"If I didn't (believe I could turn it around), I'd turn in my resignation papers."

Derek Wilson told me that after Benton opened its season with a 39-19 loss to Chillicothe this season. Even in what turned out to be a dismal season, Benton's now-former football coach believed he could turn it around.

He meant he'd resign in the morning, but he never did -- not that next morning and not Wednesday afternoon when it was announced Wilson would not return for a sixth season due to concerns about how football staffing positions were filled.

Wilson said a lot in his five years as head coach in the South Side. Much of it, I was privileged to hear.

Like his statement in early September after that loss to Chillicothe, Wilson was never afraid to speak his mind or make a stand, even if his view or stance was unpopular. Occasionally, he ruffled some feathers (see the pre-game T-shirt incident against Lafayette in 2005), and sometimes he inspired some of Benton's best football players of the past half decade (see Aaron King and Andy Gilmore).

Wilson steadfastly denied that any other factors outside of his staffing situation played into Wednesday's announcement.

"Here's my contract that was offered to me. It's right there," Wilson said Wednesday afternoon, retrieving a green sheet of paper from a desk in the physical education office. "I had the opportunity to sign it. It's nothing I did. I just wanted a couple of things worked out.

"When you have a job in public eye, particularly when you're successful, you're going to have critics. That's part of the job. Any football coach has to accept that."

It was a memorable stint as coach with playoff trips and a revitalization of Benton's football tradition. It was a tenure bookended by 2-7 seasons.

There will be a lot said about Wilson as the St. Joseph School District searches for his replacement -- some good, some bad -- but the one thing that can't be forgotten was Wilson did love the South Side and wanted the best for Benton's football program.

Here's a look at some of Wilson's memorable quotes during the past five years.

After a 34-9 loss to Platte County in 2005 and entering a tough matchup with Chillicothe:

“We’re just anxious to play football at this point. After you lose and you’re a competitor, you don’t care if it’s home, away or Wal-Mart’s parking lot. You just want to play, get that taste out of your mouth.”

Looking forward to a 2006 quarterfinal matchup with Lee's Summit West:

"It's going to be a great test. They are probably the best team in Class 4, but the best team in Class 4 doesn't always win the state title."

On NFL star Mike Rucker returning for the 2006 Benton-Lafayette game and speaking to Benton at halftime:

"It shows that he cares about them still. It also shows that Cardinal on the side of your helmet, it stands for a lot of things. A lot of ghosts are inside that Cardinal’s eye when you look at it, and that includes Mike Rucker."

On then-senior quarterback Bryce Schoenfelder, who struggled in his second year as a starter:

"He knows that the quarterback position is one of those few positions in sport where all eyes are on you. And oftentimes, you get too much credit, and you definitely get too much blame.

"I'm sure being the type of kid he is, he expects himself to be able to make all those plays, but he doesn't need to."

After Kyle Cline missed a potential game-tying extra point in 2006 against Platte County:

"(Cline) didn't do it on purpose. He's trying as hard as he can. What I'm going to say to him is that I love him. I'm going to put my arm around him, and say, 'It ain't the last kick of the season.' It was a big kick tonight, but there are going to be more big kicks in the future. And I love Kyle Cline, and I believe in Kyle Cline. He's going to make a big one for us before it's all said and done."

After a 2005 playoff loss to Lee's Summit West:

“These guys went out of the program the same way they came in — scrapping for everything they can get and trying to overcome adversity. They never laid down, and that’s all we ever asked of them.”

On former WR Ryan Hook's talent:

“He’s just a playmaker. I wish that we could say we coach this … That’s not coaching. That’s not anything other than the kid being able to make a play, and he’s special for that reason.”

After a loss to Savannah in his first year at Benton:

“We’ll just have to keep working and iron out some of these little mistakes. And when we do, some good things will happen for Benton football”