From the Quad
1/7/2020 9:29:00 AM | General
January 7, 2020
Happy 2020 Deacon Fans!
The new year is off to a sizzling start on the hardwood for the Deacons. For the first time since 1993, our women's team won at Duke last Thursday thanks to this Gina Conti game-winner with 1.8 seconds left and then defeated 11-2 Georgia Tech at home on Sunday. And following a 14 day break from game action, the Wake Forest men's squad overcame a 16-point deficit Saturday to grab an ACC road win at Pittsburgh. Tomorrow night, Wednesday, our men take on Florida State at 7:30 p.m. on RSN and Thursday, Jan. 9 our women host Clemson at 7:00 p.m. on ACC Network Extra. Click here for tickets and come out and support your Deacs!
One More Glance Back to 2019
Before we sprint forward into 2020, let's take a quick look back at the New Era Pinstripe Bowl. Although the Deacons fell just short, 27-21 in a hard fought game with Michigan State, we'd like to say a special thanks to the entire New York Yankees organization for a first-class week. Amidst practices, meetings and game preparations, Wake Forest's football student-athletes were treated to the experience of a lifetime. From sightseeing, shopping and eating, to a comedy show and the Radio City Rockettes Christmas Spectacular, to a solemn and moving visit to One World Observatory and the 9/11 Museum, the week was packed with cultural opportunities showcasing the Big Apple.
Our fans were off the charts, coming from all over to make Black & Gold the dominant colors in the House that Ruth Built. Prior to the game, the official Wake Forest pregame party at Billy's Sports Bar was packed with a sold-out crowd of over 2,000 people. I'll always remember the pride of hearing the approximately 10,000 Deacon fans blasting the "WAKE...FOREST" chant repeatedly throughout Yankee Stadium. I'm told that the chant was clearly audible to the 3.8 million people watching the game on TV. In fact, Wake Forest had the highest national TV viewership of any of North Carolina's bowl teams.
Accompanying Coach Dave Clawson, and football captains Cade Carney, Justin Herron and Justin Strnad as they rang the opening bell at the NYSE, rates as one of the coolest experiences I've had in 16 bowl trips in my career. With the WF logo vividly displayed in the background of all the television shows broadcast around the world from the Exchange floor, it was an example of how a winning football program brings incredible brand exposure for our school.
For the daily recaps of team activities, click here. You can search #NYCDeacs on Twitter and check out this video for a quick look back at the bowl fun that was had by all!
Another Review? NCAA Weekly Whistle — Monitor Review Plays
NCAA vice-president for basketball Danny Gavitt has worked hard to improve transparency and communication since he assumed his post seven years ago. An example of his efforts is the "Weekly Whistle" series which J.D. Collins, the NCAA national coordinator of men's basketball officials, publishes for coaches and administrators each week, focusing on rules points of emphasis for the 2019-20 men's basketball season. This week's "behind the curtain" video features J.D. discussing monitor review plays and what referees are looking for in various situations.
Thanks to You… Donations Up! Come to Deacon Club Appreciation Day on Jan. 19
Thanks to Deacon Club members worldwide, as of December 31, 2019 total cash giving to Wake Forest Athletics is ahead of last fiscal year's pace. Come let us thank you in person at our annual Deacon Club Appreciation Day on January 19 prior to the men's basketball game vs. Boston College at 6 p.m. We'll have complimentary food and beverages for you in the Flow Lexus Club Level of McCreary Tower at BB&T Field from 4-5:30 p.m. RSVP by January 17 by clicking here. To join the Deacon Club or renew a gift today, please click here.
From The Athletic - The "Gold Standard of Pitching Labs"... at Wake Forest
With Coach Tom Walter's Demon Deacon baseball team checking in at #17 in the preseason polls, here's an excellent article from Eno Sarris of The Athletic about sports science and how Wake Forest is one of the national leaders in baseball innovation. The Athletic requires a subscription, but here's an excerpt.
"There might not be a tighter relationship between scholastics and baseball than at Wake Forest, which has created the gold standard in pitching labs across baseball…. only three baseball teams, at most, had the kind of setup that Wake has...
All of that came down one crucial hire: Dr. Kristen Nicholson, a PhD in biomechanical engineering who was hired specifically to create this lab. Nicholson came in and built a lab so impressive that major league teams come to tour it... Twelve motion capture cameras line the roof and plates in the ground measure the force the pitchers impart as they pitch. Pitch tracking tech captures the movement, velocity, and spin on the pitch….
Along with her two student researchers — one a grad student in biomedical engineering, and one a physician scientist in a two-year PhD program — Nicholson focuses on research. But they work with the baseball team in much the same way a professional baseball team's research and development analysts might work with the coaching staff.
"We've spent this last year trying to figure out how to use the lab as a player development tool for the Wake Forest team, how can we use this system to help them implement the changes faster," said Nicholson. "Now we create online reports from the biomechanical analysis we do and put them in a place where the pitching coach and the players all have access. I put feedback in there in lay terms so they can understand what they are looking at, what the highlights are for the mechanics they may want to work on, but I also sit down with the pitching coach and do more in-depth talk."
The best player development systems in Major League Baseball have this sort of collaborative and data- and tech-driven approach, but there might be four or five of them at most, and not all of them have this sort of lab at their disposal…"
The Wake Forest Pitching Lab is testament to the generosity of Wake baseball donors, a great partnership with Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center and the skill and vision of researcher Dr. Kristen Nicholson and her staff. And it is a great example of how we're providing a World Class Student-Athlete Experience for our players.
Baseball's First Pitch Dinner Returns with Special Guest, Joe Girardi
Join in the Wake Forest excitement and help support the baseball program by attending the return of the First Pitch Dinner, February 7. This year's special guest speaker will be four-time World Champion and current skipper of the Phillies, Joe Girardi, who, of course, played under our own Ron Wellman at Northwestern. For more information and to purchase tickets, click here.
WFU and WSSU Host 20th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration
On Monday, January 20, Wake Forest University and Winston-Salem State University will again celebrate the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. together, a tradition which began 20 years ago. Following a late afternoon meal on WSSU's campus, the crowd will move north to Wait Chapel for a 7:00 p.m. keynote address by Ibram X. Kendi, a National Book Award winner and New York Times best selling author. Check the Wake Forest University Intercultural Center's website at https://interculturalcenter.wfu.edu/ for the latest information on the celebration events.
Finally, please join me in welcoming 17 new Demon Deacon student-athletes as mid-semester enrollees! They'll be moving in this weekend and start classes on Monday. I am excited about all of the opportunities that 2020 holds for our program, our University, and the entire Demon Deacon Nation. Remember to shoot me your questions, comments and suggestions to wfuad@wfu.edu. See you tomorrow night in Joel Coliseum!
Go Deacs!
John Currie
Director of Athletics
Happy 2020 Deacon Fans!
The new year is off to a sizzling start on the hardwood for the Deacons. For the first time since 1993, our women's team won at Duke last Thursday thanks to this Gina Conti game-winner with 1.8 seconds left and then defeated 11-2 Georgia Tech at home on Sunday. And following a 14 day break from game action, the Wake Forest men's squad overcame a 16-point deficit Saturday to grab an ACC road win at Pittsburgh. Tomorrow night, Wednesday, our men take on Florida State at 7:30 p.m. on RSN and Thursday, Jan. 9 our women host Clemson at 7:00 p.m. on ACC Network Extra. Click here for tickets and come out and support your Deacs!
One More Glance Back to 2019
Before we sprint forward into 2020, let's take a quick look back at the New Era Pinstripe Bowl. Although the Deacons fell just short, 27-21 in a hard fought game with Michigan State, we'd like to say a special thanks to the entire New York Yankees organization for a first-class week. Amidst practices, meetings and game preparations, Wake Forest's football student-athletes were treated to the experience of a lifetime. From sightseeing, shopping and eating, to a comedy show and the Radio City Rockettes Christmas Spectacular, to a solemn and moving visit to One World Observatory and the 9/11 Museum, the week was packed with cultural opportunities showcasing the Big Apple.
Our fans were off the charts, coming from all over to make Black & Gold the dominant colors in the House that Ruth Built. Prior to the game, the official Wake Forest pregame party at Billy's Sports Bar was packed with a sold-out crowd of over 2,000 people. I'll always remember the pride of hearing the approximately 10,000 Deacon fans blasting the "WAKE...FOREST" chant repeatedly throughout Yankee Stadium. I'm told that the chant was clearly audible to the 3.8 million people watching the game on TV. In fact, Wake Forest had the highest national TV viewership of any of North Carolina's bowl teams.
Accompanying Coach Dave Clawson, and football captains Cade Carney, Justin Herron and Justin Strnad as they rang the opening bell at the NYSE, rates as one of the coolest experiences I've had in 16 bowl trips in my career. With the WF logo vividly displayed in the background of all the television shows broadcast around the world from the Exchange floor, it was an example of how a winning football program brings incredible brand exposure for our school.
For the daily recaps of team activities, click here. You can search #NYCDeacs on Twitter and check out this video for a quick look back at the bowl fun that was had by all!
Another Review? NCAA Weekly Whistle — Monitor Review Plays
NCAA vice-president for basketball Danny Gavitt has worked hard to improve transparency and communication since he assumed his post seven years ago. An example of his efforts is the "Weekly Whistle" series which J.D. Collins, the NCAA national coordinator of men's basketball officials, publishes for coaches and administrators each week, focusing on rules points of emphasis for the 2019-20 men's basketball season. This week's "behind the curtain" video features J.D. discussing monitor review plays and what referees are looking for in various situations.
Thanks to You… Donations Up! Come to Deacon Club Appreciation Day on Jan. 19
Thanks to Deacon Club members worldwide, as of December 31, 2019 total cash giving to Wake Forest Athletics is ahead of last fiscal year's pace. Come let us thank you in person at our annual Deacon Club Appreciation Day on January 19 prior to the men's basketball game vs. Boston College at 6 p.m. We'll have complimentary food and beverages for you in the Flow Lexus Club Level of McCreary Tower at BB&T Field from 4-5:30 p.m. RSVP by January 17 by clicking here. To join the Deacon Club or renew a gift today, please click here.
From The Athletic - The "Gold Standard of Pitching Labs"... at Wake Forest
With Coach Tom Walter's Demon Deacon baseball team checking in at #17 in the preseason polls, here's an excellent article from Eno Sarris of The Athletic about sports science and how Wake Forest is one of the national leaders in baseball innovation. The Athletic requires a subscription, but here's an excerpt.
"There might not be a tighter relationship between scholastics and baseball than at Wake Forest, which has created the gold standard in pitching labs across baseball…. only three baseball teams, at most, had the kind of setup that Wake has...
All of that came down one crucial hire: Dr. Kristen Nicholson, a PhD in biomechanical engineering who was hired specifically to create this lab. Nicholson came in and built a lab so impressive that major league teams come to tour it... Twelve motion capture cameras line the roof and plates in the ground measure the force the pitchers impart as they pitch. Pitch tracking tech captures the movement, velocity, and spin on the pitch….
Along with her two student researchers — one a grad student in biomedical engineering, and one a physician scientist in a two-year PhD program — Nicholson focuses on research. But they work with the baseball team in much the same way a professional baseball team's research and development analysts might work with the coaching staff.
"We've spent this last year trying to figure out how to use the lab as a player development tool for the Wake Forest team, how can we use this system to help them implement the changes faster," said Nicholson. "Now we create online reports from the biomechanical analysis we do and put them in a place where the pitching coach and the players all have access. I put feedback in there in lay terms so they can understand what they are looking at, what the highlights are for the mechanics they may want to work on, but I also sit down with the pitching coach and do more in-depth talk."
The best player development systems in Major League Baseball have this sort of collaborative and data- and tech-driven approach, but there might be four or five of them at most, and not all of them have this sort of lab at their disposal…"
The Wake Forest Pitching Lab is testament to the generosity of Wake baseball donors, a great partnership with Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center and the skill and vision of researcher Dr. Kristen Nicholson and her staff. And it is a great example of how we're providing a World Class Student-Athlete Experience for our players.
Baseball's First Pitch Dinner Returns with Special Guest, Joe Girardi
Join in the Wake Forest excitement and help support the baseball program by attending the return of the First Pitch Dinner, February 7. This year's special guest speaker will be four-time World Champion and current skipper of the Phillies, Joe Girardi, who, of course, played under our own Ron Wellman at Northwestern. For more information and to purchase tickets, click here.
WFU and WSSU Host 20th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration
On Monday, January 20, Wake Forest University and Winston-Salem State University will again celebrate the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. together, a tradition which began 20 years ago. Following a late afternoon meal on WSSU's campus, the crowd will move north to Wait Chapel for a 7:00 p.m. keynote address by Ibram X. Kendi, a National Book Award winner and New York Times best selling author. Check the Wake Forest University Intercultural Center's website at https://interculturalcenter.wfu.edu/ for the latest information on the celebration events.
Finally, please join me in welcoming 17 new Demon Deacon student-athletes as mid-semester enrollees! They'll be moving in this weekend and start classes on Monday. I am excited about all of the opportunities that 2020 holds for our program, our University, and the entire Demon Deacon Nation. Remember to shoot me your questions, comments and suggestions to wfuad@wfu.edu. See you tomorrow night in Joel Coliseum!
Go Deacs!
John Currie
Director of Athletics
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