Wake Forest Athletics News
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100% Cotten - The Coming Fall
May 12, 2004
Skip Prosser sometimes teases me and refers to me as a "football guy." And even though there is still some work to be done with baseball this season, I must admit I find my mind wandering and pondering the coming fall. I'm betting many of you are doing the same. And there are some good reasons to do so. It's arguable that Jim Grobe will have his most talented team since his arrival in Winston-Salem. He'll certainly have some bodies from which to choose as he and his staff search for those talented enough to tackle a very tough schedule - made even more grisly with the additions of perennial powers Virginia Tech and Miami. Looking at the upcoming roster of Deacons, Wake Forest has a bona-fide star returning to head the offense, defense and kicking teams. On defense, first team All-ACC Eric King (Woodstock, MD) returns for his senior season. He has the respect of the league and his own teammates who voted him MVP following the 2003 season. King will take a team high 32-game starting streak into the season opener at Death Valley. Clemson won't soon forget King's heroics in the Deacs' 45-17 mauling of the Tigers November 1 at Groves Stadium. With Clemson on the move trying to cut a Wake Forest 14-0 lead in half, King stepped in front of a Charlie Whitehurst pass and raced 85 yards down the west sidelines to deliver a haymaker of a touchdown and a 21-0 lead. Eric was the first Demon Deacon defensive back to be named first team All-ACC since 1987. His senior leadership this time around should prove invaluable as the Deacs try to keep their opponents out of the endzone and off of the scoreboard. On offense, junior tailback Chris Barclay (Louisville, KY) sits in the gates and will try to continue his onslaught against opponent defenses. I've already chided the ACC in this space for the timing of its postseason awards banquet that cost Barclay a spot on the league's first team a year ago. Chris ended up leading the ACC in rushing and rushing touchdowns but made second team. The votes were due before the season ended, so Chris didn't get his due. But he got his yards - 1,192 to be exact - the second highest single season total in Wake Forest history. He averaged just over 132 yards per game against the ACC and will be the one to watch in the league come fall. And let's not forget a weapon-waiting-to-happen: punter Ryan Plackemeier (Bonsall, CA). He joined Eric King as a first team All-ACC pick following a stellar season averaging a league best 45.6 yards per punt - a total that also set a new Wake Forest single season record and stacked up as sixth best nationally. Plack's career average is 44.8 yards per punt - first all-time for now in Demon Deacon history. There's a certain comfort level with Ryan standing in punt formation. He usually puts the Deacs in a good spot, and from a field position perspective he can be a deadly weapon. The best part? Like Barclay, Plack is just a junior. And so while there's baseball, golf, tennis and more before this athletic season winds down, it won't be long before vacations are over and a hint of fall is in the air. I can't wait. And truth be told, neither can Skip.
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