My Take on Wake - Skinner Sees Cobwebs on Halloween

Skinner Sees Cobwebs on Halloween

Offensive tackle Chris DeGeare said he couldn’t remember a loss in his five years at Wake Forest worse than the 28-27 setback to Miami on a rainy Halloween day.

With about 6 1/2 minutes left, quarterback Riley Skinner couldn’t remember anything, which is why he sat out the remainder of the game with a concussion. Coach Jim Grobe said he was impressed with the performance of back-up Ryan McManus, but Skinner was hurt on a day he had already completed 29 of 43 passes for 349 yards and two touchdowns.

Skinner was leveled while scrambling 12 yards for a first down. The impact was violent enough to crack the face mask on Skinner’s helmet, which flew off his head. He got up glassy-eyed and dazed and made it back to the huddle before dropping to a knee as the medical staff raced to his side.

“He had a slight concussion was the way it was said to me on the sideline,’’ head coach Jim Grobe said. “Of course our first priority is the health and safety of our players. We’d like to win a football game but we’ve got to take care of our kids first, so they weren’t going to take a chance of him going back out. I don’t think he cleared up enough.’‘

Grobe was asked if he expected Skinner to play next week at Georgia Tech.

“I don’t know,’’ Skinner said. “Concussions are funny. You just really don’t know. You have to be really, really cautious.

“We found out now after experience through the years. In the old days when you’d get knocked out they’d throw you right back in the mix and we found out that’s not a good thing. You can start having a series of those over and over.

“We’ll do what’s best for Riley Skinner, not what’s best for the football team. I’ve seen some kids bounce back pretty quick and others take a little bit longer. We’ll just kind of see how it goes.’’

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By Dan Collins on 10/31/2009 (11:07 pm)

Comments

There were some questionable calls on that last drive. I don’t know how much of it was McManus and how much of it was the coaches (or, most likely, a combination of the two).

Regardless, everyone played like hell Saturday and the game plan was brilliant and very effective for 95% of the game. It hurts a little because we really needed that win, but we let it slip away. Just a series of unfortunate events really. This time I’d let Grobe use the weather as an excuse (though, honestly, the results of this game really require very little excuse). If it hadn’t of rained that punt wouldn’t have been fumbled, and it seems likely that Miami would have only been able to get one more TD at best.

At least we proved that we don’t have to be a second half football team. We absolutely dominated in the first half, much more so than the score indicated.

Tim on 11/02/2009 (3:23 pm)

For all of you who reflexively defend mediocre football and coaching: I’m an alum and die hard fun, but guess what, every game isn’t a home run. Nice job guys, you lost, do better next time. Too many fans like you don’t demand accountability and make excuses for failure. Wake up guys, or has the losing dulled your senses?

DFP on 11/02/2009 (2:58 pm)

I am very dissappointed in Lenox Rawlings for repeating a comment from ONE disgruntled fan. That was cheap sensationalism. The VAST MAJORITY of fans are glad we have Coach Grobe. He has led us to heights we have never before seen. That was a cheap sucker punch, Rawlings.

Jim on 11/02/2009 (9:08 am)

Thanks Chris,
The blog has been a labor of love, and I’m you have enjoyed it as well.
Dan

Dan on 11/02/2009 (1:39 am)

First, thank you Dan for your continued reporting on WFU sports. Reading your column and blog has become a part of my daily routine.

Regarding WFU Football, win, lose, or draw, I support Coach Grobe and our team. The Coach’s past success has earned my respect. GO DEACS.

Chris on 11/01/2009 (10:22 pm)

I agree with the comments about laying off he players. These are young kids playing their butts off and mistakes are going to be made. My take from the game is the defense in the coming years is going to be okay. A year or two from now and the three interceptions that could have been made will be. The pass coverage will be better. The winner of the next three games could be the last team with the ball. Look at the points given up by each of them. Even if Riley is not ready for Ga Tech, we should be able to score. I agree that the tackle was legal. His problem came with the bare head hitting the dback’s pads.

David on 11/01/2009 (1:30 pm)

Dan I am sick and tired of people constantly calling out the players and downing them as people have this year. I think the coaches are a little more “fair game” because they get paid to do a job. These players are student athletes who played their heart out last night and deserve a little more respect. The coaches called a great game last night and with the exception of a few plays, Wake was gonna win. People you need to wake up and realize and be thankful for the players and coaches we have at Wake Forest. This is not the NFL and these players do not get paid millions of dollars to play football. I say lay off of them, they don’t deserve some of the negativity they are getting. I am thankful of who and what we have at Wake Forest. GO DEACS!!

Cliff Daniel on 11/01/2009 (12:17 pm)

Everyone is saying this one hurts the most. We let this one slip away. Never seen this happen we had it won and gave it away. Do you want me to start from my memory and list all the games that have slipped away? I still have my ticket stub from the 1979 Tangerine Bowl lets start there “just for fun”.....Get over it! Move on! Its kids playing ball for your entertainment.

Doug on 11/01/2009 (10:43 am)

DFP - you are right about the creative ways to lose. But those guys played their hearts out and it just didn’t work out in their favor, I felt bad for them. Your last comment shows the pathetic one is you, not this team or it’s coaches.

Charles on 11/01/2009 (7:16 am)

This team finds ways to lose more creatively than any, in any sport, that I’ve ever watched. From the choke in the BC game, to a fumbled punt and other miscues today, it’s truly a pathetic group of coaches and players.

DFP on 11/01/2009 (1:01 am)

Yeah I agree with Degeare, this loss hurts. It hurts because we all know Wake should have won this ballgame. It hurts because we had this game in the grasp of our hands and let it slip away just like those near interception from JHarris. Wake can still go bowling but the hill just got really steep. I really want these seniors to go out winners and to be able to go to a bowl. I thought the coaches called a great game today and the team played their hearts out. Just a few bad plays and another late game holding call to kill Wake’s drive was all it took to give Miami a chance. Georgia Tech is next and to see how they handled Vandy, it’s not gonna be an easy game down in Atlanta. Let’s take care of business Deacs!

Cliff Daniel on 11/01/2009 (1:34 am)