Chronicle
2/18
Emerging from the shadows: Wolfe breaking into national spotlight
By Bobby Narang - Staff Writer
COLUMBUS, Ohio - Two weeks ago, in Columbus, the same town that will entertain Northern Illinois on Sept. 2, Garrett Wolfe was nowhere to be found.
The throng of people at the entrance to the Lifestyle Communities Pavilion, the venue for the 51st Annual All Sports Awards Banquet, were an intermingling of collegiate and prep stars along with fans and admirers of all ages.
The High School Player of the Year, Chris Wells, was the star attraction - at least before Notre Dame quarterback and Columbus native Brady Quinn arrived late and took the entrance area by storm. Wells, an Ohio State signee who scored three touchdowns in a national all-star game in San Antonio, donned an eye-catching red suit. Everybody wanted a piece of the hulking soon-to-be next scarlet and gray star.
Northwestern freshman tailback Tyrell Sutton, who rushed for 214 yards and four touchdowns against the Huskies last year, stood alone in one corner. Louisiana State quarterback JaMarcus Russell greeted fans while grabbing his nametag.
Defensive prep player of the year, Myron Rolle, took in the sights of his first banquet.
“I haven't been to any of these banquets,” said Rolle, a Florida State signee. “This is great. I love this event.”
Percy Harvin, the nation's best prep wide receiver recruit who signed with Florida, elected to spend most of the night at his table.
Minnesota tailback Gary Russell, wearing a powder blue suit, darted in and out of the assemblage. And still, Wolfe had yet to emerge.
The Northern Illinois junior, perhaps the smallest award winner, was blocked by the cluster of people.
Suddenly - not unlike one of his long touchdown jaunts - Wolfe spurted through an opening and magically arrived, sans helmet and visor, to the congregation socializing close to the main doorway.
What prompted one of the best football players in NIU history to stand in the background instead of craving the spotlight that his talent so richly deserves?
“When I came in, I sat down,” Wolfe said. “I play at a mid-major school. I didn't expect everybody to notice me. The most surprising thing is when I decided to get up and go walk around is that people came up to me and knew who I was or had watched some games and said they were big fans of my game.”
The Difference Between Ohio State and NIU
Wolfe flew to the heart of Buckeye Country to receive the unofficial Mid-American Conference Player of the Year award given out by the Touchdown Club of Columbus. That the event was held in Columbus, where the Huskies open the 2006 season against powerhouse Ohio State, was an added bonus.
Wolfe toured OSU's athletic facilities and the exterior of Ohio Stadium. The visit opened up his eyes at the wide chasm between the two programs. In late November, the NIU Athletic Department broke ground for an all-purpose $9.5 million Academic and Athletic Performance Center. The ground-breaking ceremony received wide media interest, but prompted some people to question the expense.
“It kind of angered and frustrated me,” Wolfe said. “It shows how far behind we are at Northern Illinois University. There are students on campus saying we shouldn't have a building that cost $9 million. Ohio State has a $10 million scoreboard. People are complaining about a $9 million end zone building that every university has and we're probably the only one in Division I that doesn't have one. From that standpoint, it's frustrating and shows how far out of the loop we are at NIU, but I guess that's the tale of my life. Nothing has been handed to me. I've always had it the hard way and never had anything given to me. I've always had a tough road and it put a fire in me.”
This particular Saturday, Wolfe did have something handed to him - a MAC Player of the Year award. The shiny trophy capped an astonishing year in which Wolfe romped for 1,580 yards and 16 TDs in nine games, with 547 of those yards amassed in the last two games.
On a night when the past two Heisman Trophy winners - Reggie Bush and Matt Leinart - were scheduled to appear but elected to attend the Super Bowl festivities, Wolfe sparked attention with his glaring stats and highlight reel runs during the award presentation.
Still, as Wolfe glanced around at the growing swarm engulfing Wells, Quinn and Ted Ginn. Jr, he couldn't help but daydream how different his life would be had his two-year rushing total of 3,236 yards and 34 touchdowns occurred at Ohio State, Michigan or Florida.
“What I've accomplished these last two years, I would be a college football legend if I did that at Ohio State,” he said. “I would be somebody who never would be forgotten, and be in the College Football Hall of Fame. And to come back with the potential to add more, from that standpoint, it kind of bothers me because I'm still playing against good football players, but these schools get more attention and their accomplishments are held to a higher standard than mine are. It makes me want to fight more.
“I think if I was running behind Ohio State or Michigan's line that there is no doubt in my mind I would be able to do the same thing. What you can't measure is a man's heart. Not to discredit anybody that I've played against, or will play against, but I don't think I will run into somebody with a bigger heart than mine who has been through things I've been or seen things I've seen. Still, I wouldn't change any of those things because it made me the man and competitor I am.”
Mingling at the Banquet
Wolfe did find the time to talk with some his more famous peers - Quinn, Wells, Sutton, who won the Freshman of the Year award, and Ginn. Jr.
“It was a great experience and nice to hear them say they watched me play,” Wolfe said. “That meant a lot to me.”
Soon, the 5-foot-7 tailback will be a household name across the country. Three years ago, Wolfe watched Michael “the Burner” Turner blaze a trail to the NFL with a glitzy Heisman Trophy campaign. The NIU Marketing Department is planning a life-size cutout of the diminutive Wolfe. The man whose jersey number also displays his ranking on the team elects to steer away from the image of a star-driven, headline-grabbing football player and, instead of begging for that attention, chooses to be refreshingly unpretentious.
“I'd be lying if I didn't say I wouldn't be looking forward to a Heisman campaign and what they did for Michael,” Wolfe admitted. “It would be great to have that, but if not that will be fine, too. What I've been able to do on the field speaks for itself and that will take care of itself.”
Nonetheless, Wolfe couldn't help but gravitate toward two of the bigger stars - Wells and Russell. Wells, a 6-foot-2 and 240-pound monster of a man, seemed to be overwhelmed at the attention given to a man of such a young age.
“This is a wonderful experience, an honor to be here in this room,” Wells said.
At 6-foot-3 and 270 pounds, Russell looked more suited to be a member of the Huskie offensive line instead of patrolling the pocket and dodging defenders with his arm and legs.
Wolfe, away from the spotlight in DeKalb, got a rare chance to be a fan.
“I look at a guy like Chris Wells and he hasn't even played a down in college football, but the young man is already somewhat a living legend in Ohio,” Wolfe said. “He's a freak of nature. We have a big running back in A.J. Harris, but he dwarfs A.J. JaMarcus is scary. He looks 6-7 and 300 pounds.”
The annual banquet, an ideal OSU recruiting tool, is centered around honoring the accomplishments of the elite prep football players from throughout the rich state of Ohio.
The endless parade of junior and senior blue-chip recruits are ushered up to the podium by young, beautiful women. A chocolate fountain with an assortment of dips flows near the bar. The top collegiate players and national prep stars adds to the allure of the night. And most honorees don't mind declaring their allegiance to Ohio State. Recruits gladly barked out “Go Bucks” and refer to the state school of choice as “The Ohio State University.”
Award winners are even ushered around town in limos and cars.
“I was driven around in a car, but it was a nice car,” Wolfe said.
His Parents and the Future
For Wolfe, the best part of the evening wasn't meeting more famous, for now at least, peers. Or earning an all-expense paid trip and staying at a first-class hotel. Even the heavy award wasn't the highlight.
The humble Wolfe, not a big fan of traveling, got to share the award with his parents, Gary and Patricia. The West Side native doesn't mince words when talking about his rough upbringing.
“The stuff you see on television, selling drugs on the corner and people being killed, were very prevalent in my neighborhood and still today when I go home,” Wolfe said.
Through all his troubles - the neighborhood, sitting out his first two years in college, the eye injury suffered prior to the Toledo game in 2004 and this past year's shoulder injury - Wolfe could always count on his parents for support. He showed his love for his mom with a tattoo on his right shoulder - the same shoulder that is undergoing rehab from surgery on Jan. 11.
“My parents are the driving force of everything I do,” he said. “I owe a lot to my parents. One day, I want to take care of them. My mom spoils me. I'm the baby. Without them, none of this would be possible. Without their guidance and support they've given me, I probably wouldn't be here and would be in jail.”
Wolfe made an indelible impression on many Buckeye fans in attendance. Even so, Wolfe, who rushed for 148 yards on 17 carries at Michigan last year, wouldn't mind making a bigger imprint in the end zone of “The Horseshoe.”
“It's motivation,” Wolfe said. “Ohio State will be a top-five team. I know its going to be a lot louder than Michigan. I just want to come here and do well and come away with a victory against a top-five team.”
Wolfe admitted he still feels bitter about the last-second loss to Akron in the MAC Championship game. He would like a return trip to Detroit to erase those memories. The humble and quiet Wolfe can't wait for the coming season. He started the second week of rehab on his shoulder on Wednesday.
Wolfe can't deny, if healthy, his future is full of possibilities.
“I'm living a dream,” Wolfe said. “I'm fortunate and blessed to have a great support system, wonderful coaches and teammates that make sure I'm OK and everything is fine with me. I just want to work hard and get my shoulder ready and work with my teammates to make another run and win the MAC championship. I'm excited to see what happens with the rest of my life.”
And perhaps, Wolfe's future might include a December trip to New York for another more prestigious banquet.
Bobby Narang can be reached at [email protected].
2/18
Emerging from the shadows: Wolfe breaking into national spotlight
By Bobby Narang - Staff Writer
COLUMBUS, Ohio - Two weeks ago, in Columbus, the same town that will entertain Northern Illinois on Sept. 2, Garrett Wolfe was nowhere to be found.
The throng of people at the entrance to the Lifestyle Communities Pavilion, the venue for the 51st Annual All Sports Awards Banquet, were an intermingling of collegiate and prep stars along with fans and admirers of all ages.
The High School Player of the Year, Chris Wells, was the star attraction - at least before Notre Dame quarterback and Columbus native Brady Quinn arrived late and took the entrance area by storm. Wells, an Ohio State signee who scored three touchdowns in a national all-star game in San Antonio, donned an eye-catching red suit. Everybody wanted a piece of the hulking soon-to-be next scarlet and gray star.
Northwestern freshman tailback Tyrell Sutton, who rushed for 214 yards and four touchdowns against the Huskies last year, stood alone in one corner. Louisiana State quarterback JaMarcus Russell greeted fans while grabbing his nametag.
Defensive prep player of the year, Myron Rolle, took in the sights of his first banquet.
“I haven't been to any of these banquets,” said Rolle, a Florida State signee. “This is great. I love this event.”
Percy Harvin, the nation's best prep wide receiver recruit who signed with Florida, elected to spend most of the night at his table.
Minnesota tailback Gary Russell, wearing a powder blue suit, darted in and out of the assemblage. And still, Wolfe had yet to emerge.
The Northern Illinois junior, perhaps the smallest award winner, was blocked by the cluster of people.
Suddenly - not unlike one of his long touchdown jaunts - Wolfe spurted through an opening and magically arrived, sans helmet and visor, to the congregation socializing close to the main doorway.
What prompted one of the best football players in NIU history to stand in the background instead of craving the spotlight that his talent so richly deserves?
“When I came in, I sat down,” Wolfe said. “I play at a mid-major school. I didn't expect everybody to notice me. The most surprising thing is when I decided to get up and go walk around is that people came up to me and knew who I was or had watched some games and said they were big fans of my game.”
The Difference Between Ohio State and NIU
Wolfe flew to the heart of Buckeye Country to receive the unofficial Mid-American Conference Player of the Year award given out by the Touchdown Club of Columbus. That the event was held in Columbus, where the Huskies open the 2006 season against powerhouse Ohio State, was an added bonus.
Wolfe toured OSU's athletic facilities and the exterior of Ohio Stadium. The visit opened up his eyes at the wide chasm between the two programs. In late November, the NIU Athletic Department broke ground for an all-purpose $9.5 million Academic and Athletic Performance Center. The ground-breaking ceremony received wide media interest, but prompted some people to question the expense.
“It kind of angered and frustrated me,” Wolfe said. “It shows how far behind we are at Northern Illinois University. There are students on campus saying we shouldn't have a building that cost $9 million. Ohio State has a $10 million scoreboard. People are complaining about a $9 million end zone building that every university has and we're probably the only one in Division I that doesn't have one. From that standpoint, it's frustrating and shows how far out of the loop we are at NIU, but I guess that's the tale of my life. Nothing has been handed to me. I've always had it the hard way and never had anything given to me. I've always had a tough road and it put a fire in me.”
This particular Saturday, Wolfe did have something handed to him - a MAC Player of the Year award. The shiny trophy capped an astonishing year in which Wolfe romped for 1,580 yards and 16 TDs in nine games, with 547 of those yards amassed in the last two games.
On a night when the past two Heisman Trophy winners - Reggie Bush and Matt Leinart - were scheduled to appear but elected to attend the Super Bowl festivities, Wolfe sparked attention with his glaring stats and highlight reel runs during the award presentation.
Still, as Wolfe glanced around at the growing swarm engulfing Wells, Quinn and Ted Ginn. Jr, he couldn't help but daydream how different his life would be had his two-year rushing total of 3,236 yards and 34 touchdowns occurred at Ohio State, Michigan or Florida.
“What I've accomplished these last two years, I would be a college football legend if I did that at Ohio State,” he said. “I would be somebody who never would be forgotten, and be in the College Football Hall of Fame. And to come back with the potential to add more, from that standpoint, it kind of bothers me because I'm still playing against good football players, but these schools get more attention and their accomplishments are held to a higher standard than mine are. It makes me want to fight more.
“I think if I was running behind Ohio State or Michigan's line that there is no doubt in my mind I would be able to do the same thing. What you can't measure is a man's heart. Not to discredit anybody that I've played against, or will play against, but I don't think I will run into somebody with a bigger heart than mine who has been through things I've been or seen things I've seen. Still, I wouldn't change any of those things because it made me the man and competitor I am.”
Mingling at the Banquet
Wolfe did find the time to talk with some his more famous peers - Quinn, Wells, Sutton, who won the Freshman of the Year award, and Ginn. Jr.
“It was a great experience and nice to hear them say they watched me play,” Wolfe said. “That meant a lot to me.”
Soon, the 5-foot-7 tailback will be a household name across the country. Three years ago, Wolfe watched Michael “the Burner” Turner blaze a trail to the NFL with a glitzy Heisman Trophy campaign. The NIU Marketing Department is planning a life-size cutout of the diminutive Wolfe. The man whose jersey number also displays his ranking on the team elects to steer away from the image of a star-driven, headline-grabbing football player and, instead of begging for that attention, chooses to be refreshingly unpretentious.
“I'd be lying if I didn't say I wouldn't be looking forward to a Heisman campaign and what they did for Michael,” Wolfe admitted. “It would be great to have that, but if not that will be fine, too. What I've been able to do on the field speaks for itself and that will take care of itself.”
Nonetheless, Wolfe couldn't help but gravitate toward two of the bigger stars - Wells and Russell. Wells, a 6-foot-2 and 240-pound monster of a man, seemed to be overwhelmed at the attention given to a man of such a young age.
“This is a wonderful experience, an honor to be here in this room,” Wells said.
At 6-foot-3 and 270 pounds, Russell looked more suited to be a member of the Huskie offensive line instead of patrolling the pocket and dodging defenders with his arm and legs.
Wolfe, away from the spotlight in DeKalb, got a rare chance to be a fan.
“I look at a guy like Chris Wells and he hasn't even played a down in college football, but the young man is already somewhat a living legend in Ohio,” Wolfe said. “He's a freak of nature. We have a big running back in A.J. Harris, but he dwarfs A.J. JaMarcus is scary. He looks 6-7 and 300 pounds.”
The annual banquet, an ideal OSU recruiting tool, is centered around honoring the accomplishments of the elite prep football players from throughout the rich state of Ohio.
The endless parade of junior and senior blue-chip recruits are ushered up to the podium by young, beautiful women. A chocolate fountain with an assortment of dips flows near the bar. The top collegiate players and national prep stars adds to the allure of the night. And most honorees don't mind declaring their allegiance to Ohio State. Recruits gladly barked out “Go Bucks” and refer to the state school of choice as “The Ohio State University.”
Award winners are even ushered around town in limos and cars.
“I was driven around in a car, but it was a nice car,” Wolfe said.
His Parents and the Future
For Wolfe, the best part of the evening wasn't meeting more famous, for now at least, peers. Or earning an all-expense paid trip and staying at a first-class hotel. Even the heavy award wasn't the highlight.
The humble Wolfe, not a big fan of traveling, got to share the award with his parents, Gary and Patricia. The West Side native doesn't mince words when talking about his rough upbringing.
“The stuff you see on television, selling drugs on the corner and people being killed, were very prevalent in my neighborhood and still today when I go home,” Wolfe said.
Through all his troubles - the neighborhood, sitting out his first two years in college, the eye injury suffered prior to the Toledo game in 2004 and this past year's shoulder injury - Wolfe could always count on his parents for support. He showed his love for his mom with a tattoo on his right shoulder - the same shoulder that is undergoing rehab from surgery on Jan. 11.
“My parents are the driving force of everything I do,” he said. “I owe a lot to my parents. One day, I want to take care of them. My mom spoils me. I'm the baby. Without them, none of this would be possible. Without their guidance and support they've given me, I probably wouldn't be here and would be in jail.”
Wolfe made an indelible impression on many Buckeye fans in attendance. Even so, Wolfe, who rushed for 148 yards on 17 carries at Michigan last year, wouldn't mind making a bigger imprint in the end zone of “The Horseshoe.”
“It's motivation,” Wolfe said. “Ohio State will be a top-five team. I know its going to be a lot louder than Michigan. I just want to come here and do well and come away with a victory against a top-five team.”
Wolfe admitted he still feels bitter about the last-second loss to Akron in the MAC Championship game. He would like a return trip to Detroit to erase those memories. The humble and quiet Wolfe can't wait for the coming season. He started the second week of rehab on his shoulder on Wednesday.
Wolfe can't deny, if healthy, his future is full of possibilities.
“I'm living a dream,” Wolfe said. “I'm fortunate and blessed to have a great support system, wonderful coaches and teammates that make sure I'm OK and everything is fine with me. I just want to work hard and get my shoulder ready and work with my teammates to make another run and win the MAC championship. I'm excited to see what happens with the rest of my life.”
And perhaps, Wolfe's future might include a December trip to New York for another more prestigious banquet.
Bobby Narang can be reached at [email protected].
