Getting on the Ball on Football
Chasing that bouncing ball can be such an all-consuming endeavor that there’s just too much to do once it stops bouncing.
I can’t count the number of tasks, chores, details and personal matters I promised I would get right on as soon as basketball was over and I got a semblance of my life back. But it has been that way for years, so I was braced for the deluge.
One regret is I haven’t spent as much time on spring football as I would like. I did make it by the scrimmage Saturday, and that was great fun. And I’ve gotten by a number of practices, and talked with Coach Jim Grobe and some players. There’s another scrimmage scheduled for Thursday, this one at BB&T Field. The times for these practices and scrimmages can be moving targets, but as of five minutes ago it was set for either 4:30 or 5.
Something you might want to watch for if you make it.
There’s a battle royale being waged for second-team quarterback behind Riley Skinner, the result of Brett Hodge deciding not to return for a fifth season. Grobe said it’s a three-way scrap, among Ryan McManus, Skylar Jones and Ted Stachitas. Jones is a fleet-footed rising sophomore whose running ability remains ahead of his arm. Stachitas is a freshman who redshirted last season while recovering from shoulder surgery. He’s being nursed along some this spring, and Grobe said Saturday that he was feeling pain after a practice last week but felt much better the next day. McManus is one of the most fascinating stories on the team. His father, Jerry, played quarterback for Wake in the mid-70s, and is an assistant coach at Kent State. I got to know him when he was an assistant at Wake from 1987 through 1995, and he’s one of the good guys in the business. Ryan walked on at Wake and immediately made himself handy in any way needed. He has held for kicks the past two seasons, has been on the punt team and even got in at quarterback in last season’s opener at Baylor. Along the way he has grown into a well-toned, sharp young man who knows what he’s doing on the football field. He actually played last season as a senior, but because he had never taken a redshirt he decided to return for one more fling.
If Wake should need a backup at quarterback, I believe it could do worse than Ryan McManus.
Back to the main page.
By Dan Collins on 04/08/2009 (10:15 am)
Comments
Nick,
Coach Grobe said he wasn’t worried about anybody being ready for August. Spring practice ends next week. Jackson, Boo and Ghee won’t practice anymore, but both Boo and Ghee said they’re feeling good about their rehab. I imagine they’ll be good to go during the summer. If Jackson has a high ankle sprain, I’m sure they’ll shut him down for awhile. You never know what’s going to happen, but with Harris, Adams and Pendergrass ahead of him on the depth chart he was going to have trouble getting reps anyway. Dennis Godfrey said his goal is to get back before the spring game. Wilber should be back soon as well, and Marshall Williams told me he hopes to be back next week.
Dan on 04/11/2009 (12:58 am)
Hey Chip,
I’m excited to hear about your songwriting pursuits with Mike. If you’re ever going to be in Winston on a Wednesday, make sure you let me know. You’ve got to make it by the Garage for one of our Open Mics.
And thanks for the kind words.
Dan on 04/10/2009 (10:40 am)
Dan - I just discovered your blog. This is great. Up in Boston we do not get much Deacon news. I just wanted to say thanks!
-Chip
Chip Rives on 04/10/2009 (10:14 am)
Dan,
Seems like the football team is suffering a rash of injuries this spring. I read your article and none seem serious but still concerning nonetheless. Do you see these guys having a productive later spring and summer? Or will these injuries prevent the guys from workouts til August?
Nick on 04/10/2009 (9:25 am)
Steve,
Jackson did get hurt Wednesday, on the same play as offensive guard Dennis Godfrey. Grobe said both were hurt on a hit by LB Matt Woodlief. Jackson was sidelined today wearing a boot. He injured his ankle. Grobe said it might be the dreaded high ankle sprain. Spring practice has 10 days remaining, so I feel certain, without asking the training staff, that he won’t be back by the spring scrimmage. He’s an impressive young back with a burst of speed, but if even two of the Deacons top three RBs—Harris, Adams and Pendergrass—play well this season I wonder how many more carries will be available.
Dan on 04/09/2009 (10:06 pm)
Steve,
I’m headed over to scrimmage today. I’m on it.
Thanks for passing it along.
Dan on 04/09/2009 (12:04 pm)
Dan, heard RS freshman Lovell Jackson had a pretty bad injury last night. Do you know the status? Thanks and I love your blog
Steve on 04/09/2009 (6:09 am)
Nicholas,
If I’d known blogging was going to be this much fun, I would have started years ago. I hope everyone is enjoying it as much as I am.
It’s different. Before I’d write a story that would go through an editing process and be fitted for print, and wouldn’t hit the front stoop until maybe 12-15 hours later. Now I write it, walk Gracie the dog, and return to find that five people have responded and it’s being bandied about all over the internet. I’m still absorbing all the ramifications, but six months or so into it I’m feeling pretty good about this whole blogging thing. It certainly allows me to fill in the gaps of my Journal coverage, and mention or amplify angles and developments that might otherwise fall through the cracks.
But it has been a hoot.
Dan on 04/09/2009 (12:50 am)
Dan,
Over the past several months, it seems like other media outlets have begun to pick up on your blog and have quoted some of the things from it. In this way and others, how has the blog impacted your job as a writer covering the Deacs? What’s “your take” on blogging thus far?
Nicholas on 04/08/2009 (7:46 pm)
Chris, make sure you holler at me when you’re down. I wouldn’t be at all surprised to see Jones in the Wildcat as a trick in Jim Grobe’s offensive bag. I’ll ask him next time I see him.
Dan on 04/08/2009 (1:19 pm)
Dan:
I will be down for the Spring Game next week, but haven’t seen practice yet. Any chance of us seeing Skylar run a “Wild Deacon” formation this year?
Chris on 04/08/2009 (12:16 pm)
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