Wake Forest Athletics
Deacs Using Open Date To Prepare For Virginia
9/22/2000 12:00:00 AM | Football
Sept. 22, 2000
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Game #4 -- Saturday, September 30
6:38 p.m. -- Groves Stadium (31,500)
WAKE FOREST (0-3 0-2)
vs.
VIRGINIA (2-1 1-0)
KICKOFF: 6:38 p.m.
SITE: Groves Stadium (31,500), Winston-Salem, N.C.
TELEVISION: None
RADIO: The Demon Deacon Radio Network, heard on 15 stations in North
Carolina and Virginia. Stan Cotten, the voice of the Deacons, calls the
play-by-play. Former Deacs Ed Bradley and Mike Pratapas are the color
analysts. Produced and distributed by ISP.
ON THE WEB: The radio broadcast can be heard live over the internet via
WFU's home page - www.wakeforestsports.com.
THE SERIES: Virginia leads 30-11-0. More series information is on page four.
THE RECORDS: Wake Forest is 0-3 overall and 0-2 in the ACC after a 55-7
loss at No. 16 Clemson last Saturday. Virginia is 2-1 and 1-0 after a
26-10 win at Duke last Saturday and the Cavaliers host Clemson this week.
THE RANKINGS: Neither team is ranked.
THE COACHES: Wake Forest coach Jim Caldwell (Iowa '77) is in his eighth
season at WFU with a career record of 24-57. Caldwell is two wins shy of
tying Al Groh for the third-most career wins in school history.
Virginia's George Welsh (Navy '56) is 82-49-3 in 19 seasons in
Charlottesville, 185-127-4 in 28 seasons overall.
TICKETS: Tickets are available by calling 1-888-758-DEAC.
OFFICIALS: Announced on game day.
GAME NOTE: With an open date, followed by two straight home games, Wake
Forest doesn't play on the road again until Oct. 14 (at Georgia Tech)...
The Deacons have seven players on the roster from the commonwealth of
Virginia.
Wake Forest Has Open Date On Saturday, Followed By Sept. 30 Game Vs. Virginia
The first of two open dates this season for Wake Forest comes at a good time for the Deacons.
Wake Forest, 0-3 overall and 0-2 in the ACC, needs an open date to allow a host of injuries to heal and to regroup following a 55-7 loss at No. 16 Clemson last Saturday.
The Deacons struggled against the Tigers, failing to record a first down in the first half and allowing 623 yards by Clemson for the game. In addition, Wake suffered a number of injuries. Sophomore quarterback C.J. Leak (dislocated knee), offensive guard Tim Bennett (shoulder) and fullback Ovie Mughelli (shoulder) were knocked out of the game (more on WFU injuries later in release).
Wake, 0-3 for the first time since 1995, returns to action Sept. 30 in Groves Stadium against Virginia.
Difficult Schedule Continues Sept. 30 When Wake Forest Hosts Virginia
Following a game against 16th-ranked Clemson, the schedule doesn't let up for Wake Forest Sept. 30 when it entertains 2-1 Virginia.
The Cavaliers, who host Clemson this week, have won consecutive games over Richmond and Duke after losing the season opener to Brigham Young.
Virginia won on the road at Duke last Saturday, 26-10.
Virginia leads the all-time series, 30-11-0. The Cavs have won the last 16 meetings. Wake Forest's last victory in the series came in Groves Stadium in 1983. More series information can be found on page four.
A Quick Look At The Deacons
Perhaps the most consistent area for the Deacs has been on special teams.
Junior John Stone ranks seventh nationally in kickoff returns, averaging 30.5 yards per effort. Sophomore punter Matt Brennie ranks 22nd nationally in punting (43.3 yards per punt).
On defense, the points and yardage surrendered is somewhat misleading.
Other than allowing an occasional big play, the defensive unit has done an admirable job. Because of injuries, two freshmen made their first career starts last week against Clemson. Junior linebacker Marquis Hopkins had a career-best 11 tackles against Clemson and senior defensive end Bryan Ray continues to be one of the premier ends in the ACC.
Offensively, the Deacs have been hurt by recent injuries on the offensive line. Junior tackle Michael Collins, an All-ACC-type player, is out 2-3 weeks with a knee injury. Sophomore guard Tim Bennett missed most of the second half of the Clemson game with an injured shoulder and is doubtful for next week. And Blake Henry, a transfer from Northwestern, has not played a down this year because of a knee injury.
At the skill positions, no team in the nation is younger than Wake Forest. The Deacs' likely starters against Virginia Sept. 30 will include a true freshman quarterback, two sophomore running backs, a sophomore tight end and a sophomore wide receiver.
A Quick Look At The Cavaliers
Virginia, which has won conseuctive games after a season-opening 38-35 loss to Brigham Young, hosts 11th-ranked Clemson on Saturday.
The Cavaliers are led on offesne by junior tailback Antwoine Womack, who rushed for 160 yards against Brigham Young, his first game since 1998. Womack has rushed for 1,169 career yards.
On defense, All-America candidate linebacker Byron Thweatt looks like he's put last season's injury plagued campaign behind him. He ranks 11th in school history with 304 career tackles.
Since surrendering 38 points in the opener, the Cavs have allowed a combined total of just 16 points in victories over Richmond and Duke.
C.J. Leak Out For Remainder Of Season
Sophomore quarterback C.J. Leak, who suffered ligament damage to his left knee in last Saturday's loss at Clemson, will miss the remainder of the season, head coach Jim Caldwell confirmed Sept. 18.
Deacon officials will seek - and expect to receive - a medical hardship for Leak.
"First and foremost, I am disappointed for C.J.," Caldwell said. "He is an outstanding young man, a special person. He has a great love and passion for the game. When I went on to the field to check on him at Clemson, the first thing he asked me was, `Did I complete the pass?'
"I know that he is extremely disappointed with the prospect of not completing the season. However, we fully expect him back next season." Leak, a graduate of Charlotte's Independence High School, has completed 30 passes for 341 yards and two interceptions through the first three games of the season. He earned his first career rushing touchdown Sept. 9 against North Carolina.
Leak Will Have Surgery On Tuesday
Leak will have surgery on Tuesday at Duke University Medical Center. Dr. Larry Higgins of Duke and Dr. David Martin of the Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center will perform the surgery.
Leak will rehabilitate his knee this fall from his home in Charlotte. In January, he will return to campus and resume a full class schedule.
Anthony Young, James MacPherson Likely To Share Quarterback Duties
One thing is certain about C.J. Leak's replacement at quarerback - he will be young, or, he will be Young.
The top two candidates are true freshman Anthony Young, who discarded his redshirt and replaced Leak in the fourth quarter of last Saturday's game at Clemson, and sophomore James MacPherson, who still hasn't been medically cleared to practice.
Young, who came off the bench in the fourth quarter and promptly tossed his first career touchdown pass, led the Deacons in rushing with 42 net yards against the 16th-ranked Tigers.
MacPherson did not take a snap last season as a redshirt freshman, but he did see action late in the year at punter. A knee injury during spring drills has kept him out of action, but he hopes to receive medical clearance later this week or early next week.
The most likely scenario, according to coach Jim Caldwell, is that both Young and MacPherson will see action - if MacPherson is cleared to play. Wake's emergency quarterbacks would be true freshman Jeff Whitaker and redshirt freshman Ricky Perez, who has seen limited duty at cornerback.
More On Anthony Young
A few things you might not know about true freshman quarterback Anthony Young:
- At age 18, he could be one of the youngest starting quarterbacks in the nation, should he start against Virginia Sept. 30.
- Should he get the starting nod, Young will become the first true freshman to start at quarterback for Wake Forest since 1978 when David Weber started the last seven games of the season. Weber passed for 1,070 yards in those seven games.
- An exceptional athlete, Young came to Wake Forest primarily as a wide receiver. However, with James MacPherson out for part of the season and with little depth behind then-starter C.J. Leak, Young began fall drills at quarterback.
- Young's father, Al, was a standout wide receiver for the Pittsburgh Steelers.
- Young has worked the last two years in the Augusta National clubhouse during the Masters golf tournament, where he has met many of the top pros including Tiger Woods and Fred Couples.
- During practice earlier this fall, Young boasted to punt team coach Ray Rychleski that he could punt. Rychleski gave him the ball and Young promptly booted punts of 40 to 50 yards. "How did you learn to punt?" Young explained that he learned from former NFL great Ray Guy, who is a friend of Al Young.
Three Freshmen Make First Career Starts Against Clemson
Three freshmen, including two true freshmen, made their first career starts last Saturday against Clemson.
Quintin Williams, a true freshman, started at cornerback in place of injured Chris Justice. Mark Moroz, a true freshman from Canada, also made his first career start. Moroz received that opprtunity when the Deacs began the Clemson game in a two-tight end set.
Redshirt freshman Obi Chukwumah made his first career start at safety for injured Tehran Carpenter.
Young Becomes Seventh True Freshman To See Action In 2000
When Anthony Young tossed his redshirt aside last Saturday, he became the seventh Wake Forest true freshman to see action this season. He joins Fred Staton (RB), Mark Moroz (TE), Tyson Clabo (OT), Marcus Nesbitt (LB), Quintin Williams (CB) and Kellen Brantley (LB).
Head Coach Jim Caldwell
Wake Forest head coach Jim Caldwell (Iowa '77) enters his eighth season with the Demon Deacons.
Caldwell, who took over the head coaching position at Wake Forest in 1993, has compiled a career record of 24-56.
The former assistant coach under Joe Paterno at Penn State has compiled some notable achievements during his tenure:
- Last fall, Wake Forest recorded a winning season (7-5) and earned a postseason bowl bid for the first time since 1992.
- In 1999, the Deacons defeated two nationally-ranked teams for the first time since 1979, topping No. 25 NC State and No. 14 Georgia Tech.
- Wake Forest has won back-to-back nationally-televised games on ESPN's Thursday night telecasts, defeating NC State in 1997 and Navy in 1998.
- Caldwell teams have won twice in Clemson's famed "Death Valley." Prior to Caldwell's arrival, Wake had won just once in that stadium since 1950.
- In both 1996 and 1997, Wake Forest stepped out of the ACC and recorded wins over nationally-ranked Northwestern, including a win over the defending Big Ten champions in 1996.
- Wake Forest was ranked among the top 35 teams in the nation in every defensive category in 1999.
- In 1995, WFU quarterback Rusty LaRue established seven NCAA passing records.
- In 1998, senior Desmond Clark became the all-time leading pass receiver in ACC history.
More From The Clemson Game
- The crowd of 73,000 last Saturday at Clemson was the eighth-largest crowd to ever see a Wake Forest game. In addition, it marked the second-largest crowd to ever see a Wake Forest-Clemson match-up with the largest coming in Tokyo on Nov. 27, 1982 (80,000).
- Senior running back Chris McCoy made his season debut. McCoy sat out the first two games because of a team suspsension. He caught one pass out of the backfield against the Tigers.
- Junior wide receiver Ira Williams, WFU's most consistent receiver this season, caught his first touchdown pass of the season last Saturday against Clemson when he caught a six-yard pass from Anthony Young in the fourth quarter.
Bryan Ray Moves Up Wake's Record Book
Senior All-American candidate Bryan Ray enjoyed perhaps his best night as a Deacon Sept. 9 against North Carolina. And he moved up the ladder in WFU's record books in the process.
Ray had three tackles-for-loss, including a sack, last Saturday against the Tar Heels. Ray also recorded his first career touchdown when he forced a fumble and then recovered it in the end zone.
Ray now ranks fourth in Wake Forest history with 14 career sacks. He is one sack shy of tying 1999 second round NFL draft pick Fred Robbins and James Parker for second place on that list. Ray also ranks seventh on Wake's career tackles-for-loss list with 29. He is one tackle-for-loss shy of tying Dred Booe for sixth place on that list.
Last Saturday against Clemson, Ray registered 10 tackles, but none for loss. More on Ray can be found later in this release.
WFU One Of Nation's Youngest Teams
Notes on Wake Forest's youthful 98-man roster:
- Including kicking specialists, Wake Forest returns just five starters off of last year's 7-5 team that won the Jeep Aloha Bowl. According to Sports Illustrated, that's the fewest returning starters in Division I-A. Air Force, with seven returnees, ranks second.
- Eleven Deacons made their first ever start in the season opener against Appalachian State, including six on offense: Ray Thomas (TE), Chris Blank (LT), Tim Bennett (RG), Ira Williams (WR), C.J. Leak (QB), Montique Sharpe (DT), Michael Clinkscale (SS), Chris Justice (CB), Nick Bender (LB) and Calvin Pace (DE).
- Just three seniors were in the starting lineup in the season opener - Chris Blank (LT), Bryan Ray (DE) and Nick Bender (LB). A fourth senior, defensive tackle Da'Vaughn Mellerson, started against North Carolina. That was Mellerson's first career start.
- Two true freshmen started against Clemson Sept. 16.
- There are just 11 seniors on the roster.
At Skills Positions, No Team Is Younger Than The Deacons
With sophomores starting at quarterback, running back, fullback, tight end and wide receiver last week, Wake Forest has the youngest group of skills position players in the nation. That group could get even younger if freshman Anthony Young starts at QB next Saturday.
