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From the Quad
1/9/2026 9:00:00 AM | General
Presented by Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist
Guten Morgen Demon Deacon Nation!
We've got breaking news in today's From the Quad as Wake Forest University – in collaboration with the City of Winston-Salem, The Graylyn Estate, and statewide economic and tourism partners – has been selected as the official training base for the German Men's National Team during the 2026 FIFA World Cup. From June 7 through the conclusion of the tournament, the four-time World Cup champions will call Winston-Salem home, training at W. Dennie Spry Soccer Stadium – one of the premier collegiate fútbol venues in the country – while residing at The Graylyn Estate, one of America's finest boutique hotels.
This partnership brings international visibility, meaningful economic impact, and deep community pride to Winston-Salem, the Triad, and the state of North Carolina. We expect hundreds of media members from Europe and around the world to be in Winston-Salem following the team, and their coverage will further the international awareness of Wake Forest's beautiful campus, world-class athletics facilities, and thriving collegiate environment. Led by Vice President John Wise and Senior Associate AD Craig Zakrzewski, our university colleagues collaborated with community leaders that include Greater Winston-Salem Inc. President & CEO Mark Owens, Mayor Allen Joines, and Visit Winston-Salem President & CEO Stephanie Pace Brown, among others, to create an outstanding opportunity for one of the most storied programs in international sport.
Hosting the German National Team also reflects the strength of Demon Deacons soccer – built through the leadership of Tony da Luz, Bobby Muuss, and generations of top-tier players – and reinforces Wake Forest's role as a trusted regional partner. This effort will generate economic opportunity, strengthen international relationships and create valuable engagement opportunities for our students, alumni and neighbors.
As Head Coach Julian Nagelsmann noted, Wake Forest provides an environment that mirrors the high-performance setting the team relies on in Germany, with top-quality training fields located close by Graylyn and the facilities and resources needed to support daily preparation. We are grateful for the trust the German Football Association has placed in Wake Forest and Winston-Salem, and we look forward to welcoming the team to our community later this year.
Additional details about community engagement opportunities and the fan experience will be shared as plans are finalized. We are excited for this extraordinary opportunity to showcase Wake Forest and Winston-Salem on the world stage.
Continue to stay tuned for all the latest news and information that will be posted on our dedicated German Men's National Team webpage.
Duke's Mayo Bowl Champs! Dickert's Deacs Achieve Historic Nine-Win Season!
In his first year leading Wake Forest Football, Coach Jake Dickert guided our program to one of the most memorable seasons in school history – capped by a thrilling Duke's Mayo Bowl victory over Mississippi State, marking the program's fourth ever nine-win campaign. Our fans showed out all day long at tailgates and fun events and you can show your pride all offseason by clicking here to grab your Duke's Mayo Bowl Championship gear!
A year ago, our program was in transition, coming off back-to-back 4–8 seasons, and most of the pundits predicted an ACC-cellar finish and just three or four wins in 2025.
Instead, Coach Dickert and his staff embraced a resilient group of returning players, welcomed 62 new student-athletes and instilled confidence and belief through the "Built in the Dark" culture that united our locker room from day one while staying true to a simple goal – go 1-0 each week. The result was a season defined by toughness, emotional maturity, and the kind of competitive spirit that reflects the very best of Wake Forest.
Like our season as a whole, the bowl game featured highs, and lows, and moments of adversity – but our team responded with poise and resolve. Whether it was game MVP Robby Ashford lowering his shoulder for a huge third down conversion in the 4th quarter, incredible support from the Demon Deacon faithful comprising the vast majority of the 29,328 fans in attendance, or Coach Dickert sharing the ceremonial Duke's Mayo victory bath with his kids, it was a magical night for Wake Forest.
The 3.2 million ESPN viewers also received special insight into Demon Deacon entrepreneurial excellence through this in-game feature of Wake Forest linebacker Quincy Bryant and the company he and former teammate Trent Nicholson cofounded, Final Whistle Wealth, which is developing an app that connects athletes with financial advisors and CPAs. I especially loved the shout-out for our Farrell Hall faculty members from ESPN broadcaster Anish Shroff, who lauded "Wake Forest's tremendous Business program!"
As Coach Dickert shared after the game, this season laid "a tremendous foundation" while we made significant memories including wins over CFP Top-25 opponents SMU and Virginia as well as the Big Four win over North Carolina inside a sold-out Allegacy Stadium. Wake Forest was tied with Duke for the most wins among all Power 4 programs from the Carolinas and the Deacs are one of just five ACC programs – along with Clemson, Louisville, Duke and NC State – to record at least five eight-win seasons in the last nine years.
Coach Dickert and his staff were right back at work Saturday morning landing new Demon Deacons from the portal and now is the time for Deacon Nation to lean in and help build on this momentum forward into 2026. We are entering a new era with a nine-game ACC schedule, which includes six total home matchups and our staff is doubling down on delivering the Best Fan Experience in North Carolina at Allegacy Stadium. It all starts on Thursday, Sept. 3 for Opening Night.
Remember the challenge we set for Deacon Nation after Coach Dickert signed his long-term contract extension – make a personal commitment to the "One More Rule" and attend at least one more Wake Forest football game – in person – in 2026 than you did in 2025; lock in your seats for 2026 with a full season ticket deposit and earn an exclusive Head Coach Jake Dickert bobblehead as our thank-you; take advantage of our limited-time Built in the Dark season ticket plan – just $149 per ticket – with seats available in Sections 1 and 10 (rows FFF–OOO) and Sections 11–12 (rows L–CC) while inventory lasts.
Be sure to encourage your friends, neighbors and colleagues to join you in Allegacy next fall! For assistance, contact the Wake Forest Ticket Office at 336-758-3322 ext. 1 or tix@wfu.edu.
Mark Your Calendar for Rodney Rogers Day - Saturday, January 31st
On Dec. 6th, Barry Faircloth and I made the short drive down to Durham to attend Rodney Rogers' funeral while our men's team was in Charleston to play West Virginia. It was a beautiful service befitting one of the true giants in Wake Forest history and an honor to be there with so many of Rodney's Demon Deacon teammates, family members, and friends whose lives were profoundly touched by his strength, generosity, and unwavering courage.
On Saturday, January 31, as our men's basketball team plays NC State inside LJVM Coliseum, Wake Forest will host Rodney Rogers Day to remember Rodney, honor his wife Faye and their family and recognize his teammates and coaches. In tribute, the first 1,000 students in attendance will receive a replica Rodney Rogers jersey and "54" buttons will be available for fans as we honor a player whose iconic No. 54 jersey rightfully hangs in the Joel Coliseum rafters. Our team will continue wearing a No. 54 jersey patch all season long.
Rodney's impact on Wake Forest cannot be overstated as he accelerated the upward trajectory of Wake Forest University as well as Demon Deacons basketball from the moment he signed his letter of intent in the fall of 1989. His generational combination of power and grace as a player was exceeded only by the size of his heart and his perseverance and spirit following his accident inspired thousands and embodied the true meaning of Pro Humanitate.
Tickets for the NC State game are available here and we hope to see you Jan. 31!
Deacon Hoops on Road This Weekend; Women Return to Joel Coliseum Next Thursday
Speaking of hoops, Coach Steve Forbes and our men's basketball team split a pair of down-to-the-wire games in the Joel this week with a strong win over Virginia Tech Sunday and a tough last minute loss to a 13-2 Miami team on Wednesday. As Coach Forbes said in the postgame locker room, now we have now to go steal one on the road and the first big opportunity to do so is tomorrow at No. 17 North Carolina at 6 p.m. on ACC Network. Following a bye during the midweek, the Deacs travel to Florida State on Saturday, Jan. 17. before returning home Tuesday, Jan. 20, for a 9 p.m. matchup against No. 24 SMU.
Meanwhile, Coach Megan Gebbia and our 12-5 women's team are on a west coast trip and fell last night at Stanford despite a strong defensive effort. With that, the Deacs play at Cal on Sunday at 5 p.m. in a contest that will be broadcast on ACC Network Extra. Meanwhile after a red-eye flight on Sunday, our women's team will begin preparing for the Wolfpack to come into Joel Coliseum on Thursday, Jan. 15 for a 6 p.m. tipoff.
Wake Forest & Winston-Salem Community Honor the Legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
On Monday, Jan. 19, Wake Forest University and Winston-Salem State University will once again join the Winston-Salem community in honoring the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. through a series of meaningful programs and gatherings.
Early in the day, The Winston-Salem Chronicle will host the 2026 Martin Luther King Jr. Prayer Breakfast at 7:30 a.m. at the Benton Convention Center. Professor Larry Little, J.D. – retired political science professor at Winston-Salem State University – will serve as the keynote speaker. That evening, Wake Forest's Intercultural Center and WSSU's Student Activities and Engagement will continue the shared tradition of celebrating Dr. King's legacy with a joint program in Wait Chapel. That event is free and open to the public, and all are encouraged to arrive early. Past speakers for the joint celebration have included Bernice King, Dr. Maya Angelou, Michael Eric Dyson, and Harry Belafonte.
From the Quad Big 3
Here are today's Big 3 ways to help the Deacs:
We wish all our Wake Forest students safe travels as they return to Winston-Salem this weekend ahead of the spring semester classes beginning on Monday. As always, send your thoughts, ideas and suggestions to me at wfuad@wfu.edu, and …
Go Deacs!
John Currie
Vice President & Director of Athletics
Wake Forest University
Guten Morgen Demon Deacon Nation!
We've got breaking news in today's From the Quad as Wake Forest University – in collaboration with the City of Winston-Salem, The Graylyn Estate, and statewide economic and tourism partners – has been selected as the official training base for the German Men's National Team during the 2026 FIFA World Cup. From June 7 through the conclusion of the tournament, the four-time World Cup champions will call Winston-Salem home, training at W. Dennie Spry Soccer Stadium – one of the premier collegiate fútbol venues in the country – while residing at The Graylyn Estate, one of America's finest boutique hotels.
This partnership brings international visibility, meaningful economic impact, and deep community pride to Winston-Salem, the Triad, and the state of North Carolina. We expect hundreds of media members from Europe and around the world to be in Winston-Salem following the team, and their coverage will further the international awareness of Wake Forest's beautiful campus, world-class athletics facilities, and thriving collegiate environment. Led by Vice President John Wise and Senior Associate AD Craig Zakrzewski, our university colleagues collaborated with community leaders that include Greater Winston-Salem Inc. President & CEO Mark Owens, Mayor Allen Joines, and Visit Winston-Salem President & CEO Stephanie Pace Brown, among others, to create an outstanding opportunity for one of the most storied programs in international sport.
Hosting the German National Team also reflects the strength of Demon Deacons soccer – built through the leadership of Tony da Luz, Bobby Muuss, and generations of top-tier players – and reinforces Wake Forest's role as a trusted regional partner. This effort will generate economic opportunity, strengthen international relationships and create valuable engagement opportunities for our students, alumni and neighbors.
As Head Coach Julian Nagelsmann noted, Wake Forest provides an environment that mirrors the high-performance setting the team relies on in Germany, with top-quality training fields located close by Graylyn and the facilities and resources needed to support daily preparation. We are grateful for the trust the German Football Association has placed in Wake Forest and Winston-Salem, and we look forward to welcoming the team to our community later this year.
Additional details about community engagement opportunities and the fan experience will be shared as plans are finalized. We are excited for this extraordinary opportunity to showcase Wake Forest and Winston-Salem on the world stage.
Continue to stay tuned for all the latest news and information that will be posted on our dedicated German Men's National Team webpage.
Duke's Mayo Bowl Champs! Dickert's Deacs Achieve Historic Nine-Win Season!
In his first year leading Wake Forest Football, Coach Jake Dickert guided our program to one of the most memorable seasons in school history – capped by a thrilling Duke's Mayo Bowl victory over Mississippi State, marking the program's fourth ever nine-win campaign. Our fans showed out all day long at tailgates and fun events and you can show your pride all offseason by clicking here to grab your Duke's Mayo Bowl Championship gear!
A year ago, our program was in transition, coming off back-to-back 4–8 seasons, and most of the pundits predicted an ACC-cellar finish and just three or four wins in 2025.
Instead, Coach Dickert and his staff embraced a resilient group of returning players, welcomed 62 new student-athletes and instilled confidence and belief through the "Built in the Dark" culture that united our locker room from day one while staying true to a simple goal – go 1-0 each week. The result was a season defined by toughness, emotional maturity, and the kind of competitive spirit that reflects the very best of Wake Forest.
Like our season as a whole, the bowl game featured highs, and lows, and moments of adversity – but our team responded with poise and resolve. Whether it was game MVP Robby Ashford lowering his shoulder for a huge third down conversion in the 4th quarter, incredible support from the Demon Deacon faithful comprising the vast majority of the 29,328 fans in attendance, or Coach Dickert sharing the ceremonial Duke's Mayo victory bath with his kids, it was a magical night for Wake Forest.
The 3.2 million ESPN viewers also received special insight into Demon Deacon entrepreneurial excellence through this in-game feature of Wake Forest linebacker Quincy Bryant and the company he and former teammate Trent Nicholson cofounded, Final Whistle Wealth, which is developing an app that connects athletes with financial advisors and CPAs. I especially loved the shout-out for our Farrell Hall faculty members from ESPN broadcaster Anish Shroff, who lauded "Wake Forest's tremendous Business program!"
As Coach Dickert shared after the game, this season laid "a tremendous foundation" while we made significant memories including wins over CFP Top-25 opponents SMU and Virginia as well as the Big Four win over North Carolina inside a sold-out Allegacy Stadium. Wake Forest was tied with Duke for the most wins among all Power 4 programs from the Carolinas and the Deacs are one of just five ACC programs – along with Clemson, Louisville, Duke and NC State – to record at least five eight-win seasons in the last nine years.
Coach Dickert and his staff were right back at work Saturday morning landing new Demon Deacons from the portal and now is the time for Deacon Nation to lean in and help build on this momentum forward into 2026. We are entering a new era with a nine-game ACC schedule, which includes six total home matchups and our staff is doubling down on delivering the Best Fan Experience in North Carolina at Allegacy Stadium. It all starts on Thursday, Sept. 3 for Opening Night.
Remember the challenge we set for Deacon Nation after Coach Dickert signed his long-term contract extension – make a personal commitment to the "One More Rule" and attend at least one more Wake Forest football game – in person – in 2026 than you did in 2025; lock in your seats for 2026 with a full season ticket deposit and earn an exclusive Head Coach Jake Dickert bobblehead as our thank-you; take advantage of our limited-time Built in the Dark season ticket plan – just $149 per ticket – with seats available in Sections 1 and 10 (rows FFF–OOO) and Sections 11–12 (rows L–CC) while inventory lasts.
Be sure to encourage your friends, neighbors and colleagues to join you in Allegacy next fall! For assistance, contact the Wake Forest Ticket Office at 336-758-3322 ext. 1 or tix@wfu.edu.
Mark Your Calendar for Rodney Rogers Day - Saturday, January 31st
On Dec. 6th, Barry Faircloth and I made the short drive down to Durham to attend Rodney Rogers' funeral while our men's team was in Charleston to play West Virginia. It was a beautiful service befitting one of the true giants in Wake Forest history and an honor to be there with so many of Rodney's Demon Deacon teammates, family members, and friends whose lives were profoundly touched by his strength, generosity, and unwavering courage.
On Saturday, January 31, as our men's basketball team plays NC State inside LJVM Coliseum, Wake Forest will host Rodney Rogers Day to remember Rodney, honor his wife Faye and their family and recognize his teammates and coaches. In tribute, the first 1,000 students in attendance will receive a replica Rodney Rogers jersey and "54" buttons will be available for fans as we honor a player whose iconic No. 54 jersey rightfully hangs in the Joel Coliseum rafters. Our team will continue wearing a No. 54 jersey patch all season long.
Rodney's impact on Wake Forest cannot be overstated as he accelerated the upward trajectory of Wake Forest University as well as Demon Deacons basketball from the moment he signed his letter of intent in the fall of 1989. His generational combination of power and grace as a player was exceeded only by the size of his heart and his perseverance and spirit following his accident inspired thousands and embodied the true meaning of Pro Humanitate.
Tickets for the NC State game are available here and we hope to see you Jan. 31!
Deacon Hoops on Road This Weekend; Women Return to Joel Coliseum Next Thursday
Speaking of hoops, Coach Steve Forbes and our men's basketball team split a pair of down-to-the-wire games in the Joel this week with a strong win over Virginia Tech Sunday and a tough last minute loss to a 13-2 Miami team on Wednesday. As Coach Forbes said in the postgame locker room, now we have now to go steal one on the road and the first big opportunity to do so is tomorrow at No. 17 North Carolina at 6 p.m. on ACC Network. Following a bye during the midweek, the Deacs travel to Florida State on Saturday, Jan. 17. before returning home Tuesday, Jan. 20, for a 9 p.m. matchup against No. 24 SMU.
Meanwhile, Coach Megan Gebbia and our 12-5 women's team are on a west coast trip and fell last night at Stanford despite a strong defensive effort. With that, the Deacs play at Cal on Sunday at 5 p.m. in a contest that will be broadcast on ACC Network Extra. Meanwhile after a red-eye flight on Sunday, our women's team will begin preparing for the Wolfpack to come into Joel Coliseum on Thursday, Jan. 15 for a 6 p.m. tipoff.
Wake Forest & Winston-Salem Community Honor the Legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
On Monday, Jan. 19, Wake Forest University and Winston-Salem State University will once again join the Winston-Salem community in honoring the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. through a series of meaningful programs and gatherings.
Early in the day, The Winston-Salem Chronicle will host the 2026 Martin Luther King Jr. Prayer Breakfast at 7:30 a.m. at the Benton Convention Center. Professor Larry Little, J.D. – retired political science professor at Winston-Salem State University – will serve as the keynote speaker. That evening, Wake Forest's Intercultural Center and WSSU's Student Activities and Engagement will continue the shared tradition of celebrating Dr. King's legacy with a joint program in Wait Chapel. That event is free and open to the public, and all are encouraged to arrive early. Past speakers for the joint celebration have included Bernice King, Dr. Maya Angelou, Michael Eric Dyson, and Harry Belafonte.
From the Quad Big 3
Here are today's Big 3 ways to help the Deacs:
- Subscribe to our free daily Deacon Sports Xtra as it arrives in your inbox every weekday morning at 7 a.m, for you to enjoy with your morning coffee. It's a fantastic way to stay current and get to know your Demon Deacons.
- It's hard to believe, but we are just over a month away from Opening Day at Couch Ballpark as Coach Tom Walter's ballclub opens the season at home on Feb. 17 at 6 p.m. vs. High Point. Click here for all the 2026 home ticket options and remember that season ticket holders receive priority on postseason home games!
- Take a listen to President Susan R. Wente's recent interview with the Triad Business Journal, as she underscores the remarkable momentum at Wake Forest University — even amid the broader challenges facing higher education. Highlights include her comments on Wake Forest's expanding access and affordability through initiatives like the For Humanity financial aid effort and new pathways that make a Wake Forest education attainable for more students.
We wish all our Wake Forest students safe travels as they return to Winston-Salem this weekend ahead of the spring semester classes beginning on Monday. As always, send your thoughts, ideas and suggestions to me at wfuad@wfu.edu, and …
Go Deacs!
John Currie
Vice President & Director of Athletics
Wake Forest University
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Wake Forest vs Mississippi State | Duke's Mayo Bowl Cinematic Recap
Friday, January 09
Steve Forbes - Postgame Presser vs. Miami
Thursday, January 08
Steve Forbes - Postgame Presser vs. Virginia Tech
Saturday, January 03
Head Coach Jake Dickert Duke's Mayo Bowl Postgame Press Conference (Jan. 2, 2026)
Saturday, January 03