Wake Forest Athletics
Memorable Reunion for 1992 Independence Bowl Champs Culminates in Gift for Excellence Fund
10/4/2022 8:00:00 AM | Football
Clawson and his staff can use the funds to help with facilities or anything else that might be needed to enhance the student-athlete experience.
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WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – Wake Forest's 1992 football team was the first in program history to finish a season nationally ranked and the campaign was highlighted by a six-game winning streak and a come-from-behind victory in the Independence Bowl.
That group further cemented their legacy by becoming the first team to come together and give back through Excellence Fund giving — an award that was announced when nearly 60 players reunited to celebrate their 30th anniversary last month as the current Demon Deacons beat Liberty at Truist Field.
"I thought two things were huge," said Jimmy Quander, who played on that championship team. "With a new defensive coordinator that year we started to gel a lot better, and started to disguise our coverage and blitz more effectively. Our pressure was elevated, I thought. It led to more plays being made on the defensive end, like turnovers and sacks. We were able to get off the field.
"And I thought (quarterback) Keith West started to click. That highlighted some of the offensive weaponry we had, because we had some great receivers, the best tight end (John Henry Mills) in the conference and a slew of great running backs. Keith was playing at such a high level."
West threw for more than 2,000 yards and 12 touchdowns, while running back Ned Moultrie added 717 yards rushing. Wide receiver Todd Dixon had 51 receptions for 750 yards.
After losing back-to-back games against ranked ACC opponents, it was the senior leadership that responded for the Demon Deacons.
"That year started off like every other year," Quander said. "We beat Vandy pretty good and then we had some momentum coming from that game. Maryland was probably the biggest game, and we beat them up there. I don't think anybody thought we were going to knock Clemson off, but it put us in position to put together that great run."
By the end of the season, the Deacs had earned an Independence Bowl berth and placed six players on the All-ACC team: defensive back George Goghill, offensive tackle Ben Coleman, Dixon, Mills, defensive lineman Mike McCrary and linebacker Maurice Miller.
Before the season began, Wake Forest coach Bill Dooley announced that he would retire at the end of the season.
"In college football the coaches are pivotal," said Wendell Taylor, who played linebacker for the 1992 championship team. "The team really rallied around Coach Dooley. We wanted to have him go out on a high note. We went on a nice mid-season winning streak, and it really came down to rallying around Coach Dooley.
"It gave us the kind of energy to really send him out on a high note."
Taylor said Dooley had the type of personality you likely won't see in the modern era of collegiate athletics.
"Coach Dooley is one of those coaches you probably won't see again," he said. "There were things he used that resonated with us. He was a motivator and an old-school player's coach. The players identified with him and wanted to send him out on a high note and be successful.
"It really was a rallying cry and it had a lot to do with Coach Dooley's attitude toward us from the very beginning."
As it turned out, the Independence Bowl matchup against Oregon took a turn into national relevance, as the committee pitted the two teams against one another in a series of bowl-week events.
"We had several events with Oregon throughout the week, and the bowl committee pitted us against each other all week in team versus team competitions," Taylor explained. "So much so that it got rowdy one night. We were the top story on ESPN that night. There was so much energy that was manufactured by the bowl folks. We came into the game amped up, maybe too much so which led to some turnovers."
The wild week of buildup manifested itself into an incredible game, as the Demon Deacons overcame six turnovers and a 19-point second-half deficit to come from behind and grab the nearly implausible victory.
"If you look at the team that year, losing three of the first four was sort of foreshadowing of our bowl game," Taylor said. "We were down 19 points in the second half against Oregon, and just like in the season, everybody had counted us out. But it was in those moments where we really stood up and met the challenge. The bowl game looked just like the season, in terms of us picking ourselves up off the mat and bringing home the victory."
The Deacs trailed 22-10 at the half and Oregon tacked on an early third-quarter touchdown. Reverses, misdirections and return throw-backs highlighted the Wake Forest second-half playbook against the Ducks.
"The defining plays were the trick plays we ran," Taylor said. "Most college players want to run all the trick plays every week in the playbook. But coaches know you can only run them once or twice before they become disasters.
"Coach Dooley kept them all in his pocket until we needed them. In the third quarter we did a throw-back on the kickoff that led to a long gain and we did a double-reverse pass. There were two-or-three of those plays in the second half that really got our energy back and surged us to victory. It was one of the wildest games I've ever been a part of. When you're down 19 in the second half, things are looking pretty bleak. Anything goes."
Between 50-60 players from the 1992 Independence Bowl championship team got together in September and were recognized on the field during the win over Liberty.
"There's a lot of pride about what we did in 1992, and a lot of pride over what Coach Dave Clawson has done with the football program in recent years," Taylor said. "When he spoke to us after the game, he praised us for setting the foundation. He's done such a remarkable job.
"There is a lot of pride and a lot of pride that we were the first Wake Forest team to be ranked at the end of the season, which is a stat that was new to me, but something that Coach Clawson shared with us after the game."
According to Quander, the evolution of Wake Forest Football starts with that 1992 championship team and has been enhanced by every coach who has led the program since, with each building off the other's successes.
"I've been around and have the pleasure of being around Jim Caldwell, Jim Grobe and now Dave Clawson," he said. "It's awesome to see what has been built since 1992. Each coach has added something to the program that the next coach was able to build upon. There were elements and intangibles that have been there for the next one. Clawson has a great staff and he is a tremendous leader. It's incredible to see Wake Forest football relevant in our community and within the ACC. We're getting to the point where we're becoming relevant nationally."
Former players and their families are more involved with the program than ever before, with Clawson consistently making alumni feel a part of the continued success.
"His re-engaging with all of us was one of the first things he did when he became head coach," Taylor said. "He made it a point to reach out to the former football players. He has a conference call with all of us twice a year and brings us back on campus for career night. He's done a really good job of engaging with former football players and keeping us connected with the program. Obviously their success on the football field helps with that as well.
"John Currie is the best athletics director in the country and has done wonders to move us into the 21st century in terms of marketing and promotion. That video they put together before the Vanderbilt game was just amazing. I know that goes a long way to get the students to the game. Something like 80 percent of the students come now. It's an incredible mix of success on the field, which is fostered by leaders like Clawson and Currie, along with talent that is far superior to the talent level the teams had when I was playing."
With the 30-year celebration as a focal point, the team decided to use their reunion as an opportunity to give back to the program by donating to the football Excellence Fund.
"The team decided to have a fundraising component to give back, because we're so happy with where the program is now and love the fact that they've re-engaged with us," Taylor said. "With all the great work that's been accomplished by Coach Clawson, John Currie and the team, we decided we were going to raise money. I committed to match up to a certain number. We raised about $25,000 for the football program.
"This is the first time a team has come together to do this. I was able to take that opportunity to thank Coach Clawson for all their success both on and off the field, and present our commitment to the football program."
Clawson and his staff can use the funds to help with facilities or anything else that might be needed to enhance the student-athlete experience.
"It's important to be a contributor and feel like you have some skin in the game for the program, however slight or huge it is," Quader said. "You know it's going to be used for something to further enhance what Coach Clawson is doing. A chance to just be part of it is great."
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – Wake Forest's 1992 football team was the first in program history to finish a season nationally ranked and the campaign was highlighted by a six-game winning streak and a come-from-behind victory in the Independence Bowl.
That group further cemented their legacy by becoming the first team to come together and give back through Excellence Fund giving — an award that was announced when nearly 60 players reunited to celebrate their 30th anniversary last month as the current Demon Deacons beat Liberty at Truist Field.
"I thought two things were huge," said Jimmy Quander, who played on that championship team. "With a new defensive coordinator that year we started to gel a lot better, and started to disguise our coverage and blitz more effectively. Our pressure was elevated, I thought. It led to more plays being made on the defensive end, like turnovers and sacks. We were able to get off the field.
"And I thought (quarterback) Keith West started to click. That highlighted some of the offensive weaponry we had, because we had some great receivers, the best tight end (John Henry Mills) in the conference and a slew of great running backs. Keith was playing at such a high level."
West threw for more than 2,000 yards and 12 touchdowns, while running back Ned Moultrie added 717 yards rushing. Wide receiver Todd Dixon had 51 receptions for 750 yards.
After losing back-to-back games against ranked ACC opponents, it was the senior leadership that responded for the Demon Deacons.
"That year started off like every other year," Quander said. "We beat Vandy pretty good and then we had some momentum coming from that game. Maryland was probably the biggest game, and we beat them up there. I don't think anybody thought we were going to knock Clemson off, but it put us in position to put together that great run."
By the end of the season, the Deacs had earned an Independence Bowl berth and placed six players on the All-ACC team: defensive back George Goghill, offensive tackle Ben Coleman, Dixon, Mills, defensive lineman Mike McCrary and linebacker Maurice Miller.
Before the season began, Wake Forest coach Bill Dooley announced that he would retire at the end of the season.
"In college football the coaches are pivotal," said Wendell Taylor, who played linebacker for the 1992 championship team. "The team really rallied around Coach Dooley. We wanted to have him go out on a high note. We went on a nice mid-season winning streak, and it really came down to rallying around Coach Dooley.
"It gave us the kind of energy to really send him out on a high note."
Taylor said Dooley had the type of personality you likely won't see in the modern era of collegiate athletics.
"Coach Dooley is one of those coaches you probably won't see again," he said. "There were things he used that resonated with us. He was a motivator and an old-school player's coach. The players identified with him and wanted to send him out on a high note and be successful.
"It really was a rallying cry and it had a lot to do with Coach Dooley's attitude toward us from the very beginning."
As it turned out, the Independence Bowl matchup against Oregon took a turn into national relevance, as the committee pitted the two teams against one another in a series of bowl-week events.
"We had several events with Oregon throughout the week, and the bowl committee pitted us against each other all week in team versus team competitions," Taylor explained. "So much so that it got rowdy one night. We were the top story on ESPN that night. There was so much energy that was manufactured by the bowl folks. We came into the game amped up, maybe too much so which led to some turnovers."
The wild week of buildup manifested itself into an incredible game, as the Demon Deacons overcame six turnovers and a 19-point second-half deficit to come from behind and grab the nearly implausible victory.
"If you look at the team that year, losing three of the first four was sort of foreshadowing of our bowl game," Taylor said. "We were down 19 points in the second half against Oregon, and just like in the season, everybody had counted us out. But it was in those moments where we really stood up and met the challenge. The bowl game looked just like the season, in terms of us picking ourselves up off the mat and bringing home the victory."
The Deacs trailed 22-10 at the half and Oregon tacked on an early third-quarter touchdown. Reverses, misdirections and return throw-backs highlighted the Wake Forest second-half playbook against the Ducks.
"The defining plays were the trick plays we ran," Taylor said. "Most college players want to run all the trick plays every week in the playbook. But coaches know you can only run them once or twice before they become disasters.
"Coach Dooley kept them all in his pocket until we needed them. In the third quarter we did a throw-back on the kickoff that led to a long gain and we did a double-reverse pass. There were two-or-three of those plays in the second half that really got our energy back and surged us to victory. It was one of the wildest games I've ever been a part of. When you're down 19 in the second half, things are looking pretty bleak. Anything goes."
Between 50-60 players from the 1992 Independence Bowl championship team got together in September and were recognized on the field during the win over Liberty.
"There's a lot of pride about what we did in 1992, and a lot of pride over what Coach Dave Clawson has done with the football program in recent years," Taylor said. "When he spoke to us after the game, he praised us for setting the foundation. He's done such a remarkable job.
"There is a lot of pride and a lot of pride that we were the first Wake Forest team to be ranked at the end of the season, which is a stat that was new to me, but something that Coach Clawson shared with us after the game."
According to Quander, the evolution of Wake Forest Football starts with that 1992 championship team and has been enhanced by every coach who has led the program since, with each building off the other's successes.
"I've been around and have the pleasure of being around Jim Caldwell, Jim Grobe and now Dave Clawson," he said. "It's awesome to see what has been built since 1992. Each coach has added something to the program that the next coach was able to build upon. There were elements and intangibles that have been there for the next one. Clawson has a great staff and he is a tremendous leader. It's incredible to see Wake Forest football relevant in our community and within the ACC. We're getting to the point where we're becoming relevant nationally."
Former players and their families are more involved with the program than ever before, with Clawson consistently making alumni feel a part of the continued success.
"His re-engaging with all of us was one of the first things he did when he became head coach," Taylor said. "He made it a point to reach out to the former football players. He has a conference call with all of us twice a year and brings us back on campus for career night. He's done a really good job of engaging with former football players and keeping us connected with the program. Obviously their success on the football field helps with that as well.
"John Currie is the best athletics director in the country and has done wonders to move us into the 21st century in terms of marketing and promotion. That video they put together before the Vanderbilt game was just amazing. I know that goes a long way to get the students to the game. Something like 80 percent of the students come now. It's an incredible mix of success on the field, which is fostered by leaders like Clawson and Currie, along with talent that is far superior to the talent level the teams had when I was playing."
With the 30-year celebration as a focal point, the team decided to use their reunion as an opportunity to give back to the program by donating to the football Excellence Fund.
"The team decided to have a fundraising component to give back, because we're so happy with where the program is now and love the fact that they've re-engaged with us," Taylor said. "With all the great work that's been accomplished by Coach Clawson, John Currie and the team, we decided we were going to raise money. I committed to match up to a certain number. We raised about $25,000 for the football program.
"This is the first time a team has come together to do this. I was able to take that opportunity to thank Coach Clawson for all their success both on and off the field, and present our commitment to the football program."
Clawson and his staff can use the funds to help with facilities or anything else that might be needed to enhance the student-athlete experience.
"It's important to be a contributor and feel like you have some skin in the game for the program, however slight or huge it is," Quader said. "You know it's going to be used for something to further enhance what Coach Clawson is doing. A chance to just be part of it is great."
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