100% Cotten
9/7/1999 12:00:00 AM | Football
Sept. 7, 1999
by Stan Cotten
More 100% Cotten
As the 1999 Wake Forest football season unfolds in a few days at historic West Point against the Army Cadets, some things, a lot of things actually, just don't feel the same as I begin my fourth season in the Deacon radio booth. I guess it's because things are changing. And, sometimes, change is good.
One of the biggest assets that Jim Caldwell's seventh Demon Deacon squad has that his previous squads have not is experience. Consider this Wake team boasts of 49 letterman, including 27 seniors...most of the them the fifth year variety. And don't forget to toss in 6-year man Kelvin Moses. Even if a guy (not Moses) can't find the dorm after six years on campus, he can still add an intangible ingredient to a football team. Suffice it to say Moses can get around campus just fine. I'm just hoping he can find the field during his sixth year, because a healthy Kelvin Moses could make a huge difference to the Deacon defense. More on Moses and co-wounded co-partner Dustin Lyman later. Where was I? Oh yes. The Deacs finally have players, a bunch of them, who have been under fire and know what to expect. Surely that will count for something.
As I made my way to Wake Forest's campus several days back to watch the Deacs go through their first practice of fall camp as a full squad, freshmen included, I realized that, for the first time since I had arrived in 1996, Brian Kuklick would not be there. I always pay attention to the quarterbacks. I played a little quarterback a hundred years ago, and any guy who has ever played this position thinks he can spot a good one. Even thinks he can still play.
Anyway, Wake will have a new leader this go around. He figures to be Ben Sankey, a great athlete in his own right who set Chicagoland on its ear as a prepster with his abilities in football, basketball and baseball. He's just had to patiently wait his turn as a Deacon playing behind one of Wake Forest's and the ACC's all-time passing leaders...the aforementioned Kuklick. As I got out of my car at practice that day, I saw what I could have sworn was a gazelle wearing a red jersey, rolling right and zinging the ball with ease on a rope to a receiver who stabbed the ball out of midair just before stepping out of bounds. It was beautiful. It was Ben Sankey. Then it was C.J. Leak. Same play. Same result. I could have watched all day. I pretty much did.
It became quite clear that Wake's passing game this season is going to look a little different. Don't get me wrong. I was/am a Kuklick fan (we quarterbacks stick together). But Brian was not much of a threat to put pressure on defenses outside of the pocket. That's where Wake will be different. Sankey, Leak, and let's throw in James McPherson, too, all have that ability. They can also all run the option effectively. Show me a quarterback who can run (isn't John Elway the Broncos' 4th all-time leading rusher?), and I'll show you a team that, more times than not, will have a chance. Do the names Joe Hamilton, Jamie Barnette and Ronald Curry ring a bell? Whichever Wake qb is in the game will have the ability, and freedom, to run. Surely that will count for something.
Now close your eyes. Picture Jim Caldwell pacing the Wake Forest sidelines, shirt, tie...and headset? Yes, headset. Think about it. During the last six seasons, Caldwell hasn't donned the phones much. He really doesn't like them. He feels too restricted when he's underneath them and can't sense the true pulse of his team during the game. But Caldwell has had an offensive coordinator the last six seasons, too. This season, he's the coordinator. He's calling the plays on Saturday afternoons. And, to do that effectively, he'll need a lot information and help from his assistants, namely running game coordinator George Belu and passing coordinator Jamie Barresi. That'll mean Caldwell will look a little different than in years past. The shirt and tie aren't going anywhere, but a headset will no doubt sit atop his head more times than not. So what, you say?
I think it's significant. For Caldwell to make the changes in his staff, mainly the dismissal of Hank Small as offensive coordinator and to assume that role himself, the coach of the Deacs is saying, in a way, that there's some urgency in the air this season. Not that his job is on the line, but that it's time for Wake Forest to win some football games. That's all. It's time. And as head coach, he's going to be as hands on as possible to make it happen. Surely that will count for something.
Another change a comin' will be in Wake's total style of offensive attack. The Deacs have been pass happy for years now. But they've also fallen prey, somewhat, to predictability. There has been a big-time emphasis on the run this fall camp. That word, urgency, keeps popping into my mind. The Deacs simply have to be able to run the ball, and they know it. They'll go with more two-back sets with Kito Gary at tailback and Morgan "abs" Kane at fullback. The whole offensive line (minus one) is back, anchored by tackle Michael Collins who looks like he wants to play on Sunday. These guys have had it beaten into them, literally, that they've got to move the ball on the ground with some consistency. Surely all that work will count for something.
Defensively, the Deacs look solid and have most everybody back. The change there was to have been that Kelvin Moses (he of six year fame) and Dustin Lyman were to have both been back after knee injuries put them on the 1998 shelf to give Wake one of the more talented linebacker duos in the ACC. Lyman will miss at least the Army game because of a re-injury and arthroscopic surgery to his repaired knee, and Moses just isn't ready yet. Perhaps by October they'll both be back in the saddle. Because of their injuries a year ago, several younger Deac linebackers got invaluable playing time. They're all back. And when Lyman and Moses are healthy, the Deacs will have quite a stable to pick from.
The defensive line gets back from injury talented veterans Kelvin Shackleford and Da'Vaughn Mellerson to go along with all four starters. Surely, depth and experience on defense will count for something.
Before I close and go completely overboard on this change thing, let me mention a few things that will remain the same...to the Deacs' benefit.
First: senior receiver Jamie Deese. What a weapon this kid has turned into. He had 68 catches a year ago. He needs 65 this season to pass former teammate Desmond Clark and become the ACC's all-time leading receiver. He's been described by some teammates as the best player on the team, period.
Second: senior placekicker Matthew Burdick. He'll leave the Deacon program as one of the top kickers ever in a Wake uniform. He's a nice guy, too. You wouldn't think he's a kicker when you first meet him. Not that kickers aren't nice. You know what I'm talking about.
Third: expectations. Not many folk are giving the Deacs much of a chance to do anything special if what you read and hear are indicators. Sometimes it's easier being the hunter. Less pressure.
Now I know by talking to and hearing from a lot of you Wake fans that you've been analyzing the schedule and going through that drill of deciding which teams the Deacs can beat, which teams they can't and which teams they can play with. You've considered some of the things I've mentioned and other things I haven't. You're doing all of this and adding the wins up. The season's about to start. Who can blame you? You're fans. See? You're counting. Counting on something.
