Wake Forest Athletics
100% COTTEN: The Land of Milk and Honey
8/17/2006 12:00:00 AM | Football
Aug. 17, 2006
I remember listening to a Tennessee-Kentucky football game on the radio when I was a kid. If, and it's a big "if," my memory serves me correctly the game was played in a downpour at Commonwealth Stadium in Lexington, and neither team could move the ball very well. Thus points were precious. Seemingly out of nowhere Tennessee running back Bill Rudder popped outside and raced through the mud and the rain for a 60-yard touchdown. As Rudder crossed the goal line longtime "Voice of the Vols" John Ward exclaimed, "...into the land of milk and honey - touchdown Tennessee!" I'd never heard that before, and I've never forgotten it. It fit the moment, though. Touchdowns that day - as they always are - were precious. And Tennessee won a close one over the Wildcats.
Being from Tennessee I've had a little different relationship with Deacon wide receiver Willie Idlette, a Chattanooga native who prepped at Baylor. Then, as he is now, Willie was a blur and Tennessee state champion in the 100, 200 and 400 meters. He could and can definitely "pick them up and put them down" in a hurry.
Recently, just prior to the start of fall practice, Willie dropped by my office and we shared a laugh or two. I then told him quite candidly that I thought he needed to find the endzone several times this season for the Deacons to make a push - that he needed to "re-emerge" as the weapon he was earlier in his career.
He agreed.
Idlette's first season on the field for the Deacs remains, by far, his best. The first time he touched the football in a Wake Forest uniform he went 75 yards for a touchdown in front of a stunned Boston College sideline as the Demon Deacons beat the Eagles in a 32-28 thriller. He rushed for two more touchdowns that season, in 2003, caught 32 passes for 319 yards and stuck a dagger into the heart of N.C. State with a memorable 50-yard punt return for a touchdown into the north endzone as the Deacs upset the 11th ranked Wolfpack, 38-24. But since his four rookie touchdowns, Willie Idlette has found the endzone only once - in 2004 - a game winning 40-yard reception at Groves Stadium in the waning moments against Boston College.
Idlette had a productive spring and according to Coach Jim Grobe is having a solid fall camp. Willie's production in the recent first scrimmage temporarily seems to validate Grobe's assessment. Idlette caught two touchdown passes, a leaping snare of a 38-yard aerial from Ben Mauk and a 25-yard reception from redshirt freshman Riley Skinner.
It seems that Idlette might be set on rediscovering the most special part of the football field.
Willie is as personable as they come, smiles a lot and will talk to you if you're willing to listen. He's got a good memory, too. After his first touchdown catch in the scrimmage the other night he obviously remembered my challenge to him to find the endzone and go out in style. During a break in the action, he noticed me sitting a few rows up on the east side of the stadium and made his way over to make sure I knew he had scored. I assured him I had taken in his TD catch. But I also reminded him how early it was.
The milk and honey isn't ready yet. But hopefully Willie and the rest of the Deacs can already taste it.
