Wake Forest Sports Hall of Fame
- Induction:
- 1992
Wake Forest's athletic history includes many highlights. But few memorable individual moments stand out as does that October afternoon in 1976 when a freshman running back in his first career start burst into prominence as a Demon Deacon. James McDougald's work that day against Clemson - 249 yards rushing on 45 carries - remains one of the greatest performances in Wake history.
McDougald went on to attain 16 school records for rushing and scoring. More than 30 years after his final game, he remains first in career rushing attempts (880), second in rushing touchdowns (30) and second in rushing yards (3,865).
He is one of five Deacons to earn first-team All-ACC honors in three seasons (1976, 1977, 1979) and the only Deacon ever to lead the team in rushing four straight seasons. His brilliant career reached a climax when, as a senior, he helped Wake Forest to a 1979 Tangerine Bowl bid. On a team of excellent players, McDougald was named the Most Valuable. He also received the prestigious Arnold Palmer Award as the school's top male athlete that year.
James McDougald was inducted into the Wake Forest University Sports Hall of Fame on January 18, 1992.
