|
|
|
|
|
|
  
 |
Scouting the Sun Devils Arizona State finished the 199 season with a 6-5 record as well, finishing fourth in the Pac-10 to earn the Aloha Bowl berth. After a 2-3 start, the Sun Devils won four of their last six games, including a 42-27 win over Arizona in the season finale. Through 11 games, the Sun Devils have averaged 410.4 yards of total offense per game and have allowed opponents 392.4 yards per game. ASU's offense is relatively balanced, but favors the run about 57 percent of the time. The Sun Devils' ground game averages 179.2 yards per outing and is led by J.R. Redmond, a second-team All-Pac-10 running back who ranks No. 20 in the nation in rushing (108.5 ypg). RB Delvon Flowers averaged 45.9 yards per game on the year and had a 100-yard outing vs. Arizona. ASU's passing game will be severely hampered with starting quarterback Ryan Healy out for the Aloha Bowl with a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his knee. In 11 games this fall, Healy owned a 122.5 quarterback efficiency rating, completing 148 of 267 passes (.554) for 1,976 yards with 10 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. The Sun Devils' top passing target is first-team All-Pac-10 tight end Todd Heap, who caught 50 passes on the year and averaged 72.1 receiving yards per game. Defensively, the Sun Devils are led by a pair of first-team all-conference defenders in LB Adam Archuleta (102 tackles, 21 TFLs, 5 sacks) and DE Erik Flowers (60 tackles, 18 TFLs, 10 sacks).
Bowl Facts Wake Forest has been to four bowls in the program's history: the 1946 Gator Bowl (def. South Carolina, 26-14), the 1949 Dixie Bowl (lost to Baylor, 20-7), the 1979 Tangerine Bowl (lost to LSU, 34-10), and the 1992 Independence Bowl (def. Oregon, 39-35). The Deacs are 2-2 all-time in bowl games. The Aloha Bowl marks Wake Forest's second bowl bid of the 1990s and its fifth overall. Arizona State has an impressive bowl history and owns a 10-6-1 bowl record overall. The Sun Devils have been to two other bowls in the 90s: the 1997 Sun Bowl (def. Iowa 17-7 following '97 season) and the 1997 Rose Bowl (lost to Ohio State 20-17 following '96 season).
26 Seniors Close Out Careers in Hawaii The Aloha Bowl will mark a fitting end to the careers of 26 dedicated seniors on the Demon Deacons' veteran roster. Eighteen seniors are starters for WFU this year (eight offense, nine defense, one kicker), and 23 of those players are fifth- (or in one case sixth-) year players. The Deacs' 199 seniors are (starters in CAPS): LB Tom Allen, DB REGGIE AUSTIN, QB Dan Bradley, PK MATTHEW BURDICK, TE Chris Burkholder, WR MARVIN CHALMERS, WR JAMMIE DEESE, RB Kito Gary, LB ABDUL GUICE, OT TODD HOLLOWELL, DE Kelvin Jones, RB MORGAN KANE, OT/TE Willie Lam, TE JAMES LIK, LB DUSTIN LYMAN, WR William Merritt, DB DAVID MOORE, LB KELVIN MOSES, DB DALAWN PARRISH, DT FRED ROBBINS, QB BEN SANKEY, OG SAM SETTAR, DT KELVIN SHACKLEFORD, DE BRAD SMITH, LB Kevin Smith, TE Ben Stafford, DT Rufus Taylor, and OT BRIAN WOLVERTON.
All-Conference Deacs Four Wake Forest players were named to the All-Atlantic Coast Conference Football Teams, as voted on by the Atlantic Coast Sportswriters Association (ACSWA). It marks the most all-conference honorees for the Demon Deacons since 1993. Senior linebacker Dustin Lyman earned first-team All-ACC honors, becoming the school's first first-team pick since Tucker Grace in 1995. In addition, junior defensive end Bryan Ray, senior defensive tackle Fred Robbins and senior running back Morgan Kane earned second team honors.
Deacon Injury Report Junior OT Marlon Curtis (shoulder): out, junior WR Chris Modelski (knee-torn ACL): out, sophomore DE Milo McGuire (knee-torn ACL): out, senior RB Kito Gary (broken arm): doubtful.
Head Coach Jim Caldwell Jim Caldwell is in his seventh season as head coach at Wake Forest with a career record of 23-54. A native of Beloit, Wis., Caldwell graduated from Iowa in 1977 with a degree in English literature and played four years for the Hawkeyes as a defensive back. His career includes assistant coaching stints at Iowa (1977), Southern Illinois (1978-80), Northwestern (1981), Colorado (1982-84), Louisville (1985) and Penn State (1986-92). He presently is chairman of the American Football Coaches Association Ethics Committee and is a member of the AFCA's Board of Trustees.
Caldwell Calls the Shots Seventh-year head coach Jim Caldwell has taken on a new role this fall as the team's offensive coordinator. Caldwell now calls the plays from the sidelines and scripts the play chart for each game. His explanation: "I'm doing it primarily because I want to have more influence on how we go about trying to win." Quarterbacks coach Jamie Barresi and offensive line coach George Belu assist Caldwell with the day-to-day duties assigned to the offensive coordinator.
A Man of His Word When Jim Caldwell promised a greater commitment to the running game this year, he certainly meant it. Wake Forest ranked last in the nation in rushing last year, managing only 65.4 yards per game. In 1999, however, Wake has averaged 175.7 rushing yards per game, ranking fourth in the ACC and 31st in the nation. It marks the highest per-game rushing average by the Deacs since 1984 (when they netted 181.2 ypg). The Deacs have run the ball 533 times while passing just 242 times, a 68 percent average. In the season opener, Wake gained 320 yards on the ground vs. Army - the most by a WFU team since a 396-yard effort vs. Maryland in 1993. WFU also piled up 266 ground yards vs. NC State, 257 vs. UAB, and a season-high 322 vs. Georgia Tech. On the season, the Deacs have 1,933 rushing yards, the most since 1984.
A Record Improvement The Deacs improvement in the ground game marks the second-greatest single-season improvement in rushing offense ever by an ACC team. Wake's jump from a 65.4 yards-per-game rushing average last year to a 175.7 average this year marks a +110.3 margin of improvement. The current ACC record for the biggest single-season turnaround is held by North Carolina, who improved their running game by 117.5 yards per game from 1985 to 1986 (135.0 to 252.5). A look at the top rushing game turnarounds in the ACC:
ACC Top Three Single-Season Rushing Improvements North Carolina, 1985-86 135.0 to 252.5 +117.5 Wake Forest, 1998-99 65.4 to 175.7 +110.3 Georgia Tech, 1994-95 104.1 to 211.0 +106.9
Deacons Begin With "D" The Deacon defense has also shown a dramatic turnaround since last season's injury-riddled campaign. In 1998, Wake Forest ranked dead last in the ACC in total defense, rushing defense, pass efficency defense and scoring defense. This year, however, the Deacs rank among the top three in the league (and the top 35 in the nation) in each of those categories. They also rank second in the ACC in first downs allowed after ranking eighth last year. The improvement:
Protecting the Ball Wake Forest has also been significantly more careful with the ball this season. Last year, the Deacs turned the ball over 32 times in 11 games (2.9 per game), but this fall, WFU has committed 16 turnovers in 11 games (1.5 per game). Defensively, the Deacs have forced their opponents into 22 turnovers, giving WFU a +0.55 turnover margin for the season, ranking fourth in the ACC and 21st in the nation. During the five-game stretch from Rutgers to UAB, Wake turned the ball over just three times while forcing 12 turnovers - an impressive +2.40 turnover margin in that stretch.
Kane Tops 1,000 Yards, Ties Record for Carries Senior RB Morgan Kane has been the primary weapon in Wake's run-based attack, rushing for 1,161 yards on the season. With his career-high 224-yard rushing performance vs. Georgia Tech, Kane became WFU's first 1,000-yard rusher since John Leach netted 1,089 yards in 1993. His total marked the third-highest single-season rushing total in school history. (The school's single-season rushing mark is 1,231 yards, set by James McDougald in '79.) Kane's 105.6 yards per game average ranked third-best in the ACC and 23rd in the nation. Kane also netted 275 carries on the year (25 per game) which tied school's single-season record, set by McDougald in 1979.
Kane Game-by-Game in 1999
Kane Tops 2,000 With Morgan Kane's 128-yard outing vs. Maryland, the Canada native became just the seventh Deacon ever to rush for more than 2,000 yards in a career. With 2,550 rushing yards on 647 carries, Kane ranks third all-time at WFU in rushing yardage and fourth in attempts.
Kane Collects Eighth 100-Yard Outing Morgan Kane topped 100 yards rushing five times in 1999, bringing his career total to eight 100-yard efforts. That puts Kane fourth on the list of career 100-yard games at WFU:
Kane's Career 100-Yard Rushing Games 131 yards at Clemson, 9/28/96 146 yards at Duke, 10/25/97 113 yards at Clemson, 9/26/983. 211 yards at Army, 9/11/99 147 yards vs. NC State, 9/25/99 120 yards vs. Rutgers, 10/2/99 128 yards vs. Maryland, 10/9/99 224 yards vs. Georgia Tech, 11/20/99
WFU Career 100-Yard Rushing Games 1. James McDougald (1976-79) 15 2. Michael Ramseur (1982-85) 13 Larry Hopkins (1970-71) 10 4. Morgan Kane (1996-pres) 8
Kane Tops 200 Twice Morgan Kane became the first WFU player in school history to post two 200-yard rushing games in the same season this fall. He exploded for a career-high 211 rushing yards in the season opener at Army, becoming just the fifth Deacon ever to eclipse the 200-yard mark. It was the first time a Deac had eclipsed the bicentennial mark since John Leach's ACC-record 329-yard performance vs. Maryland in 1993. He added a career-high 224 yards in the season finale vs. Georgia Tech, the sixth-best single-game rushing effort in WFU history.
Wake Forest's 200-Yard Rushing Performances 1. John Leach vs. Maryland (11/20/93) 329 (ACC Record) 2. James McDougald vs. Clemson (10/9/76) 249 3. Nub Smith vs. Wm & Mary (10/22/49) 246 4. Larry Hopkins vs. Clemson (10/17/70) 230 Larry Hopkins vs. Tulsa (10/16/71) 230 6. Morgan Kane vs. Georgia Tech (11/20/99) 224 7. James McDougald vs. Duke (11/10/79) 213 8. Morgan Kane vs. Army (9/11/99) 211
Mughelli Paves The Way One of the major reasons for Wake's success running the ball this year is the blocking of redshirt freshman FB Ovie Mughelli (pronounced Muh-HAY-lee). A steamroller on the field, the 6-2, 232-lb. Mughelli has made quick work of numerous linemen and linebackers this season. As Coach Jim Caldwell put it, "He just loves to hit people." In addition to his strength (he can squat 625 lbs.), Mughelli possesses good quickness and is a talented ball-carrier. Although he has not carried the ball much at WFU, he rushed for over 4,500 yards and nearly 70 TDs in his high school career. Mughelli has been nagged by bruises and pinched nerves in his shoulders, however, which forced him to miss the FSU and UNC games and have hampered his play in other games.
Sankey in the Air Senior Ben Sankey took over the starting quarterback duties in 1999 after waiting patiently for four years behind the school's all-time leading passer, Brian Kuklick. Through the regular season, Sankey ranks fifth in the ACC in pass efficiency (120.7) and has connected on 59 percent of his passes (133-of-224) with nine TDs and nine interceptions. In the loss at Duke, the run-oriented Deacs were forced to go to the air early and often, and Sankey set new career highs for completions (29), attempts (50) and yards (288) and tied his career high in TDs (3).
Ben Sankey's Career Passing Statistics
Sankey On the Ground QB Ben Sankey's great mobility added a new dimsension to the Deacon offense this year, allowing Wake to utilize the option more frequently. A real threat on the ground, Sankey ranks second on the team with a 36.8 rushing yards per game average. Discounting yardage lost on sacks (31 for -203 yards), Sankey has averaged 5.1 yards per carry and 55.3 rushing yards per game. Sankey achieved a rare feat in the UAB game, becoming just the second quarterback in WFU history to rush and pass for 100 yards in the same game (108 yards rushing, 132 passing). Previously, former WFU head coach John Mackovic had been the only one to do so vs. Virginia in 1964. Sankey accounted for 61 percent of the Deacs' total offense vs. UAB (260 of 396 yds) and 95 percent of WFU's total offense vs. Duke (356 of 376 yds). On the year, he leads the Deacs and ranks sixth in the ACC in total offense (172.8 ypg).
Sankey's Game-by-Game Rushing Statistics
"Iron Man" Streaks Snapped Wake Forest's "iron men," offensive guards Sam Settar and Brian Wolverton, both saw their impressive streaks of consecutive plays snapped this year. Neither had missed a single offensive snap in a game dating back to the 1997 season. Settar's streak was halted vs. NC State when he went down with a sprained knee and ankle. He had played every offensive down for the Deacons since joining the starting lineup as a sophomore in 1997, a streak of 1,729 consecutive offensive plays covering 25 games. Wolverton's streak had reached 1,913 consecutive snaps when he was finally given a break in the UAB blowout. He had played every single snap since the Georgia Tech game in 1997, a streak covering 27 games.
Ray Among ACC Leaders in Sacks, TFLs Junior DE Bryan Ray stepped up to become a dominant defensive force in the ACC this fall. Ray ranked second in the ACC in quarterback sacks (10) and third in tackles for loss (19) this fall. He recorded at least one TFL in eight of 11 games and at least one sack in six of 11 outings. Ray had his best outing of the year vs. NC State, collecting five TFLs and three sacks - one of which forced the fumble that set up the Deacs' second TD - to earn ACC Defensive Lineman of the Week honors. Ray's numbers mark the second-best single-season totals in sacks and TFLs in WFU history.
WFU Single-Season Sack Leaders WFU Single-Season TFL Leaders 1. Mike McCrary (1992) 16 1. Mike McCrary (1992) 26 2. Mike McCrary (1991) 10 2. Tucker Grace (1995) 19 Maurice Miller (1992) 10 Bryan Ray (1999) 19 Bryan Ray (1999) 10
"Bermuda Triangle" Anchors an Impressive Defense Wake Forest suffered a huge blow to its defense last season when starting inside linebackers Dustin Lyman and Kelvin Moses were both lost for the season with knee injuries. The dynamic duo has returned in full force this year, however, forming what they call "the bermuda triangle" of defense along with senior defensive tackle Fred Robbins. By Moses' definition, "whatever goes into the triangle doesn't come out the other side." Moses leads the team with 70 tackles (44 solo), including eight tackles-for-loss and two sacks (in 10 games). Lyman and Robbins rank as the team's third and sixth leading tacklers, respectively. Lyman has played in nine games and tallied 56 tackles (34 solo), including seven TFLs and two sacks, while Robbins has netted 44 tackles (35 solo), 15 TFLs and five sacks in 11 games.
Defensive Players Climb Career Charts Four Deacon defenders have climbed the WFU career charts in several categories. Senior DT Fred Robbins is tied for second in career sacks with 15 while junior DE Bryan Ray is tied for fourth (13) and LB Dustin Lyman is tied for fifth (11). Robbins, senior LB Kelvin Moses, and Ray also rank among the top seven Deacons all-time in terms of tackles-for-loss. Robbins is second (44), Moses third (37) and Ray seventh (26). Moses also ranks among the top 10 Deacs all-time in career tackles (5th with 391) and unassisted tackles (4th with 239).
WFU Career Sack Leaders WFU Career TFL Leaders 1. Mike McCrary (1989-92) 31 1. Mike McCrary (1989-92) 48 2. James Parker (1976-79) 15 2. Fred Robbins (1996-pres) 44 Fred Robbins (1996-pres) 15 3. Kelvin Moses (1995-pres) 37 4. Rudy Thompson (1989-92) 13 4. James Parker (1976-79) 34 Bryan Ray (1997-pres) 13 5. Tucker Grace (1992-95) 32 5. Bruce Hopkins (1974-77) 11 6. Dred Booe (1990-93) 30 Gary Baldinger(1982-85) 11 7. Bryan Ray (1997-pres) 26 Maurice Miller(1989-92) 11 Dustin Lyman (1996-pres) 11
Secondary to None The Deacs' secondary had an impressive year as well, helping Wake to a No. 28 national ranking in passing defense and intercepting 11 passes. The unit is anchored by two outstanding senior safeties. FS DaLawn Parrish ranked second on the team with 69 stops (42 solo), nabbing two interceptions. Parrish led the team in hits last year with 75, including a team-high 59 solo stops, 10 TFLs and two interceptions. SS David Moore ranked third on the team in solo tackles with 39 this year and was fourth in total tackles with 46. Moore has also netted three tackles-for-loss and a team-high tying five pass break-ups. The Deacon cornerbacks also turned in strong seasons. Senior Reggie Austin proved to be one of the best (and most underrated) corners in the ACC and tallied 41 tackles (31 solo), two interceptions, and five pass break-ups. Junior Keyshorn Smith started every game at the other corner but split time with sophomore Adrian Duncan. Smith netted 35 tackles, two TFLs, an interception and a pass break-up, while Duncan led the team in picks with three and added 38 tackles and two PBUs in eight games.
Duncan Named ACC Player of the Week Nov. 22 Sophomore CB Adrian Duncan earned ACC Defensive Back of the Week honors as a result of his play in the upset of No. 14 Georgia Tech. Duncan tallied nine tackles on the day, including seven solo hits, and had a key interception in the second quarter. His most important play came with 2:27 in the game, however, when he recovered Tech's onside kick attempt with the score standing at 26-23.
Parrish Looking for Four in a Row This year, senior FS DaLawn Parrish has a chance to make the ACC Academic Honor Roll for a fourth straight year, should he achieve that feat, he would be just the fourth athlete in ACC history to do so.
Deese Among ACC's All-Time Leading Receivers For the second straight year, WFU saw one of its players finish among the ACC's all-time reception leaders. Desmond Clark set new school and ACC marks last year with 216 career receptions. This year, senior WR Jammie Deese also ascended the ACC charts. With 32 catches this season, Deese has 184 career receptions, which ranks third all-time at WFU and eighth in the ACC. His 2,348 career receiving yards ranks fourth all-time at WFU and 17th in the ACC. Deese led the team and was second in the ACC with 68 receptions last year - the second-best total ever by a WFU player. Deese posted his eighth career 100-yard receiving game vs. Rutgers (6 rec., 106 yds), and he has caught at least one pass in 40 straight games.
WFU Career Reception Leaders 1. Desmond Clark (1995-98) 216 (1st ACC) 2. Ricky Proehl (1986-89) 188 (5th ACC) 3. Jammie Deese (1996-pres) 184 (8th ACC)
WFU Career Receiving Yardage Leaders 1. Ricky Proehl (1986-89) 2,949 (4th ACC) 2. Desmond Clark (1995-98) 2,834 (7th ACC) 3. Wayne Baumgardner (1978-81) *2,431 (11th ACC) 4. Jammie Deese (1996-pres) 2,348 (17th ACC) * does not include 1979 Tangerine Bowl
On the Lam How versatile do you think a 6-4, 305-lb. football player can be? Pretty versatile, if you're Deacon senior Willie Lam. Lam, an offensive tackle, caused a few folks to do a double-take when he caught a TD pass as a tight end vs. NC State. Then, at Florida State he lined up as a fullback, as the Deacs had a shortage of bodies at that position. Against UAB, he played much of the game at right tackle in place of starter Todd Hollowell. Lam wears No. 62 as a tackle and No. 94 when lining up as a tight end or fullback. His TD reception vs. NC State was the first (and only) catch of his collegiate career. A high school quarterback, Lam has added nearly 70 pounds to his frame since enrolling at WFU and has played tight end, guard, tackle, and fullback for the Deacs during his career.
Tight Ends Seeing More Action Tight ends at Wake Forest have not garnered much of the offensive spotlight in recent years, being primarily used as blockers. In 1998, Deacon TEs caught just 10 of 255 balls, and in '97, they snared just 13 of 244. This year, Wake utilized its tight ends as receivers a bit more often, however. In addition to Willie Lam's TD catch (above), senior James Lik has caught 19 passes for 211 yards (an 11.1 average), and redshirt freshman Ray Thomas caught his first career pass for 14 yards vs. Georgia Tech.
Other Targets Don't let Wake's run-oriented attack fool you into overlooking the Deacons' arsenal of receivers. The Deacon QBs have distributed their 139 completions this year among 15 different targets, including Deese, Lik, Lam and Thomas (above), WRs Jimmy Caldwell (19 for 161 yards), Ira Williams (13 for 214), Marvin Chalmers (11 for 121), John Stone (7 for 75), Fabian Davis (6 for 80), William Merritt (5 for 67) and Jon Jordan (1 for 7), RBs Morgan Kane (18 for 95) and Chris McCoy (4 for 56), and TE/FB Rhamen Love-Lane (1 for 5). Even OG Brian Wolverton (1 for 1) caught a pass (which was tipped by a defender).
Stone One of the Nation's Top Return Men Sophomore WR/KR John Stone ranks as the second-leading kickoff return man in the nation (and tops in the ACC), averaging 29.9 yards per return this year. Stone set a school record with his 99-yard kickoff return for a touchdown vs. Duke on Nov. 13. The 99 yards marked the longest return of any kind in the 98-year history of Wake Forest football. The previous record was 98 yards, held by three different players. As a team, Wake Forest averages23.0 yards per kickoff return, which ranks third in the ACC and 23rd in the nation.
Austin a Return Threat, Too Senior CB/PR Reggie Austin has also posted some pretty impressive numbers on punt returns. Through 11 games, Austin ranks fifth in the ACC and 33rd in thenation with a 10.6 yards per return average. As a team, Wake averages 10.8 yards per punt return, good for third in the ACC and 34th in the nation.
Kicking Ashe Sophomore PK Tyler Ashe has continued to be a valuable weapon for the Demon Deacons this year with his powerful leg on kickoffs. This season, Ashe has booted 43 of 53 kickoffs into (or out of) the endzone - an 81 percent average. Of those 43 endzone kicks, 32 resulted in touchbacks. Of the 21 kickoffs that opponents have run back, however, they've averaged 30.5 yards per return. Ashe even pitched in on kickoff coverage vs. NC State, earning his first career tackle when he helped bring down Rahshon Spikes on NCSU's lone kickoff return. Against UAB, Ashe nailed both of his first two career field goal attempts, a 23-yarder and a 46-yarder in the fourth quarter.
Burdick Rewrites Record Book Senior PK Matthew Burdick continues to rewrite the kicking section of the Wake Forest record book. On Oct. 30, he broke the school career field goal record with his 23-yard boot vs. Clemson. That was his 38th career field goal, which topped Wilson Hoyle's career mark of 37. Burdick added four three-pointers vs. UNC and four vs. Georgia Tech to up his record-setting total to 46 field goals. Burdick's 16 field goals this year tie the school's single-season record, set by Hoyle in 1987. His 75 points this year led the team and upped his career point total to 217, which pushed him into second place on the WFU career scoring list. Last season, Burdick was a semifinalist for the Lou Groza Award, presented to the nation's top kicker. He has converted 46-of-67 field goal attempts in his career, including 33-of-37 (.892) from inside the 40. He has nailed 79-of-82 career PATs (.963) and was a perfect 27-of-27 this season in that statistic. In 1997, Burdick booted 15 field goals, one shy of the WFU single-season record. His 53-yard field goal vs. App State last year tied the school record for the longest kick.
WFU Career Scoring Leaders 1. Wilson Hoyle (1986-89) 230 2. Matthew Burdick (1996-pres) 217 WFU Career Field Goal Leaders 1. Matthew Burdick (1996-pres) 46 2. Wilson Hoyle (1986-89) 37
Burdick Named ACC Player of the Week for Nov. 8 Senior PK Matthew Burdick was named ACC Specialist of the Week for his play in the Deacs' 19-3 win over North Carolina on Nov. 6th. Burdick accounted for 13 of WFU's 19 points, kicking a career-high four field goals (on four attempts) and adding one extra point. He kicked field goals of 47, 29, 35 and 38 yards to help the Demon Deacons to their first win over the Tar Heels since 1989.
Burdick a Star in the Classroom as Well In addition to breaking records on the field, PK Matthew Burdick has been a star in the classroom as well. On Oct. 31 he was named Wake Forest's Male-Scholar-Athlete of the Year, becoming the first student-athlete at WFU to win the award twice. Burdick carries a perfect 4.0 GPA in the Master of Education program after having earned his undergraduate degree in less than three years.
In Remembrance Senior PK Matthew Burdick sports a black armband this season in memory of his older brother, Bryon, who died of leukemia in 1989.
First-Timers Three true freshmen have seen action for the Deacs this season - the most since 1996. QB C.J. Leak played as a reserve in six games, going 6-for-18 with one TD and one interception. His first career TD came against the nation's No. 1 team, a 1-yard strike to Fabian Davis on the final play of the Florida State game. Leak has also added 27 yards on the ground. Injuries at running back and linebacker forced RB Tarence Williams and LB Jamaal Argrow into action as well. Williams contributed 50 yards on 10 carries in four games, while Argrow tallied nine tackles in 11 games. Last season, WFU redshirted 13 of the 14 members of its freshman class, and only four returnees on the roster have not redshirted during their careers (senior PK Matthew Burdick, senior SS David Moore, senior CB Reggie Austin, and sophomore LB Ed Kargbookorogie).
Wolverton, Ray Named ACC Players of the Week for Sept. 27 Wake Forest senior OL Brian Wolverton and junior DL Bryan Ray were named ACC Players of the Week on Sept. 27 for their performances vs. NC State. Wolverton earned Offensive Lineman of the Week honors after paving the way for a 266-yard rushing effort. Ray was named ACC Defensive Lineman of the Week after recording six tackles, including five tackles for loss and three sacks. One of his sacks forced a fumble which set up a 4-yard TD pass on the next play.
Sagarin Ratings Wake Forest moved up to No. 41 in the Sagarin Ratings following the Georgia Tech win. The Demon Deacons' schedule is rated as the 33rd-toughest in the nation. Arizona State is ranked 49th by the Sagarin computer and has a strength of schedule rating of No. 45 in Division I-A.
Deacs Defeat Two Ranked Teams in Groves With wins over No. 25 NC State and No. 14 Georgia Tech this year, it marked the first time since 1979 that Wake Forest topped two ranked teams in the same season. The victory over NC State marked Wake's first-ever win over an AP-ranked ACC team in Groves Stadium (and the win over Tech the second). The Deacs had only won three times in 58 previous tries vs. ranked ACC foes (3-54-1), and all three had come on the road. The Deacs are now 14-87-1 vs. all AP-ranked teams and 5-18 in Groves Stadium.
Bachelor's Degree Senior LB Abdul Guice picked up an impressive preseason honor this summer, but it didn't come in The Sporting News, Street & Smith, or any other football publication. Guice was named the most eligible bachelor in North Carolina by Cosmopolitan magazine in its July "All About Men" issue. Guice's neighbor, Ryan Smith, saw an advertisement in the magazine and submitted his nomination. She wrote a paragraph and included a photo from Guice's modeling portfolio. Guice's mailing address was included in the magazine and he has received several dozen letters inquiring about his bachelor status. The attention has earned him a new nickname among his teammates, "Cosmo."
Speed Demons Four members of the WFU football team made a tremendous impact during the 1999 ACC Outdoor Track & Field Championships, winning three league titles. Wide receiver John Stone was involved in all three, capturing the 100- and 200-meters and combining with Reggie Austin (who was second in the 100), Jammie Deese and Chris Justice to win the 4x100 relay. Deese had a full day of activity last April 17th, driving from Clemson (site of the ACC Championships) to Winston-Salem that afternoon to arrive in time to catch a touchdown pass in the Deacons' Spring Game in Groves Stadium.
Already an ACC Champion Redshirt freshman punter Matt Brennie can already lay claim to being a member of an ACC championship team. Last season, Brennie was on the roster of Wake Forest's baseball squad that won its second consecutive ACC crown. A knee injury forced Brennie to redshirt the season, but he is expected back on the Diamond Deacs' squad this spring as an outfielder. Brennie averaged 36.6 yards per punt this year, putting 10 boots inside the 20.
A Family Affair Wake Forest football is a family affair for head coach Jim Caldwell. His oldest son, Jimmy Caldwell, is a sophomore wide receiver for the Deacs and ranks as Wake's third-leading receiver on the year. Last year Jimmy lettered as a redshirt freshman, catching three passes for 48 yards. This year, he's caught 19 passes for 161 yards, including a career-high six catches for 48 yards vs. Duke. Caldwell also serves as the holder for placekicker Matthew Burdick, a role he also held when both were teammates at Mount Tabor High School.
A Cameron Legend Sophomore LB Ed Kargbookorogie hopes to make as big of a bang on the football field this season as he did last year on the basketball court. Kargbookorogie has gained legendary status at Duke's Cameron Indoor Stadium among the Cameron Crazies. Last year, as a walk-on member of the men's basketball team, Kargbookorogie was taunted by Duke fans during pregame warmups that he could not dunk. He responded by dunking the ball so hard that he shattered the backboard, delaying the start of the nationally-televised game by 23 minutes.
A Veteran Lineup Wake welcomed 14 starters and 50 letterwinners back this fall, including three starters from 1997 who missed most of '98 with injuries. With 23 fifth-year seniors on the roster, Coach Jim Caldwell boasts the most experienced team in his tenure at WFU. The returning starters and their cumulative career starts: LB Kelvin Moses# (43), DT Fred Robbins (43), OG Brian Wolverton (39), FS DaLawn Parrish (35), WR Jammie Deese (33), LB Dustin Lyman# (30), RB Morgan Kane (30), OG Sam Settar (29), CB Reggie Austin (26), DE Kelvin Jones# (21), DE Bryan Ray (20), OT Michael Collins (17), LB Abdul Guice (15), OT Marlon Curtis (7). (# started in 1997 but missed most of '98 due to injury)
Consecutive Starts Four Deacs have long consecutive starting streaks heading into the Aloha Bowl contest: DT Fred Robbins (39), OG Brian Wolverton (39), WR Jammie Deese (33) and CB Reggie Austin (23).
Deacons with Diplomas The Deacon roster includes eight players who have already earned their undergraduate degrees and are enrolled in graduate programs at WFU. Six fifth-year seniors graduated last May, and two others completed their degrees over the summer. The list of grads includes QB Dan Bradley (Communications), PK Matthew Burdick (Education), LB Abdul Guice (Sociology), LB Kelvin Moses (Communication), DB DaLawn Parrish (History), QB Ben Sankey (History), TE Ben Stafford (Sociology) and OL Brian Wolverton (Communication). Burdick completed his degree last summer, less than three years after he enrolled at WFU.
Academic Excellence Part of Wake Forest football tradition is excellence in the classroom. Last year, WFU was again recognized by the American Football Coaches Association for having one of the top graduation rates in the nation. Wake Forest earned "Honorable Mention" status for graduating over 70% of the freshmen that entered school in 1993. It marked the eighth time in the last nine years that WFU has been among the top institutions in this survey, including 1995 when the Deacs tied for the best graduation rate in the country. Wake sported a 67 percent grad rate for its class that entered in 1992 - 17 percent higher than the national average of 50 percent. The University's overall graduation rate for all student-athletes was 69 percent, well above the national average of 58 percent.
Petz Out Junior DE Mat Petz sat out this season after being declared academically ineligible. Last season Petz tallied 61 tackles, 15 tackles for loss and six sacks. His TFL total was the third best in the ACC. Petz cannot play in the Aloha Bowl but can regain his eligibility for 2000.
Gary Lost to Broken Arm The rushing attack lost the services of senior TB Kito Gary after he suffered a broken arm vs. NC State. Gary, an exeptionally quick runner, had just returned to the lineup after being slowed by a preseason injury. He had surgery on the arm earlier this fall and will likely miss the Aloha Bowl as well. Gary totaled 526 yards on 140 carries in his career.
Getting Stronger The Deacs' off-season conditioning program has paid tremendous dividends in recent years. This season 34 players bench pressed over 400 pounds during their annual testing, up from 24 players in 1998. In 1995, only one player topped the 400-pound bench press mark, and in 1994, no players accomplished it. The top mark on the team of 465 pounds belongs to senior DE Kelvin Jones.
Captains The captains for the 1999 Wake Forest football team are wide receiver Jammie Deese, quarterback Ben Sankey, linebacker Dustin Lyman and free safety DaLawn Parrish, who were selected by their teammates in a preseason vote.
In the Red Zone The Wake Forest offense performed well in the red zone this year, scoring on 34 of 40 attempts through 11 games (85 percent). Twenty of those scores were touchdowns, while 14 were field goals. On the defensive side, however, Deacon opponents got into the red zone 32 times and scored 26 times (81 percent) - 17 times on TDs and nine times on field goals.
Red Zone Scoring Att TD FG Fail Pct. Wake Forest 40 20 14 6 .850 Opponents 32 17 9 6 .813
THE JEEP ALOHA BOWL
Opponent: Arizona State
1999 WAKE FOREST RESULTS (6-5 OVERALL, 3-5 ACC)
Sept. 11 at Army* 34-15 W Sept. 18 at Virginia# 7-35 L Sept. 25 NC STATE (25)+ 31-7 W Oct. 2 RUTGERS 17-10 W Oct. 9 MARYLAND+ 14-17 L Oct. 16 at Florida State (1)* 10-33 L Oct. 23 UAB 47-3 W Oct. 30 CLEMSON+ 3-12 L Nov. 6 at North Carolina 19-3 W Nov. 13 at Duke 35-48 L Nov. 20 GEORGIA TECH (14) 26-23 W Dec. 25 Aloha Bowl vs. Arizona St. 3:30 pm
WAKE ON THE WEB Keep up with all of Wake Forest's 18 varsity sports teams on the internet. Check out the Demon Deacons on-line at www.wakeforestsports.com
1999 ARIZONA STATE RESULTS (6-5 OVERALL, 5-3 PAC-10) Sept. 6 TEXAS TECH 31-13 W Sept. 18 NEW MEXICO STATE 7-35 L Sept. 25 at California* 23-24 L Oct. 2 UCLA* 28-27 W Oct. 9 at Notre Dame 17-48 L Oct. 16 at Washington* 28-7 W Oct. 23 WASHINGTON ST* 33-21 W Oct. 30 at Oregon* 17-20 L Nov. 6 at USC* 26-16 W Nov. 13 STANFORD* 30-50 L Nov. 27 ARIZONA* 42-27 W Dec. 25 Aloha Bowl vs. Wake Forest 3:30 pm * Pac-10 games STATISTICAL COMPARISON
STATISTICAL LEADERS
Wake Forest
Arizona State
WAKE FOREST IN THE ACC AND NCAA RANKINGS
1999 ACC STANDINGS
ACC Bowl Bids: Wake Forest Jeep Aloha Bowl (Dec. 25) Clemson Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl (Dec. 30) Virginia Micron/PC Bowl (Dec. 30) Georgia Tech Toyota Gator Bowl (Jan. 1) Florida State Bowl Championship Series (TBA)
1999 WAKE FOREST FOOTBALL STATISTICS
FIELD GOALS -20 20+ 30+ 40+ 50+ TOT BLK LG Matthew Burdick 0-0 7-7 6-8 3-7 0-1 16-23 0 47 Tyler Ashe 0-0 1-1 0-0 1-1 0-1 2-3 1 46 Kevin Church 0-0 0-0 0-1 0-0 0-0 0-1 0 0 WAKE FOREST 0-0 8-8 6-9 4-8 0-2 18-27 1 47 Opponents 2-2 2-2 5-7 2-5 1-4 12-20 0 52
PUNTING G NO YDS AVG LP BLK James MacPherson 2 6 270 45.0 55 1 Matt Brennie 10 53 1940 36.6 51 0 TEAM 11 1 0 0.0 0 0 WAKE FOREST 11 60 2210 36.8 55 1 Opponents 11 61 2551 41.8 70 2
PUNT RETURNS G NO YDS AVG TD LP Ed Kargbookorogie 8 1 16 16.0 0 16 Reggie Austin 11 31 329 10.6 0 27 Jimmy Caldwell 11 2 16 8.0 0 10 Nick Bender 10 0 6 0.0 0 6 WAKE FOREST 11 34 367 10.8 0 27 Opponents 11 20 133 6.7 1 34
|
