Recently I spoke Chad Wilson, who is a former Miami Hurricanes cornerback from 1992 to 1994. He is now the current defensive coordinator at University School in Davie, Florida.
Nash Williams: Talk a little about the memories you have from playing at the University of Miami.
Chad Wilson: "I was fortunate enough to come in at a time where The U was doing really well. We had just come off of a national championship, we were in the limelight atop the top 25 teams all three years I was there. Unfortunately, we lost all three bowl games but two of those bowl games we were in national championship contention. So I had a really great experience playing with the University of Miami, and playing in the bowl games and just the bonding with my teammates and being a part of the epicenter college football at the time."
NW: Now what are your thoughts on the 'Canes recent recruiting success?
CW: "It's a little difficult for me to comment on recruiting mainly because I have a son that's involved in the process. I really have to measure my words. I usually don't reflect much publicly on what the University if Miami is doing. Especially since people make a big deal that (my son Quincy Wilson) doesn't have an offer from Miami so that's an ongoing thing the fans want to talk about. They're either on one side of the fence or the other. (Fans) sometimes say (Quincy) is overrated because he hasn't been offered by Miami and some fans are just that way. They also say if Al Golden hasn't offered him then he must not be good. Then you also have the people who are a little more level headed and wonder why Quincy hasn't been offered. I have not had any discussions with the coaching staff regarding Quincy's recruitment, which in my opinion is a mistake."
NW: You run GridironStuds.com, just talk a little about what that is.
CW: "The main point of the website is that it allows perspective college athletes to come on, to make a profile and add their highlight tape so that it may be seen by college coaches that come to the sight on a daily basis and are looking for talented kids that they may not know about. Something like a "self-help" website for athletes. I started the site about four years ago and didn't expect for it to become as big as it is now."
NW: What's it like to be a coach at University School especially with all that top talent?
CW: " It's been one of the better experiences of my life. I am fortunate enough to be working under one of the most respected coaches in the country (Roger Hariott) and certainly in Florida. We have a really great program and I am priveliged to be a part of a staff that is all looking for the same things like developing a kid's football talents but as well as themselves emotionally and spiritually. I just feel really good to be a part of something like that and I'm just really thankful for that."
NW: Your guys' schedule over at University School is crazy this season. Your scheduled to play top teams like Miami Central, Bradenton Mantaee, and Miami Norland just to name a few, are you aiming to get your guys' so-called stock up?
CW: "These are teams that we have asked annually to play us and we have not been able to get those games. I guess now that we have won a state championship that adds a certain amount of credibility so the teams are now agreeing to these games. At the end of the day it's just football. It's us coaching it and and the kids playing it and were just seeing who's better at it. Anything you do you try and be the best at it. So you obviously want to play the best teams out there.There's no reason to run from anyone."
NW: What is your role with the South Florida Express and what are some of your better memories of that team?
CW: " This was my third season with them and it's just a joy to be around kids that are that talented. To have the opportunity to coach those kids and have some type of impact on them. Also we get the chance to see what type of kids they are aside from the game of football. They're all very nice kids and we had a very nice year this year. The kids seem to get along. I think it's great when kids from other programs can kind of let down the armor of we are better than you and this and that and come together and become friends. Kids who may have been enemies had that not played on this team together and these guys are going to be friends for many years to come."
You can follow me on Twitter @NashSports
Nash Williams: Talk a little about the memories you have from playing at the University of Miami.
Chad Wilson: "I was fortunate enough to come in at a time where The U was doing really well. We had just come off of a national championship, we were in the limelight atop the top 25 teams all three years I was there. Unfortunately, we lost all three bowl games but two of those bowl games we were in national championship contention. So I had a really great experience playing with the University of Miami, and playing in the bowl games and just the bonding with my teammates and being a part of the epicenter college football at the time."
NW: Now what are your thoughts on the 'Canes recent recruiting success?
CW: "It's a little difficult for me to comment on recruiting mainly because I have a son that's involved in the process. I really have to measure my words. I usually don't reflect much publicly on what the University if Miami is doing. Especially since people make a big deal that (my son Quincy Wilson) doesn't have an offer from Miami so that's an ongoing thing the fans want to talk about. They're either on one side of the fence or the other. (Fans) sometimes say (Quincy) is overrated because he hasn't been offered by Miami and some fans are just that way. They also say if Al Golden hasn't offered him then he must not be good. Then you also have the people who are a little more level headed and wonder why Quincy hasn't been offered. I have not had any discussions with the coaching staff regarding Quincy's recruitment, which in my opinion is a mistake."
NW: You run GridironStuds.com, just talk a little about what that is.
CW: "The main point of the website is that it allows perspective college athletes to come on, to make a profile and add their highlight tape so that it may be seen by college coaches that come to the sight on a daily basis and are looking for talented kids that they may not know about. Something like a "self-help" website for athletes. I started the site about four years ago and didn't expect for it to become as big as it is now."
NW: What's it like to be a coach at University School especially with all that top talent?
CW: " It's been one of the better experiences of my life. I am fortunate enough to be working under one of the most respected coaches in the country (Roger Hariott) and certainly in Florida. We have a really great program and I am priveliged to be a part of a staff that is all looking for the same things like developing a kid's football talents but as well as themselves emotionally and spiritually. I just feel really good to be a part of something like that and I'm just really thankful for that."
NW: Your guys' schedule over at University School is crazy this season. Your scheduled to play top teams like Miami Central, Bradenton Mantaee, and Miami Norland just to name a few, are you aiming to get your guys' so-called stock up?
CW: "These are teams that we have asked annually to play us and we have not been able to get those games. I guess now that we have won a state championship that adds a certain amount of credibility so the teams are now agreeing to these games. At the end of the day it's just football. It's us coaching it and and the kids playing it and were just seeing who's better at it. Anything you do you try and be the best at it. So you obviously want to play the best teams out there.There's no reason to run from anyone."
NW: What is your role with the South Florida Express and what are some of your better memories of that team?
CW: " This was my third season with them and it's just a joy to be around kids that are that talented. To have the opportunity to coach those kids and have some type of impact on them. Also we get the chance to see what type of kids they are aside from the game of football. They're all very nice kids and we had a very nice year this year. The kids seem to get along. I think it's great when kids from other programs can kind of let down the armor of we are better than you and this and that and come together and become friends. Kids who may have been enemies had that not played on this team together and these guys are going to be friends for many years to come."
You can follow me on Twitter @NashSports
