Mum of viral Aussie reveals phone call after devastating presser
The family of Australian teenager Archie Wilson, who is pursuing a career in American college football, says they are staying grounded after the world fell in love with their son and brother on Wednesday.
The 19-year-old former Aussie Rules junior broke down during his first press conference at the University of Nebraska as he spoke of missing his family back home.
WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Archie Wilson's family speaks to Sunrise.
'That part's hard. I mean... I'm sorry,' Wilson said as he paused his press conference.
'I love them a lot. I got two little brothers, and my mum and dad. That's the tough part about being here. I love them a lot and I miss them.'
Wilson won America and people around the globe over with his raw emotion as he continued through tears in front of the media pack.
Speaking to Sunrise on Thursday morning, Wilson's family said Archie was OK despite the tears.
'We're going to see him in 10 days,' his mum, Jessica, said.
'I spoke to him straight away and he was absolutely fine.
'He got emotional, it was his birthday yesterday/today American time, so I think the emotion of not having us there on his first birthday away just got to him at that one point.' Archie Wilson is missing his family after embarking on a college football career in the US. Credit: X
Archie's father, Lee, said the family is staying grounded amid the international headlines created by yesterday's presser.
'We're really trying not to get too far ahead of it because there's an enormity of a task at hand he's got to go out and do, and we're trying to just keep the lid on all of it,' Lee said, with their other two sons by their side.
'But it seems to have blown up and got away from everyone.
'It's a bit of a new world for us, we're not those sort of people.
'We're just trying to keep grounded and just keep him focused on his practice and what he's got to do, and go out and do what he's got to do for the team in a few weeks' time.'
Jessica added: 'Extremely proud, it's a massive thing that he's doing, moving away, basically the other side of the world at such a young age.
'Extremely proud of the way he's handled himself and the way he's taken on the challenge and training extremely hard to be the best at what he's chosen to do.
'He's just a normal boy who's, like everyone, got emotions.'
'And he's good at kicking a ball,' Lee interjected with to finish.
At the press conference yesterday, the teenager said other than missing his family, the transition hadn't been too bad.
'They know this is what's best for me,' he said.
'It's good I can still talk to them plenty over the phone. They're coming here to see the first few games, so I'm looking forward to that.'
Wilson was plucked out of Prokick Australia after special teams coordinator Mike Ekeler sought a similar skillset to the Aussie punters who played under him at the University of Tennessee.
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