Perhaps my perception is way off, but whenever I hear the name “Kevin Wilson”, I always think of the Indiana first-year head coach as sort of a mild-mannered kind of a guy away from the football field, someone who’s just one of those good ol’ boys when he doesn’t have a whistle around his neck
While that may be the case most days, it certainly wasn’t this morning.
Wilson was scheduled to appear Thursday on FOX Sports radio’s Zakk & Jack show -- with the “Jack” part being played by former Illinois quarterback Jack Trudeau -- to talk some Hoosiers football. Just prior to Wilson joining the program, the hosts engaged each other in some “witty” banter involving the IU football program, including Trudeau busting chops as the IU fight song played in the background regarding the fact that he didn’t get to hear it that much when he played because the Hoosiers never scored (cue uproarious radio laughter here).
That set the stage for what was some compellingly uncomfortable and eight-level-of-awesome radio gold.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 host laughter)
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.”
Unbelievably, it went downhill from there, especially after Trudeau confronted Wilson and told him he didn’t appreciate the coach’s attitude. After that, the radio duo, in essence, booted a clearly pissed-off and agitated Wilson from the show.
During Trudeau’s post-Wilson diatribe -- you can listen to the podcast HERE, and you really should to get the full experience -- the former QB called for Wilson to apologize for the way he acted during the interview while also labeling Wilson as an “ass” at one point.
I agree; there certainly was an ass who made an appearance during that eight-minute segment, although I’m not quite certain it was the current Big Ten head coach who played that particular role.