Text message sent by Aussie cult hero before viral, emotional video
The American football punter, who has been recruited by the University of Nebraska, on Wednesday went viral for showing his emotions in front of cameras in the United States.
Wilson, who is celebrating his 19th birthday, was in tears when asked about homesickness living on the other side of the world to his family — dad Lee, mum Jessica and brothers Oscar and Lewis.
American fans wrapped their arms around the talented punter with many applauding the teenager for showing his raw emotion.
The punter's family on Thursday morning appeared on breakfast TV and showed exactly why homesickness has been such a difficult thing for the talented teenager to deal with.
Lee and Jessica told The Today Show they have spoken with their eldest son several times since the video of his press conference melted hearts across the United States.
Lee said the family have been assured Archie is happy living abroad and even revealed they received a message from Archie before learning the video of his reply to a reporter was going viral.
'He sent us a message to say he was OK,' Lee said.
'He said to ignore the press conference before we'd actually watched it. So we watched it straight away.'
One of his brothers was also seen wiping a tear away during the family's appearance on The Today Show.
'It happened quickly,' Lee said.
'It sort of took us all by surprise when we watch it. The tears started. There was a bit of a family hug and then we sat in quiet and processed it a little bit.
'We miss him a lot, obviously.'
Jessica said after his first emotional press conference her son went on to do 'another hour' of speaking to reporters.
'He cleary misses us and the question caught him off guard,' she said.
The family will be reunited with Archie in 11 days. It has been 10 weeks since they were last with him — when they toured the facilities at the University in June.
Wilson has gambled everything in chasing his dream as a punter in the United States after getting the attention of talent scouts through the Australian-based ProKick academy production line of Aussie punters.
The NFL has a long, deep, proud tradition of Aussie punters in the NFL — and Wilson next year hopes he can achieve his dream.
For now, though, his dream is to make a strong impression when he suits up for his college football team when their season begins on August 28.
Even before making his debut, Wilson is a cult figure with Nebraska 'Cornhuskers' fans.
His story has only just begun.
Speaking to Sunrise on Thursday morning, Wilson's mum Jessica said Archie was simply missing his family when celebrating his birthday without them for the first time.
'I spoke to him straight away and he was absolutely fine,' she said.
'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.'
Lee told Channel 7 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.'
She went on to say the family is 'extremely proud' of their boy.
Earlier, Towards the end of his media appearance, Wilson was asked how it felt to be so far away from his family. The question hit the teen as the emotion spilt out in sad scenes.
'That part's hard. I mean … I'm sorry,' Wilson said as the tears began to flow.
'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.'
Moving halfway across the world to chase his dream wasn't easy, but he was already looking forward to his family coming over later this month.
'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.'
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