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Issue link: http://catalog.e-digitaleditions.com/i/44028
BEHIND THE DESK
Nation saw what makes Wilson special
BY BARRY ALVAREZ
UW Director of Athletics
As the honorary captain for last Saturday night’s game, I had the privilege of walking out to the coin toss with our captains: Aaron Henry, Patrick Butrym, Bradie Ewing and Russell Wilson.
I felt the electricity in the air and I turned to them and said, “Guys, it doesn’t get any better than this. I don’t care where you go in college football. It doesn’t get any better than this.’’
There was such anticipation for this Big Ten opener because it was Nebraska against Wisconsin. You had lines waiting to get into the stadium; you had the students in their seats early.
I didn’t get a chance to talk with Tom Osborne after the game but he called me this week and he told me how much he really liked our football team.
I’m excited about this team, too.
Bret asked me to speak to the players on Thursday night and I talked about momentum and how, when the pendulum swings away, you have to do everything within your power to get it back.
After we lost that fumble on a punt return, Bret said that the kids on the sidelines were saying, “Get it back, get it back.” Don’t pout, don’t panic, don’t flinch. That’s what I said to them.
When something bad happens, you have to have the confidence that somebody is going to step up and make a play to get the momentum back. The players identified that. They were listening.
Another big reason why I’m excited about this team is Russell Wilson.
What I saw on Saturday is what I’ve seen from him all along. He hasn’t changed. He’s special. He’s the whole package. He does all the little things.
It’s how he handles the huddle; how he talks to the kids to prepare them; how he keeps them aware of down and distance and what they should be thinking.
It’s how he knows when to get rid of the ball and when to put touch on his passes; how he’s always helping Paul Chryst with suggestions and talking to his offensive linemen between series.
I said before the season started that Russell Wilson reminds me of Drew Brees.
Except Russell is quicker, faster and has better feet.
Russell has the same type of awareness, quick release and accuracy that Brees has. He’s also the same type of person. He has that magnetism. He carries himself so everyone knows who the man is.
I sensed that the first time I saw him practice.
The more I see him, the more he reminds me of Brees.
An NFL scout asked me the other day what I thought of Wilson.
I said, “He’s a first-rounder from what I can see. I don’t know where in the round. But when you talk to him, when you interview him, when he goes through the combine, his stock will skyrocket.’’
You’re not getting a 6-foot-5 guy. But you’re getting someone who eliminates questions about height with his foot quickness and awareness. He always finds an alley to throw between the tackles.
Should Russell Wilson be in the Heisman discussion?
Absolutely. We’ll support him and we’ll get information out. First, I felt it was necessary for him to get through the Nebraska game and play like he did.
He’ll have to have big games against the good teams that are still on our schedule, but he’s made himself a candidate.
I know Stanford’s Andrew Luck is a very good quarterback and so is Robert Griffin at Baylor.
But they can’t do any more than Russell Wilson does.