Indiana University Athletics
Wilson focused on game heading to North Carolina
9/24/2015 2:33:00 PM | Football
By: Sam Beishuizen | Twitter
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Kevin Wilson is returning to his home state of North Carolina this weekend.
But don't call it a homecoming.
"I'm not going back home because my home is here," Wilson said Monday.
For Wilson, it's business as usual this week. He'll lead Indiana (3-0) against Wake Forest (2-1) on Saturday at 12:30 p.m. in Winston-Salem, N.C. The drive from Wilson's hometown of Maiden to BB&T Field is a little more than an hour.
"You've got to be a closer-knit team on the road and play with greater energy," Wilsons said. "So it will be interesting to see when we start how mature we are and how we accept the challenge."
Wilson spent his own college career at North Carolina, walking on and earning a scholarship as an offensive lineman. After his playing career ended, he got involved with coaching as a student and graduate assistant coach with the Tar Heels while he finished a master's degree in physical education.
He got his first coaching job outside of his alma mater as an offensive line coach at Winston Salem-State in 1987 in the his first of three coaching jobs in as many years in North Carolina.
"I learned more football in one year at Winston-Salem State than any place I've ever been," Wilson said. "First year recruiting in an environment, teaching classes, taping ankles, coaching ball at 26, 27 years old. That was good stuff. That was big time."
Wilson doesn't have nostalgic feelings heading back to North Carolina, but he does have respect for the state and the people there. He spoke highly of Wake Forest head coach Dave Clawson and what he's doing with the Wake Forest program in his second season.
"Got a lot of respect for the school, got a boatload of respect for Coach Clawson," Wilson said. "It's a great school, great place. I know they have tremendous players."
Coincidentally, Wake Forest will be celebrating its Homecoming this week. Wilson said he doesn't undervalue the impact of the excitement surrounding a Homecoming game.
He's also reminded his team that they can make a bit of history this weekend. No Indiana team has started 4-0 to start a season since 1990, only three years after Wilson took his first coaching job at Winston-Salem State 28 years ago.
"To get to go back to that region will be fun," Wilson said. "But I'm really excited just to see if our team wants to keep working and see how much better we can get and now go on the road and play a really good team."
