Wake Forest Must Recoup Quickly
6/21/1999 12:00:00 AM | Football
Sept. 7, 1998
After sustaining a 42-0 loss at Air Force in its 1998 debut this past Saturday, the Wake Forest football team has a long way to go and a short time to get there this week. The Demon Deacons must regroup from that opening disappointment in only five days as they entertain Navy this Thursday in Groves Stadium.
Kickoff time is 8 p.m. in the nationally televised (ESPN) matchup. It will be the '98 season opener for the Midshipmen.
Team Data
WAKE FOREST (0-1) NAVY (7-4 in 1997)
Offense: Multiple Offense: Spread
Lettermen/Starters Back: 16/8 Lettermen/Starters Back: 11/4
Defense: Multiple Defense: 4-2-5
Lettermen/Starters Back: 20/8 Lettermen/Starters Back: 11/1
Total Lettermen Back: 38 Total Lettermen Back: 26
Head Coach: Jim Caldwell (6th year) Head Coach: Charlie Weatherbie (4th year)
W-14, L-42 W-21, L-13
same record overall 36-32 overall (7th year)
1-1 vs Navy 1-1 vs Wake Forest
THE SERIES WITH NAVY - Wake Forest and Navy have split four previous meetings and none of them have been close. Three of those encounters have occurred here in the 1990s with the Demon Deacons winning twice in Annapolis in 1991 (52-24) and 1995 (30-7), and the Middies coming away with a victory in their first-ever visit to Groves Stadium two years ago (47-18). Navy also owns a 61-0 win over Wake in 1929.
SECOND OF THREE STRAIGHT ON THE TUBE - Wake Forest's first three games in 1998 are slated for national network television coverage. The opener at Air Force was shown on ESPN2, this week's date with Navy is on ESPN, and the Deacs' game at Clemson on September 26th will be aired to an ABC regional audience.
DEACON CAPTAINS - The Demon Deacons have selected four co-captains for the '98 season. They are wide receiver DESMOND CLARK, quarterback BRIAN KUKLICK, linebacker KELVIN MOSES and safety JEFFREY MUYRES.
FOLLOW THE DEACS ON NEW RADIO FLAGSHIP STATION
All Wake Forest games during the 1998 season will be broadcast locally by the Triad's newest and most powerful radio station, WXII News Radio (830 AM). This new outlet offers the Deacs a 50,000 watt clear channel signal that when combined with co-flagship station WBRF-FM (98.1), a 100,000 watt FM station headquartered in Galax, VA, provides the most expansive coverage of Wake Forest Football ever.
NAVY SCOUTING REPORT - After not having a winning record since 1982, Navy has put together back-to-back winning marks the past two years under coach Charlie Weatherbie. The Middies were 9-3 with an Aloha Bowl victory over California in 1996, then finished 7-4 last fall. Only five starters return for Navy from '97, four on offense and just one (tackle Jason Snider) on defense. Steve Holley, who saw brief action in six games a year ago, is expected to start at quarterback of the Middies option attack. Navy ranked 3rd in the country in rushing last season (306.4 ypg). Defensively, the Midshipmen were also of national caliber, rating 6th in NCAA I-A stats in total defense (277.6 ypg).
THE DEACS LAST WEEK - Wake Forest made its farthest trip ever in the continental United States to Colorado Springs to open its 1998 campaign and the results were not pleasant. In fact, very few positives came out of the 42-0 defeat to Air Force in the first meeting ever between the two schools. The final statistics for the contest were remarkably almost even (see later note), but turnovers by the Deacons (5), a blocked punt that resulted in a Falcon touchdown, and poor field position offensively for most of the day combined to lead to the lopsided score. Air Force scored Tds on three of its first five possessions and Wake never could escape that hole. The shutout was the first for Wake Forest against a non-ACC opponent since a 1987 loss (30-0) to South Carolina, and its first blanking in a season opening game since 1961 (31-0 at Baylor).
COMMENTS from COACH JIM CALDWELL
(On the Air Force game) "There was a great deal of excitement and anticipation surrounding the start of our season but I felt that our team prepared well during the preseason and was ready emotionally to play. However, we obviously weren't entirely ready mentally or physically because we made far too many mistakes throughout the game. We were ineffective offensively, inconsistent defensively, and our special teams were a liability. Field position was a problem for us most of the afternoon and turnovers cost us the opportunity to score points as well."
(On Navy) "In Navy, we are facing an opponent much like the one that we just played. They compete extremely hard for 60 minutes and execute their system offensively and defensively with precision. They also have the benefit of having seen us play against an offense that is very similar to what they run. We definitely have a lot of work to do this week in a very short time."
NOTING THE DEMON DEACONS
PRESEASON PROJECTIONS - After compiling a 5-6 record in 1997, and leading at halftime of four games that ended up on the loss side of the ledger, Wake Forest entered the 1998 campaign with as much optimism as the program has enjoyed in Coach Jim Caldwell's six years at the school. With 18 starters returning from last year's club, that optimism would appear to be well-founded.
The Demon Deacons were picked 6th in the preseason poll conducted by ACC media at the conference's annual "ACC Kickoff" session in late-July but hopeful of continuing to improve on that standing as well as their overall record, just as they have in each of the past two years. Deacon Records since 1988
(overall / in ACC)
1989 2-8-1 / 1-6 1992 8-4 / 4-4 1995 1-10 / 0-8
1990 3-8 / 0-7 1993 2-9 / 1-7 1996 3-8 / 1-7
1991 3-8 / 1-6 1994 3-8 / 1-7 1997 5-6 / 3-5
DEACS OPEN 31ST GROVES SEASON - Wake Forest makes its 1998 home debut this Thursday, hoping to begin what would be a second consecutive winning season in Groves Stadium. The Demon Deacons were 3-2 on their home turf in 1997. Groves Stadium was opened on September 14, 1968 with a 10-6 Wake Forest loss to NC State.
2ND GROVES VISIT FOR ESPN - The national television cameras of ESPN are back in Groves Stadium for the second straight year. Last September 25th, the network televised a 19-18 Wake Forest win over NC State from the Demon Deacon home facility. MATTHEW BURDICK's 37-yard field goal with 0:43 remaining was the winning play in that exciting contest.
WAKE VERSUS THE MILITARY - Wake Forest opened its 1998 schedule at Air Force last Saturday and has been a frequent opponent of the nation's other two well-known service academies in recent seasons. From 1986 through 1994, Wake met Army six times and compiled a 5-1 record. The Deacons are 2-1 against Navy since 1991, giving them an overall 7-3 mark versus the military in the past 12 years.
PREVIOUSLY VERSUS NAVY - Two years ago, Navy rolled past the Demon Deacons in Groves Stadium, 47-18. The Middies piled up 463 yards on the ground that afternoon, including 181 by quarterback Chris McCoy. That team rushing total is the most against a Wake Forest team in the past 17 years.
The Deacs compiled 422 yards in total offense themselves led by a 298-yard passing performance (22-of-34) by quarterback BRIAN KUKLICK. JAMMIE DEESE nearly reached the 100-yard mark in receiving with 90 yards on four catches. Running back MORGAN KANE ran for 72 yards, including a six-yard TD.
STATISTICS ARE FOR ..... - The final score said enough, 42-0. But when you look at the final stats from last week's disappointing season opener for Wake Forest, there was not really that much difference.
Both teams totaled 15 first downs and the time of possession for the game was all even at 30:00 for each. The Demon Deacons actually ran six more plays (67) than did the Falcons (61).
Air Force compiled 354 yards in total offense, not that much more than Wake's 306 figure. In fact, the Deacon defense allowed just 101 yards of total offense in the second half.
SO WHAT HAPPENED? - Wake Forest ran only six offensive plays in the first quarter and netted a mere seven yards. The Deacons started those two possessions on their one-yard-line and six-yard-line. Air Force totaled 20 offensive plays during the first period and covered 108 yards.
Field position was a problem all day for the Deacs, whose average drive started on their own 21-yard-line.
Wake Forest also gave up two touchdowns on special teams after falling behind 21-0 in the first half, one on a fumbled punt return that was recovered in the WFU endzone and another on a blocked punt that was returned for six points by the Falcons.
AND TURNOVERS, TOO - Wake Forest committed five turnovers (3 lost fumbles, 2 interceptions) at Air Force while coming up with only one takeaway (a Dameon Daniel interception) on the defensive side. Hopefully, the Deacons will put a quick halt to this trend that became a season-long trouble spot in 1997 when Wake committed 31 turnovers (15 lost fumbles, 16 interceptions) while forcing only 16 (7 fumbles, 9 interceptions) by the opposition. That figure ranked 104th out of 112 teams in 1997.
CAREER UPDATES - This past Saturday was not a very productive one for the Demon Deacons' two outstan-ding seniors, quarterback BRIAN KUKLICK and receiver DESMOND CLARK. Kuklick was accurate (21 of 30) with his passing but threw for a total of only 142 yards (6.8 yards per reception). Clark was limited to four receptions for only 15 yards.
Here is an update on both players as they pursue ACC and Wake Forest career records:
ACC Top Twelve Receivers -- All Time
(1) Jermaine Lewis, Md 193 (7) E.G. Green, FSU 166
(2) Clarkston Hines, Duke 189 (8) Harvey Middleton, GaT 165
(3) Ricky Proehl, WF 188 Corey Thomas, Duke 165
(4) Geroy Simon, Md 185 (10) Wes Chesson, Duke 164
(5) Roger Boone, Duke 168 (11) Thabiti Davis, WF 161
(6) Kez McCorvey, FSU 167 DESMOND CLARK 161
Wake Forest Career Receiving Leaders
Receptions Receiving Yardage Touchdown Receptions
(1)Ricky Proehl 188 Ricky Proehl 2,949 Ricky Proehl 25
(2)Thabiti Davis 156 Todd Dixon 2,466 Todd Dixon 24
(3)DESMOND CLARK 155 Wayne Baumgardner 2,431 Red O'Quinn 22
(4) James Brim 2,040 Kenny Duckett 19
(5) Red O'Quinn 1,990 Wayne Baumgardner 13
(6) DESMOND CLARK 1,912 Greg Scales 13
(7) Thabiti Davis 12
James Brim 12
(9) DESMOND CLARK 11
Wake Forest Career Passing Leaders
Passing Yardage Pass Completions Touchdown Passes
(1)Mike Elkins 7,304 Gary Schofield 640 Gary Schofield 44
(2)Gary Schofield 7,205 Mike Elkins 609 Mike Elkins 43
(3)BRIAN KUKLICK 5,476 Rusty LaRue 472 Jay Venuto 38
(4)BRIAN KUKLICK 470 BRIAN KUKLICK 30
Kuklick is 17th on the ACC career passing list. Just a repeat of his 1997 numbers, which included 2,180 yards through the air in only nine games, would advance him to the top of the all-time Wake Forest chart and 5th-place overall in ACC history.
Entering the Navy game, Kuklick is immediately behind Clemson's Nealon Greene (16th in ACC history with 5,633 yds), Florida State's Charlie Ward (15th with 5,679) and Duke's Dave Brown (14th with 5,717).
KUKLICK ON UNITAS AWARD CHECKLIST - Wake Forest's BRIAN KUKLICK is one of 13 quarterbacks named as candidates for the "Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award", which is presented annually to the nation's top senior QB.
ANOTHER THREAT THROUGH THE AIR - Desmond Clark has been a favorite target for Brian Kuklick the past three years--obviously--but there's another Demon Deacon receiver who certainly deserves watching. That's JAMMIE DEESE, who enters 1998 looking to build on a sophomore season in which he ranked 6th in the ACC with 54 catches. He also was 10th in the league in receiving yardage (697 yds).
Deese, whose 84 career catches entering his junior campaign was only one fewer than what Clark had at this time a year ago, enjoyed a productive beginning to 1998 with eight catches for 71 yards at Air Force. Eight more receptions would make him just the 16th player in Wake Forest history to total 100 catches in a career.
KANE HITS 1,000 - Running back MORGAN KANE reached the 1,000-yard mark for his career with a 71-yard rushing effort at Air Force. Kane now has 1,006 career yards as a Demon Deacon.
The junior from Ottawa, Ontario has scored five career touchdowns, including one on a six-yard run against Navy in Groves Stadium two years ago. That play is the second-longest TD run of Kane's career. The longest was an 80-yard sprint against Florida State also in 1996. All three of his 1997 TD carries last year were from one yard.
SURPRISE!! LYMAN LEADING TACKLER - No, not really. DUSTIN LYMAN, who led the 1997 Demon Deacons with 91 tackles, opened the 1998 season with 13 stops (9 unassisted) at Air Force. That performance marked the sixth time that the junior from Boulder, CO, had reached double figures in tackles for a single game. The nine unassisted hits equaled a career high that he had collected at East Carolina and at North Carolina last season.
In addition to being Wake's leading tackler last fall, Lyman also led the '97 Deacs in sacks (7) and pass breakups (8).
DANIEL PICKS HIS SECOND - Another of the bright spots for the Demon Deacon defense at Air Force was the play of cornerback DAMEON DANIEL, who came up with his second career interception to stop a Falcon drive in the second half. The senior from Ellenboro, NC, who played a team-high 58 snaps against Air Force, now has two "picks" in the last three games -- he also had an interception at Rutgers in the next-to-last outing of 1997.
MOORE OFF ON THE RIGHT FOOT - Punter TRIPP MOORE, a 2nd team All-ACC selection in 1997, started his 1998 season in impressive style by averaging 45.5 yards per punt on six boots at Air Force. Moore's effort gave him four straight games in which he has averaged 42 yards per punt or better dating back to last season.
STARTING EXPERIENCE - Seventeen of the 22 players listed as starters on this week's Wake Forest depth chart had starting experience as Demon Deacons prior to the Air Force game. That does not even include linebacker KELVIN MOSES, who because of a knee injury did not add to his team-high total of 33 career starts and had a string of 22 consecutive starts ended. Safety JEFFREY MUYRES has 26 previous starting assignments, most on the team now that Moses is sidelined.
Eight current Deacons have started 20-or-more games during their careers. Sixteen have 10-or-more starts.
Demon Deacon Career Starts (1998 starts)
33 Kelvin Moses 21 Joe Zelenka (1) 11 Dameon Daniel (1)
26 Jeffrey Muyres (1) 18 Brian Wolverton (1) 10 Kelvin Jones
25 Jeff Flowe (1) 17 Dustin Lyman (1) 8 Kelvin Shackleford (1)
Wande Shaw (1) 15 DaLawn Parrish (1) 7 Jon Mannon
23 Desmond Clark (1) 14 Morgan Kane (1) Clinton Wilburn
Brian Kuklick (1) 12 Jammie Deese (1) 5 Reggie Austin (1)
22 Fred Robbins (1) Sam Settar (1) 3 Mark Makovec (1)
Ben Sankey
First-Time Starters at Air Force: Marlon Curtis, Abdul Guice, Willie Lam, Mat Petz, Bryan Ray
Consecutive Starts: Clark, Flowe - 23; Robbins, Wolverton 18; Lyman 15; Deese, Parrish, Settar 12
REDSHIRTING PLAN - Wake Forest head coach JIM CALDWELL has implemented a program that has emphasized the redshirting of young players the past three years. Of 1995's 23 freshman, 22 have been redshirted (all but star wide receiver DESMOND CLARK). Twelve of 16 first-year players two years ago were held out as rookies. No true freshman (of a class of 17) saw action last fall for the Deacons.
Entering the 1998 season, Wake Forest has 61 "redshirts" among its 66 active scholarship players.
Deacon Redshirting Progress
1998 Class Total Members* Not Been Redshirted Have Redshirted
Seniors 11 1 10
Juniors 28 4 24
Sophomores 10 0 10
Redshirt Freshmen 17 0 17
*scholarship players only
BIGGER THAN EVER - When Coach Jim Caldwell took over the Wake Forest football program in 1993, there was not a single player on the roster listed at 300 pounds. As the Demon Deacons prepare for the 1998 season, they have 11 individuals who tip the scales at that weight or higher.
That group includes the entire projected starting offensive line, which averages a svelte 311 pounds per man with center MARLON CURTIS (301 lbs), guards BRIAN WOLVERTON (310) and SAM SETTAR (328), and tackles JEFF FLOWE (310) and WILLIE LAM (305). The second-unit offensive interior could be even bulkier with TODD HOLLOWELL (341) and MICHAEL COLLINS (333) available there.