Kevin Wilson: Don’t Make Him Mad
Kevin Wilson has never lacked for words.
Good to know that hasn’t changed.
The former Oklahoma offensive coordinator turned Indiana head coach sparred with a pair of sports talk radio hosts Thursday morning, and it was classic Kevin Wilson. He was a guest on the Zakk and Jack Show, a national show on FOX Sports that originates out of Indianapolis, and in introducing Wilson, the show’s hosts had some not-all-that-witty banter about how bad Indiana football has been.
Kevin Wilson, outgoing offensive coordinator of Oklahoma, is the new college football head coach of Indiana University, press conference at Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, Tuesday, December 07, 2010. Robert Scheer/The Star
And let’s be honest — it has been bad.
But when you’ve got the head coach of the program on hold and said head coach has bristled quite a bit at talk of past Hoosier woes, making light of those struggles isn’t exactly the best idea.
At one point in the intro, Jack Trudeau, the Jack part of the show and the former Illinois quarterback who played in the NFL, poked fun at the Indiana fight song playing in the background. He said he didn’t get to hear it much when the Illini played the Hoosiers because Indiana didn’t score very much.
Is it any wonder that the first few moments of the interview went something like this?
Dominic Zaccagnini a.k.a. Zakk: “Kevin, congratulations, and thanks for joining us. How are ya?”
Wilson: “Not doing as good as you guys. You guys gotta bunch of jokes this morning. What’s happening?”
(Uncomfortable laughter from the hosts)
Zakk: “You sound like you’ve been doing some screaming at practice, coach. Yelling at the players already?
Wilson: “No, we’re yelling at media guys because they don’t have a clue. But anyway, it’s cool. What’s up, guys?”
Jack: “You’re not referring to us, are ya coach?”
Zakk: “No, lemme ask, though, I gotta know … ”
Wilson: “That fight song, I remember putting 61 on the Illini a few years back too when I was at Northwestern and they kinda stunk at the time, too. Anyway, I got some things to do, guys. Waddya guys need?”
Zakk: “You already to get rid of us, coach?”
Wilson: “Very much so.”
Indiana head coach Kevin Wilson talks with the media during Big Ten Football Media Day in Chicago, Thursday, July 28, 2011. (AP Photo/Paul Beaty)
If it’s possible, it only got worse from there.
Zakk and Jack hung up on Wilson, then proceeded to skewer him. Trudeau called Wilson an ass, said he was going to be around a lot of Indiana people today and planned to tell them how bad their coach had been, said he planned to call Illinois coach Ron Zook and tell him to run the score up on Illinois.
Hey, I don’t have a dog in the Illinois-Indiana fight, but all of a sudden, I’m hoping Indiana throttles them.
There’s no doubt that Wilson could’ve played nicer with these guys, but he has never been a guy who cowered to anyone. He didn’t do it at Northwestern. He didn’t do it at OU. He wasn’t about to do it this morning. And when Zakk and Jack decided to hang up on him, then tear him down, it turned them from unknowing buffoons to shady bullies.
It’s real easy to shout a guy down when he’s no longer on the line.
And frankly, these two could stand to get a clue about more than how to set up an interview. They talked in their post-hang-up conversation about how no kid would want to go play for Wilson after hearing that interview. Honestly, the exact opposite might be true. Wilson has to convince kids that they can come to Indiana and win, and what he showed Thursday morning is that he absolutely believes what he’s selling. He believes it so much that he’s willing to go toe-to-toe with a couple national radio hosts.
Wilson could’ve come off better, but he came off passionate about Indiana football, and frankly, for him, I don’t think that’s such a bad thing.
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Comments
I apologize guys typing has never been my strong suit, I really do know how to spell and put sentences together lol
DJs will always voice their opinions and at times, “poke fun” at some of their topics. But in the case of a football program, what else could they expect from a new head coach? What was he supposed to say, “You’re right, Jack, we stink!” As of now, I too am an Indiana fan, and I hope the next time these guys “give IU some rare publicity”, it’s with professionalism and respect.
Props to Mr Wilson. I am not a ou fan but I respect the guy even more now!! I wouldve done the same thing! Who wouldnt want a coach who stands up to guys tearing down his team no matter who they are!!! Sounds like the radio hosts need to move their home station out of the Indiana area. How can you be like that to a team thats in your own state!! Very unclassy on their part and more power to wilson. I also will now be rooting for indiana when they play Illinois and any other team for that matter! I like it jenni good work
I think Coach Wilson was right, these talk show “pros”/buffoons acted like they were above the coach. They said they were just doing their job, I thought Coach Wilson did his. Reminds me of the time of our own local buffoons after the Sooners Rose Bowl victory a few years back.
Seems like all 3 of them came off like jack holes. The radio guys went way overboard after they hung up on him. Totally uncalled for and very unprofessional. Wilson probably should’ve taken the high road, but I can see where it would get old. I hope he’s able to have success and throw it in their faces.
I host a daily show and when you have a guest on your show you don’t treat them badly at all…let alone before they event join the interview.
These guys are obviously idiots, and while I don’t know Kevin Wilson personally I applaud him for showing them just slightly more respect than they showed him.
Good for Kevin Wilson. What a bunch of cry babies, Zakk and Jack. They needed to be reprimanded for their behavior but NOBODY can tell them anything. They are a joke!
Seriously, everyone click on the link and listen to the radio
1. These guys are TOTAL losers. i mean, who are they to say a head football coach is showing an attitude and then to call him an a$$.
2. Why would anyone listen to such punks. these guys are prolly liberal losers
3. Wilson, I hope you smash that conference and you officially picked up a new fan for IU !!!!!!!
4. I hope you win and put these guys in their place so much!!!
GO HOOSIERS !!!
(BOOMER SOONER!!)
I could not stand the video of the Dog and Pony show. The one guy talks through his nose which is pitiful.
Way to go, Coach Wilson. These two are bozo buffoons of the highest order and need to be identified as such. You and the Indiana football team deserve a lot more respect than what was received.
Way to go Kevin, you’re the Head Coach you don’t have to take crap from anyone. You turned Northwestern around and phenomenal success at OU and I have no doubt that you’ll have Indiana at the top of the Big 10 in a few years. These sports commentators are bozos good jog and best wishes