Wake Football Tries Again For Winning Record Against No. 14 Georgia Tech
Seniors have last chance to claim a winning season.
Nov. 19, 1999
By ELIZABETH A. DAVIS
Associated Press Writer
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (AP) - Wake Forest's seniors have one more chance for a
winning season, a feat the Demon Deacons have not accomplished in six years.
But their sixth win and bowl qualification will have to come Saturday
against No. 14 Georgia Tech (7-2, 5-2 Atlantic Coast Conference), which has
beaten Wake Forest four years in a row and still believes it has a chance to
earn a bid in the Bowl Championship Series.
The Demon Deacons (5-5, 2-5) were derailed last week by a 48-35 loss at
Duke.
"The important thing for us is that we still have the opportunity to get it
done," Wake Forest coach Jim Caldwell said.
With 17 senior starters, Caldwell isn't ready to deal with next season, but
he is wondering what will happen when so many starters leave.
"It's going to be a very interesting time for us because of the fact that
we haven't had such a large number of guys leaving the program at this stage,"
he said. " Particularly, this large nucleus of guys has been a very valuable
nucleus for us. There are a lot of good leaders and, certainly, a number of
guys that contributed a lot to the program."
The importance of Saturday for Wake Forest isn't lost on Georgia Tech coach
George O'Leary.
"They have 23 seniors, and they're 5-5, so they're fighting for a bowl
opportunity while we're fighting to continue ours. There is a lot riding on the
game from both teams' standpoints. I would expect a very hard-fought football
game with a lot riding on the outcome," O'Leary said.
Georgia Tech has plenty on the line, too. O'Leary doesn't believe the Yellow
Jackets should be left out of consideration in the BCS. Otherwise, a date in
the Gator Bowl for the second year will be ahead should Georgia Tech win
Saturday and clinch second place in the ACC.
"Why would I give up? I see teams above us (in the BCS) with two losses,"
he said.
The biggest obstacle between the Demon Deacons and a winning season is one
of Georgia Tech's seniors. Quarterback Joe Hamilton showed once again last week
why he's the most prolific offensive player in the ACC. It also might have
helped remind Heisman Trophy voters he's not finished yet.
In a 45-42 win over Clemson, Hamilton threw for 322 yards, matched a school
record with five touchdown passes and ran for another 88 yards.
"I think if he continues to play like he has played. I don't see why he's
not in the running. He's played each and every game very well," O'Leary said.
Hamilton needs just 122 yards of total offense to become the first ACC
player and the 16th in NCAA Division I-A to reach 10,000 yards. Hamilton also
would be the first player in I-A history to have 10,000 yards of total offense
with 1,500 yards rushing.
Meanwhile, the Demon Deacons have only scored more than 30 points in three
games this season.
"We've had a defense that's been a top-ranked defense as well. That's what
we're going to call upon," Caldwell said. "They average over 40 points a
game. They're phenomenal. What we'll ask our guys to do is the same thing we
ask them to do every week - stop them. That's the key."
