Dave Doeren comments on Payton Wilson calling out fans for booing Brennan Armstrong
Ahead of NC State‘s win against Marshall, NC State head coach Dave Doeren made a switch at quarterback, benching Brennan Armstrong for MJ Morris. Despite that, Armstrong did see the field in the game but seemed to get booed by fans when he took the field. After the game, linebacker Payton Wilson expressed his frustrations over that booing.
During his Monday press conference, Doeren addressed those comments made by Wilson, showing support for his star linebacker.
“Well, I think you got a chance to hear the pulse of our team,” Dave Doeren said. “He’s the leader of this football team. He’s the best player on this football team, and Payton doesn’t say things that aren’t from his heart.”
Doeren also added that he felt the message was one that some people needed to hear and that Wilson spoke for the entire team.
“So, I think as a fan base or a group of people that have got to hear someone, these our brothers in the locker room, and his words reflect how we feel, and I think for everybody out there to just take a moment and really absorb the information he gave them and try to be supportive of people who are doing the best they can in tough situations. I think Payton spoke for all of us.”
When Payton Wilson voiced his frustration about fans booing, he was trying to defend Brennan Armstrong. The transfer quarterback was benched after playing poorly in the first half of the season and fans voiced displeasure when he entered the game against Marshall.
“So, I love Wolfpack Nation to death, do not get me wrong. I love them to death. They are the best fans in the country and I love MJ to death and he played some of the best ball from a quarterback that I’ve seen at this school today, but we’ve got to stop booing Brennan,” Wilson said.
“He is hard-nosed. He’s a great person. Doesn’t matter. Just imagine if that was your kid out there on that field in front of 70,000. Let’s get behind him Wolfpack Nation when he’s in there. He’s a good-hearted kid, loves God, does nothing but pat everybody on the back and play hard for us every single day. So, continue to uplift him Wolfpack Nation. I love y’all.”
This season, Brennan Armstrong is completing 58.8 percent of passes. He also has thrown for 971 yards and five touchdowns.
Dave Doeren hopes MJ Morris will spark the offense
NC State struggled on offense with Brennan Armstrong under center. That’s why Dave Doeren made the switch to MJ Morris. He wanted to spark the offense.
“Ever since he’s been here he’s come to practice with great energy, he’s always done that. And so each week since Coach Anae’s got here you can see him growing in the offense, that part is now second thought to him. In the spring he was learning it, now he knows it,” Doeren said.
“But he’s always been an encourager to guys around him and he’s got a positive outlook, the way he can throw the football obviously he can do that pretty well so there’s certain things that he brings to the table. But I think more than anything right now it’s just he’s in a really good headspace, he’s excited, and I think that’s the spark we need.”