100% COTTEN: TWO FOR THE AGES
11/19/2005 12:00:00 AM | Football
Nov. 19, 2005
For those who have been around to see just a part of the careers of Ryan Plackemeier and Chris Barclay - too bad. Even though you saw some pretty good stuff, you should have seen the whole thing. It was something to behold. And as time goes by, their careers will get even better. For we will never forget what few mistakes these two ever made. Time, as it is said, heals all wounds.
And in time, Barclay and Plackemeier will take their rightful place in the Wake Forest Sports Hall of Fame. In my mind, they're already there.
We may never see the likes of these two again. And while whether or not either of the two will be successful at the next level is arguable, the numbers they each put up are indisputable.
Let's start with Plackemeier who, I think, still has not gotten enough credit for what he's accomplished. With a 45.26 career average, Plak leaves college football as the game's all-time leading punter with at least 200 career attempts - even better than the man for whom the nation's best punter award is named - Ray Guy, a former #1 draft pick of the Oakland Raiders.
"I think Ryan Plackemeier is better than most punters in the NFL right now," says Dave Te-Thomas of the NFL Scouting Report. "He could go in the first three rounds of the 2006 draft."
Plackemeier definitely saved his best for last - a senior season for the history books. Following the season-ending game with Miami, Plak's season average of 47.2 yards not only shattered his own single season record by almost two yards - it also led the nation, as did his net average of 41.4. His 56.4 yards per punt average on five punts against Georgia Tech a few weeks back broke a 52-year old single game ACC record. His 82-yard blast against N.C. State set a Wake Forest record. Just going to watch Ryan punt in practice was a risk.
"You might want to stay inside and away from the windows," warns Coach Jim Grobe. "He can flat hit it."
"You have to watch out when you're walking out there," adds Barclay. "He can take you out with one kick."
Too bad the Deacs won't have Gus the Mule to kick around anymore. As for Barclay, there isn't much to add that hasn't already been written. He was simply one of the finest college football players I've ever seen. His climb up the various Wake Forest records this season was documented just about week by week. When it was all said and done, Barclay had laid claim to seven all-time marks. He will now be the standard by which all Demon Deacon ball-carriers to come will be judged.
Like Plackemeier, Chris Barclay was not only one of the best ever at Wake Forest but also in the ACC. By the time he had finished going over the 100-yard barrier against Miami and scoring his 40th career touchdown, Barclay had reached the 4,000 yard - 40 touchdown plateau. Only two other ACC backs had done it before him - Georgia Tech's Robert Lavette and N.C. State's Ted Brown. Both of them were voted All-America. As a matter of fact, of the 31 players before Barclay to join the 4,000-40 club, 30 were selected All-America. Only Wisconsin's Anthony Davis, who finished his career for the Badgers last fall, did so without All-America status. Surely it's a given Barclay will again be first team All-ACC. Anything more might be a stretch simply because of the Deacs' lack of wins.
But he sure compares to some of the game's greats, especially a former #28.
"It's amazing how many tackles he breaks at his size," says Florida State head coach Bobby Bowden." He'll get in the pile, and you think you've got him. And then all of a sudden he comes out. That will remind you of [Warrick] Dunn."
N.C. State's Chuck Amato goes one more. "He is Warrick Dunn," says Amato. "He wears the number, and he plays just like him."
We will never forget Barclay or Plackemeier. How could we? I just feel fortunate that I was in the right place at the right time to get to see every single play in their brilliant careers.
Here's to history and Chris' and Ryan's place in it.
