Wake Forest Demon Deacons Football

The Wake Forest Demon Deacons football team represents Wake Forest University while playing college football in the Division I-A or Football Bowl Subdivision level of competition. The school is the third smallest FBS school in the nation as far as enrollment goes, larger only than Rice and Tulsa. They are a member of the Atlantic Division of the Atlantic Coast Conference. The school is the smallest school in a Bowl Championship Series, or BCS conference.

The Demon Deacons, play their home games at BB&T Field at Groves Stadium on campus in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Wake Forest's coach is Jim Grobe, who enters his tenth season at the helm in 2010. The team has won two conference championships, the most recent in 2006. Wake Forest is a charter member of the ACC, having joined in its inception back in 1953.http://www.nationalchamps.net/NCAA/database/wakeforest_database.htmhttp://www.cbssports.com/collegefootball/teams/page/WF/wake-forest-demon-deacons

The Demon Deacons suffered a bit of a down year in 2009, finishing 5-7 overall and 3-5 in the ACC. However, a closer look at their record shows they were competitive in most contests, they were just unable to make enough plays to win close games. Of their seven losses, five of them were by a field goal or less: 24-21 to Baylor, 27-24 at the hands of Boston College, 13-10 to Navy, 28-27 to Miami (FL) and 30-27 to Georgia Tech. Both Miami and Georgia Tech were ranked opponents at the time.http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/teams/schedule?teamId=154&year=2009

The Demon Deacons men's athletic program is better known for their men's basketball program, but the football team does have its own history of successful teams and players. Perhaps the most identifiable player to the program is Brian Piccolo, who led the nation in scoring in 1964. He is also the basis for the popular film Brian's Song detailing his time with the Chicago Bears and his subsequent death.http://www.bearshistory.com/lore/brianpiccolo.aspxhttp://espn.go.com/classic/biography/s/Piccolo_Brian.htmlhttp://www.wfu.edu/history/HST_WFU/piccolo.htmhttp://www.imdb.com/title/tt0068315/

Other well known alumni of the school's football program include Desmond Clark, Aaron Curry, Calvin Pace, Fred Robbins, Clark Gaines, Ricky Proehl, Rusty LaRue and current Florida Governor Charlie Crist. Some of the coaches that have run the program include John Mackovic, Al Groh, and current Indianapolis Colts head coach Jim Caldwell.http://www.nationalchamps.net/NCAA/database/wakeforest_database.htm

The Demon Deacons hope to return to the land of bowl eligible teams in 2010, and they'll have their work cut out for them in order to do so. Coach Grobe has fifteen starters returning this season, six on offense, seven defensively, and both his kickers.http://wfnz.cbslocal.com/2010/05/17/wake-forest-spring-football%C2%A0notes/

One of the biggest issues that will need to be addressed is who will be under center for the team. Four year starter Riley Skinner has graduated, leaving a wide open field behind to compete for the job. Resolution to this position is going to be key for Wake Forest, as they relied heavily on the pass in 2009. Fortunately, whoever is the quarterback will have ample targets to throw to, as receivers Marshall Williams (60 catches for team leading 867 yards and 5 touchdowns), Devon Brown (61 catches for 671 yards and six scores) and Chris Givens (45 grabs, 629 yards, team leading 8 touchdowns) all return this season.http://wfnz.cbslocal.com/2010/05/17/wake-forest-spring-football%C2%A0notes/http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/teams/stats?teamId=154

Defensively, the team returns a lot of players that saw playing time last year, and the strength is in the secondary. Three of the four starters from a year ago are back in 2010, in an effort to keep opposing teams off the scoreboard with a bit more regularity than last season. Seven opponents permeated the Wake defense to post at least 27 points last year, with the school going 2-5 in those games, while they were 3-2 in games when they gave up fewer than 27.http://wfnz.cbslocal.com/2010/05/17/wake-forest-spring-football%C2%A0notes/http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/teams/schedule?teamId=154&year=2009

The Demon Deacons schedule for the 2010 season is as follows:http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/teams/schedule?teamId=154&year=2010

• Septermber 2 vs. Presbyterian
• September 11 vs. Duke
• September 18 at Stanford
• September 25 at Florida State
• October 2 vs. Georgia Tech
• October 9 vs. Navy
• October 16 at Virginia Tech
• October 30 at Maryland
• November 6 vs. Boston College
• November 13 at North Carolina State
• November 20 vs. Clemson
• November 27 at Vanderbilt

• Tyson Clabo (Guard)
• Desmond Clark (Tight End)
• Steve Justice (Offensive Lineman)
• Eric King (Cornerback)
• Kenneth Moore (Wide Receiver)
• Ovie Mughelli (Fullback)
• Calvin Pace (Linebacker)
• Ryan Plackemeier (Punter)
• Fred Robbins (Defensive Tackle)
• Jeremy Thompson (Defensive End)
• Jyles Tucker (Linebacker)
• Steve Vallos (Guard)
• Joe Zelenka (Tight End)