Wake Forest Athletics
Deacs Focused Following Unexpected Bye Week
10/2/2020 1:43:00 PM | Football
The Wake Forest football team is back at Truist Field for its lone non-conference contest of the season against Campbell on Friday night.
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. -- When the 2020 schedule was first revealed in January earlier this year, Wake Forest was slated to play at Duke this weekend. Then, this became a bye week when the ACC announced a 10+1 schedule model late this summer.
However, the Demon Deacons are set to hit the gridiron tonight against Campbell University after the Duke's Mayo Classic was moved from Sept. 26 to Dec. 12.
"That's sort of been the motto for the whole offseason — expect the unexpected," Wake Forest senior tight end Brandon Chapman said. "With this virus going around, who knows who we're going to play and when we're going to play them. Our coaching staff has consistently told us to stay ready.
"I'm glad we're playing a season. There's been so much optimism and pessimism throughout the process. Every game is a blessing and I'm glad we're able to play this week. That's all that matters right now. You have to be ready to play every week."
Last week ended up being an unusual bye week for the Deacs.
"We got one full practice in for Notre Dame, then realized we weren't playing them," Chapman said. "Coach Clawson wanted to give our starters a little bit of a rest. It was mostly like a normal bye week, but with some more practices, because we originally thought we were playing a game.
"Any chance we have to get back on the field is a blessing. Our guys are ready to get out there and play the game."
Wake Forest's coaching staff has been stressing following strict protocols in order to avoid shortages on the roster and potential disruptions to play.
"It's been wearing a mask wherever we go, even when we first got back to campus," Chapman said. "There have been other teams that have had outbreaks. The coaches have been instilling that in all of us, and we're wearing a mask everywhere."
Campbell University is 0-3, but have pushed both Georgia State and Appalachian State along the way.
"They're an FCS opponent, but they have a lot of good players," Chapman said. "They are going to come in focused and we have go after them from the start. Some teams underrate FCS opponents, but we can never have that mentality. Campbell is a good team and we have to come in with the same mentality as we always do and play our game."
After struggling against number one Clemson in the season opener, the Deacs got the running game moving at NC State in a 45-42 loss.
"We have to play our game," Chapman said. "We have to get on them on the ground and rush the ball well. We have to move the ball and play our game.
"It was good to see us run the ball well with Kenneth Walker and Christian Beal-Smith. We have a lot of things to work on, but moving the ball against a team like NC State was good to see. It gives us confidence for the future."
