The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1266731
JULY/AUGUST 2020 ■ 21 BY TIM PEELER obby Purcell was caught be- tween two mountains during a Mitchell County snow- storm, trying hard to land his first big contributors to NC State athletics. They happened to be cov- eted recruits up in the North Carolina high country, when the newly promoted full-time assistant football coach went to visit them during the winter of 1981. Both lived on mountain peaks. Purcell descended into his first in-home appoint- ment at dinnertime, just as the snow started to fall. By the time he reached the tiny motel room to call the other family from an out- door payphone, he knew there was no way he could get back up the other mountain without getting snowed in overnight. Instead, the family offered to come to him. With the mom sitting on the room's only chair and the player and his dad sitting on the bed, Purcell stood up to make his pitch. And it was not successful. Neither of the two players signed with the Wolfpack. One went to Clemson, the other to Wake Forest. And Purcell, as he has done every day for nearly 40 years, got up the next morning and went back to work, knowing that even though there would be mountain highs and valley lows to come, he would do all he could to make things better for NC State athletics. Continuity and Loyalty Are Key For nearly four decades, the 65-year-old Purcell's consistency and longevity in the world of athletics fundraising and college administration has been remarkable. Since arriving back on campus late in 1981, he has worked under six NC State chancellors and eight athletics directors, and with 19 Wolf- pack football, men's and women's basketball, and baseball coaches. There have been count- less other coaches, administrators, faculty, interns, students, athletes and various familiar faces who have passed through his doorway. If you can find any of them to say an ill word or cross thought about him, check their credentials. "Bobby is just a special person," former football coach Mike O'Cain said. "He did a great job and treated people the right way. It's a tough business, but NC State fans respect what Bobby has done, and they all love his passion. "If someone ever said something negative about him, I'd be leery of that person." The coach's thoughts were echoed with unanimity throughout generations of Wolf- pack fans, coaches and the donors that Pur- cell and his staff at the Wolfpack Club have carefully cultivated through his time with the booster organization. Purcell has a firm set of guiding prin- ciples, the biggest of which is to treat every donor equally, to never look at the ledger sheet when answering a call, to always be patient with every caller when they reach out about ticket priority points or football parking places or the previous weekend's results. Because sometimes calls come in about increased donations, too. Treating donors and fans the same has helped maintain a consistent, passionate fan base. "I'm proud of what we have done here," Purcell said. "It wasn't just me, obviously. My staff and the people we have worked with have made it all possible. "I was talking to [former football coach] Chuck Amato the other day, and he said, 'You've held this place together for about 30 years, through all the athletics directors, all the chancellors and all the coaches. We didn't always have consistent success year after year, but we always had consistent support and steady leadership.' "That meant a lot to me." Purcell has worked for NC State athletics or the Wolfpack Club since 1981. He has served in a number of roles, including as the executive director of the Wolfpack Club since 1991. PHOTO COURTESY WOLFPACK CLUB A PACKED CAREER For Almost 40 years, Outgoing Wolfpack Club Executive Director Bobby Purcell Has Had A Positive Impact On NC State Athletics B