Wake Forest Athletics
From the Quad
9/15/2026 11:18:00 AM | General
Good Morning Demon Deacon Family!
It’s only September but we are already operating at full intensity here in DEACTOWN! I have to confess that Saturday’s thrilling football win in West Lafayette represented a new in-game sustained heart-rate record for your venerable athletics director as Coach Dickert’s never-say-die Deacs persevered in overtime. Later that night in Spry Stadium, technology was our friend once more as Coach da Luz and our then No. 3 ranked women’s soccer program held off No. 10 Virginia to remain undefeated despite a steady rain all night long.
We have plenty more to cover in today’s From the Quad, but let’s go ahead and dial in on Friday’s main event!
Friday Night Lights: No. 5 Miami Hurricanes Coming to Allegacy Financial Stadium
Allegacy Financial Stadium will be rocking Friday night at 7:30 p.m. as the ESPN cameras light up for a marquee ACC match-up of our 2-0 Demon Deacons against the No. 5 University of Miami Hurricanes. I know Coach Dickert and his staff, our players, Wake students and Demon Deacon fans are ready to show off Winston-Salem and Allegacy Stadium to a national audience of millions of viewers. Our Fan Experience and game day operations staff are locked in and ready and we can’t wait to see – and hear – you let loose Friday night. I've said it before and I'll say it again: Get here early! Get loud! Wear Black! Go Deacs!
- Drone Show! The Best Fan Experience in North Carolina hits a new level on Friday when the first-ever drone show at Allegacy Financial Stadium takes flight. The lights go down and the drones take off at halftime. Check it out... and let me know how you like it! We're also giving away 20,000 free flashlight covers as you enter the stadium... simply peel and place the cover over your phone flashlight to create a gold glow. Can't wait to see Allegacy Stadium alight on Friday night!
- Arrive Early! Parking lots open at 2:30 p.m., the student tailgate and Lowes DEACTOWN Fan Zone at 4:30 p.m., and Deacon Walk at 5:15 p.m. Stadium gates open at 6:00 p.m., with our on field pregame show beginning at 7:00 p.m. ahead of a 7:30 p.m. kickoff – get here early, Deacon Nation!
- Another Packed Wake Student Section! The Deacon Dash of the class of 2030 was incredible on Opening Night as those first year students showed huge smiles racing down the field and then packing into a 4000+ strong student section, despite the heat! We’ll count on the Screaming Demons to bring the noise again Thursday night – especially on 3rd down!
- The Grounds Trail is Open for Gameday: Construction continues on The Grounds, but the new walking path adjacent to the beautifully restored Silas Creek will be open for gameday, connecting to the main Reynolda campus via the new University Parkway crosswalk and Faculty Drive enabling fans, staff, and students to walk from campus to the game. Check out the path options here and for those driving to the game, please watch your speed on University Parkway.
- Prepare to Have Fun: Deacon Boulevard's gameday traffic restrictions remain in effect for Miami week, so for the best possible parking experience, before you head over, click here for custom maps helping to guide you to your preferred parking lot.
Overtime Thriller in West Lafayette Part of an ACC Three Game Sweep of the Big Ten!
Late in the fourth quarter Saturday I made my way down to the field and was fortunate to have one of the best views in the house as Gio Lopez scored the winning two-point conversion and toppled Purdue. It was one of the most intense and emotional finishes I’ve experienced in my 33 years in college athletics. On a hot, humid sunny day, Coach Dickert, our players, and staff never wavered in their determination and resolve. I have a special appreciation for our sports medicine staff keeping our guys hydrated and safe and getting the recovery process going as soon as the final horn sounded!
We’re also proud to do our part, along with Boston College downing Rutgers and Duke defeating Illinois, to post a perfect 3-0 weekend for the ACC over the Big Ten!
Women's Golf’s Racks Up First Win at the ANNIKA; Battling for Another Cup in Texas!
Our No. 7 women's golf team opened the fall the way you dream about, winning the 2026 ANNIKA Intercollegiate at Royal Golf Club in Lake Elmo, Minnesota, by 10 full strokes over runner-up USC. Our fourth ANNIKA title and Coach Kim Lewellen's 31st team title at Wake Forest. Chloe Kovelesky finished runner-up individually at 207, freshman Havanna Torstensson was right behind her at 208 in her collegiate debut, and senior Macy Pate rounded out the top five. Today, the Deacs are in action defending both our team and individual titles at the Jackson T. Stephens Cup at PGA Frisco Fields Ranch in Texas. Click here to follow the scoring and click here to check out this Golf Channel shot of yesterday’s eagle from the fairway by Macy! Go Low Deacs!
After Ascending to #2 in the Country, Undefeated Women’s Soccer Leaving On a Jet Plane
Coach da Luz and the Deacs are heading west for games at Cal Thursday (7 p.m. ET) and Stanford Sunday (4 p.m. ET) following that aforementioned thrilling top-10 victory over Virginia Saturday night. Six days before that one, the Deacs netted a 2-1 win over Florida in Gainesville, moving to 3-0 against SEC opposition this season. Congratulations to Coach Tony da Luz, who coached his 700th career game along the way – a special milestone.
Streaking #6 Field Hockey Heads to Delaware and a Top-10 Showdown with Maryland
Coach Jennifer Averill's now-No. 6 ranked field hockey team (4-1) hits the road again this weekend, first at Delaware and then for a top-10 showdown with No. 7 Maryland. The Deacs are on a four-game winning streak, bookended with a Labor Day weekend win over the Michigan Wolverines and a 6-0 win at App State this past Sunday. Senior Ava Moore and senior Mia Schoenbeck each scored twice in Boone, while goalkeeper Ruby Butterfield picked up her fourth consecutive victory in net.
Men's Soccer Hosts UVA, Welcomes Alumni Home This Saturday Night, Matchtime 7:00 p.m.
Coach Bobby Muuss and the Deacs (4-2-1, 1-1-0 ACC) host Virginia at Spry Stadium this Saturday at 7 p.m. for Alumni Weekend, welcoming home many of the alumni who helped build one of the best men's soccer programs in the country – on and off-the-field. It's been a strong start to the year, highlighted by a 6-1 rout of Duke on Sept. 6th that pushed Coach Muuss's combined record against our Big Four rivals to 20-4-5. Senior and Winston-Salem native Tate Lorentz led the way with a brace against Duke, while sophomore Alfred Debah factored into scoring in both matches this week… picking up an assist against Duke before netting a goal at Virginia Tech this past Sunday.
Remember that godeacs.com and all our social media channels are great ways to keep up with all the action, including recent wins by women’s tennis and volleyball, our first men’s golf and cross country actions of the fall and lots more! And check ESPN+ and ACCNetworkExtra from wherever you are for home and away soccer, volleyball and field hockey matches.
Remember that godeacs.com and all our social media channels are great ways to keep up with all the action, including recent wins by women’s tennis and volleyball, our first men’s golf and cross country actions of the fall and lots more! And check ESPN+ and ACCNetworkExtra from wherever you are for home and away soccer, volleyball and field hockey matches.
Conference Matters: ACC AD and Board Meetings, With an Eye on PCSA Progress
This afternoon I’m driving President Rodriguez down to Charlotte for the Atlantic Coast Conference Board of Directors fall meeting. While this is Dr. Rodriguez’s first “in-person” ACC meeting, he’s been fully engaged with his fellow presidents and chancellors since his appointment a few months ago, including plenty of Board zooms, calls, and one-on-one visits with several of his peers.
As this year’s ACC AD Chair, I have the responsibility to represent my colleagues at the three regular in-person meetings of the ACC’s presidents and chancellors. Last week, ACC ADs spent Wednesday afternoon and evening, and four more hours Thursday morning, at conference headquarters at 620 South Tryon Street. Hosted by Commissioner Phillips and staff, our discussion included “usual” topics like football and basketball scheduling and brand development, strategy for continued growth of the ACC Network, and of course the status of the Protect College Sports Act, which may be considered in the Senate this week.
During Wednesday evening’s working dinner we were joined by veteran men’s basketball referee supervisor Bryan Kersey, and new ACC football and women’s basketball supervisors, Gary Patterson and Pualani Spurlock-Welsh, respectively. Officiating is a high pressure endeavor and it's important to have these opportunities for transparent and constructive dialogue. We even spent some time in the ACC replay center looking at some real-world call reviews for all three sports. One thing is for sure – we all want the calls to be right!
Honoring Tom Stuetzer as the 2026 Pete Moffitt Courage Award Recipient
Before the Demon Deacons take the field Friday night, we’ll recognize Tom Stuetzer (‘96, MSA ‘97) as the 2026 recipient of the Pete Moffitt Courage Award. Tom will join a list of just 14 distinguished recipients, as the Moffitt award is presented annually by Pete Moffitt’s wife, Susan, to a Wake Forest student-athlete, coach, administrator or alumnus who exemplifies Pete’s strength, perseverance, courage, and ability to inspire the Wake Forest community. Tom was a 4-year starter as a defensive back from 1993-1996 under head coach Jim Caldwell, finished the 1993 season as the team leader in interceptions, and earned multiple All-ACC Academic Team honors. We are honored to celebrate Tom on Friday night alongside his wife, Kerri, his three kids: John, Ryan, Katelynn, and his parents Tom (‘68), also a Wake Forest former football player and Nancy Stuetzer (‘69), both longtime Deacon Club members.
Big Four Back in the Joel as ACC Men's Basketball ACC Schedule Unveiled
The ACC Men's Basketball schedule is out, and it's a good one for Wake Forest fans. We'll play eight of our nine home ACC games while classes are in session this year, headlined by Duke on January 20, NC State on February 10, and a Saturday home clash with the North Carolina Tar Heels on February 20. Your first chance to see Coach Forbes' revamped roster against outside competition is October 4 in a 12:30 p.m. exhibition game against the Hoyas of Georgetown. Season ticket holders get in free, as do kids 12 and under, so bring your neighborhood friends!
DEACTOWN Hits the Road: San Francisco, Dallas, Atlanta
When the Deacs are on the road, no matter what the sport or where the action is, our student-athletes love seeing Black and Gold in the stands! This fall, three cities will see an extra DEACTOWN emphasis for three football weekends of Demon Deacon fun. First stop is the Bay Area, where President Rodriguez joins us for an evening reception at the Exploratorium on Thursday, October 15, ahead of our tailgate and football game at Cal on Saturday, October 17. Wake Forest Volleyball will also be in the Bay area for the weekend for their West Coast swing.
From there we head to the Dallas-Fort Worth area for a full weekend including an evening with President Rodriguez on Thursday, November 12, a pop-in pep rally Friday, November 13, and a tailgate before the Deacs take on SMU on Saturday, November 14.
We close it out in Atlanta with a Wake Forest community-wide gathering hosted by WAKEAtlanta on Thursday, November 19, followed by a tailgate and WF Football vs. Georgia Tech on Saturday, November 21.
Register here for each stop and let's have some fun on the road!
Looking Back To Never Forget - A Climb to Remember
Last Friday morning, before the sun was even fully up, I was among an estimated 1600 community members at Allegacy Financial Stadium for the annual Climb to Remember, scaling 2,977 stairs, one for every life lost on September 11, 2001. Composed of ROTC Cadets from Wake Forest, Winston-Salem State, and Salem College, the No Fear Army ROTC Battalion led the way alongside President Rodriguez, first responders and others. From the opening remarks, the National Anthem and then the sun rising over the stadium, you could feel just how much this special tradition means to our community as we honor those who are no longer with us, and the families impacted.
From the Quad Big 3
Finally, here are today's Big 3 ways to help the Deacs:
- You are invited to President Rodriguez's inauguration on Friday, October 30! Register here for the festivities including a morning installation ceremony in Wait Chapel and an evening celebration on Hearn Plaza starting at 6:30 p.m.
- This Friday come to campus early before the game and hear The Honorable Daniel Driscoll, former Secretary of the Army’s "Conversations in Strategic Leadership” at 2 p.m. in Farrell Hall's Broyhill Auditorium. Hosted by the Wake Forest School of Business and moderated by Professor Ben King, Secretary Driscoll’s appearance is free for the Wake community and will also feature an audience Q&A. Secretary Driscoll will then lead an Oath of Enlistment Ceremony for Wake Forest ROTC cadets committing to military service after graduation on the Allegacy Financial Stadium field during the final timeout in the 2nd quarter of Friday’s football game.
- Have you seen the incredible new art on Reynolds Boulevard? Reynolds American commissioned this tremendous 33,000 square feet mural celebrating 150 years of history which begins with Mr. RJ himself riding into Winston in 1874! It’s not just a great art project, but a testament to the rich history of the city we call home.
Let me know your favorite moment of this upcoming stretch of Deacon action and send your thoughts, ideas, and suggestions to me at wfuad@wfu.edu.
As always, thank you for your support of Wake Forest student-athletes.
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