Wake Forest Picked Sixth in the Atlantic Division
7/25/2011 12:00:00 AM | Football
July 25, 2011
PINEHURST, N.C. - In 2006, Wake Forest was picked to finish last in the Atlantic Coast Conference's Atlantic Division, but the Demon Deacons proceeded to go on a storybook run all the way to the ACC championship and an Orange Bowl berth.
Wake Forest will look to re-create that magic five years later, as the Deacons were picked to finish last once again in the Atlantic Division in voting conducted by the media in attendance at the ACC Football Kickoff on Monday at the Pinehurst Resort.
"Honestly, I don't think that the players, the coaches or the fans will be worried about being picked last in the poll. We were picked last the year we won the ACC, and at that time, Ben Mauk was going to be our quarterback," said Grobe. "We had no idea we were going to be playing a freshman quarterback. If I had known at this get together that Riley Skinner was going to be our quarterback, we would have probably been picked seventh in our division."
The Demon Deacons received 80 points in the voting, which included 71 ballots cast. This marks the first time since 2006 that Wake Forest has been picked to finish at the bottom of the Atlantic Division.
"After our performance last season and still having some young guys coming back in the fall, sixth is probably where we needed to be picked, but I think we are a better football team," said Grobe. "There is something going on with this football team right now. There is some electricity and some energy that we haven't had in the last couple of years. Our players aren't dwelling on a 3-9 season, but they are embarrassed by what happened last year. You could tell that this spring when I had to break up more fights than any other year. There weren't any knock-down, drag-out type of fights, but the guys were on edge, wanting to play better. The good part was that after our hard-nosed practices in the spring, the guys were laughing and still enjoying each other. You can tell there is a closeness on this football team."
Reigning division champion Florida State was predicted to win the Atlantic Division this season, receiving 420 points and 65 first-place votes. Clemson was picked to finish second with 286 points and 4 first-place votes.
NC State was third with 270 points, while Boston College was fourth with 224 points and two first-place votes. Maryland rounded out the top five in the division with 211 points.
Defending ACC champion Virginia Tech was predicted to claim the Coastal Division title with 421 points and 66 first-place votes. Florida State was selected to defeat the Hokies in the ACC Championship Game with 45 votes.
VT received 15 votes to win the ACC Championship, which will be held on Dec. 3 at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte.
Miami was picked to finish second in the Coastal with 328 points and four first-place votes, while North Carolina was picked third with 287 points. Georgia Tech, Virginia and Duke rounded out the Coastal in that order.
Boston College's Montel Harris was the choice for ACC Preseason Player of the Year. Harris received 26 votes to out-distance EJ Manuel of Florida State who came in with 14 votes.
Wake Forest returns 54 letterwinners, including 17 starters, off last year's squad. The Deacons welcome back seven starters on offense and nine on defense.
Wake Forest opens the 2011 season on Thursday, Sept. 1, when the Deacons take on the Syracuse Orange at 8 p.m. in the Carrier Dome.
Atlantic Division (first-place votes)
1. Florida State (65), 420
2. Clemson (4), 286
3. NC State, 270
4. Boston College (2), 224
5. Maryland, 211
6. Wake Forest, 80
Coastal Division (first-place votes)
1. Virginia Tech (66), 421
2. Miami (4), 328
3. North Carolina 287
4. Georgia Tech (1), 226
5. Virginia, 132
6. Duke, 96
Championship Game Winner: Florida State over Virginia Tech
