The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1536961
20 ■ THE WOLFPACKER BY NOAH FLEISCHMAN G rowing up at Wrightsville Beach, N.C., Eddie Wetherill always looked forward to making the 140-mile drive with his family to NC State football games at Carter- Finley Stadium. It wasn't a particular Wolfpack player that kept him in- trigued with the team. Rather, he enjoyed the entire experience during football season. "Back in that time, we were just glad to get out of Wilmington," Eddie said with a laugh. "We went and had a good time." Those fall Saturdays in the 1960s helped form his love for NC State. He was on his path to becoming a lifelong Wolfpacker, grad- uating from the Univer- sity in 1978. While trips to Carter-Finley Stadium started his affection for the Pack, Eddie attended NC State dur- ing one of the greatest eras in the Uni- versity's men's basketball history. Eddie just missed out on the Wolf- pack's 1974 national championship, but he was still in awe of watching NC State stars David Thompson and Monte Towe at Reynolds Coliseum. On top of that, he was there to see legendary football coach Lou Holtz help guide the Wolfpack to the No. 10 ranking in the 1974 coaches' poll. From then on, Eddie's devotion to the Wolfpack only grew. In the years since, he has channeled his passion for NC State into finding ways to help the athletics department grow. Eddie joined the Wolfpack Club in the mid-1980s, looking to provide assistance any way he could. He spent countless hours in the department's of- fice in Mission Valley, talking with the likes of Joe Hull and Bobby Purcell as he climbed the ranks. For the past two years, Eddie served as President of the Wolfpack Club. His term came to an end on June 30. "I've always been a big supporter, try- ing to help our University grow, espe- cially through athletics," Eddie said. "It's a good time to sit down to talk to folks, and I'm always talking about sports." Eddie, who founded an engineering consulting firm with his wife, Debora, in 1993, has appreciated having an oppor- tunity to make an impact on the athletics department that he grew up supporting. "Just the opportunity to serve the Wolfpack Club, that's my biggest joy, being able to serve more than just at- tending a sport," Eddie said. As President of the club, Eddie's main task was to help the NC State staff any way he could, whether assisting in vari- ous projects or connecting with the community. His two-year stint as Presi- dent came at a pivotal time in college athletics. He led the department dur- ing a period in which both the NC State men's and women's basketball teams made their respective Final Fours, and he was also in a key role during a time when name, image and likeness consid- erations were beginning to reshape the landscape. It was an unprecedented historical moment that has since led to revenue sharing with student-athletes, which began July 1. Eddie felt like he played a key role in helping NC State prepare for everything that has come from the NIL era. "What always fascinated me was when NIL came in," said Eddie, who never thought paying student- athletes would be pos- sible. "We're talking about changing the landscape big-time, and it did. Try- ing to manage that part of it as well as normal Wolfpack Club fundraising efforts was important. We were able to talk to different ath- letes to see what we could do better." Although Eddie played an integral role in the Wolf- pack Club over the past two years, his favorite accomplishment to this point was helping create the David Thompson statue outside of Reynolds Coliseum. It occurred just before his presidency began. Eddie takes immense joy in helping cement the Wolfpack leg- end for the rest of time. Eddie will spend the next two years as the past President, maintaining a role on the board to help his successor accom- plish their duties. Once that term is over, he will continue to be heavily involved with the Wolfpack Club, even if he won't be on the board. Being able to make an impact at NC State was most important to Eddie. Through his time at the Wolfpack Club, he has done just that. "It's very satisfying for me," Eddie said. "I'm 70 years old and I've been a Wolfpacker for too long to speak about. It's been such a satisfying experience for me to be able to help out where I can." ■ A 1978 NC State graduate, Eddie has been involved with the Wolfpack Club since the mid-1980s and recently completed a two-year term as President. PHOTO COURTESY EDDIE WETHERILL PASSION PROJECT Outgoing Wolfpack Club President Eddie Wetherill Relishes The Opportunity To Give Back To NC State