Don't expect Russell Wilson to place a friendly phone call to his old coach any time soon.
The Seattle Seahawks quarterback last week gave a commencement address at the University of Wisconsin, where he finished his playing career after starting at North Carolina State.
In the address, Wilson recalled a conversation with then Wolfpack coach Tom O'Brien on what led to his departure from Raleigh, N.C. Wilson was playing minor league baseball at the time, and phoned O'Brien in the summer of what would have been his senior season informing O'Brien of his intention to return to the team.
Wilson said he got a not-so-warm response.
"He said 'Listen son, you're never going to play in the National Football League. You're too small. There's no chance. You've got no chance. Give it up,' " Wilson told the students.
" 'So you're telling me I won't see the field?' " He said, 'No son, you won't see the field.' "
Wilson didn't see the field at North Carolina State again, of course, but he turned out just fine, using the NCAA rule that allows athletes who have already graduated to use their final year of eligibility at another school.
He said his first call came from Auburn, but he ended up at Wisconsin with Bret Bielema, leading the Badgers to a Big Ten championship and a Rose Bowl appearance. He's since led the Seahawks to two Super Bowls, one they won and the other that ended in a fashion that allowed him to work that into his address, too.
"If you're playing the New England Patriots in the Super Bowl," Wilson said, "and you've got 26 seconds left and you're down by four and it's second-and-goal on their 1-yard line, try not to throw an interception.
"That's purely hypothetical though, of course."
Shankopotamus
Russell Knox, who lives in the Jacksonville, Fla., area, has played TPC Sawgrass plenty.
His most forgettable round at his home course came on one of the biggest stages, while in contention at The Players Championship on Saturday.
Knox made a 9 on the famed 17th hole that features an island green after knocking three consecutive tee shots into the water. It was the fourth-highest score on the hole in tournament history as he finished with a third-round 80 and in a tie for 40th.
"That was an epic fail," he told ESPN.com. "Until you're in that position, you don't understand what it feels like."
Knox said he should have dropped after the first tee shot into the water. But, on the second attempt, he shanked it to the right into the water. He came up short on his third attempt. He then took a drop, landed on the green and two-putted for a 9.
Knox played well enough Sunday to finish in a tie for 19th at 5 under, and kept his sense of humor Saturday on Twitter, when addressing followers who offered encouragement.
"SHANK you very much for all the nice messages," he tweeted on Sunday.
Determined golfer
A North Carolina man finished a round of golf over the weekend -- seven months after it began.
Retired Col. Kevin Reinert, of Greensboro, N.C., finished playing the 18th hole at Starmount Country Club in Greensboro on Friday, accompanied by more than a dozen family members and friends, according to a local TV station.
Last October, Reinert was playing the same course and reached the 18th hole when a man driving a stolen car hit him while he was standing near the 18th tee box. Reinert suffered a broken femur, two broken knee caps and torn ligaments and tendons.
But he finished the round on Friday.
"I've had better scores on a golf course," Reinert told the TV station. "But never a better time on a golf course."
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Sports quiz
Q. What four quarterbacks were selected before Russell Wilson in the 2012 NFL Draft?
A. Andrew Luck (Colts), Robert Griffin (Redskins), Ryan Tannehill (Dolphins), Brandon Weeden (Browns) and Brock Osweiler (Broncos).
Sports on 05/16/2016