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Inside The Huddle With Stan Chat Wrap

On Wednesday August 10, Stan Cotten - The Voice of the Deacs - hosted the second of a series of online chats leading up to the season opener against Vanderbilt.

Below is a complete transcript of the chat.

Moderator: Thanks for joining us for the second installment of Inside The Huddle With Stan Cotten. The Voice of the Deacs is here and we're ready to get started.

Jimbo(Dobson): Will Plack hold all kicking duties or will the placekicking be handled by someone else?

Stan Cotten: I guess fall camp will determine the ultimate answer. But, Sam Swank appears to have as strong of a leg as advertised and will likely handle the placements. I think with Plack doing it all a year ago, his leg got tired during the course of the season. That's obviously not what you want. So hopefully Swank can continue to develop and take some of the workload off the best punter in the ACC.

Thad Greensburg Kansas: I would like to know if all the games are going to be broadcast on xm radio?

Stan Cotten: Right now, the agreement between XM, the ACC and its member schools is that the broadcast that is uplinked to XM is that of the home team's broadcast crew. So, everytime Wake is at home, you'll get our broadcast on XM radio. Of course, all of our games are available on the internet through WakeForestSports.com.

James Strickland (Winston-Salem): Will Brandon Ghee the freshman cornerback be redshirted?

Stan Cotten: Going in, Coach Grobe would like to redshirt all of the freshman. Unless there is a specific need at a specific position where a true freshman could help, the plan is to redshirt them all. It's still too early to tell if any of the true freshman are going to be needed. Let's hope not.

tate (chatham,va): What do you think of Cory Randolph playing some at reciever? Also could a freshman like Jonathan Jones see some time due to his size?

Stan Cotten: I've always like Cory Randolph's athleticism and football IQ. Anytime you have a player who has those things, you'd like to get them on the field if at all possible. If Benjamin Mauk continues to maintain the #1 spot, whether or not Cory plays another position will be determined by how far along some of the younger quarterbacks are developing. But Cory Randolph will help Wake Forest this season, one way or another. With regard to Jonathan Jones, we'll just have to wait and see.

Tampa, FL: Last year, we had several promising freshmen such as Mauk, Marion, Andrews, Thompson, and Robinson. Unfortunately, 2003's promising freshmen, Morton and Idlette, suffered a sophomore slump. How can our staff work to bring the best our of our talented sophomores?

Stan Cotten: Coaches coach and players play. Players are ultimately judged by what they do on the field. Hopefully, the players you mentioned are all poised for a positive 2005. Our coaches work very hard, as do our players. I know they are all counting on a productive fall.

Pete (Annandale, VA): Stan, what's the one position where you feel like the Deacs simply cannot afford any major injuries this year? Who's the newcomer you expect to have the greatest impact this year?

Stan Cotten: Too often, all of us forget about the kicking game. I think if Ryan Plackemeier were to be hobbled in any way, shape or form, that would be a huge blow. Trying to ask a redshirt freshman like Sam Swank to do all the kicking in this league would probably be asking too much. Plack is indeed a weapon that we can't afford to lose. With regard to a newcomer and his impact... and while we're on the subject of kicking... Sam Swank is probably as good of an answer as anybody else. Right now, he's a starter at placekicker and will be called on in crucial scoring situations. He definitely could be a huge impact player.

Winston-Salem: Stan, The first scrimmage of the season is scheduled for Saturday, August 13, 9AM, at Groves Stadium. Do you know whether Deacon fans will be permitted to attend or will this be a closed practice? Thanks for the great work on the network.

Stan Cotten: Like almost everything Jim Grobe does, it's open to the public and I will see you there. Thanks for your kind remarks.

Philip (Raleigh): What do you think the chances of Ben Mauk developing into an All-ACC caliber quarterback are?

Stan Cotten: Let's all have a practice run here. From now on, it's Benjamin. Mauk certainly has a very strong arm. He loves to compete and is a very confident player. I think to be one of the league's best, you have to possess all of those attributes. To be one of the league's best at quarterback, one typically has to be surrounded by other very good players. So how the entire team develops will certainly be a large factor in how he develops. But I think by the time he is finished, he can be a very, very good player.

Derrick Jackson, High Point: Hello Stan, Will Coach Grobe place Aaron Mason, Brandon Ghee, or Channing Schofield on the depth chart at cornerback for the Vanderbilt game to give us a fifth corner?

Stan Cotten: It is simply too early to tell what any type of meaningful depth chart will look like for the Vanderbilt game. They start hitting tonight and have two-a-days and scrimmages to come. The depth chart that matters will all depend on how players perform over the course of the next three weeks.

Denver: hey stan - great feature. can you let out of town fans know what the electronic means are to listen to the live or archived coach's show and game broadcasts this season will be? any plans to get the shows "podcasted" to iTunes? I see GaTech has a couple podcasts out there! go deacs!

Stan Cotten: Right now, the best way for you to listen would be live over the internet. There is a small charge attached to that, but it does allow you to listen live to both the games, the coaches shows and the archives of past events. Satellite radio for home games is available again on XM. I don't have any information on podcasting at this time.

william (hamptonville): Is wake forest going to a bowl game this year

Stan Cotten: Let's hope so. I think we have more talent than we've ever had. Granted, some of it is young. But across the board, we're simply better than we used to be. We have to find ways to win more close games and that comes with experience. We've had our share of losing the close ones. Hopefully this time around it's our turn to win more of those than not. I think our schedule is very good with some early home games to hopefully get us off on a good note. The last two years, we haven't finished well -- losing three straight each season. We need learn to finish the deal there, as well. But... it's coming.

High Point: Do you think Jyles Tucker will get playing time at defensive end or defensive tackle?

Stan Cotten: Right now, it's tackle. Unless we have some injuries and really need some help on the outside. It looks like he'll be playing down. He's a good player and will help us wherever he ends up playing.

Sam (McLean, Va.): I heard there was a scuffle at practice yesterday, do you think that since today is the first day with contact, it will alleviate any tension between the players?

Stan Cotten: Sam, I think that when you see a team start to "scuffle", it's a good thing. It means they are ready to get down to serious work. At this level, football is a violent game. The physical part of it is what separates real good players from average players. I'm sure both the players and the coaches are sitting on go for tonight.

Joshua Jackson, High Point: Who do you think will be the number 1 and number 2 receivers on opening day?

Stan Cotten: Our whole receiving corps needs to have a solid season. Nate Morton has very good hands and runs good routes. Willie Idlette and Chris Davis have great speed and have made huge plays in the past. All are going to be counted on. Throw Kevin Marion into the mix and there's no question we have a talented group. It will be interesting to see which one, or ones, lead the way. But all are capable and looking good so far.

Rick Decker Atlanta: Stan, thanks for the great work you do. Can you clarify something for me? When will the twosuspended players be allowed to practice?

Stan Cotten: Both Chris and Riley are expected to practice tonight, but they will not be allowed any contact work for the next five days -- as mandated for any player in this situation by the NCAA. I don't expect it'll take these two very long to get back in the thick of things. They're going to be counted on heavily this fall.

Janay (Wrightsville Beach): During which game do you think Barclay will break the Wake Forest rushing record?

Stan Cotten: Unless he has a crazy, crazy game... it could very easily take all 10 games he plays in. But mathematically, you would think it should be either Georgia Tech or Miami. He needs to average about 91 yards to break the record.

Stan Cotten: And I'm pulling for him, because he's one of the good guys.

Adam (Richmond, VA): With so many games coming down to the wire last season and being lost in the fourth quarter or overtime, what's being done differently this year coaching wise to get over that hump? Josh Gattis referenced it in the quote Grobe read aloud this week, but what have you seen that's different? This year's the year- Go Deacs!

Stan Cotten: I've sensed in the few practices so far great focus and determination and good leadership by the older players. I think despite winning only four games a year ago, they feel confident that they are a good team. Hopefully, that confidence will be apparent in tight games down the stretch. What our coaches are good at doing is not providing our players with excuses or low expectations. I think our team fully expects to win games this coming fall.

Courtney (Knoxville): Who is your pick to be in the ACC Championship game this year? How long before Wake gets there?

Stan Cotten: It's hard not to pick Florida State out of the Atlantic Division and either Miami or Virginia Tech out of the Coastal. Giving the nod to Miami if the Hurricanes get by that early season game with the Seminoles. With regard to the Deacs, they have to show they can beat Florida State and Maryland -- teams in their division -- that they haven't been able to beat in quite a while. But the Deacs, without question, are gaining ground. Hopefully Coach Grobe and the Deacs will continue to get better and a shot at a championship is not that far away.

Moderator: That's all the time we have for today. Thanks for everyone who submitted questions. Remember, Fan Fest is Friday night at Groves Stadium at 7:15 p.m. That's your chance to meet the Demon Deacons from all of the fall sports. And the football team has an open scrimmage on Saturday morning at Groves Stadium. Stan will re-join us next Wednesday at 2 pm.

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