My Take on Wake - Will Unpalatable Meal End With Just Desserts?

Will Unpalatable Meal End With Just Desserts?

These next two weeks I won’t be the only one writing about how Wake, a team that has already played clinched a spot in the Atlantic Division cellar, will be looking to build some momentum to carry nto spring practices.

On the short drive over to today’s gathering to eat chicken and talk football, I began wondering if even that is possible. Can momentum off a season be carried through three months of relative inactivity into the start of spring practices, or is that too much to ask from any team? That was the last question I had for Coach Jim Grobe before we let him get to what was left of the chicken.

“I don’t think there’s any question that if we win it would be huge for us going forward,’’ Grobe said. “I told our team, we work hard enough to deserve to win. I’ve been on a million teams as an assistant and as a head coach. But just as a head coach in my 16th year, we’ve never pushed a team any harder than we’ve pushed this one, just trying everything we possibly can to find a way to win. So from a work standpoint of the 16 teams that I’ve had as head coach, there’s no more deserving team than this one—none, absolutely none. I’ve never had a team have as little success as this one’s had and continue every day to come to work and do what they’re asked to do.

“We’ve had very few issues with attitudes. We’ve had a couple of guys who were a little bit surly at times, but for the most part it’s just been a team that’s worked really hard that’s very deserving of winning. But that doesn’t do anything for you. You’ve got to go do it. You’ve got to perform on Saturday to make it happen. So we’ll see. It would be good for us. No question it would great for us to see a litlte bit of success from all the work we’ve put in. It’s been an amazing group, because as a coaching staff I’ve never had a staff work harder. We’ve tried every scheme, every thought we could come up with to try to find the right combination for these guys. And we’ve asked them to do a lot, and they’ve not backed down a second.

“So it would be really good going into spring if we could find a way to have some success here at the end of the year.’‘

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By Dan Collins on 11/16/2010 (2:01 pm)

Comments

I can not understand how a team with so many coaches does not have a least one coach who will stand up and question and challenge the way this team is coached.
The question is not how friendly, nice and respected the coach is, we need our coaches to do more than just talk about how young and inexperienced our players are, we need someone to take the talent we have and coach our players.
Our coaches need to stop breaking the spirit of our young men and realize that their actions or lack of speaks louder than words, it appears that they are teach them how to become losers with class and style.
Fear is not the best way to lead it creates an unhealthy environment, most teams are driven by the personality of their coach I hope our boys respect the coach, they may fear him because he holds their playing time in his hand.
Most of these young men have played football for ten years or more and with the age of ESPN they see sports at every level and have some idea of what works or not.
I wonder if the players have input on the game plan that they go out on the field and play? Or if our coaches are to “old fashion” to listen and see if they have new fresh ideas to help the team win.
I just hope our players don’t lose their passion and fire as football players following their leader.
Finish Strong Guys!

Darrell on 11/16/2010 (9:17 pm)

Coach Grobe has done so much for Wake that it’s excruciating to see what has happened to the team this year.It’s hard to believe that just 2 years ago we were headed for another Bowl victory . One can only conclude that the lack of talent among upperclassmen on this years team is attributable to some really poor recruiting . I can understand the obstacles faced in 2005 , but the Junior class was recruited coming off an ACC Championship.
As for trying every scheme , it seems to me that the coaches were much more creative with the offense at the beginning of the season . We had some success with misdirection, orbits , quarterback options and even with Marshall Williams throwing the ball . The problems with the defense were apparent from the first game , but at least the offense looked like it could move the ball and I consoled myself with the thought that while we might not win a lot of games , at least we would be exciting to watch . But as the season progressed the offensive playbook seemed to shrink along with our ability to score . The defense has generally made improvement , but now it’s the offense dragging the team down .I don’t think the coaching staff is helping matters with their ultra conservative play calling. It got to the point against State where everyone in red knew what Wake’s next play call would be.The failure to score at the end of the half was a killer and demoralized the team .

Steve P on 11/16/2010 (5:56 pm)

..speaking of hoping and praying let’s try to remember Tanner Price in our prayers this week, because there is a good change he could recieve serious bodily harm Saturday….DaQuan Bowers is a monster, leads the nation in sacks and he is but one of about three mis-matches on the line during this upcoming game against Clemson. He buried Skinner last year a couple of times and luckily Skinner was always able to get up during that fiasco in the rain last year.

pensive1 on 11/16/2010 (5:01 pm)

“...we’ve tried every scheme…” What about a little imagination in the play calling? When you are out-manned, I would think it might be time for deception, trick plays, etc. rather than trying to run between the tackles 70% of the time. We’re facing another big OL and DL and we’ve already established over the course of 9 games that we’re not going to overpower anyone. With that said, I’ll be there with family, hoping and praying for a win.

Jim on 11/16/2010 (3:53 pm)

I don’t recall such a case of denial.

I know Grobe is a man of high integrity and honesty and I believe he believes what he says. But the results of this season are what they are.

I was hoping Grobe would have a lifetime pass for all the good things he has done for our football and school. But if he is so separated from reality I can’t have any confidence in him. Time for him to move on. Let’s get a fresh start with a realistic perspective.

Jerry on 11/16/2010 (3:17 pm)