Harrison Wilson, the father of N.C. State quarterback Russell Wilson, passed away last night after a long illness, the university's sports information office said this morning.

A lawyer, Harrison Wilson suffered a stroke in 2008. In college, he was a football and baseball standout for Dartmouth University and earned a free-agent tryout at wide receiver with the San Diego Chargers.

In a GoPack.com feature on Russell Wilson posted on Nov. 20, 2008 after the Wolfpack's 21-17 win over Wake Forest, Wilson talked about seeing his dad, after the stroke, make the trip from Richmond, Va., for the game.

"... My dad is a strong guy. I learned a lot about perseverance from him," Wilson said two years ago. "When he was sick, he would still talk to me about to keep playing and to keep pushing."

No other details were immediately available.