My Take on Wake - The Wellman Inteview: Part V

The Wellman Inteview: Part V

MTOW—What is your concern on the impact of contributions to Wake Forest athletics? Where are you now with the renovations of BB&T Field, what phase?

WELLMAN—I don’t know what phase we’re in. We’ve probably had four or five phases, and today we had a meeting about it and we’ve got six or seven more phases to go. We’ve got a long way to go. And we’re confident that people will step up. I still think there’s an enthusiasm about our football program. They’ve seen what this coaching staff can do. We have loyal, loyal donors, and they’re going to stick with us because they see a bright future. They’re intelligent people. They recognized what happened this year. They’re frustrated by it, but they also know that the future can be very bright. We want in the next couple of years to put a video board up – a really exciting video board. It’s interesting, I went to Yankee Stadium this year and I walked in and thought `That is the biggest video board I’ve ever seen, and it’s really out of place here. You don’t need a video board like that.’ Well I ended up watching the video board over 50 percent of the time. So we want a video board that is going to entertain the fans. Our future competition are big-screen TVs. We have people sitting at home watching big-screen TVs. Well we want them to have big-screen TVs at the stadium, and enjoy the environment of the stadium while having all of the replays and everything on a big-screen TV at the stadium. So that’s our goal. And then we want to renovate Bridger Field House. That’s what, 12 or 13 years old now and it’s used every day of the year. And it’s hard use. It’s food, it’s dances, it’s everything. We need to do that. We want to do Deacon Hill. We want to do some things there that will tie in the baseball park with the football stadium.

MTOW —Will there still be grass on Deacon Hill?

WELLMAN—Oh yeah, we’re going to have grass up there. We don’t know what we’re going to do up there. But we want it to be used as often as we possibly can, even 365 days a year. I don’t know if you noticed Navy, but when they re-did their hill, they opened it up for 365 days a year. And the more people we have going through that stadium, the more enthused they’re going to be coming to a game. We’ve got a long way to go, but we’ll get it done eventually.

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By Dan Collins on 12/03/2010 (9:00 am)

Comments

Wellman has been quoted saying he wants to turn BB&T Field into the “Wrigley Field” of college football. He is getting part of his wish…..The Deacs are playing kinda like the Cubs.

Jerry on 12/06/2010 (1:55 pm)

I’m sure everyone noticed in the ACC title game that both teams had a lot of young players—-R-F, True-F and Soph—-on the field, and many performed very well.

Seeing these winners makes Grobe’s continuing refrain about inexperience sound like so much excuse-making whining.

Our team was miserable because Grobe and staff did not recruit enough good players , and failed to properly coach the ones they had. That is my belief.

Jerry on 12/05/2010 (6:23 pm)

Thanks for doing the interview. I wish Mr. Wellman had been a little more forthright regarding the affect performance is having on gate receipts for football and basketball. The football team will need to turn it around relatively quickly for him to continue to turn BB&T into the facility he envisions long term.

TM on 12/05/2010 (12:22 am)

I’m not a big fan of Wellman, but I do think he’s turning the corner on doing a good job. He’s had a lot on his plate the last few years, all things said, he’s done a pretty good job. WFU football & basketball programs are in good hands and great times are coming soon!

Richard H on 12/04/2010 (10:47 am)

Dan,

Good questions. Wellman seems to understand the reality of WF athletics.
Really, Wake does incredibly well with its built in limitations. For starters, students can’t reasonably walk to stadium or coliseum. So, I’m confident both big time programs will rise again in a year or so.
You do a helleva job yoself in your columns and interviews. Wake is fortunate to have such an objective, persistent beat reporter on the local scene. It’s gotta be the music genes!!
BHG

bobby h griffin on 12/03/2010 (10:15 pm)

Dan,
Thanks for the information from Wellman.

I gleaned that he is realistic about the sad state of our football program and intends to do something about it. I also believe he is honest in his strong support that Bzdelik can do the job.

BTW is that picture in the WSJ.com one from a timeout during the UNC loss last season? In one of your blogs you mentioned observing Wellman appearing very unhappy and starting at the Deacon bench.

I am in the camp that wants grobe to go and start to rebuild with a new coach and staff.

I am among those who want to give Bzdelik a chance to show what he can do. I bekieve it is too early to rush to judgment.

Jerry on 12/03/2010 (3:06 pm)

Yes!!! This is definitely the way forward for our athletic programs at this stage. Once we start looking like a high class program we will attract more talented athletes and more donations and more fans unrelated to the university but who enjoy being in our facilities. Helping in this effort is the one actual, real thing us die hard fans can do to accelerate our football/basketball teams away from the ACC doormat. Prospective athletes who see a large, enthusiastic crowd at a beautiful venue are going to be positively influenced. And if we are losing that only reinforces the athlete’s belief that he/she can contribute. We fans have to help start this upward spiral with improvements to our facilities. Criticize coaches, the AD, and whoever else you want to, but for goodness sake, ALSO get a few new Deacon Club members.

DannyB on 12/03/2010 (1:24 pm)