Wake Forest Football

Sept. 15, 1997

Deacs Host Jackets In Acc Opener

Wake Forest seeks to bounce back from a disappointing one-point loss at East Carolina last week as it opens Atlantic Coast Conference play for 1997 this Saturday against Georgia Tech. Kickoff time in Groves Stadium is 6:30 p.m. It's also "Varsity Club Day" at Wake Forest with more than 300 former athletes and their families expected to take part in a weekend full of activities. The Demon Deacons captured their '97 debut in Groves two weeks ago with a 27-20 victory over then #21-ranked Northwestern, but could not hold a 21-0 lead in falling to ECU this past weekend, 25-24.

Team Data
WAKE FOREST (1-1)                       GEORGIA TECH (0-1)
Offense: Multiple                       Offense: Multiple
Lettermen/Starters Back: 19/9           Lettermen/Starters Back: 16/7
Defense: Multiple                       Defense: Multiple
Lettermen/Starters Back: 20/8           Lettermen/Starters Back: 21/7
Total Lettermen Back: 42                Total Lettermen Back: 41
Head Coach: Jim Caldwell (5th year)     Head Coach: George O'Leary (3rd year)
W-10, L-36                              W-11, L-15 
same record overall                     same record overall
1-3 vs Georgia Tech                     2-1 vs Wake Forest 

    1997 Schedule                           1997 Schedule
    9/6     Northwestern    W 27-20         9/6     at Notre Dame   L 13-17
    9/13    at East Carolina    L 24-25     9/20    at Wake Forest
    9/20    Georgia Tech    6:30            9/27    Clemson
    9/25    N.C.State   8:00 (ESPN)         10/4    at Boston College
    10/4    at Virginia tba                 10/11   N.C.State
    10/11   at North Carolina   tba         10/18   at Florida State
    10/18   Maryland    1:00*               10/30   North Carolina
    10/25   at Duke tba                     11/8    at Virginia
    11/1    Clemson 1:00*                   11/15   at Duke
    11/8    at Rutgers  tba                 11/22   Maryland
    11/15   at Florida State    tba         11/29   Georgia
                *tentative - subject to change

The Series With Georgia Tech: Wake Forest trails 14-5 in the overall competition with Georgia Tech, a series that includes 15 ACC meetings (Tech leads in those games, 10-5) and four get-togethers early this century. All five Demon Deacon wins have come since 1985. In fact, the series is almost even at six wins for the Yellow Jackets and five for the Deacs in their last 11 encounters.

The last two WFU victories over Tech, though, have come in Atlanta (in 1992 and 1994). The Jackets have won on their last three visits to Groves Stadium, including a 24-23 decision there in 1995 in a contest that was not determined until a missed 47-yard field goal attempt by Wake's Bill Hollows with 0:32 remaining. Last year's date at historic Grant Field was not nearly as close (Tech won, 30-10).

The Wake-Tech Series 1917 Atl GT 33-0 1982 W-S GT 45-7 1987 Atl WF 33-6 1992 Atl WF 23-10 1919 Atl GT 14-0 1983 Atl GT 49-33 1988 W-S WF 28-24 1993 W-S GT 38-28 1920 Atl GT 44-0 1984 W-S GT 24-7 1989 Atl GT 43-14 1994 Atl WF 20-13 1921 Atl GT 42-0 1985 Atl GT 41-10 1990 W-S GT 42-7 1995 W-S GT 24-23 1986 W-S WF 24-21 1991 Atl GT 27-3 1996 Atl GT 30-10

Last Year's Game: Riding a two-game win streak and the exhilaration of an upset of #13 Northwestern the previous week, Wake Forest journeyed to Atlanta hoping for a good start to its ACC schedule. The Demon Deacons had those hopes ended abruptly, however, by a strong effort by Georgia Tech as the Yellow Jackets registered a 30-10 win. The Jackets doubled the Deacs in total offense, 536 to 257 yards, and held an overwhelming advantage in time of possession, controlling the ball for 42:10 (Wake had it only 17:50).

Tech took command early, covering 62 yards on its first possession for a 7-0 lead on a one-yard run by C.J. Williams. The Wake Forest defense forced punts on the next two possessions, but the Deacon offense managed just one first down in the first period. The home team added 10 points in the second quarter to hold a 17-0 advantage before Wake's Brian Kuklick found an open Kai Snead over the middle and Snead raced 75 yards for his first career touchdown, making the score 17-7. Any hopes that the Deacs had for a comeback were thwarted, though, when Tech responded by driving 80 yards for a TD (12-yd run by QB Joe Hamilton) on the final play of the half.

Neither team could reach the endzone in the second half, though Tech continued to hold the upper hand thanks to a rushing attack that produced 309 yards. In comparison, Wake Forest netted only 22 yards on the ground for the entire game. Solid performances on the defensive side for Wake included linebackers Kelvin Moses and Dustin Lyman, each with 17 tackles.

For Information On The Jackets: Contact either Mike Finn or Allison George in the Georgia Tech Sports Information Office (404-894-5445). The Yellow Jacket headquarters for their trip to Wake Forest is the Holiday Inn Select (910-767-9595).

The Deacs Last Week: Wake Forest made its first visit to Greenville, NC in 34 years last Saturday and played near-perfect football for 24 minutes in taking a 21-0 lead before a volatile record crowd in Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium. The Demon Deacons fell victim to their own mistakes and some big plays from the East Carolina passing game, however, and fell in an emotional 25-24 contest.

A fumble recovery by D'Angelo Solomon set up Brian Kuklick's 13-yard TD pass to Jammie Deese, then Kito Gary's 76-yard scamper led to a short scoring run by Morgan Kane as the Deacs grabbed a 14-0 lead in the first quarter. After Kuklick sneaked in from two yards out in the second period, Wake appeared in fine shape. However, a fumble by Gary at his own 24 ignited the Pirates, who scored on one play, then recovered an onside kick to set up a second TD to make the score 21-13 at halftime.

Poor field position and an aggressive ECU defense, which would sack Kuklick seven times on the day, plagued the Deacon offensive efforts after intermission. The Wake defense, though, stopped the Pirates four times from its own 2-yard-line to keep the margin at eight points entering the final quarter before ECU quarterback Dan Gonzalez passed 33 yards to Troy Smith for one TD, then hooked up with Smith on a 44-yard play to set up another score. Wake Forest's final possession ended when Kuklick's pass intended for Thabiti Davis was deflected and intercepted at the ECU 28-yard-line with 0:56 remaining.

Kuklick finished with 257 yards on 19 of 30 passes. Kane turned in a solid all-around performance, rushing for 71 yards and catching 8 passes for 72 yards. Smith led ECU with 168 yards on 7 catches, while Gonzalez passed for 269 yards (23-of-41). Leaders on defense for Wake Forest were linebacker Dustin Lyman (12 tackles, sack, TFL, 2 PBUs) and Robert Fatzinger (7 tackles, 3 qb pressures).

Comments From Coach Jim Caldwell
(On the loss to East Carolina) - "It was certainly a difficult, emotional loss. We simply did not put East Carolina away when we had the opportunity, and you cannot allow a good football team like they have to hang around. A couple of key turnovers on our part helped turn things around, too, and that is something we just can't do. Our effort was very good. We were extremely enthusiastic and very competitive. We just did not play as well collectively as we needed to do for the entire 60 minutes."

(On Georgia Tech) - "Georgia Tech has a very experienced football team, maybe as experienced a team as there is in our conference. They showed the caliber of team that they have by the way they played in a hostile environment at Notre Dame and have had two weeks to work on improving themselves since that contest. I'm particularly impressed with their defense, but they have a lot of firepower on offense, too. We have to learn from last week as we prepare for this game and future games. I think that we will."

Noting The Demon Deacons
ACC Debut: For the second year in a row, Wake Forest kicks off its ACC schedule against Georgia Tech. Last year the Demon Deacons traveled to Atlanta and dropped a 30-10 contest to the Yellow Jackets, the ninth consecutive season that they have lost their league opener. The last time that the Deacs won their initial conference date was in 1987 when that year's squad defeated N.C.State, 21-3.

Improved Run Defense To Be Tested: Georgia Tech ran for 309 yards against Wake Forest last fall and figures to have a solid ground attack again this season. The Yellow Jackets actually gained more than 200 yards rushing in their loss at Notre Dame, but four quarterback sacks lowered that total to 177. An encouraging aspect of the Demon Deacon defensive unit's play in two games has been its ability to control opposing rushers. Wake limited Northwestern to 63 yards two weeks ago, then held East Carolina below the 100-yard mark as well--the Pirates netted 94 yards on 33 attempts. That leaves Wake Forest with a 78.5 yards per game average against the run through two dates. Last year, the Deacons gave up 254 yards per game on the ground, the most in the ACC.

Improved Run Offense, Too: Sophomore running backs MORGAN KANE and KITO GARY have sparked a resurgent rushing offense for Wake Forest in two outings thus far. Kane, who was slowed throughout most of the preseason by a hamstring problem, turned in an excellent effort this past Saturday at East Carolina, gaining 71 yards on 16 carries. Gary, who appeared in only two games in 1996 and carried the ball just five times, has been more of a big-play producer. The Miami, FL product recorded runs of 41 and 26 yards against Northwestern, then burst loose on a 76-yarder at East Carolina that put his name in the WFU recordbook. That 76-yard run by Gary to the ECU two-yard-line was the seventh-longest in Wake Forest history. And it is the longest ever by a Deacon which did not go for a touchdown (it did lead to a one-yard TD run by Kane.) The previous longest non-scoring run by a Wake Forest player was a 74-yard effort by Nub Smith against William & Mary in 1949. Gary now is averaging 9.4 yards per attempt after two contests (159 yards on 17 carries). Kane, who ran 80 yards for a touchdown last year versus Florida State in Orlando, and Gary now have two of the eight longest runs in school history. The other six long-distance carries all took place prior to 1970.

In The Long Run

(longest runs from scrimmage in WFU history)
    90* Freddie Summers vs Maryland (1968)  80* Morgan Kane vs Florida State (1996)
    89* Tony Gallovich at Miami (1939)  78* Bill Barnes at Wm & Mary (1956)
    87* John Mackovic at Virginia (1964)    76  Kito Gary at East Carolina (1997)
    83* Dickie Davis vs North Carolina (1951)   74  Nub Smith vs Wm & Mary (1949)
    
 Kuklick Off To Excellent Start: Demon Deacon quarterback BRIAN KUKLICK has been outstanding in 1997.  The junior from Hatboro, PA has completed 67% of his passes (42 of 63) for 530 yards (265 per game) and three touchdowns.  His lone interception came in the final minute at East Carolina as the Deacons were staging a desperation drive toward a possible winning score.
    Kuklick had completed 23 of 33 passes for 273 yards in Wake's opening win over Northwestern.  He now has four consecutive games with 250-plus yards passing, including 299 and 330 yard outings against Duke and N.C.State respectively to conclude 1996.
    Including those last two games of '96, Kuklick now is 97 of 170 (57%) for 1,159 yards (290 yards per game) with eight TDs and three interceptions in his last four games.
    Biletnikoff Checklist: Wake Forest's two outstanding wide receivers--senior THABITI DAVIS and junior DESMOND CLAR--are included in the preseason checklist for the 1997 "Biletnikoff Award," which is presented annually by the Tallahassee (FL) Quarterback Club to the top receiver in the country.
    The dynamic Deacon duo are coming off excellent 1996 seasons in which they ranked 2nd and 3rd in the two primary receiving categories in the ACC.  Davis was 2nd in receiving yardage (792) and 3rd in receptions (60), while Clark was 2nd in receptions (61) and 3rd in yardage (782).  Only six times in Wake Forest history has a receiver caught 60 or more passes.  Last year marked the first time that milestone was reached twice in the same season.  It was also the fourth time in ACC history that two players on the same team caught at least 60 passes in the same year.
    Clark ranks 2nd in the early season ACC statistics with 12 receptions, while Davis has just five catches but has covered an average of 21.2 yards per play on those five plays.
 More On Desmond: DESMOND CLARK's next reception will be the 100th of his Wake Forest career.  And speaking of that number, the Lakeland, FL former quarterback recorded the fourth 100-yard receiving game of his career in the Deacs' 1997 opener against Northwestern when he caught nine passes for 127 yards.  (see back of page 3 for WFU career updates)
100-Yard Receiving Games for DESMOND CLARK
    137 (13 receptions) vs Duke 11/16/96
    127 (9) vs Northwestern 9/6/97
    113 (9) vs Virginia 9/21/96
    110 (6)  at N.C.State   11/23/96

Add One More Name: A third threat in the Wake Forest passing game has emerged with JAMMIE DEESE becoming one of Brian Kuklick's favorite targets as well. After matching his career-high with seven receptions (for 53 yards)in the win over Northwestern, Deese caught three passes for 55 yards at East Carolina, including a 13-yard touchdown. That marked the third straight game that the Laurinburg sophomore has registered a TD. He had a 2-yards TD reception in the '96 finale at N.C.State, then a 12-yard score versus Northwestern.

Gaskell Goes The Distance Again: Senior center CHRIS GASKELL turned in his second "complete game" performance in the middle of the Demon Deacon offensive front against East Carolina. The team co-captain, who had taken part in all 79 plays the previous week versus Northwestern, was in for all 70 offensive snaps at ECU. Tackle JEFF FLOWE also played the entire game against the Pirates.

Lyman Leader On Tackle Chart: Linebacker DUSTIN LYMAN had an outstanding game at East Carolina, leading the Deacs with 12 tackles. The sophomore from Boulder, CO also contributed a sack for a 10-yard loss, another tackle-for-loss of a yard, and broke up two passes. After two contests, he is atop the WFU tackle list with 22 tackles and has now been in double digits in stops in both 1997 outings (he had 10 tackles vs Northwestern). Lyman's running mate at linebacker, KELVIN MOSES, rates second on the Deacon list with 17 tackles after making eight stops versus the Pirates, while outside 'backer DAVID ZADEL is third with 16 hits in two games. Senior end ROBERT FATZINGER also had a very active afternoon in Greenville with seven tackles (3 solo), including two for negative yardage. He also was credited with three quarterback pressures.

The Starting Lineup: Only four players have made their first career starts for Wake Forest thus far in 1997 They are fullback CHAD ALEXANDER, cornerback DAMEON DANIEL, defensive end KELVIN JONES and offensive guard SAM SETTAR. Nine Deacons currently have personal streaks of consecutive starts that have now reached double digits.

    Demon Deacon Career Starts (1997 starts)
    25  Robert Fatzinger (2)    13  Desmond Clark (2)       5   DaLawn Parrish (2)
        D'Angelo Solomon (2)        Chris Gaskell (2)       3   Reggie Austin
    24  Kelvin Moses (2)        12  Taris Clark (2)         2   Chad Alexander (2)
    23  David Zadel (2)             Fred Robbins (2)            Dameon Daniel (2)
    20  Wande' Shaw 11              Joe Zelenka (2)             Kelvin Jones (2)
    19  Jeffrey Muyres (2)      9   Morgan Kane (2)             Herman Lewis
    16  Thabiti Davis (2)       8   Brian Wolverton (2)         Mark Makovec
    15  Jeff Flowe (2)          7   Dustin Lyman (2)            Sam Settar (2)
        Aljamont Joyner (2)         Jon Mannon              1   Kelvin Shackleford
        Brian Kuklick (2)       6   Clinton Wilburn

Consecutive Starts: Solomon - 25; Zadel - 19 ; D.Clark, Davis, Flowe, Joyner, Kuklick, Moses - 13; Muyres 12

Still A Young Group: The '97 Demon Deacon roster includes just 13 scholarship seniors (and a total of 15 overall). Of that group, eight are in their fifth year in the program but just four fifth-year-men started against Northwestern. They were defensive linemen ROBERT FATZINGER and ALJAMONT JOYNER, center CHRIS GASKELL, and fullback CHAD ALEXANDER.

Breaking Down The Two-Deep: The sophomore class dominates the current Wake Forest depth chart. Of the 45 players listed on the most recent two-deep, 22 are current sophs. That's two more than the TOTAL of seniors (11) and juniors (9). There are also three freshmen (2 redshirts, 1 true).

The '97 sophomore class consists of 26 individuals. Twenty-two of those entered as freshmen two years ago but have been redshirted either in 1995 or 1996 (DESMOND CLARK is the only '95 newcomer who has not been redshirted). The other four current sophomores played as true freshmen last fall--REGGIE AUSTIN, MATTHEW BURDICK, DA'VAUGHN MELLERSON & DAVID MOORE.

(See Clipping on Back of This Week's Depth Chart.)

Redshirting Rules: Although he was not able to redshirt the desired number of individuals in his first two classes to Wake Forest, coach JIM CALDWELL has stayed with that course the past two years and the numbers are beginning to reflect that commitment.

There are only eight fifth-year scholarship players on this year's roster, the lone remainder of Caldwell's first group of Demon Deacon freshmen. His second incoming group (in 1994) had five of 16 players play as true freshmen. Since then the redshirt numbers have increased considerably. Of 1995's 23 freshman, 22 have been redshirted, and 12 of 16 first-year players a year ago were held out as rookies.

Deacon Redshirting Progress
Class   Total Members*  Not Been Redshirted Have Redshirted
Senior  13  5   8
Junior  12  1   11
Soph    26  4   22
Redshirt Freshmen       12
            *scholarship players only

Opener Number One For New Bridger Field House:This year's opening game holds special significance for the entire Wake Forest athletic program with the opening of the new Bridger Field House at the north end of Groves Stadium. This facility, financed solely through private donations from WFU supporters at a cost of $8 million, contains spacious new locker rooms for both teams as well as other essential meeting rooms and dressing areas for game operations. A media interview room is also located on the ground floor.

The second floor will also be utilized for the first time during this year's opening contest. That area includes the Norm Snead Banquet Room, named in honor of the former Wake All-American quarterback, and the Bill Barnes Sports Lounge. Barnes was also named an All-American in 1956 after he became the first 1,000-yard rusher in the history of the ACC. Third-floor offices for athletic department staff and the athletic ticket office (on the ground floor) will be occupied later this fall.

Two notable contributions to the "Touchdown 2000" campaign have led to rooms in the building being named for two very special Wake Forest people.

RICKY PROEHL, the school's all-time leading pass receiver with 188 career receptions (3rd-highest in ACC history), made a six-figure donation to the effort and has had the Demon Deacon locker room named in his honor. Proehl is currently a member of the Chicago Bears and is in his eighth year in the NFL.

Deacon head coach JIM CALDWELL and his family also made a contribution to the fund-raising drive and were given the privilege of naming the WFU coaches locker room in honor of BILL FAIRCLOTH. Faircloth, a captain of the 1963 Demon Deacons, is presently in his 14th year as assistant athletic director for football operations at his alma mater.

Eyeing The Deacs: Last week's win over Northwestern was televised on a regional basis by ABC in the first national network appearance for Wake Forest since its win over Oregon in the 1992 Independence Bowl. It had been 13 years (since an ABC regional telecast of a Deacon game at Virginia in 1984) since Wake had a regular season contest on a national network. This Saturday, the Deacs are again spotlighted regionally by the Fox Sports South network as it televises the matchup with East Carolina. Later this month (September 25), Wake will host N.C.State in a nationally televised game on ESPN--the first WFU regular season game ever to be televised to the entire country.

Maybe It'S The New Number: The past three years, BRIAN KUKLICK wore #17. This year, he's found in the game program as #14, which was his old high school jersey number. That number had previously been worn by starting defensive back Tom Stuetzer, who graduated last spring.

    Demon Deacon Individual Highlights vs the Wildcats
    DESMOND CLARK -- 5 receptions for 84 yds, 2 TDs 
    TRIPP MOORE -- 43.5 yd avg on 4 punts(all in 4th Q) (best single game avg of career)
    THABITI DAVIS -- 3 receptions for 35 yds    
    KELVIN MOSES -- 11 tackles, int
    ROBERT FATZINGER -- missed game with broken finger  
    D'ANGELO SOLOMON -- 10 tackles, int
    MORGAN KANE -- 43 yards on 14 carries   
    DAVID ZADEL -- 5 tackles while playing all 71 plays
    BRIAN KUKLICK -- 12 of 25 for 172 yds, 2 TDs, 1 int
        (8-10 for 118 yds in two 4th Q drives)

Wake Forest Athletics

Deacs Host Jackets In Acc Opener