Wake Forest Athletics
Deacons Host Alabama-Birmingham For The First Time
10/18/1999 12:00:00 AM | Football
Oct. 18, 1999
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - The Wake Forest football team looks to get back in the win column as the Demon Deacons host Alabama-Birmingham in a non-conference matchup on Saturday, Oct. 23, at 3:30 p.m. in Groves Stadium. The game marks the first-ever meeting between the two schools and is WFU's homecoming game. The Deacons are coming off a 33-10 loss to No. 1 Florida State, while UAB is coming off a 24-21 overtime victory over Cincinnati.
A quick look at both teams:
WAKE FOREST vs UAB Winston-Salem Location Birmingham, AL 3,836 Enrollment 15,850 Atlantic Coast Conference Conference USA Jim Caldwell Head Coach Watson Brown Iowa '77 Alma Mater Vanderbilt '72 20-52 (7th yr) Record at School 22-28 (5th yr) 20-52 (7th yr) Career Record 54-105-1 (15th yr) 3-8, 2-6 ACC 1998 Record 4-7 Multiple Offensive System Multiple Multiple Defensive System Multiple 15 (6/8/1) Starters Returning 18 (9/7/2) 50 (23/25/2) Lettermen Returning 56 (29/25/2)
Last Week in Review
Despite a valiant effort from the Wake Forest defense, top-ranked Florida
State wore down the Demon Deacons to earn a 33-10 decision on Homecoming
Day in Tallahassee last Saturday. The Deacon defense bent but did not
break in the first half, holding the Seminoles to just three field goals
and forcing two turnovers. On Florida State's opening drive, Keyshorn
Smith forced a Ron Dugans fumble which DaLawn Parrish picked up and
returned to the FSU 29. That set up a 24-yard Matt Burdick field goal,
giving Wake a 3-0 lead and making the Deacs the only team to score first
against the 'Noles in '99.
Big plays by defenders Adrian Duncan (sacking QB Chris Weinke on 3rd-and-goal), David Moore (covering Ryan Sprague in the end zone on Weinke's 3rd down TD pass attempt), Bryan Ray (tackling Travis Minor for a loss on 3rd-and-3), and Duncan again (intercepting Weinke on the Wake 26) forced FSU to settle for three field goals on their next four series. Wake's offense, meanwhile, struggled against the Seminoles' nationally-ranked defense. Playing without powerful fullback Ovie Mughelli, the Deacs' ground game sputtered to just 20 yards on 19 carries in the first half. Early in the second half, a 9-yard WFU punt gave Florida State the ball at the Wake 37, and the Seminoles finally found the end zone on a 12-yard pass from Weinke to Atrews Bell.
That score broke the backs of the Deacon defense, and FSU scored on its next three straight drives to build a 33-3 lead. Wake continued to struggle offensively, managing just 37 yards on its first four drives of the second half before bringing in the reserves. The Deacs' lone TD drive came at the very end of the game, when backup QB C.J. Leak piloted the team 50 yards and hit WR Fabian Davis with a 1-yard TD pass (both players' first career TDs) as time expired. FSU outgained Wake, 425-178, as Weinke passed for 354 yards. Deacon RB Morgan Kane, who entered the game averaging 134.2 rushing yards per game, was held to a season-low 28 yards on 12 carries. Overall the Deacs gained just 42 yards on the ground. QB Ben Sankey, running for his life most of the day, completed 7-of-13 passes for 102 yards.
The Series With UAB
Saturday's game marks the first-ever meeting between Wake Forest and UAB.
UAB has only played an ACC squad once before, losing to Maryland 39-15 in
1996.
Scouting the Blazers
In their fourth season of Division I-A competition, UAB is off to a
respectable 3-3 start and is 1-1 in its inaugural Conference USA schedule.
The Blazers are coming off a 24-21 overtime win over Cincinnati, in which
they held off a Bearcat comeback to earn their first conference win. UAB
built a 21-0 second quarter lead, but Cincinnati crept back into the game
with TDs in the second, third and fourth quarters to tie the game.
Jake Arians' 42-yard field goal in overtime secured the win, however. Cincinnati outgained UAB 440-262 on the day, but the Blazers controlled the clock (47:48) and netted four interceptions and a blocked field goal. QB Daniel Dixon completed 20-of-37 passes for 148 yards, a TD, and two interceptions, while Percy Coleman rushed for 94 yards on just 19 carries. On the year, UAB has avearged just 256.7 yards of offense to its opponents' 351.8.
The Blazers' attack is 60-40 in favor of the run, averaging 131. 3 ground yards per game. The rushing attack is led by junior RBs Carl Fair (67.5 ypg) and Coleman (51.5 ypg). Dixon has completed 78 of 148 passes (.527) for 752 yards, SE Darrius Malone (17 for 289) is his favorite long-distance target. Defensivley, UAB has intercepted 15 passes is six games, led by CB Rodregis Brooks' six picks. Senior SS Kris Neal leads the team with 52 tackles, two sacks and three INTs. UAB's special teams unit has blocked five field goals and three punts this season.
Deacon Injury Report
Senior RB Kito Gary (broken arm): out, junior OT Marlon Curtis (shoulder):
out, sophomore DB Michael Clinkscale (hamstring): questionable, redshirt
freshman FB Ovie Mughelli (shoulder): questionable, sophomore WR John Stone
(toe strain): questionable, senior OG Sam Settar (sprained knee/ankle):
questionable, senior FS DaLawn Parrish (ankle/foot sprain): questionable,
senior CB Reggie Austin (ankle): probable, senior DE/LS Brad Smith
(sprained thumb): probable, sophomore S Tehran Carpenter (shoulder):
probable.
Head Coach Jim Caldwell
Jim Caldwell is in his seventh season as head coach at Wake Forest, and his
career record stands at 20-52. A native of Beloit, Wis., Caldwell graduated
from Iowa in 1977 with a degree in English literature and played four
seasons for the Hawkeyes as a defensive back. Caldwell's coaching 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 that organization'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 coach 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. Through the first
six games of '99, however, Wake is averaging 174.7 yards per game -
fourth-best in the ACC. It also marks the highest per-game rushing average
by the Deacs since 1988. Caldwell has called 305 running plays to just 108
passing plays this season, a 74 percent average. In the season opener, the
Deacs gained 320 yards on the ground vs. Army - the most by a WFU team
since a 396-yard effort vs. Maryland in 1993. The running game also
dominated in the win over NC State, as WFU piled up 266 ground yards. Six
games into the '99 season, the Deacs have 1048 rushing yards, 329 more than
last year's entire season total of 719.
A Record Improvement
Should the Deacs maintain their current pace on the ground, it would mark
the second-greatest single-season improvement in rushing offense by an ACC
team. Wake's jump from a 65.4 yards-per-game rushing average last year to
a 174.7 average this year marks a +109.3 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).
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 174.7 +109.3 Georgia Tech, 1994-95 104.1 to 211.0 +106.9
Kane Chases 1,000
Senior RB Morgan Kane has been the predominant weapon in Wake's new
run-based attack, rushing for 699 yards in the first six games. That makes
him WFU's first 500-yard rusher since John Leach in 1993. Kane's 116.5 ypg
average ranks second in the ACC and puts him on pace to become Wake's first
1,000-yard rusher since Leach. Should he maintain his current pace, Kane
would top the school's single-season rushing mark of 1,231 yards, set by
James McDougald in 1979. Kane's 699 yards in six games is already 245
yards better than his '98 season total of 454.
Kane Game-by-Game in 1999
Army 32 carries 211 yards 2 TD Virginia 20 carries 65 yards 0 TD NC State 31 carries 147 yards 3 TD Rutgers 34 carries 120 yards 2 TD Maryland 30 carries 128 yards 0 TD Florida St 12 carries 28 yards 0 TD
Kane Collects Seventh 100-Yard Outing
Morgan Kane has topped 100 yards rushing in four of the first six games of
1999, bringing his career total to seven 100-yard efforts. That ties Kane
for fourth on the list of career 100-yard games at WFU (the record is 15,
held by James McDougald).
Morgan Kane's Career 100-Yard Rushing Performances
131 yards at Clemson, 9/28/96 146 yards at Duke, 10/25/97 113 yards at Clemson, 9/26/98 211 yards at Army, 9/11/99 147 yards vs. NC State, 9/25/99 120 yards vs. Rutgers, 10/02/99 128 yards vs. Maryland, 10/09/991. James McDougald (1976-79) 15 2. Michael Ramseur (1982-85) 13 3. Larry Hopkins (1970-71) 10 4. Morgan Kane (1996-pres) 7 Ken Garrett (1970-72) 7 Brian Piccolo (1962-64) 7 Larry Russell (1969-71) 7
Kane Tops 200
Kane exploded for a career-high 211 yards in the season opener at Army,
becoming just the fifth Deac to eclipse the 200-yard mark. That marked the
seventh-best single-game rushing total in school history and was the first
time a Deac had eclipsed the bicentennial mark since John Leach's
ACC-record 329-yard performance vs. Maryland in 1993.
Wake Forest's 200-Yard Rushing Performances
1. John Leach vs. Maryland (11/20/93) 329 (ACC Record) 2. James McDougald vs. Clemson (10/09/76) 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. James McDougald vs. Duke (11/10/79) 213 7. Morgan Kane vs. Army (09/11/99) 211
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.
Now with 2,088 career rushing yards, Kane currently ranks seventh on Wake
Forest's all-time rushing list.
WFU Career Rushing Yardage Leaders
1. James McDougald (1976-79) 3865 2. Michael Ramseur (1982-85) 3325 3. Topper Clemons (1982-85) 2479 4. John Leach (1990-93) 2362 5. Larry Hopkins (1970-71) 2212 6. Anthony Williams (1988-91) 2203 7. Morgan Kane (1996-pres) 2088
Sankey's Turn
Senior Ben Sankey took over the starting quarterback duties for the Deacs
in 1999 after waiting patiently for four years behind the school's all-time
leading passer, Brian Kuklick. In six games thus far, Sankey has been
impressive, ranking fourth in the ACC in pass efficiency (126.6). He has
connected on 58 percent of his passes (57-of-98) with three TDs and two
interceptions. Sankey's mobility makes him a threat on the ground as well,
and he ranks second on the team (and 19th in the ACC) with a 21.3 rushing
yards per game average. Take out the yardage lost on sacks (17 for -99
yards), and Sankey averages 3.7 yards per carry and 37.8 yards per game.
Sankey also leads the Deacs and ranks 10th in the ACC in total offense
(142.7 ypg).
Ben Sankey's Career Stats
Year G-S Comp Att Pct Yds TD Int Lg 1996 5-0 13 30 43.3 180 1 0 29 1997 6-2 54 93 58.1 606 1 5 43 1998 5-0 38 58 65.5 468 4 2 61 1999 6-6 57 98 58.8 728 3 2 46 Totals 22-8 162 279 58.1 1982 9 9 61
Deese Chases Clark's Mark
For the second straight year, WFU could see one of its players break the
ACC's all-time reception mark. Desmond Clark did it last year, setting new
school and ACC marks with 216 career receptions. This year, senior WR
Jammie Deese has a shot to make Clark's tenure as the ACC recordholder a
short one. Deese led the team and ranked second in the ACC with 68
receptions last year - the second-best total ever by a Wake Forest player.
Deese recorded his eighth career 100-yard receiving game earlier this fall,
catching six passes for 106 yards vs. Rutgers. With 19 catches in the
first five games, Deese now has 171 career receptions, which ranks him
third all-time at WFU and eighth in the ACC. His 2,205 career receiving
yards ranks fifth all-time at WFU.
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) 171 (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 (1979-81) *2,431 (11th ACC) 4. Todd Dixon (1990-93) *2,300 (18th ACC) 5. Jammie Deese (1996-pres) 2,205 (22nd ACC)* does not include bowl games
Deese on Biletnikoff List
Senior wide receiver Jammie Deese has been named to the "Watch List" for
the 1999 Biletnikoff Award, presented annually to the nation's top
collegiate receiver. During the season, updates on the players considered
for the award can be found on the internet at www.biletnikoffaward.com.
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, who entered the season
as a backup left tackle, caused more than a few folks to do a double-take
when he caught a TD pass as a tight end vs. NC State. And last week at
Florida State, he lined up as a fullback a few times, as the Deacs' had a
shortage of bodies at that position. Lam, who wears No. 62 as a tackle,
dons No. 94 when lining up as a tight end or fullback. His TD reception
vs. 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 now fullback
for the Deacs during his career.
Tight Ends Seeing More Action
Tight ends have not garnered much of the offensive spotlight in recent
years, as they were primarily used as blockers. In 1998, TEs caught just
10 of 255 balls, and in '97, they snared just 13 of 244. This year, Wake
has utilized its tight ends as receivers more often. In addition to Willie
Lam's TD catch (above), senior James Lik has caught nine passes for 97
yards (a 10.8 average).
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 60 completions
this year among 10 different targets, including Deese, Lik and Lam (above),
WRs Jimmy Caldwell (9 for 91 yards), Ira Williams (5 for 114), Fabian Davis
(3 for 31), William Merritt (2 for 19), and Marvin Chalmers (2 for 19), and
RBs Morgan Kane (7 for 38) and Chris McCoy (3 for 48).
Defensive Turnaround
The Deacon defense has shown a significant turnaround since last season's
injury-riddled campaign. In 1998, Wake Forest ranked last in the ACC in
total defense (400.8 ypg), rushing defense (187.2 ypg) and scoring defense
(30.5 ppg). This year, however, the Deacs are second only to top-ranked
Florida State in the ACC in total defense (341.8 ypg), a 59.0 yards per
game improvement. In scoring defense, Wake is third in the ACC (19.5 ppg),
improving by 11.0 points per game. The run defense has improved by 48.7
yards per game (138.5 ypg, 3rd ACC).
Ray Among ACC Leaders in Sacks, TFLs
Junior DE Bryan Ray has stepped up to become a dominant defensive force in
the ACC this fall. Currently, Ray ranks among the ACC's best in
quarterback sacks (8) and tackles for loss (15) through six games. He has
recorded at least one TFL in every game and has earned one or more sacks in
five of the first six outings. A second-year starter, Ray had his best
outing of the year vs. NC State, collecting five TFLs for 26 yards,
including three sacks for 24 yards - one of which forced the fumble that
set up the Deacs' second touchdown of the game. That performance earned
him ACC Defensive Lineman of the Week honors. On the year, Ray has 36
tackles (23 solo).
Ray Game-by-Game
UT AT Tot TFL/Yds Sack/Yds Army 9 3 12 2/-8 1/-2 Virginia 4 3 7 3/-18 2/-15 NC State 5 1 6 5/-26 3/-24 Rutgers 3 1 4 2/-2 0 Maryland 1 4 5 1/-10 1/-10 Florida State 1 1 2 2/-10 1/-7 Totals 23 13 36 15/-74 8/-58
Linebacker M*A*S*H* Report
Wake Forest suffered a slew of injuries at linebacker last season, losing
starters Dustin Lyman and Kelvin Moses for the season with knee injuries.
Unfortunately, the LB curse carried over to the early '99 campaign as well.
Wake has slowly gotten its linebacking corp in healthy condition, however.
Moses, who was granted a rare sixth year of eligibility, and Lyman, who
reinjured his knee in preseason, have both returned to the starting lineup.
Moses started vs. Virginia, while Lyman came back the following week vs. NC
State, and the return of the "dynamic duo" has had an immeasurable impact
on the Deacon defense. Moses ranks fourth on the team in tackles with 26
in five games, while Lyman is ninth with 19 in four outings. Senior Abdul
Guice, who started in place of Moses last year but injured his knee in
preseason, was cleared to play vs. Florida State but did not see action.
Sophomore Ed Kargbookorogie, who played last year as a true freshman,
injured his knee vs. Virginia but returned to action vs. FSU.
Parrish A Defensive Leader
Senior free safety DaLawn Parrish has continued to be defensive leader for
the Deacs this year. Parrish currently leads the team in tackles with 37
stops (including 23 solo hits), and he has also snared two interceptions.
He led the team in hits last year with 75, including a team-high 59 solo
stops, recording 10 tackles-for-loss and two interceptions. Parrish played
most of '98 at safety, but moved to outside linebacker for the final four
games when injuries decimated the linebacking corps. This year, Parrish
has a chance to earn All-ACC Academic honors for a fourth straight year, he
would be just the fourth student-athlete in ACC history to do so.
Settar's Streak Snapped...
Wake Forest's "iron man," senior guard Sam Settar, saw his impressive
streak of consecutive plays snapped vs. NC State when he went down in the
first half with a sprained knee and ankle. Settar entered the game having
played every offensive down for the Deacons since 1997. Since joining the
starting lineup that year as a sophomore, Settar participated in 1,729
consecutive offensive plays before the injury, a streak covering 25 games.
... Wolverton Inherits Ironman Title
The Demon Deacons' other starting guard, senior Brian Wolverton, inherits
the "ironman" title now that Settar's streak has snapped. Wolverton has
also not taken a break since the 1997 campaign. He now has a string of
consecutive plays that dates back to the fourth period of the East Carolina
game that year (26 straight contests).
Curtis Lost To Shoulder Injury
Junior OT Marlon Curtis was lost for the season after injuring his shoulder
vs. NC State. Curtis, who has a history of shoulder problems, was the
Deacs' starting center in '98 before going down with a shoulder injury. He
had surgery last year and was moved to right tackle in '99, backing up Todd
Hollowell. Curtis will undergo another round of surgery on the shoulder
and miss the rest of the '99 season.
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 missed the FSU game due to a shoulder injury, and the Deacs
struggled to just 42 yards on the ground.
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 and will be out 6-8 weeks. Gary totaled 526
yards on 140 carries in his career.
Kicking Ashe
Sophomore PK Tyler Ashe has become a valuable weapon for the Demon Deacons
with his powerful leg on kickoffs. This season, Ashe has booted 21 of 24
kickoffs into (or out of) the endzone - 18 of which resulted in touchbacks.
Of the six kickoffs that opponents have run back, they've averaged 26.8
yards per return. Ashe even pitched in on kickoff coverage vs. NC State,
earning his first career tackle when he helped Nick Bender bring down the
Pack's Rahshon Spikes on NCSU's lone kickoff return.
Placekicker Challenge
Senior PK Matthew Burdick, Mr. Consistency over the past three years, finds
himself challenged for the first time in his career. Nagged by a groin
injury since preseason, Burdick is an uncharacteristic 5-of-10 on field
goals this year (but 14-of-14 on PATs). Thus, Jim Caldwell ordered a
weekly "kick-off," giving all PKs on the roster a chance to win the
starting job. Sophomore walk-on Kevin Church won the honor vs. Rutgers but
missed a 30-yard field goal, prompting Caldwell to revert to Burdick for an
important 29-yarder late in the game. Burdick has retained the job for the
last two games, but missed a 56-yarder vs. the Terps and went 1-of-2 vs.
FSU. Burdick's longest field goal of the season is a 37-yarder.
...But Burdick's is A Big Shoe to Fill
Last season, Burdick was a semifinalist for the Lou Groza Award, presented
to the nation's top kicker. He has converted 35-of-55 field goal attempts
in his career, including 25-of-28 (.893) from inside the 40. He has nailed
66-of-68 career PATs and was 24-of-25 last year in that statistic. In 1997,
Burdick booted 15 field goals, one shy of the WFU single-season record set
by Wilson Hoyle in 1987. His 53-yard field goal vs. App State last year
tied the school record for the longest kick. Burdick's 170 career points
rank sixth on the WFU career scoring list, and his 35 career field goals
are just two shy of Hoyle's school record of 37.
WFU Career Scoring Leaders
1. Wilson Hoyle (1986-89) 230 2. Michael Ramseur (1982-85) 194 3. James McDougald (1976-79) 192 4. Larry Russell (1969-71) 180 5. Ricky Proehl (1986-89) 174 6. Matt Burdick (1996-pres) 170
WFU Career Field Goal Leaders
1. Wilson Hoyle (1986-89) 37 2. Matt Burdick (1996-pres) 35
In Remembrance
Wake Forest 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
for Wake since 1996. QB C.J. Leak has played as a reserve in four games,
going 3-for-10 with one TD and one interception. Leak has also added 29
yards on the ground. Injuries at running back and linebacker have forced
RB Tarence Williams and LB Jamaal Argrow into action as well. Williams has
contributed 48 yards on nine carries in three games, while Argrow has
tallied five tackles (3 solo) in six games. Last season, Wake Forest
redshirted 13 of the 14 members of its freshman class, and only four
returning players 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.
Deacs Earn First Win vs. a Ranked ACC Team in Groves
The victory over No. 25 NC State marked Wake's first-ever win over an
AP-ranked ACC team in Groves Stadium. 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 13-86-1 vs. all AP-ranked teams and 4-18 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 is
currently averaging 36.5 yards per punt and has put 9-of-34 boots inside
the 20 this year.
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 who looks to be a
key member of the Deacon receiving corps. Last year Jimmy lettered as a
redshirt freshman, catching three passes for 48 yards. In the first six
games this year, he's caught nine passes for 91 yards, including a
career-high four catches for 61 yards vs. Virginia. Caldwell also serves
as the holder for kicker Matthew Burdick, a role he also held when both
were teammates at Mount Tabor High School.
Petz Out
Junior DE Mat Petz will sit 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
can regain his eligibility for 2000.
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 24
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# (38), DT Fred Robbins (38), OG
Brian Wolverton (34), FS DaLawn Parrish (31), WR Jammie Deese (28), OG Sam
Settar (25), LB Dustin Lyman# (25), RB Morgan Kane (25), CB Reggie Austin
(21), DE Kelvin Jones# (20), DE Bryan Ray (15), OT Michael Collins (12), LB
Abdul Guice (11), OT Marlon Curtis (7). (# started in 1997 but missed most
of '98 due to injury)
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.
Consecutive Starts
Several Deacs have long consecutive starting streaks heading into the UAB
contest: DT Fred Robbins (34), OG Brian Wolverton (34), WR Jammie Deese
(28), FS DaLawn Parrish (28), and CB Reggie Austin (18).
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.
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.
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.
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.
Wilburn, Myers Depart
Senior DT Clinton Wilburn and sophomore FB Matt Myers have ended their
careers as Deacons, as both elected to leave the squad this fall. A
three-year letterwinner for the Deacs, Wilburn left the team for medical
reasons. He has tallied 100 career tackles (50 solo), including two sacks,
and he played in all 11 games last season, collecting 37 tackles to rank
10th on the team. Myers, who has left the university for personal reasons,
served the Deacs' backup to Ovie Mughelli at fullback this season.
In the Red Zone
The Wake Forest offense has performed well in the red zone this year,
scoring on 16 of 19 attempts through five games (84.2 percent). Eleven of
those scores were touchdowns, while five were field goals. On the
defensive side, Deacon opponents have gotten in the red zone 18 times and
scored 17 times (94.4 percent) - 10 times on TDs and seven times on field
goals.
Red Zone Scoring Att TD FG Fail Pct. Wake Forest 19 11 5 3 .842 Opponents 18 10 7 1 .944
THIS WEEK'S GAME
Opponent: Alabama-Birmingham
Date: Oct. 23, 1999
Time: 3:30 p.m.
Site: Groves Stadium (31,500)
Winston-Salem, NC
Special Notes: Wake Forest Homecoming
Television: none
Radio: Wake Forest ISP Radio Network
(WXII 830 AM flagship)
Stan Cotten (play-by-play)
Ed Bradley (color analyst)
Mike Pratapas (color analyst)
Internet: Radio cybercast available at
www.wakeforestsports.com
Tickets: Call 1-888-758-DEAC
Series: First meeting
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
THE BLAZERS IN '98
1998 TEAM STATISTICS
(per game figures)
RUSH PASS TOT PTS Offense 172.7 127.5 300.3 21.5 Defense 130.6 218.0 348.6 28.0
TOP RETURNEES WITH '98 STATS
RUSHING ATT YDS AVG TD Cory Conley 77 343 4.5 1 Lee Jolly 63 188 3.0 2
RECEIVING REC YDS AVG TD
Darrius Malone 24 530 22.1 2 Lucious Foster 22 136 6.2 0
PASSING COM ATT YDS PCT TD INT
Daniel Dixon 69 139 870 .496 0 6 Lee Jolly 38 88 533 .432 6 3
TACKLES UT AT TOT
Kris Neal 47 45 92 Wes Foss 29 33 62
INTERCEPTIONS TOT
Dwight Platt 4 Wes Foss 3
1999 C-USA STANDINGS
C-USA Overall Team W L W L Southern Miss 3 0 4 2 UAB 2 1 3 3 East Carolina 1 1 5 1 Houston 1 1 4 2 Louisville 1 1 4 3 Tulane 1 1 3 3 Memphis 1 1 2 5 Army 1 3 2 4 Cincinnati 0 2 2 4
TEAM STATISTICAL COMPARISON
WFU Average UAB 17.5 First Downs 21.2 174.7 Rushing Offense 131.3 127.0 Passing Offense 125.3 301.7 Total Offense 256.718.8 Scoring 25.3 138.5 Rushing Defense 174.7 203.3 Passing Defense 177.2 341.8 Total Defense 351.8 19.5 Scoring Defense 21.8
34.1 Net Punting 35.6 9.4 Punt Return Avg. 21.6 20.5 K-off Return Avg. 20.9 +0.67 Turnover Margin +1.33 32:05 Tm of Possession 27:18 .418 3rd Down Conv. .275 .800 4th Down Conv. .200 51.8 Penalty Yards 64.5 2.2 Sacks Per Game 1.7
STATISTICAL LEADERS
Wake Forest Rushing Morgan Kane 116.5 ypg Receptions Jammie Deese 3.2 rpg Receiving Yards Jammie Deese 50.2 ypg Pass Efficiency Ben Sankey 126.6 pts Total Offense Ben Sankey 142.7 ypg Scoring Morgan Kane 7.0 ppg All-Purpose Morgan Kane 125.7 ypg Punt Returns Reggie Austin 8.7 ypr Kickoff Returns John Stone 25.7 ypr Interceptions DaLawn Parrish 0.3 ipg Tackles DaLawn Parrish 6.2 tpg Sacks Bryan Ray 1.3 spg
UAB
Rushing Carl Fair 67.5 ypg Receptions Darrius Malone 2.8 cpg Receiving Yards Darrius Malone 48.2 ypg Pass Efficiency Daniel Dixon 104.24 pts Total Offense Daniel Dixon 113.3 ypg Scoring Carl Fair 4.0 ppg All-Purpose Carl Fair 77.8 ypg Punt Returns Rodregis Brooks 18.3 ypr Kickoff Returns Maurice Gallery 21.0 ypr Interceptions Rodregis Brooks 1.0 ipg Tackles Kris Neal 8.7 tpg Sacks Bryan Thomas 0.7 spg
SAGARIN RATINGS
Wake Forest Ranking: #43 Schedule Strength: #21 UAB Ranking: #38 Schedule Strength: #15
(through games of October 16)
WAKE IN THE ACC RANKINGS
INDIVIDUAL ACC
Rushing M. Kane 116.5 ypg 3rd
B. Sankey 21.3 ypg 19th
Receptions J. Deese 3.2 rpg 10th
Receiving Yds J. Deese 50.2 ypg 7th
Pass Efficiency B. Sankey 126.6 pts 4th
Total Offense B. Sankey 142.7 ypg 10th
M. Kane 116.5 ypg 12th
Scoring M. Kane 7.0 ppg 8th
M. Burdick 4.8 ppg 15th
All-Purpose M. Kane 125.7 ypg 4th
J. Deese 68.0 ypg 15th
Punt Returns R. Austin 8.7 ypr 5th
Kickoff Returns none
Interceptions D. Parrish 0.3 ipg 8th
Key. Smith 0.2 ipg 19th
Punting M. Brennie 36.5 ypp 6th
Field Goals M. Burdick 0.8 pg 5th
TEAM ACC Total Offense 301.7 ypg 7th Total Defense 341.8 ypg 2nd Rushing Offense 174.7 ypg 4th Rushing Defense 138.5 ypg 3rd Passing Offense 127.0 ypg 9th Pass Eff. Defense 124.7 pts 8th Scoring Offense 18.8 ppg 8th Scoring Defense 19.5 ppg 3rd Kickoff Returns 20.5 ypr 5th Punt Returns 9.4 ypr 6th Net Punting 34.1 ypp 7th 1st Downs 17.5 pg 5th 1st Downs Allowed 17.5 pg 3rd 3rd Down Conv. .418 3rd 3rd Down Conv. .424 9th Penalty Yards 51.8 ypg 1st Sacks 2.2 spg 5th Turnover Margin +0.67 3rd
1999 ACC STANDINGS
ACC Overall Team W L W L Florida State 5 0 7 0 Georgia Tech 3 1 5 1 Clemson 3 1 3 3 Virginia 3 2 4 3 Maryland 1 2 4 2 Duke 1 2 1 5 NC State 1 3 4 3 Wake Forest 1 3 3 3 North Carolina 0 4 1 5
Last Week's Scores:
Florida State 33, Wake Forest 10 Georgia Tech 38, Duke 31 Virginia 47, NC State 26 Clemson 42, Maryland 30 Houston 20, North Carolina 12
This Week's Games:
10/23 NC State at Duke JP 12:00
North Carolina at Maryland ABC 3:30
UAB at Wake Forest 3:30
Florida State at Clemson ESPN 7:00
GAME-BY-GAME STARTING LINEUPS OFFENSE
ARMY UVA NCSU RUT MD FSU WR Deese Lam (TE) Deese Deese Deese Lam (TE) T Hollowell Hollowell Curtis Hollowell Hollowell Hollowell G Settar Settar Settar Moosbrug. Moosbrug. Moosbrug. C Azzolina Azzolina Azzolina Azzolina Azzolina Azzolina G Wolverton Wolverton Wolverton Wolverton Wolverton Wolverton T Collins Collins Collins Collins Collins Collins TE Lik Lik Lik Lik Lik Stafford QB Sankey Sankey Sankey Sankey Sankey Sankey FB Mughelli Mughelli Mughelli Mughelli Mughelli Love-Lane RB Kane Kane Kane Kane Kane Kane WR Davis Deese Chalmers Davis Merritt Deese
DEFENSE
ARMY UVA NCSU RUT MD FSU DE Ray Ray Ray Ray Ray Ray DT Robbins Robbins Robbins Robbins Robbins Robbins DT Shacklefd Shacklefd Shacklefd Shacklefd Shacklefd Shacklefd DE Jones Jones Jones Jones Jones Smith, B. LB Hopkins Hopkins Lyman Lyman Lyman Lyman LB Kargbo. Moses Moses Moses Moses Moses LB DeOrio DeOrio DeOrio DeOrio DeOrio DeOrio CB Austin Austin Austin Austin Austin Austin FS Parrish Parrish Parrish Parrish Parrish Parrish SS Moore Moore Moore Moore Moore Moore CB Smith,Ky Smith,Ky Smith,Ky Smith,Ky Smith,Ky Smith,Ky
MEDIA INFORMATION
Wake Forest Media Relations Office
Interim Director (football): Jen Hoover
Assistant Director: Chris Capo
Assistant Director: Clara Andrews
Intern: Joey Mullins
Administrative Assistant: Linda Rieck
Media Relations Phone: 336-758-5640
Media Relations Fax: 336-758-5140
Hoover's Home Phone: 336-774-0737
Hoover's E-mail: hooverjj@wfu.edu
Website: www.wakeforestsports.com
Weekly Press Conferences
Coach Jim Caldwell meets with print and radio media in the Rovere Room at
the rear of the football office complex on campus from 12:30-1:00 p.m. on
Tuesdays. Interviews with selected Demon Deacon players follow from
1:00-1:30 p.m. Television interviews with coach and players are held on
the practice field prior to Tuesday's 4:00 p.m. practice. Please inform
the Media Relations Office of any specific player requests by Monday
morning.
ACC Coaches Teleconference
Wake Forest head coach Jim Caldwell is available each Wednesday from
12:20-12:30 p.m. throughout the season (Sept. 1-Nov. 17) via the ACC
Coaches Teleconference. Contact the ACC Office (336-851-6062) or Wake
Forest Media Relations to receive the telephone number needed to access the
teleconference, which is available to the media only.
Other Interviews
Media needing to reaching Coach Caldwell at other times should contact the
Media Relations Office. All player interviews should be arranged through
the Media Relations Office at least 24 hours in advance. No player
interviews will be conducted, either in person or by phone, after 3:00 p.m.
on Thursday.
ACC Satellite Video Highlights
The ACC offers a weekly satellite feed that features the league's head
coaches, players and game highlights. The feed takes place every Wednesday
during the season from 2:30-3:30 p.m. EST. Satellite Information: Galaxy
6, Transponder 7 (C-Band), Downlink Frequency 3840 Mhz, Audio 6.2/6.8 Mhz.
ACC Faxback
ACC Faxback provides statistics and notes on every conference team 24 hours
a day. This service is available to media members only. Media can access
ACC Faxback by calling 336-854-5859 from the handset of a fax machine, then
following the voice prompt instructions to access the desired documents.
Wake Forest Football Faxback Codes
Monday Release (includes stats): 91050
Game Notes (updated Thursday): 91051
Statistics only: 91052
Most Recent Game Stats: 91053
Roster & Schedule: 91054
