Wake Forest Athletics
Wake Forest Practice Report - August 6
8/6/2008 12:00:00 AM | Football
Aug. 6, 2008
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - Wake Forest resumed practice on a humid Wednesday evening at the Doc Martin Football Practice Complex on campus. The Demon Deacons worked out for approximately two hours, donning full pads for the second time in as many days.
Wednesday's workout saw the addition of a game clock and a 40-second play clock to the practice complex. One of the rule changes that will be implemented in college football this season is the use of the 40-second play clock.
In the past, college football utilized a 25-second play clock that did not start until the officials marked the ball ready for play. This season the game will feature a 40-second clock that will start at the end of the previous play, except for changes of possession, in which the 25-second will still be used.
"We need to get where we're comfortable with how much time we have to substitute and if we need to change a play call, or if we maybe double-call a play and give the quarterback the flexibility to audible the thing off," said head coach Jim Grobe. "We need to find out how much time we actually have. I think we would [know] through three scrimmages, but we thought it would be good to go ahead and be able to time ourselves at practice."
The new 40-second clock, which is what the NFL utilizes to dictate play, is one way that the NCAA is attempting to speed up the pace of games. Last season, college football contests averaged three hours and 22 minutes in length.
"We've been timing ourselves on 40 seconds without putting it on a clock because we've been trying to get as many repetitions as we can in practice," added Grobe. "We're typically way under 40 seconds. We'll be using the 40-second clock at the scrimmage on Saturday when we have ACC officials. Then, starting next week, we will probably try to stay off on the side when we do our team against each other and run the 40-second clock just to make sure that we're getting it down."
The Deacons will resume practice on Thursday evening at 7:30 p.m. on campus. The team's first of three scrimmages is scheduled for Saturday, Aug. 9, starting at 7:30 p.m. at BB&T Field.
