Steve Wilks is weathering the storm

The momentum is going up for the Carolina Panthers at this point of the season. They've won two in a row, have a chance to clinch the division, and possibly even sneak their way into the playoff. Steve Wilks has weathered the storm since taking over as interim head coach for the remainder of the season. The Panthers control their own destiny and David Temper controls Wilks's position as the permanent head coach.

In this weekly series, Chris Lea (WRAL-TV) and Dennis Cox (99.9 The Fan) interview famed sports figures, entertainers and pop-culture icons about their love of and contributions to the North Carolina sports culture and the state's large, sometimes over-looked, impact on the national sports scene. Culture State instills pride in natives, residents and fans in what’s produced or influenced by our state, while also generating intriguing continuing fan conversations and water-cooler moment laughs. Follow us on Twitter and Instagram: @CultureStatePod @ChrisLeaTV (Chris Lea) @TheFanRookie (Dennis Cox)