russell Wilson '07: The Next Logical Step

    After all, when many college coaches shied away because of his height (a shade under 5-11) we knew better.
    Even when many of the so-called draft experts questioned his ability to compete at the highest level, we knew better.
    You see, those who knew him before he became famous knew that his desire, charisma, football IQ, work ethic, dedication, and commitment to excellence were off the charts.
    Thankfully, Coach Pete Carroll and the Seahawks’ management figured that out as well and gave him a shot, and the rest, as they say, is history.
     “I agree,” said Charlie McFall, who coached Collegiate’s varsity football team for 21 years, the last three with Wilson at quarterback.
    “The biggest fear we had was that they would judge him on his height, not on his intangibles, and whether he’d get a chance.
    “We spent a lot of time with Russell during his years at Collegiate.  We saw him in the halls every day and saw him compete in football, basketball, and baseball.
    “We knew, philosophically, that it wasn’t about Russell.  He was a great teammate.  He led the old fashioned way: by example. 
“He made everybody around him better.  It was almost like his teammates didn’t want to let Russell down.”
    Accomplishment in the NFL has brought fame which has created intense media scrutiny – the downfall of many high-profile athletes – but Wilson has passed the test with all A-pluses.
    He’s intelligent and articulate.  He’ll never say anything that will provide bulletin-board material for any opponent.
    In a world of trash talk and shameless self-promotion, Wilson remains well above the fray.
    “Russell gets it,” McFall continued.  “He understands the big picture.  I don’t think anything he says is made up.
    “He’s a great sportsman.  He understands that sportsmanship is a big part of the game.
    “Everybody respects how he plays the game.  He always says the right thing.”

    Bobby Ross, a native Richmonder, now retired, was a successful high school, college, and professional football coach who led the 1994 San Diego Chargers to Super Bowl XXIX.
    During his final coaching assignment at Army, he recruited Wilson and remembers well the hour he spent with him.
    “I knew right away that he had all the intangibles,” Ross recalled.
“No question about it, he was a special guy.
    “It starts with character. He looks you in the eye.  He was polite. He asked significant questions about West Point.  He was a pleasure to talk with.”
    Wilson has quickly become a major figure on the American sports scene, but the lead-up to the Super Bowl seriously ups the ante.
    If the demands on his time haven’t already been significant, the  stretch following Seattle’s 23-17 victory over San Francisco in the National Football Conference championship game will be like nothing he’s seen before.
    “The biggest thing is the media,” Ross continued.  “Russell’s going into the media capital of the world (New York City). 
    “There’s a press conference every day, which is huge.  You’re speaking at the podium to better than 500 reporters, not only American but from foreign countries.
    “It’s a little bit of a wear-and-tear thing.”
    For many players, the pressure intensifies as the Super Bowl approaches, but Wilson has always subscribed to the theory that “all we want to do is go 1-0 this Sunday.”
    “I don’t think Russell will be affected,” Ross added. “He’s walked the walk before in other big events.
    “When you take the field in the warm-ups, people on the sidelines will be six-to-eight deep.  There’ll be all kinds of celebrities, and some of them will come up to you during your warm-up.  It’s a little bit of a distraction.
    “You have to be prepared.  There’ll be nothing like this.”
    Much has been made about Seattle’s 12th Man, the high-decibel denizens that fill CenturyLink Field and cheers enthusiastically for their beloved Seahawks.
    If the weather co-operates, MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ, will be filled to capacity, but the volume of the 12th Man will probably be diluted.
    “The crowd will be engaged, but it won’t be like playing at home,” Ross said.  “It’ll be more of a crowd of people in business, things of that nature. They have their tickets.  They’re coming.
    “There’re parties at night.  Again, there’s your self-discipline.  Russell has all of that.  He’ll be able to handle that extremely well.
    “This is the biggest game of the year.  There might be butterflies, but after the first play, that’s over with.”
    During his long involvement with football, Ross has seen a myriad players come and go.  Through that one meeting and much observation, he sees Wilson as the real deal whose uncommon achievement is well earned.
    “He’s just a good human being,” Ross said.  “That’s going to carry that young man a long way, not just where he is right now.
    “When I finished talking to him, I walked away feeling, ‘Golly, you don’t get one like that very often.’”
                                              -- Weldon Bradshaw