Wake Forest Athletics
Deacs Conclude Second Day of Spring Practice
3/2/2017 12:00:00 AM | Football
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – Wake Forest head football coach Dave Clawson put the Demon Deacons through their second two-hour practice of the spring on Thursday afternoon. The practice was the final one before the Deacons leave campus for spring break.
"We had good energy, good tempo," said Clawson in summarizing Thursday's session. "Now the guys get a week off for spring break. I like getting these two practices in and getting them thinking about football, getting them thinking about schemes and techniques. Now we get away for a little bit and we pick it up again on Tuesday (March 14)."
Unlike in-season practices that are largely regimented, spring practices can offer a wide variety of drills and exercises.
"You never want routine," said Clawson. "Practice is always better when you mix it up. But we also want our guys anxious to play football. When you're in a bowl, which we want to be every year, then the break isn't that big. It doesn't feel like we've been away from football that long. Almost two months ago we were in a bowl game. And that helps. We got our freshmen a lot of reps during bowl practice. I like where we're at. We're thin at some positions so we just have to stay healthy and make spring productive."
Among the most enthusiastic people on the field at the Doc Martin Football Practice Complex was the head coach.
"I enjoy my job. This is a lot of fun and I really enjoy spring," said Clawson. "In some ways, it's my favorite part of the year. You really get to coach guys and develop them and make them better. There's not a game plan you have to put in. So this is really the time you get your hands on players and you develop them and make them better. That is one of the most rewarding parts of coaching, seeing a young tight end like Thomas Cole that came in here at 200-whatever pounds and he's now 244 and he's blocking people and he's running and he knows the offense and he's playing fast and he's confident. You see a really bright future for that guy who last year as a redshirt freshman wasn't really sure if (the football) was blown up or stuffed."
Clawson was asked if he had any instructions for the Deacons before they head off for spring break.
"We always say ‘protect the team,' said Clawson. "You spend all this time building your body up with lifting and running and the morning workouts and it happens all over college football in February and March, guys make mistakes. We want to make sure that socially they're doing things right. That they're taking care of their bodies. They're on spring break and regardless of whether they're going home or off to some exotic port of call, that they're still working out and keeping their body right."
Among the guests at practice on Thursday was Brian Klingerman, a former Lehigh player who played under both Clawson and then-Lehigh head coach Kevin Higgins. Higgins is now Wake Forest's assistant head coach and wide receiver coach.
"In 1993 I was the running backs coach at Lehigh and in 1994-95, I was the offensive coordinator and I worked for Coach Higgins. And Brian Klingerman was a running back and wide receiver for us. He was one of the greatest competitors that I have ever coached. Hard-nosed, tough and he ended up being a first team All-American for us as a receiver. He was undersized and not very fast but he just played with so much grit and toughness that he willed himself into being a great football player. Now, 24 years later, he's here with his daughter and he's visiting in the area and I love those relationships (that develop) from coaching college football."
Clawson was asked by the media to comment on rising senior linebacker Grant Dawson, a former Reagan High standout in Winston-Salem.
"Grant is trying to become a starting linebacker and he's going to become one of the leaders of our football team," said Clawson. "Grant is the ultimate success story. He came here as a walk-on, earned a scholarship, earned playing time. Everything he's gotten here he's earned. And now his senior year he wants to go out there and be a starting middle linebacker on a really good ACC team but also become a leader. He and Jaboree (Williams) have become the leaders in the (locker) room. We need him to play well. We've had a pretty good middle linebacker here the last three years (in Marquel Lee). Grant needs to play at a high level so we can win football games. But he also has to be the guy in that (locker) room that gets the younger guys going and makes them understand the importance of detail and technique and knowing your assignment. And how to act and behave like a college football player should."
Wake Forest returns to practice on Tuesday, March 14. The annual Spring Game is scheduled for Saturday, April 8 at BB&T Field.
