Comments

you couldn’t be more wrong Chuck.  Letting obligation or emotion cloud what needs to be a forward looking step like succession planning requires at least some game time experience.  And to imply that Duke is not the caliber of the rest of Wake’s competition is a really ignorant statement, and I hope you don’t eat your words if Duke beats us like 7 other teams have done this year.  That’s why other national programs have younger guys who always seem to “reload”;  because they get the younger guys into games before it’s officially “their time”- like it will be for either of Ted, Brendan, or Skylar next year.

Steve on 11/19/2009 (3:53 pm)

There will be plenty of time to develop the younger guys…plenty. And them not taking a lot of snaps at Duke isn’t going to kill us…regardless of their improvement, we’re still talking about Duke. Not exactly the best representative of the caliber of talent those guys will be facing. So, if the game ends up being a blow out, then yeah, let the youngsters guys get some experience under their belt; but I think Wake owes Riley his time on the field next week. That’s the least the coaches and fans can do to send him out as a winner.

Chuck on 11/19/2009 (9:07 am)

We all agree and thank Riley for a great four years.  But the reality off life, and the future of Wake football, must begin to develop another strong QB for the next few years, so it’s important that Ted Stachitas and maybe Skylar Jones get some meaningful playing time against Duke.

Steve on 11/17/2009 (11:17 am)

Dan-
Great article on an awesome kid. What a success story on the field and a true professional when dealing with the fans & the media. Last December I decided to take my 6 year old son to watch practice before their bowl match-up with Navy. This is no knock to the other players and staff, but the entire team walked by us to the practice field with only two people stopping to acknowledge us (Riley Skinner and Coach Grobe). Riley stopped, spoke, and gave a 6 year-old a high five. Coach Grobe shook our hands and thanked us for coming out support WFU. Win or lose these men are true professionals that get it! Thanks Dan for a timely article and thanks Riley and Coach Grobe for a great ride the last four years! As Charles W. said, where would we be without Skinner or Grobe?

Brad on 11/16/2009 (8:38 pm)

Dan, Yes Riley is a standup guy. A great QB. One of WF greatest. Can’t understand the lob pass on the two yard line . Not the best playcalling with the speed of their defensive backs. We just didn’t make the BIG plays and FSU. did. We’ll be back as long as we have Coach Grobe. Dan, enjoy your articles. I read four to five papers each day , and yours are equal , if not better than other writers, Keep it up, From Durham, NC

Cal on 11/15/2009 (5:04 pm)

I have been to all the home games this year and yesterday was a dissapointment, but we should remember the four great years that Riley and the seniors gave to us.  Just one win in a close game could have turned our season. Instead of having four losses, there may have been only one.

Thanks Riley and the 22 seniors for playing hard in the Miami and Georgia Tech games. We did not win but the effort is appreciated.  Thank you.

Charles W on 11/15/2009 (1:18 pm)

Dan,

You really captured Riley. He’s a standup guy and one of the best representatives of the program that we could ever have. You know he’s disappointed to end his seniorr year like this, but Riley is Wake. Without him where would we be?

Alex on 11/15/2009 (12:44 am)

There will be plenty of time to critique this disappointing season.  Thanks to Riley Skinner and the rest of the seniors on the team for a great four years.  Hopefully we can finish the year on a high note at Duke in two weeks and get back to the success that we’ve all grown accustomed to next season.

DC on 11/14/2009 (7:32 pm)