100% Cotten
11/2/1999 12:00:00 AM | Football
Nov. 2, 1999
by Stan Cotten
More 100% Cotten
Making the Grade
This week began with a celebration at Wake Forest -- academically speaking, that is. Sunday night was a night to shine for approximately one third of Wake Forest's athletes who distinguished themselves by achieving dean's list status during the 1998-99 academic year. Of the 116 student-athletes who made the grade, a third of them had grade point averages of at least 3.0 or higher.
"Those figures are truly remarkable," said a proud athletic director, Ron Wellman.
"Every single one of our head coaches has as a top priority graduating student athletes," he added. "Our athletes, tutors, academic services staff, coaches and faculty should feel very proud tonight."
Four-year field hockey starter Amy Marchell and football placekicker Matthew Burdick were the top award winners. Each was honored as Scholar Athletes of the Year.
Marchell (Hopewell Junction, NY) is a four-time member of the ACC Academic Honor Roll and has been named to the Wake Forest dean's list eight times. She has a 3.75 grade point average in the Master Teacher Fellows program and already owns her undergraduate degree.
Marchell has been a key member of Coach Jennifer Averill's Deacons who have ascended into the nation's Top 10. Last fall Marchell was named All-ACC and selected to the ACC All-Tournament team. She earned South Regional All-America honors in each of the last two seasons.
Burdick was named male Scholar Athlete of the Year for the second consecutive year. He's the first ever at Wake Forest to be so honored. Like Marchell, Burdick (Winston-Salem) has already obtained his undergraduate degree. He currently has a 4.0 GPA in the Master Teacher Fellows program. Burdick has earned dean's list honors six times and was selected to the Wake Forest Honor Roll in each of the past three years.
Saturday Burdick kicked his way into the Deacon football record books. His 23-yard field goal as time expired in the third quarter gave the Deacs a one point lead over Clemson. It was his 38th career field goal, making him the Deacs all-time leader with at least three games to go. Wilson Hoyle has 37.
Former Deacon gridiron star and Greensboro attorney Steve Bowden (Class of '72) was the evening's keynote speaker. He entertained the audience at Wake's Bridger Fieldhouse Complex with stories of his recruitment out of Liberty High School and days as a Deacon. He scored the winning touchdown as a running back against N.C. State in 1969, his sophomore season and first on the Wake varsity. In 1970, Bowden, a converted defensive back, helped lead the Deacs to the ACC Championship. As a senior in 1971, he led the Deacs with five interceptions while earning All-ACC recognition.
Bowden implored the honorees to "continue striving for academic and athletic excellence."
"And never discount the friendships you develop at Wake Forest," he added. "They will be with you forever."
Bring on a Playoff
Checked the polls lately? With only a few weeks left in the regular season, there are no less than six undefeated teams, and, unless I've missed something, all could win out and have an unblemished record when time to go bowling.
Florida State, Penn State, Virginia Tech, Kansas State, Mississippi State and Marshall are all unbeaten. The Seminoles, Nittany Lions and Hokies are all getting first place votes in both the AP and Coaches polls. If these half dozen teams finish undefeated, and they have a great chance of doing so (Florida State scares me against Florida), the BCS might as well stand for "Bowls Can 't Satisfy." Four teams will have arguments, some stronger than others, that they didn't get a fair shot at playing for a national title.
That wouldn't be the case with a playoff. Everybody gets a shot.
Marshall would have the weakest argument in BCS circles primarily becasue of strength of schedule, or in the Thundering Herd's case, lack of it. But an undefeated team with a quarterback (Chad Pennington) worth mentioning when Heisman talk comes up should have a chance. They'd get it with a playoff. Put up or shut up.
The excitement and revenue generated would be unparalleled. You can't put a pricetag on excitement, but I've heard as much as $3-billion for revenue. Yes, billion. I don't know how they get to that figure, but anywhere in the ballpark is mind boggling.
That would almost make the Final Four just another basketball tournament.
