Mark Thomas, former N.C State football player and now host of “The Insiders”, a morning sports talk show on 620AM The Buzz from 6-9am, is doing some talking on this topic and here is what the Thomas Talk sounds like so far, as the Wolfpack search for a new AD continues down in Raleigh, the Capital City…..(From wralsportsfan.com.)
Thomas Talk says:(To get it all Click Here for wralsportsfan.com)
The group of players right now are these:
1 – Bobby Purcell – Executive director of the Wolfpack Club – Purcell was one of the finalist the last time NC State was in search of an AD. Received a national award for fundraising in 2007. He understands the importance of donors to the athletic programs at NC State. But most importantly he has a first hand understanding of the fan base having been apart of athletics here in Raleigh for almost 30 years. He is very happy with the accomplishments of his time at the Wolfpack Club and would continue to do so as long as they would let him. However, you would think that if he was willing to put his name in the running before, why wouldn’t he be willing to go down that road one more time.
2 – David Horning – Senior Associate Athletic Director – Horning will most likely be the one given the “interim†AD role when Fowler’s time is up at the end of June. Like Purcell, he has been apart of NC State athletics as a Graduate assistant on the football team back in ’83. Going back even further, Horning was a linebacker on the last NC State football team to win an ACC Title back in ’79. Many feel that during his 27 years, he was being groomed for the position of head AD. He’s been an associate AD at different levels and for different sports at State. Some may wonder about his health at the present time have come back from brain surgery a year ago. Hopefully those worries can be put to rest, knowing David Horning has made a full recovery.
3 – Charlie Cobb – Athletic Director for Appalation State University – No question Cobb understands what Championships look like having seen the Mountaineers win back to back National titles in football. This former NC State football player worked for NC State from ’98-’05. The biggest knock on Cobb right now is experience. He has been the athletic director at App. State for 6 years.
4 – Morgan Burke – Athletic Director Purdue University – This name was brought up to me by a person close to NC State athletics. In his 17 years at the university that Chanceller Woodson hails from, he has had overwhelming success when it comes to transforming Purdue into a basketball and football force. Yes, I used force. Even in the post Gene Keady years, Purdue has seen wins on the hardwood. Woodson’s comfort level at his former university could bring Burke’s name into play.