Comments

TommySC- the reason Coach Grobe did NOT get a single vote for Coach of the Year is because again as I have stated on th eblog before- WF ONLY beat 1 team with a winning record, and lost 5 out of their last 6 games to end the regular season. NO ONE is going to vote for you when your team performs like that for the 2nd half of the season, and essentially gave away 3 games they should have won if they knew how to finish off their opponents. While Grobe is a class act and a gentleman, he did not deserve any votes for ACC Coach of the Year- especially if they end up with a losing record (6-7) after the bowl game- hopefully not!

Bobby on 12/03/2011 (10:25 pm)

Dan I’ve been thinking about your “P” Blog for a week now and I’d like to elaborate on words beginning with the letter P and add a couple of my own.  You’re so right.  I felt so much pride when we beat Florida State and so much passion before the Notre Dame game when the atmosphere was incredibly electric. And the pride and passion rose when we were beating both ND & Clemson in the 2nd half only to become peeved when we gave both games away. Then I became perplexed when Coach Grobe seemed less upset about the losses than I was; all too often standing on the sidelines with his arms crossed and appearing not to be engaged with is players.

Our pride and passion were then renewed when we played so well on Senior Day against Maryland and then so quickly deflated when we didn’t show up against our SEC twin in Vanderbilt. This season has been perpetual pendulum.

Then, from our vantage point in here Western PA, we see what’s going on in our own backyard with Penn State, such a prideful program with an iconic coach in Jo Pa, and you gain the ultimate perspective. Whatever happens on the field we are so blessed to have a man like Jim Grobe sheparding our sons off the field.

Was the season a success or not? Perspective is a marvelous thing; not only subjective but primarily personal.  Anytime you go from 3 wins to 6 wins and a bowl game it’s a success.

GO DEACS!

Deac Fan on 12/03/2011 (7:20 pm)

Dan - I read your blog regularly and occasionally even leave a comment. On this post I felt compelled to comment and say that this post might be your BEST EVER. I say that because you laid out the one word that so many blog readers too often lack - PERSPECTIVE. I whole-heartedly agree with your assessment of this year’s football season. As seemingly the only Wake fan where I live (in Clemson territory)I was telling people back in August, “wait till next year - we have a young team that may be pretty good by then”. Yes, it’s hard not to think “if only we’d won a couple of the ones that got away”......but I guess my biggest question is HOW COULD JIM GROBE NOT HAVE GOTTEN A SINGLE VOTE FOR COACH OF THE YEAR ???  With all respect to Mike London - that is a colossal oversight. I’m proud of Coach and all the young men for what they accomplished this year! Thanks Dan for offering some right PERSPECTIVE !

TommyinSC on 12/03/2011 (11:02 am)

If we have the same 6-6 season next year beating similar teams and losing to similar teams is it another successful, fun year with a potential bowl game?

Grobe is a class act. Period. Does a bowl game mean a semi-successful year? Sure. Are some of us are spoiled with how well the team has been able to play the last 10 years or so and how competitive we’ve gotten? Yes, absolutely. Do we all love watching Wake football on Saturdays (sometimes Thursdays) and enjoy the thrill of being is so many close games with the game possibly going our way in the end? YES. But while 6-6 is better than 3-9 the frustrating losses keep piling up, year after year. Not to mention the same old excuses. There are a lot of Wake fans who remember the ugly football days and are happy with 6 wins and a bowl game. Not to say that isn’t an accomplishment because we all love watching the team and love when they win games because it makes things more exciting. Playing in a bowl game is another chance to watch the team and get excited about Wake Forest. And the players are fun to watch and it’s great to see a small school competing with bigger, more established football schools.

But there is also a new generation of fans who know what it’s like to win and have success at little ol’ Wake Forest. They have higher expectations for a team they have seen with their own eyes win close games and an ACC Championship. And they are the future fans of the football team. The expectations established by winning in 06 will not fade away in the near future. There has been a period of great athletic success for a variety of sports.

As for football, the days of being content with close games and staying in games with the big boys of the ACC might still be in effect as many fans remember the old days, but they won’t last forever. The players know Wake can win or we wouldn’t have the competitive team and players we currently have.

So of course a bowl game and some great players and efforts this season is a note of pride for our school and our team. But believing that Grobe and his staff are immune to harsh (and even unfair) criticism from the fanbase for the same things people have been saying since 03-04 (i.e. playcalling) because we had a decent year is just unrealistic. There are a ton of positives from this past year regardless of the bowl game result and Dan mentioned a lot of them. Hopefully all aspects of the team (incl coaches) will improve and we’ll sneak away with some wins in the close games next year.

DP on 12/02/2011 (4:52 pm)

DanS- I admire your loyalty and passion to WF. The only reason I said the coaches recruit the same caliber players is because Wake will primarily get those student-athletes that truly want a quality education while also playing in a mediocre football conference that has BCS tie-ins. Sure, Wake will snag a 4 or 5 star recruit periodically, but they usually have to rely on getting the most out ot the talent they have, unlike the “football factory” schools that have their pick of so many top recruits. As Casey stated, the season can be considered a success because WF will get a bowl bid; however did they really improve that much over 2010 - the only team they beat with a winning record was FSU, and the ACC overall is really not that good compared to other major conferences (ex: The SEC dominated 3 of the 4 games this past W-end, save FSU beating Florida). So, finishing 8-4 or 7-5 was entirely possible given the talent and experience of the Offensive line, and having one of the best QBs in the ACC. Even with the O-line being the biggest in Wake’s history and loaded with seniors, Grobe says , we are a passing offense, not a running offense - which is what Grobe always emphasized in his first 5 or 6 years at Wake. The coaches should instill an attitude of expecting and wanting more than .500 seasons becasue they have experienced success and should expect it every season. As others have written, the players stated after the Vandy game that they were content with finishing 6-6 and making a bowl to explain their “no show” last Saturday. How can the fans be passionate if the players and coaches show NO passion?! Maybe, they will learn from the “close games”, and show that passion and win their bowl game and finish 7-6. That would be a successful season; 6-7, not so much!

Bobby on 12/02/2011 (12:01 am)

Dan -
I truly appreciate your blog and perspective on Wake sports, especially the football team. Living in the New York City area I can only get down for a couple games each year, but I do watch the other games on TV. I agree it seemed the team played uninspired against Vandy but after our 3-9 season in 2010 and now to be 5-3 in the ACC and 6-6 overall and heading to a bowl -  we should be proud of the turn around and support the team in their bowl. Also, we should support Coach Grobe and his staff. And for the comment the staff recruits the same caliber player - we need to rememeber Tanner Price chose Wake over Stanford and Souza decommited from Michigan and commited this past signing year with Wake.
I hope all those on this blog do come out to support the team at their bowl game this year to show their true school colors and spirit, instead of just bashing the players and coaching staff. As I will be at the game cheering the team on - Go Deacs!!!

Dan S on 12/01/2011 (9:10 pm)

Dan, Yor Blog was very good. It brought everything into the “right light”. We had a good team this year. With a break here and there, we would have been 8-4 0r 7-5. However that is the way the gameis,unpredictable. I changed my opinion regarding the season after reading your Blog. It made sense. Keep up the good work. Hope we can finish 7-6. In closing we should appreciate the job Coach Grobe as done thru the years, For some reason some fans think we should be an Alabama or LSU. We do not get those kind of players.” Go Deacs ”

Cal on 12/01/2011 (4:39 pm)

Dan, I think I understand your point, but I don’t view my argument as residing on the side of passion to want more. I view my argument as a matter of evaluation, analysis and conclusion. Sure, I want Wake to go 14-0 every year while bringing home the ACC and National Championships, but that’s not realistic. What was realistic to me and what was my conclusion after watching every Wake game from the opening kickoff at Syracuse to the final whistle at home against Vanderbilt was…this team was better than the six wins for which it was credited, but complacency setting-in at the wrong times throughout the season led them to a different outcome. The players and coaches said it themselves in your post-Vanderbilt game story. I’m just not sure I would call the season remarkable after reading quotes post-Vandy that point to a mindset in the program that once Wake reached six wins, the job was done…hence my ‘what if Wake started out 6-0 and finished 6-6’ comment.

Casey on 12/01/2011 (4:08 pm)

Casey,
My answer is in the blog. I don’t see why the pride in an accomplishment and the passion to want more have to be mutually exclusive.

Dan Collins on 12/01/2011 (3:09 pm)

I guess my question is…if Wake started out 6-0 and finished 6-6, would that be OK with everyone? Just as long as we make a bowl game, then everything is good? That’s the impression I get from most of the respondents here. Did they improve on last year’s record? Yes. But, does last year’s record matter that much? That was the 2010 Demon Deacons, mind you. In college athletics, every team from year-to-year is extremely different. Schemes change, personnel change, coaches change postions internally, coaches leave, etc. It’s not like major league baseball where you pick up a utility infielder and an extra reliever in the offseason and you’re ready to go. The 2011 team had all the chances in the world to win eight or nine games and they got six. To each his own, but, in my opinion, the 2011 team was much better than six wins. Last year was last year. This year is this year. Tanner Price is the best QB in the ACC. Givens is the best receiver in the ACC and one of the best in the country. You’ve got a senior RB running behind the biggest (literally) OL in Wake Forest history and one of the most experienced OL in the entire country, to boot. The 3-4 scheme is tough for teams to prepare for, since basically no one runs it at the college level. Add ACC Defensive rookie of the year Merrill Noel to a veteran secondary…stout. Olsen and Jackson have all the ability in the world. Whitlock is almost unblockable, Seniors Wilbur and Dorty on the ends, etc. etc.

Casey on 12/01/2011 (1:15 pm)

The nature of being a fan is that we like to think of what might have been… We did have a great football season. Before the start of the season I thought we would win 3 games and possibly 4 if we got a few big breaks…. and I’m an optimist…

Now lets see if the round ball Deacons can make us believers in them as well… they certainly didn’t look fantastic last night but they get the W…

Go Deacs

Lee Jackson on 12/01/2011 (12:16 pm)

Great job, Dan! This entry is the type of stuff we parents should print off and read to our kids once or twice a year. Thanks for the wisdom! I am proud to say that I did take that step back after the not-so-dandy Vandy game to consider the big picture (i.e., that we doubled our win total from last year and that we’re bowl bound). Go Deacs!!!

Brian in ATL on 12/01/2011 (11:38 am)

Well said Dan.  Maybe your best blog yet.

Charles on 12/01/2011 (11:26 am)

Dan, as usual you are spot on. I think if fans were honest with themselves, they would admit that going to a bowl game this year is the proper measure of a successful season. One game away from going to the conference championship is actually remarkable!

steveh on 12/01/2011 (10:38 am)

What would you say if you had been told Wake would go 6-6 but be leading in the second half in three of the losses, two of those games by multiple scores and end up in the Pouland Weedeater Bowl? That’s what I thought…sounds like Wake Forest. But, that’s fine with me, I guess. What can you do? Big win for the bball Deacs last night…major victory when your leading scorer is your fourth-highest in the box score and you still win the game. That was a total TEAM effort. Go Deacs!

Casey on 12/01/2011 (10:38 am)

Dan:
  Your “perspective” is usually really a positive and creative one.  My perspective on Coach Grobe’s calm-and-collected stance during games is that, if he were not and let his real emotion out, he would be coming out of his socks and sweat shirt.  He seems calm but I don’t see how it’s possible.  I know I’d have been throwing fits this past Saturday when our team failed to appear.  In fact, I can’t personally imagine how Coach, during games such as Syracuse, Notre Dame and Clemson doesn’t go into meltdown.  Good blog, Dan.

Lee Anglin on 12/01/2011 (10:18 am)

Dan,
Thanks for your comments.  We are fortunate to have Grobe and his staff.  Before criticizing him, take out his record, including bowls, and look at Wake football….not much to look at.  He has raised expectations and we should expect even more, but geez, let’s keep it in perspective!
On another note, great win for the BB Deacs last night!  Hopefully, the Bzdelick naysayers will give it some rest for awhile.  He’s cleaned up the program, recruited surprisingly well and we actually run offensive sets now!

Jim on 12/01/2011 (9:51 am)

To Board Member and all of the other Glass-Half-Empty boneheads - How are you doing in YOUR lines of work?  Are you the very best in the country at what you do?  Do you do your very best and win a championship at your job every year?  Do you ever have a bad week.  Such big words from people who probably work at Walmart and aren’t even willing to give us their real names.

And Dan - not even a little shout out to me for stating many of the same accomplishments in my comment in your “No Show Deacs Get Shown Up” entry?  I tried to get in early on that one (mine was the first entry) in order to try to head off many of the negative comments that I was certain would come.  Glad you and I see eye-to-eye on this one.  Now if you will excuse me, I have to go prepare a plate of crow for JoeyD who didn’t think that the basketball team had made any progress this year either.  After beating a veteran Nebraska team in Lincoln when the pundits predicted that they would lose by 13 points, I think Coach B and the team deserve a big pat on the back and some apologies from the not-so-faithful.

Matt on 12/01/2011 (9:06 am)

The fact remains:  Grobe is not a game coach.  He does well with the Press, was smart to employ the red-shirt strategy, can develop a decent game plan, and is a man of unquestioned integrity who is an exemplary role model for these young men.  But he can not adjust in the game and gets out coached during the game. He freezes and can not make command decisions quickly.  The buck stops with him.

Board Member on 11/30/2011 (10:55 pm)

I, too have probably been too harsh in my comments about WF success (6-6, 5-3 in ACC) this season. After last year, finishing .500 is a huge accomplishment despite only beating one team with a winning record, and one victory coming against a FCS (Gardner-Webb) school. Like HarryC. stated, after beating FSU, you begin to believe that this team was for real and could do some damage in the ACC and possibly reach the Championship game! The problem with accepting the pitiful play calling, lack of emotion, and losing close games they should have won is because the 2006 ACC Champion team made us believe that WF could compete against the VT, FSU, and Clemson’s of the world! Minus Dean Hood (Defensive Coordinator) which was a major loss, we still have pratically the same coaching staff recruiting the same caliber players as we had in 2006. As Dan pointed out in an earlier post, these players maybe do not possess the same maturity and killer instinct as that Championship team. This team should be commended on a great year,and probably would have been the best story of the ACC season had Virginia not gone from 4-8 to 8-4 this season. Good Luck in the Bowl!

Bobby on 11/30/2011 (10:43 pm)