Currie From the Quad

From the Quad

10/11/2019 3:09:00 PM | General

October 11, 2019
 
Good Afternoon Demon Deacon Nation! 

Tomorrow night at 7:30 PM we welcome home your undefeated #17 ranked Demon Deacon football team for an ACC Network primetime clash against Louisville. The fun starts early as the "B" String Allstars will be rocking the free I'm a Fan Zone beginning at 4:30 PM and of course we'll have games for the kids, food trucks, the Lowes Foods Beer Den and more!

With many Wake Forest students out of town for fall break, we encourage all Deacon fans to make an extra effort to grab a few friends or neighbors and bring 'em along to help provide the awesome energy and atmosphere BB&T Field has enjoyed for our first three home games. Click here for the full list of gameday fan information. Great ticket options are available — get yours today for as little as $25.  Remember the Dixie Classic Fair is in full swing so plan ahead to make your arrival as smooth as possible!

We have a ton of action happening around campus, starting with a big coaching announcement:

Randi Smart Promoted to Head Volleyball Coach
Just a few hours ago I met with our volleyball team so they could be the first to hear that we have removed the interim tag and named Coach Randi Smart as our new head coach. You can see their reaction here. Coach Smart, who has led the Demon Deacons to a 11-4 start, has earned our confidence since taking over as interim this past March, amidst difficult circumstances. You can click here to read more about Coach Smart, our process, and why we believe she is the right person to lead our student-athletes and program to success.
Please join me in congratulating Coach Smart and her family and come on out to support the team in two big ACC matchups at Reynolds Gym tonight vs. Notre Dame at 6 p.m. and against No. 25 Louisville Sunday at 1 p.m. 

NBA Basketball Comes to the Coliseum Tonight
The Charlotte Hornets will host the Philadelphia 76ers in a preseason home game at the Coliseum tonight (Oct. 11) at 7:30 p.m. Tickets can be purchased online at hornets.com or ticketmaster.com, at the LJVM Coliseum box office, or on the Hornets App. Regular prices start at $12.50 plus applicable fees. Additionally, tickets for all college students start at just $10!  

Honoring Ron Wellman
President Hatch and the Board of Trustees will formally salute the incredible career of Ron Wellman tonight with a special evening that just might feature a few surprises. The fun started last night with the devious assistance of  Linda and the Wellman daughters as we surprised Ron with a small dinner attended by all 11 current Division I athletic directors who worked for Ron during his career. The look on Ron's face was priceless as he opened the restaurant door and saw Mike Buddie (Army West Point), Mike Hamrick (Marshall), Dan Hauser (High Point), Samantha Huge (William & Mary), Michael Kelly (South Florida), Tom Kleinlein (Georgia Southern), Larry Lyons (Illinois State), Joel Nielsen (Kent State), Perk Weisenburger (Ferris State), and Hunter Yurachek (Arkansas), as well as ACC Commissioner John Swofford, waiting to salute him. We told a bunch of stories, shared common mentoring moments and memories and thanked Ron and Linda for what they have meant to so many staff members through the years. All 11 of us understand our ongoing responsibility to perpetuate Ron's values of integrity and commitment to the student-athlete experience in college athletics. 

Big Golf Stars Highlight Wake Forest Golf Pro-Am Action Sunday and Monday
Wake Forest's incredible history of golf is highlighted at Old Town Club Sunday and Monday as we welcome back several of our current and former pro golfers for our biennial Pro-Am. Sunday evening's reception offers the chance to visit with some of the biggest names in golf while supporting the current student-athletes of the No. 1 women's & No. 2 ranked men's Deacon golf teams. Reception tickets are $100 For more information, please contact Emily Richey at (336) 758-6000 or richeyem@wfu.edu

Another Top-10 National Ranking Announced — Congratulations Winston-Salem!
Winston-Salem's incredible development and transformation over the last two decades is a common theme of my public speaking engagements. The nation is noticing too as  Winston-Salem has surged up 38 spots to a No. 7 ranking in U.S. News and World Report's list of the top retirement locations in America. Winston-Salem offers an incredible quality of life for folks of all ages, and we are proud to welcome all newcomers into the Wake Forest Athletics family! 

Deac Sheet Has All the WF Sports Action Updates  
With five of our teams currently in the national rankings, I find the weekly Deac Sheet is a great way to follow the conference and national races and keep track of upcoming contests. Remember that the football Deacs continue their three-game homestand next week hosting Florida State at 7:30 p.m. on Oct. 19 on the ACC Network. Click HERE for tickets.
 
"From the Ground Up" Put Wake Forest Facilities Staff Center Stage
Finally, please click here for a recap of the "From the Ground Up" dance performance which was held on Hearn Plaza last weekend showcasing WFU Facilities and Campus Services staff including custodial, maintenance & utilities, landscaping, construction and waste reduction employees. These men and women work tirelessly behind the scenes to provide a safe and efficient campus that just happens to be the most beautiful in America! Big crowds enjoyed this memorable performance.
It's a big weekend. Have fun, get loud, be safe and...

Go Deacs! 

61060


John
 
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