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2000 Wake Forest Demon Deacons - 2-9/1-7 ACC (no bowl) GT record vs. Wake Forest - 17-6 (last: 2000, GT won 52-20) Head Coach - Jim Grobe (1st season @ Wake Forest, 33-33-1 overall) The Deacons knew heading into the 2000 season it would be rebuilding year. Coming off an Aloha Bowl victory in 1999, Wake had to replace 30 seniors...18 of them starters. However, they had no idea just how bad a rebuildin year it would be. Losing to I-AA Appalachian State wasn’t a good sign, and it basically went downhill from there. They didn’t score 20 points in a game until they faced the Jackets. They didn’t manage more than 2 TD’s in a game until they broke into the win column against the perpetually pathetic Duke Blue Devils. Only a 49 point outburst against Navy kept them above Duke in most offensive stats. On top of all that, their most high profile recruit in years, CJ Leak, was lost for the season against Clemson, and then transferred (to Tenn. ) when Jim Caldwell was handed his walking papers at season’s end. Now Grobe is charged with rebuilding Wake and bringing at least some respectability to Winston-Salem. He’s done it once before, turning around a terrible Ohio program. The Bobcats finished 0-11 the year before he arrived. Grobe didn’t work any miracles his first season, turning in a lackluster 2-8-1 record. However, after that he posted a winning record in MAC play 5 consecutive years. His last squad finished 7-4 and beat MAC powerhouse Marshall, as well as Big 10 member Minnesota. The hope in Winston-Salem is that he can generate something similar. Caldwell didn’t hurt his successor any as the Deacons return the most starters of any team in the league (yes, more than GT) with 19. Two years ago when Wake was in a similar situation, they turned it into some rare postseason success. Rush Off. - 150 ypg/54th.....Pass Off. - 176 ypg/88th.....Total Off. - 326 ypg/83rd Returning Starters Offense - 9 OFFENSE - OC Troy Calhoun (1st season @ Wake Forest) Quarterbacks - James MacPherson, 6-2, 197 lb. R-Jr., Anthony Young - 6-3, 190 lb. So. The CJ Leak era ended with a thud on September 16th. After patiently waiting a year for him to learn behind Ben Sankey in 1999, Leak got the starter’s job. It ended in less than 3 games when Leak was injured late in Wake’s 55-7 loss to Clemson. That forced Wake to play Leak’s backups. When Young, and later MacPherson, stepped under center against Virginia, it was the first collegiate snap at QB for both players. Young went on to start the next 5 games after CJ went down. He used his superior mobility to rush for 455 yards on 79 carries and 3 TD’s. Before the season was over, he had runs of 66 (NCSU), 56 (Navy), 55 (Clemson), and 53 (UVa) yards to help boost his average yards/carry to 5.8. However, Young struggled somewhat as a passer, completing 24 of 40 attempts for 269 yards, 3 TD’s and 2 INT’s. MacPherson eventually showed he had a better grasp of the offense, and while he lacked Young’s threat to run, has the stronger arm. In 2000, he finished with 113 completions in 207 attempts for 1,324 yards. His biggest drawback was 6 INT’s compared to only 3 TD’s. He started the last 3 games, and held a slight edge to retain the starting role heading into the 2001 season. A pair of true freshmen, Nick Smith (6-1, 185 lb.) and Cory Randolph (6-1, 180 lb.) will compete for the 3rd string job. Runningbacks Tarence Williams (TB) - 5-10, 178 lb. Jr., Ovie Mughellie (FB) - 6-2, 248 lb. R-Jr., Fred Staton (TB) - 6-0, 229 lb. So., Trevor Harris (FB) - 6-2, 210 lb. R-Fr. Williams was a pleasant, and much needed, surprise for the Deacons last season. Caldwell was counting on Sr. Chris McCoy to fill the shoes of the departed Morgan Kane in 2000, but McCoy never did live up to his potential. He was suspended for the season opener and never found any kind of groove. Eventually, Williams took over the role as the main running threat and responded with 661 yards on 130 attempts to lead the team. He had 7 TD’s....and just to prove he wasn’t one dimensional, added 12 receptions for 72 more yards. He’s firmly entrenched as the starter. Staton is an able backup having played in 8 games as a true-freshman, accounting for 126 rushing yards. However, if he doesn’t get his weight in check (he showed up overweight in spring), the new staff is likely to hand over the #2 job to Nick Bruney (6-3, 214 lb. So.) Mughellie was hampered by injuries all season long. However, with a lack of any other capable FB’s, he still played in all 11 games, starting 8. He basically hobbled his way to 132 rushing yards on 40 attempts with only 1 TD. Obviously the staff is hoping he can stay healthy this year and provide some lead-blocking to his backfield teammates. Harris will give the coaches another option. Wide Receivers Ira Williams - 6-2, 206 lb. Sr., John Stone - 5-11, 182 lb. Sr., Fabian Davis - 5-11, 180 lb. R-Jr., Jason Anderson - 6-3, 190 lb. R-Fr. Ira Williams will lead what should be a talented corps of receivers into action. In his career at Wake, he’s played in 32 of a possible 34 games, recording 82 receptions for 955 yards. Over half of his catches came last season as he established himself as the Deacons #1 receiver, hauling in 45 passes for 495 yards and 2 TD’s. He had a career day against the Jackets last season with 9 receptions for 80 yards. Williams is surrounded by a pair of speedsters in Stone and Davis. Both were regulars on the WFU track team until this past season. Davis still participated, but Stone elected to concentrate of football. In 1999, Stone was the ACC’s 100 meter and 200 meter champion, making him the unofficial “fastest man in the ACC.” He’s run the equivalent of 4.3 40 in competition. As a backup receiver in 2000, he caught 12 passes for 146 yards. (He’s also the primary KOR specialist; see special teams.) Davis was 2nd on the team with 33 receptions for a team high 596 yards. That works out to a hefty 18.1 yards/catch average. He scored 3 times. Jason Anderson will be pushed for playing time in the 2-deep by Jax Landfried (5-9, 175 lb. R-Jr.) and Patrick Mariani (5-8, 200 lb. R-So.) Landfried is a former walk-on who nabbed all 10 of his receptions (114 yards) against Navy last season. Mariani has only seen time on special teams. Billy Cobb (6-2, 188 lb, R-Fr.) might also figure into the mix. Tight Ends Ray Thomas - 6-4, 245 lb. R-Jr., Josh Warren - 6-4, 245 lb. R-So. What a difference a year makes. As a R-Fr. in 1999, Thomas was nothing more than an extra blocker in the Wake Forest offensive scheme, accounting for 1 catch in the regular season against GT. However, as a sophomore, he turned into a bona fide (yes, he’s bona fide! ;-) ) threat, catching 18 passes for 184 yards and a TD. It’ll be impossible to duplicate that degree of improvement again, so I imagine the new staff will be plenty happy if he can just maintain that level of performance. It would help the Deac’s out greatly if Warren would show some similar improvement. So far, he’s been little more than a special teams contributor. Jerome Nichols (6-2, 260 lb. R-Fr.) is a highly regarded recruit who could push Warren for playing time. Offensive Line Tyson Clabo (LT) - 6-6, 307 lb. So., Michael Collins (LG) - 6-6, 292 lb. R-Sr., Vince Azzolina (C) - 6-4, 275 lb. Sr., Michael Moosbrugger (RG) - 6-7, 295 lb. R-Sr., David Walters (RT) - 6-3, 290 lb. R-Jr. For all the returning experience Wake has at the skill positions, it’s the offensive line that looks the most solid. Azzolina has started the last 25 contest at center for Wake. In fact, he gets the Iron Man award for his effort in 2000...he missed only 5(!) of WFU’s 771 offensive plays. Likewise, Collins has been a steady performer for the Deacons, appearing in 33 of their last 35 games. Grobe can depend on these two to provide some veteran leadership, as well as Moosbrugger, who is a vocal leader on the squad. Clabo was forced into action by some early injuries to his teammates. He saw time in 10 games as a true freshman. He’s added almost 20 pounds to his frame since arriving in Winston-Salem. Walters is not exactly wet behind the ears either. He’s a transfer from Iowa, although he did not play any for the Hawkeyes. The 2nd team is not hurting for experience either. LT Tim Bennett (6-4, 285 lb. R-Jr.) would’ve been the starter last season, but ended up missing 6 games with shoulder and knee ailments. RG Blake Henry (6-6, 288 lb. R-Jr.) is trying to come back from an ACL injury suffered in 2000 that forced him to miss spring drills. He played in 8 games in 2000 after transferring from Northwestern in 1998. LG Seth Houk (6-3, 305 lb. R-Sr.) is the most experienced of the back-ups. After playing two season at Garden City (KS) Community College, he started several games at OT in place of the injured Chris Blank last season. RT Mark Moroz (6-4, 270 lb. So.) played played in 3 games last season as a TE. He moved to the OL in spring practice. C Blake Lingruen (6-4, 275 lb. R-Fr.) is the newbie in this group. He needs to step up quickly or Azzolina will be playing 99.4% of the plays again this year. DEFENSE - DC Dean Hood (1st season @ Wake Forest) Defensive Line Nate Bolling (DE) - 6-4, 275 lb. R-Sr., Montigue Sharpe (NT) - 6-3, 287 lb. R-Jr., Calvin Pace (DE) - 6-6, 260 lb. R-Jr. Like fellow ACC members Duke, Maryland, and Virginia, the Deacons will run a 3-4 scheme. The switch in defensive philosophy will move former DT Nate Bolling outside where the coaches hope he’ll match or exceed his 52 tackles (11 TFL) last season. At the other end position, Calvin Pace returns after leading WFU in sacks a year ago. He finished 2000 with 50 tackles, 9 of them sacks. Sharpe will use his 287 pounds to plug up the middle. He had 32 tackles last season. Unlike the OL, depth is going to be a serious issue for Coach Hood. Roderick Stephen (6-4, 250 lb. Jr.) is a capable backup to Bolling. He’s played in 22 of 23 possible games his first two seasons, totaling 30 tackles in that time. However, Pace and Sharpe will be relieved by a pair of redshirt freshmen. Cardell Richardson (6-2, 259 lb.) is pencilled in as the #2 NT, while Joe Salsich (6-4, 266 lb.) will get his first playing time behind Pace. Linebackers Ed Kargbo-Okorgie (OLB) - 6-3, 225 lb. Sr., Mike Hamlar (ILB) - 6-2, 200 lb. R-Fr., Kellen Brantley (ILB) - 6-3, 236 lb. So., Marquis Hopkins (OLB) - 6-2, 236 lb. R-Sr. While many coaches will go to the 3-4 because quality DL are so hard to find (especially at a place like Wake), the flip side is you need a few extra LB’s. This is one position Wake was not exactly stocked at and some shuffling around has been done to fill the positions. Hopkins will be the on-field leaders of this group. He led the team with 100 tackles in 2000. 63 of those were solo hits. Kargbo-Okorgie (no! I don’t know how to pronounce it either) needs to increase his level of play. Despite starting all 11 games a year ago, he tallied only 27 tackles. That’s only one more than 2000 reserve Kellen Brantley recorded coming off the bench. Obviously Hamlar is seeing his first collegiate action. To complete the two deep, Grobe’s staff is going to depend on a mix of veteran’s who’ve changed positions and newcomers. Tehran Carpenter (6-3, 213 lb. Sr.) moves from FS. He’s played 18 games at that position over the last two seasons, making 44 tackles. He’ll back up Kargbo-Okorgie at one OLB position. On the other side, Dion Williams (6-3, 229 lb. R-So.) will spell Hopkins. He had 24 tackles off the bench last fall. Jamie Scott (6-0, 219 lb. R-Jr.) also moves positions, this time from offense (RB) to defense. He practiced at this position in spring. Tyrek White (6-3, 223 lb. R-Fr.) should push Hamlar for some serious playing time in the rotation. Defensive Backs Quintin Williams (CB) - 6-2, 195 lb. So., Michael Clinkscale (FS) - 6-1, 195 lb. R-Sr., Adrian Duncan (SS) - 6-1, 205 lb. Sr., Marcus McGruder (CB) - 5-9, 180 lb. R-Fr. The shuffling of personnel ripples all the way back to the secondary. With Carpenter’s move to the LB corps, Clinkscale moves from SS to FS. He recorded 47 tackles, intercepted 2 passes, and broke up 6 more in 2000. Replacing him is former CB Adrian Duncan. Duncan started 10 games in 2000, totaling 46 tackles and breaking up a team-high 9 passes. That left a spot open for Atlanta native Marcus McGruder. He was able to beat out Daryl Shaw (5-9, 171 lb. So.) in the spring. However, he’ll also have to fend off Ricky Perez (6-1, 175 lb. R-So.) in summer drills. Perez missed spring practice with an injury after making 13 tackles in 7 games last season. That leaves Williams as the lone returning starter still in the same position he played last fall. As a freshman, he made an immediate impact, playing in 8 games and eventually working his way into the starting rotation. He made 31 tackles in 2000 and also intercepted 2 passes. Wake is not hurting for DB’s. The roster list 16 players for the 4 positions. Besides, Perez and Shaw at CB, the most likely to see are SS Walter Simmons (6-0, 197 lb. R-Jr.), FS Obi Chukwumah (6-2, 200 lb. R-So.) and CB Eric King (5-9, 185 lb. Fr.) Simmons and Chukwuma have extensive playing time already under their belts. Simmons has played in 22 games (starting 1) the last two seasons. He made 21 tackles in 2000. Chukwuma made it into 7 contest a year ago and tallied 18 stops. King is a 2001 signee who was able to enroll early and made a very favorable impression the new staff. Special Teams Tyler Ashe (PK) - 5-11, 177 lb. R-Sr., Matt Brennie (P) - 6-2, 186 lb. Jr. Hey...the Deacs return everyone else...why should the special teams be any different? Ashe handles all the kicking duties, hitting on 22 of 23 PAT’s, but only 5 of 10 FG’s. He has good range (he had kicks of 44 and 50 yards + routinely reaches the end-zone) but needs to improve his accuracy some. In most leagues, 42 yards/kick would get you All-Conference honors. In the ACC it gets you a pat on the back and a challenge to get better. That’s how Brennie finished 2000 (just .2 yards ahead of our own Dan Dyke) but it was only good enough to finish 4th in the ACC in punting average. Barnard (Maryland, 2nd in the ACC) and Abrams (UVa, 3rd in the ACC) both return. If nothing else, that makes the ACC the strongest league for punters in the nation! Not only do both kickers return, but so does every return man. CB Adrian Duncan and WR Fabian Davis accounted for every punt return last season. However, that may or may not be a good thing. They combined to finish last in the ACC with a rather weak 4.9 yards/return average. Kickoff returns were a bit better...quite a bit better. Led by WR John Stone’s 24.7 yards/return average, the Deacons ranked 20th in the nation in this category. Joining Stone deep will be Fabian Davis. Coaching Strange as it may sound, of all the new coaches coming into the ACC this season, Grobe has the best track record. Then again, that’s not too hard to believe when two of the four have no track record at all and the third hasn’t coached a college game in 15 years. Still, what Grobe did at Ohio can’t be completely discounted. By all accounts, the program was in shambles. This year they are picked to finish 2nd in the MAC - East Division behind Marshall. Wake Forest isn’t nearly that bad starting off. The Bobcats became known for using the option as the main staple of their offense, and it’s been widely reported that Grobe will bring that philosophy to Winston-Salem. However, the mark of a good coach is too tweak your gameplan to suit your strengths and hide your weaknesses. In that vain, it appears Grobe is not married to the option at all and may try and open things up at Groves Stadium this year. Certainly some option will be featured, but I think you’ll also see Wake Forest try some misdirection plays and 4 receiver sets to spread the field. Helping Grobe to establish all this is a coaching staff that came with him virtually intact from Athens, Ohio. Most of the time, you’ll see a learning curve as a new staff learns to work with each other. The Deacons may avoid that particular pitfall. Schedule Playing Wake late in the season has been both a blessing and a curse for GT. As I mentioned above, we’ve clinched two ACC Championships at their expense but they paid us back with two devastating losses in 1986 and 1999. Both teams play road games the week before this matchup. In reality, it doesn’t appear that the schedule really favors one team over the other, except it’s a road game for GT. What this all means for us.... In many ways, this Wake team looks similar to the 1999 squad that shocked everybody...most of all GT...in winning 6 regular season games and knocking off Arizona State in the bowl game. There’s veterans throughout the roster and no one position looks terribly thin. Still, it’d be impossible for me to even consider the thought of Wake winning this game simply due to the difference in talent level. Ofcourse, I said the same thing two years ago so you can take that for what it’s worth. For Wake Forest to have any kind of chance to sting the Jackets again, they’d have to have a defense like they did last time we visited Winston Salem. That Deacon squad finished 26th in the nation in total defense. Last season’s Deacon squad finished 102nd. Even with the experience they have coming back, I can’t envision that kind of improvement. With the weapons Tech has at it’s disposal, we should be able to score often. The Deacons will not be a pushover offensively however. Tarence Williams has emerged as a quality back and he has decent starting OL in front of him. (They do need to stay healthy) Plus, Grobe has two quality options available to him at QB and some reports say Nick Smith has looked very good early on. Stone’s speed makes him dangerous at all times. Ira Williams should flourish in the new offensive system as well. It’s not hard to imagine Wake Forest just hanging around for 2-3 quarters, keeping the score closer than any of us would really like it to be. This is the kind of game I’d like to see us break out of the gate fast and put away early. That’s it for the ACC. I was a little late with this on account we had to smoke 14 pounds of Chiliman’s butt over the weekend....(don’t worry, he’s still got plenty left for the season!) We’ll get the big ‘un cranked out earlier next week so everyone can read it before they head to Joisey. 3,591 words Beestie...what’s the scale on this one! Notes: WR Ira Williams broke his foot. It really shouldn’t impact the GT game though. He’s expected to miss a couple of weeks of practice and may be limited (or maybe not depending on his recovery) in his playing time against ECU and Appalachian State. (Wake’s first two games.) LB Tehran Carpenter is also missing time due to injury. FS Michael Clinkscale is still awaiting academic clearance to begin practice. There's a very real chance he could be declared ineligible. That got me over 3600!!!! |