Wake Forest Athletics
Chris Barclay
Chris Barclay Recalls Past Wins over Wolfpack
11/2/2019 8:51:00 AM | Football, Les Johns
If there's anyone who knows the formula for knocking off the North Carolina State Wolfpack in front of a packed house at BB&T Field, it's Wake Forest's all-time leading rusher and 2018 Wake Forest Hall of Fame inductee Chris Barclay.
Barclay, now running backs coach at Purdue University, led the Deacs to victories over the Wolfpack in Winston-Salem in 2003 and 2005 in games that drew two of the best crowds in BB&T Field history.
"That crowd and that community really gravitates toward the Demon Deacons and it's always fun when you play an in-state conference rival at BB&T Field," Barclay said. "It'll be a tremendous atmosphere on Saturday, I'm sure. It should be a good game."
The Deacs and Wolfpack will tangle in Winston-Salem again at noon Saturday, with this being the 113th encounter in what is the third-longest continuous annual rivalry in college football.
As a sophomore in 2003, Barclay led the Deacs with 1,192 rushing yards, grinding out 90 yards and one score on 21 carries in a 38-24 upset victory over the No. 14/11 Wolfpack in the second game of the season.
"They had a big game the following week and we just caught them at the right time," Barclay said. "They had a tremendous defense, with Mario Williams, Stephen Tulloch playing middle linebacker and Manny Lawson on the other side. They had talent all over the field and it was a pleasure to compete against those guys. They were a tremendous, well-coached squad, but we were the better team that day."
As Barclay alluded, the Wolfpack had dispatched Western Carolina in the first game of the season, then were set to face No. 3 Ohio State in week three.
"There was so much talent on the field for both teams," he said. "Playing a future NFL Hall of Famer in Phillip Rivers — he had such a talented arm and was a great leader. Very vocal. He played with a swagger and was fun to watch."
Barclay was one of three different players who scored rushing touchdowns for the Deacons.
"I think I had a high ankle sprain in that game. I was wearing lineman cleats, and that was an issue for me," he said. "Everybody really contributed and it was a tremendous victory that night. Hopefully our boys can go out and get another one this Saturday."
The Wake Forest student section rushed the field after the upset victory.
"I remember them climbing up on the goalposts and trying to get it down," Barclay said with a laugh. "There were some issues trying to get it down. It was a fun atmosphere and it was great to see the elation on the faces of the fans. That was definitely a memory I'll never forget."
When the Deacs defeated NC State 27-19 two years later, Barclay shouldered a bigger load as a senior.
"I was feeling really good," he said. "I wanted to do whatever it took to get the victory."
Barclay said he told Wake Forest coach Jim Grobe he was prepared to do whatever it takes to grab that win in front of more than 33,000 fans at BB&T Field. As it turned out, Barclay carried the ball 36 times for 116 yards.
"We managed to get the victory that day as well," Barclay said. "We've had good success against that program in Winston-Salem."
Defense and special teams loomed large for the Deacs in that victory. Josh Gattis and Alphonso Smith returned interceptions for touchdowns and kicker Sam Swank drilled two first-quarter field goals as the Deacs jumped out to a 13-0 lead. Wake Forest punter Ryan Plackemeier contributed punts of 71 and 82 yards.
"It was definitely a team effort," Barclay said. "That's one thing that coach Grobe and that staff preached to us — it takes a team effort to be successful, especially against really talented teams. We played a complete game in all three phases, which was key in helping us secure that victory."
Barclay has been keeping up with the progress of the program under coach Dave Clawson.
"It's tremendous," he said." Those fans are all fired up about Wake Forest football. Obviously coach Clawson has done a tremendous job of getting those guys ready to play each week. They've been fun to watch."
Barclay, now running backs coach at Purdue University, led the Deacs to victories over the Wolfpack in Winston-Salem in 2003 and 2005 in games that drew two of the best crowds in BB&T Field history.
"That crowd and that community really gravitates toward the Demon Deacons and it's always fun when you play an in-state conference rival at BB&T Field," Barclay said. "It'll be a tremendous atmosphere on Saturday, I'm sure. It should be a good game."
The Deacs and Wolfpack will tangle in Winston-Salem again at noon Saturday, with this being the 113th encounter in what is the third-longest continuous annual rivalry in college football.
As a sophomore in 2003, Barclay led the Deacs with 1,192 rushing yards, grinding out 90 yards and one score on 21 carries in a 38-24 upset victory over the No. 14/11 Wolfpack in the second game of the season.
"They had a big game the following week and we just caught them at the right time," Barclay said. "They had a tremendous defense, with Mario Williams, Stephen Tulloch playing middle linebacker and Manny Lawson on the other side. They had talent all over the field and it was a pleasure to compete against those guys. They were a tremendous, well-coached squad, but we were the better team that day."
As Barclay alluded, the Wolfpack had dispatched Western Carolina in the first game of the season, then were set to face No. 3 Ohio State in week three.
"There was so much talent on the field for both teams," he said. "Playing a future NFL Hall of Famer in Phillip Rivers — he had such a talented arm and was a great leader. Very vocal. He played with a swagger and was fun to watch."
Barclay was one of three different players who scored rushing touchdowns for the Deacons.
"I think I had a high ankle sprain in that game. I was wearing lineman cleats, and that was an issue for me," he said. "Everybody really contributed and it was a tremendous victory that night. Hopefully our boys can go out and get another one this Saturday."
The Wake Forest student section rushed the field after the upset victory.
"I remember them climbing up on the goalposts and trying to get it down," Barclay said with a laugh. "There were some issues trying to get it down. It was a fun atmosphere and it was great to see the elation on the faces of the fans. That was definitely a memory I'll never forget."
When the Deacs defeated NC State 27-19 two years later, Barclay shouldered a bigger load as a senior.
"I was feeling really good," he said. "I wanted to do whatever it took to get the victory."
Barclay said he told Wake Forest coach Jim Grobe he was prepared to do whatever it takes to grab that win in front of more than 33,000 fans at BB&T Field. As it turned out, Barclay carried the ball 36 times for 116 yards.
"We managed to get the victory that day as well," Barclay said. "We've had good success against that program in Winston-Salem."
Defense and special teams loomed large for the Deacs in that victory. Josh Gattis and Alphonso Smith returned interceptions for touchdowns and kicker Sam Swank drilled two first-quarter field goals as the Deacs jumped out to a 13-0 lead. Wake Forest punter Ryan Plackemeier contributed punts of 71 and 82 yards.
"It was definitely a team effort," Barclay said. "That's one thing that coach Grobe and that staff preached to us — it takes a team effort to be successful, especially against really talented teams. We played a complete game in all three phases, which was key in helping us secure that victory."
Barclay has been keeping up with the progress of the program under coach Dave Clawson.
"It's tremendous," he said." Those fans are all fired up about Wake Forest football. Obviously coach Clawson has done a tremendous job of getting those guys ready to play each week. They've been fun to watch."
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