Givens Guts It Out
The more Jim Grobe brags on Chris Givens, the more Givens gives him to brag about.
Grobe noted after today’s 31-10 bowl-clinching victory over Maryland at BB&T Field that there’s a different Chris Givens playing for Wake this season.
The old Chris Givens was pretty good.
This one is pretty special.
Givens, a redshirt junior receiver, woke up Saturday morning feeling like dirt. He slept very little Friday night, keeping roommate Michael Campanaro awake as well with his hacking and coughing.
“It was tough,’’ Givens said. “I felt pretty bad. I had a headache this morning.’‘
But when he told receivers coach Lonnie Galloway he had the flu, Galloway was having none of it.
“Coach Galloway told me `We don’t have time for you to be sick,’ so I just wiped it out of my head and played,’’ Givens said.
Not only did Givens play, he delivered the signature performance of his career. With the Deacons desperately needing a victory to become bowl eligible for the first time since 2008, Givens hauled in eight catches for a career-high 191 yards. In doing so, he established a school record for most receiving yards in a season with 1,207, breaking the mark of 1,053 Ricky Proehl set in 1989.
Givens’ best catch of the night, an amazing play when he laid out to snag a 49-yard laser by Tanner Price, was overturned on review. Givens said that in his mind, he caught the ball. The call turned out not to matter when freshman Orville Reynolds bolted 20-yards for a first down to set up Price’s 35-yard touchdown pass to Givens that salted the game away at 31-10.
“I knew I wasn’t going to let anything keep me from playing,’’ Givens said. “I love playing football. I tore my (knee ligaments) in high school and I told myself then that I would never let anything keep me out of a game.
“If I’m able to walk and run, I’m able to play. So I just went out there and played.’‘
And in doing so, continued to win over a coach who wasn’t sure during the offseason that Givens had the grit, desire and determination to become a great player. I’ve written more than once how Grobe questioned Givens commitment throughout the offseason.
Those days are gone.
“He really just had to tough it out,’’ Grobe said. “He was not physically 100 percent tonight.
“I think in the past we might not have gotten that gritty play out of him. And tonight, in the first quarter he was having problems.
“And to watch him play the way he did, and have to overcome a little bit of adversity was really, really cool. And that’s what we’ve talked about. He’s a different guy.
“He’s just a mature, tough, hardnosed competitor right now.’‘.
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By Dan Collins on 11/19/2011 (10:28 pm)
Comments
Congratulations to Chris Givens on a great game and on achieving the single-season reason for yards. What a great accomplishment! It’s been a pleasure watching him play, and I am excited to have him for another two(!) games and a season.
Congratulations also to the team on becoming bowl eligible. I’m certainly proud of the way they’ve battled through the ups and downs this year. Now there are two games left to keep improving and showing us all what you’re capable of doing. I can’t wait.
As far as the Maryland game goes, I loved how our defense played at critical points. Matt absolutely identified the turning point in the game. But it was just a great sustained effort.
Speaking of the refs, wow. I think the last two weeks we must have had the same crew that officiated the Orange Bowl during the 2006 season, including the same jackass in the replay booth! It takes a special kind of stupidity to miss a call when the play is viewed in slow motion from a variety of angles. Nice work, guys!
What I liked most about the game was the effectiveness of a balanced offensive attack. Pendergrass and Reynolds made a great one-two punch, and the offensive line really has improved a lot over the course of the year at opening up holes. This of course helped open up Givens and the rest of the receivers (a lot easier to get deep when the other team can’t afford to stick a safety over the top) . Just an awesome all-around game plan (nice work, Coach Lobotzke) and effort.
DC on 11/20/2011 (12:27 pm)
Great game! To see Wake come out after halftime and, having made adjustments on offense, play like they did was awesome! Disappointed in the crowd, or lack of and worried about that next week. Hope people show up and hope the team closes out the season with a win!
Jim on 11/20/2011 (9:10 am)
The turning point of this game was the defensive stand after Maryland blocked the punt and had first down at the Wake 11. The D stuffed Maryland four downs in a row, the offense drove down and got the big plays they needed and scored, and the Deacs won the game going away. Had Maryland scored on that sequence, you never know. Super play by the defense at a critical time. GO DEACS!
Matt on 11/20/2011 (7:57 am)
I know coach Grobe has taken the high road on the officiating the last two weeks
but it has been beyound bad. With review there is no way they should miss those calls. Having run another play and having it reviewed is unheard of. First the out of bounds play by Clemson and then todays calls. Inexcusible.
ED on 11/20/2011 (7:09 am)
We need to let the bowl games know how much we want to play at them. Send the Champs a tweet and tell them they shouldn’t pick the lower ranked FSU over us: @ChampsSportsBwl
Sean on 11/20/2011 (4:21 am)
Big win and a much needed win as well. The Deacs finally show some grit and toughness in the 2nd half and put a team away and don’t let up. Tanner and Chris Givens both come up big and the ground game had another good day. Hopefully, Vandy will come in next week with their heads down after losing in OT to the Vols today. They are no joke this year and we will have our hands full against them. 7-5 heading to a bowl will look much better than 6-6.
Patrick on 11/20/2011 (1:47 am)
Good game. The Deacs played 4 qtrs. and finished. Now the bad news, I just watched the TN. and Vandy game, after that heartbreaker Wake better tighten their chin straps ‘cause this ain’t Maryland comin’ in. It should be a good one if they have SEC officials. The last 2 ACC crews for the Deacs have been horrible. The fumble call overturned by replay was way off the mark just like last weeks non catch in the end zone. Are these replay officials watching Sportscenter highlights or the game in which they’re attending?
glennard on 11/20/2011 (12:10 am)
Awesome performance by Givens today. His yards after catch are a thing of beauty. Hope during the next two games that him and Camp get plenty of touches.
Andy on 11/19/2011 (11:53 pm)
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