Comments

If we can’t compete in games, then we can’t win games.  Grobe basically re-stated what he did when he first got the job - we need to be competitive as a program and games will start to come our way.  We may lose a few too, but the more competitive we are, the more we will have a chance to win and get shots at the division title, regardless of the talent disparity.  We must win on playing smart, tough defense, limiting TOs, winning the special teams game, and playing with heart.  Getting blown out is not an option when playing for Grobe - to quote Mike Singletary - “can’t do it.”

Nick on 10/19/2009 (11:25 am)

A good assessment, Lou.  I think that Clemson’s dramatically superior athleticism was the difference in this game.  (Well, that and the opportunity that Clemson had to prepare for Wake for two full weeks.)  Wake has never had great athletes (except for Aaron Curry last year, who only became an exceptional athlete while at Wake), and so it is amazing that Coach Grobe has been able to do what he has done.  Everyone had said during the offseason that the offense was going to be the stronghold of the team this year, especially with such an experienced offensive line. I never understood that because everyone said during the entire year last year that the offensive line was so lousy.  (And just getting one season of experience and Chris DeGeare back from inelligibility was not going to be enough to make a bad line superior.)  What’s most amazing to me is that Wake came back to beat a very good Stanford team and that they clobbered Maryland and handled N.C. State…and nearly beat a very good Boston College team at their place.  I think a lot of those victories are thanks to the coaching staff.  Wake will probably never get the kind of athletes that Clemson gets (or any of the bigger schools/programs with more notoriety).  If Wake competes with almost everyone the way they have for the last several years I think that will be as well as they can play considering the circumstances.

Matt on 10/19/2009 (11:01 am)

Deacon fans, don’t think I’m reacting out of anguished emotion.  You can look back to my last entry, after the opening loss to Baylor.  I’ll condense my early season concern at this point. 

This sports is not all about schemes, and game plans and passing routes. It almost always boils down to its original charm - the contact. The hitting.  The physicality.  No matter how often they soften the rules, it almost always comes down to which team out-hits the other. Did you see that mess yesterday? Do you have any further questions?

Each time this has happened in the last two years, Coach Grobe has taken note, and gone back to neanderthal basics (post Maryland, post Baylor).  But you get behind, (Stanford, Boston College), you turn Riley loose, you see his talent, and…  you shrug and go back to wide open football again. And - get away with it against NC State and Maryland, teams we now note in retrospect, are - soft. (and even State sakced Riley 6 times!)

Its simple. If you can’t block, you won’t be able to play with the big boys anymore. Same story on defense (where I thought i saw improvement, until Clemson’s offensive coaches exposed the youth again).

I don’t know quite what to make of Coach Grobe’s ominous remarks in Dan’s blog (“poking thru the ashes”) - but I’m pretty sure he saw the same things. One game past mid-season, and - changes to come.

Lou Williams on 10/18/2009 (7:32 pm)