AJC > Blog > Archives > 2006 > November > 30 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USFootball A-Wake-ning
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Surely this is an hallucination.
Wake Forest could have the best football team in the ACC and the worst basketball outfit at the same time.
What are they smoking in Winston-Salem besides Winstons and Salems these days? Shouldn’t there be an additional small-case letter squeezed into their helmet logos to render: WtF?
Tell me this isn’t happening, that I’m really typing these words in a mescaline-fueled mad rush, a la Hunter Thompson, and that I won’t remember anything after waking up from this hallucination.
Up front in the Wake media guide is the bold declaration that Wake is tops in I-A in graduation rates (96 percent): “Academic Excellence … This is Wake Forest.”
Yet the football a-Wakening going on at the third-smallest Division I-A program in the land (in terms of enrollment) surely is the feel-good story of Saturday’s conference championship game menu.
That’s how it’s being looked at in some corners. Wake is 10-2, its best record ever, going into Saturday’s ACC title tilt against your Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets.
This is prompting a number of previously unthinkable events from taking place, such as switching the start of Saturday’s hoops game against UGA to accommodate football. That’s gotta be a first.
Then again, Skip Prosser’s boys are truly awful, suffering their worst non-ACC loss in 62 seasons, a 36-point clunker to — ahem — Air Force?
Folks in Jax are frumpy that the game is far from being a sell-out. Lump that onto the Gator Bowl’s cooling to having the loser return, and it sounds like one inhospitable town for the ACC.
So how has Jim Grobe — a legitimate candidate for national coach of the year pulled off this feat? Sheer resourcefulness. Among the diamonds in the rough is ex-Harrison standout Jon Abbate, who really wanted to go to Tech. You’re probably already familiar with the grief his family has endured since the tragic death of his younger brother Luke. Wearing Luke’s favorite No. 5, Jon just got named All-ACC linebacker.
Wake also features a Tereshinski who gets to play — junior tight end John, little brother of Joe T III — a Bulldog who got away and is fourth on the team in receiving.
Predix:
What’s yours?
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By JR
November 30, 2006 03:31 PM | Link to this
In person, I got to see Elvis in Las Vegas, Reagan in Wash., and now I’ll be at a Wake-GT championship football game on Saturday. This is just too spooky.
By GTNE80
November 30, 2006 03:45 PM | Link to this
The only 2 teams that beat them, Clemson and VT held them below 20 points. Early in the year, Duke held them to less than 20 and didn’t win, but that has Duke football written all over it. Tech’s defense is pretty stingy. Disregarding some meaningless “mop-up” TDs at the end of the Duke game and the Va Tech game when we were sufficiently ahead to not worry about such things, and allowing for points off of turnovers and kick returns, our defense has only yielded over 20 points ONCE this year (at Clemson). Their offense does seem to be gaining some momentum, but I think our defense is more than capable of keeping them in check.
The key comes back to our Offense against their Defense. I feel certain that we can run against them. Choice is really coming into his own and our line is getting some good push. To put the game away, we’ve got to be able to have the threat of a pass. Can we stay away from the damaging turnover(s)? Can we get the ball to Calvin more than a handful of times?
GT 23 WFU 16
By Jim Grobe
November 30, 2006 04:07 PM | Link to this
You’ll think WtF once we wreck Tech on Saturday. You better fear the team whose helmets look like a waffle house logo.
WF 31 GT 24
By JustMe
November 30, 2006 04:16 PM | Link to this
Wake is scary because their offense runs so many counter plays. The Tech defense had better be well prepared and coached to stay at home in their positions and not get fooled.
If this happens, then the Tech defense will indeed prevent Wake from scoring.
The Tech offense should be then able to put up sufficient points to win (assumming that Reggie doesn’t fumble more).
By sam
November 30, 2006 04:26 PM | Link to this
This is a game in which two team will try to force their wills. One is a offense that is very one dimension and has a running game that is different. And, Wake is very well coach and smart on both sides of the ball. We have dr.Jekly and Mr Hyde at qb. We have the better ath. and speed. I am a tech fan and I want to say tech 28 wake 17. Pls Reggie win one big game and the four loses to Ga. is forgiven. I been to mass three time this week to get rid of your evil sprits.
By bh
November 30, 2006 04:32 PM | Link to this
if Reggie Cold 1st/Cold 2nd : 14-0 WtF if Hot/cold : 14-7 WtF if Cold/Hot: 21-14 Tech if Hot/Hot: 31-14 Tech Did we do any research on how to make Reggie hot/hot?
By Skydawg
November 30, 2006 04:47 PM | Link to this
In all honesty..who gives a dayum about this game? Not Jaxville. They should have moved the football game up to accomodate the basketball game. Say maybe 8 o’clock in the morning. Because the same amount of people will show up at the stadium and/or watch it on TV. And obviously no fans care about this thread as you can tell by the lack or response. ACC football is what it is which isnt much. Especially with VT, FSU and Miami being down. Just plain ugly.
By not disappointed
November 30, 2006 04:54 PM | Link to this
Jackets it time to shine! “Let’s go Jackets!”
By Jason
November 30, 2006 05:26 PM | Link to this
Tech overmatches Wake on paper across the board. As long as the offence has a average to good game and the defense plays as usual, Tech wins this one easy. We don’t need anything stellar from Reggie, just minimize the turnovers and hand the ball to choice.
By Wozzo the Wonder Dog
November 30, 2006 05:33 PM | Link to this
I, like the rest of America, won’t watch the ACC Championship game, if it is even being telecast. Let me know if that Tereshinski kid at Wake does anything significant. (He’s the only Wake player whose name I know.)
Gators 31 - Hogs 24. I hope I’m wrong and that Arkansas wins, however. SEC football is great and America will be watching two Top 10 teams clash in the SEC Championship.
By curtrob
November 30, 2006 07:16 PM | Link to this
hey Wozzo, you must care enough to come over to our blog and talk about how you dont care about the ACC championship game. thanks for the input, you dawg fans have salvaged a meaningless season by beating Auburn and GT so dont be mad at us because you couldnt get to a conference championship game.
if our defense is as disciplined as we think they are, once they get a feel for the Wake offense, we’ll be ok to be honest i expect that we may struggle early but will get our act together.
i am just very optimistic
GO JACKETS! bust their A*
By CW
November 30, 2006 07:48 PM | Link to this
I wonder why all the doggies are posting on Tech’s blog instead of getting ready for their big game this week against…Oh yeah, their season is already over.
By JDW
November 30, 2006 09:20 PM | Link to this
At the end of the day the Mighty Demon Deacons of Wake Forest will tear the wrapping off their super duper secret weapon cake and out will pop REGGIE BALL with axle grease on one hand and DAWG chewing on his a$$. Then Super Reggie will a) Drop the ball b) Throw an interception or c) Intentionally ground the ball to stop the clock on 4th and 2. Take your pick. Wake 21 to 17. Chin up Bunglebees with a bit of luck you could end up in Boise.
By ACC NC
November 30, 2006 10:13 PM | Link to this
Two word for you. CHOP BLOCK! That’s all Wake does is those crappy double reverses and trick plays w/ tons of chop blocks and uncalled holding penalties. If Tenuta holds that aspect of the game in hand, shouldn’t be much of a contest. When one of their leading blockers down field is the QB, one must wonder if Tenuta doesn’t put a lick or two on him from the onset to keep him “thinking” about things.
I had a couple of buddies attend the Maryland /Wake game and there were tons of uncalled holding penalties and chop blocks that Wake does. It’s called “dirty ball” but others “working with what ya got”. It’s crap and our boys should be on the look out. Our Defense will win the game alone. Let’s just hope Reggie doesn’t lose it for us while trying too much. If Nix can keep his focus on this game and not on the Tulane job….
By ACC NC
November 30, 2006 10:16 PM | Link to this
JDW- Orange Bowl sure seems in our grasps. Wonder if UGA makes a BCS Bowl this year?!! Oh wait, not every officiating crew can screw up on dead ball situations. Guess you lost one too many this year. Maybe next year.
You won, now give us some credit for participating in a shot for BCS Bowl. We rep the state of Georgia the same as you. With honor and determination.
By Matt Carafalo
December 1, 2006 02:40 AM | Link to this
Hehehehe…
Notice the Dawg fans/losers on this blog? They have nothing else to do this weekend but post on this blog. Notice they also have nothing intelligent to say. Just like the delusional Dawgs we all know and ridicule. Woof woof you poor miserable mutts. Hahahahaha!
Go Jackets!
By jacketnation
December 1, 2006 05:54 AM | Link to this
How in the hell do you give a guy a touch down who pulled a ball out from under a guy who was laying on it? In addition, Calvin got interfered with over and over but it was never called. The guys in the broadcast booth at CBS couldn;t believe any of this. However, Reggie Ball(less) played without any brains what so ever. I don’t expect him to have a good game against Wake. In a big game, he loses his marbles, and his Balls.
By Billy
December 1, 2006 07:44 AM | Link to this
Tech will win only if Gailey puts in Bennett when Ball chokes on another big game. Coach, when the kid’s cold as ice put the other kid in !!!!!!!
By JTSnooks
December 1, 2006 08:42 AM | Link to this
Guys, Reggie’s problem isn’t that he plays horrible in big games. Where he has problems is in games with big expectations! His victories over Auburn (twice), Miami last year, VT this year, etc., what was the one common theme? Nobody expected us to win. In games where we’re expected to roll, or at least win (and the fans really want it, such as at Georgia), he chokes on the expectations. Duke, UNC, UGA? In all of them he had big expectations, not the “I think we might maybe possibly have a chance if…” that he heard before the big games he’s won.
By Eric S.
December 1, 2006 10:11 AM | Link to this
Wake Forest is a college? Georgia Tech plays football? C’mon.
By famous_bt8
December 1, 2006 10:35 AM | Link to this
Lets go Tech! Bring home the ACC Title for the Bulldogs! And to all you naysayers, I just say 15-12! Have fun…
By famous_bt8
December 1, 2006 10:41 AM | Link to this
Hey Matt! I forgot to mention we own your program! Have a great day.
By mike
December 1, 2006 10:54 AM | Link to this
Techies are going to whine about last Saturday’s game the same way they whine about everything else. For Christmas I’m getting y’all a big block of cheese to go with that whine.
Go Wake!
Woof woof woof!
By Tyler
December 1, 2006 11:07 AM | Link to this
Tech 27 Wake Forest 17 in a half full Gator Bowl stadium. Tech will have about 15,000 or so fans there and Wake will bring around 8-10,000 fans. The ACC Championship game should be held in a large high school stadium.
By G'Vegas Dawg
December 1, 2006 11:18 AM | Link to this
I hope Reggie plays as well this weekend as he did last!!! Go Dawgs!!! and GOOOOO WAKE!!!
By C from Marietta
December 1, 2006 11:31 AM | Link to this
From a loyal Dawg fan to the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets:
GO GT and kick some Wake butt tomorrow. I will be watching and pulling for the trade school on North Ave.
By G'Vegas Dawg
December 1, 2006 11:36 AM | Link to this
I like all of the talk about Dawg fans being losers. This coming from a bunch of people who haven’t beaten the DAWGS in 6 years. Congrats on your BCS bowl. Everyone knows that the BCS is a Big Crock of Sh!+. I guess every conference has to have a representative. This years ACC rep will hopefully be Wake!! It is pretty sad when a team can come in 9-2 and look like all world until they play a real conference. UGA over Tech, SC over Clemson, UF over FSU!!! Great conference NERDS!!!
By Tech Defect
December 1, 2006 11:41 AM | Link to this
Why are we still b*** about the Georgia game!?! They beat us! They gave us plenty of opportunities to win, and we just didn’t execute! And if you honestly think they were interfering with Calvin, you either didn’t watch the game or are dilusional! And Jackenation, no one in the CBS broadcast booth thought that either. As for that fumble, you could see the ball on the ground. The ref was standing right there. That’s why it wasn’t blown dead; because no one was on the ball!
This why we don’t win the games we should because we blame everyone else for our inconsistencies! I’m sick of it! Keep it up and we’ll have to go to Winston-Salem to see the ACC trophy! In fact, I actually think we’ll lose to Wake anyway. Calvin will get shut down again, just like with Clemson and Georgia. Reggie will be erratic as always (and not even care). And Chan will just stand there on the sidelines thinking nothing is wrong. In the end we’ll all be blaming someone else. My prediction? Wake 24-21!
By donnie025
December 1, 2006 12:27 PM | Link to this
Hey “Tech Defect”, you’re a defect alright. Stop posing as a tech rep. and get your little doggie a** back up to Athens where you belong. I know you’re bored this weekend but keep the role playing in your cousin’s bedroom.
Tech 17-7
By Frontman
December 1, 2006 12:42 PM | Link to this
Hey, Tyler: We’re sorry that ACC schools are just a tad more exclusive than any of those SEC state schools which you probably went to (if you attended college at all), where football is about 100 times more important than getting an education and doing something with your life. Go tailgate with all of your other drunk backwards-cap-wearing punk frat boy friends and then play in the traffic.
By gtalumn
December 1, 2006 12:44 PM | Link to this
Unfortunately, Tech Defect is right.
Five out of Six Sportsline writers predict Tech will lose the ACC game. We may also lose the bowl game as well, and its all because of the same reason we lost to Georgia - Reggie Ball. Every other aspect of our program is pretty solid, and it is a shame that the rest of the team has to stand on the sideline dejected at the end of these big games because of the disaster that is Reggie Ball. I don’t think I can remember a worst performance by even a high school quarterback than the fiasco #1 orchestrated for the Georgia game. Georgia didn’t beat us, Reggie Ball beat us and you could see it coming after Georgia won the Auburn game. Reggie just made it a reality.
I am sick of it too, but I am sick of the terrible play and bad attitude of Reggie Ball. His wearing of #1, obvious attitude during the game, constant trash talking to and shoving of opposing players and running to the officials after every play to whine are a disgrace to Georgia Tech. I look forward to watching the Gator Bowl, not only to support the good play of our other players on the field, but also to be there when Mr. Ball plays his last play as a Georgia Tech football player so that we can declare this very poor choice of a quarterback out of our program forever.
By Luv everything Atlanta
December 1, 2006 12:44 PM | Link to this
Yeah Yeah, so it won’t be a sell out in Jacksonville, us Tech fans bought our tickets and then some. The westside of the stadium will be rocking with me being one of those doing the rocking. Tech 27- Wake 17. Reggie 2 TD. 1 Int. thats darn good for him. Choice continues his 100 yard performance and adds a TD. Calvin will simply dominate. Go Jackets bust their A*S
By Top Dawg
December 1, 2006 12:54 PM | Link to this
Hey “gtalumn”, you’re confused. Georgia DID beat you. Of course, we UGA folk have known for years that Reggie Ball is horrible. I guess y’all have now figured that out too.
And by the way, if y’all don’t sell out the Gator Bowl for the ACC Championship Game, then you should give up football altogether.
Oh yeah, Go Wake!!!!
By Buzzman
December 1, 2006 01:02 PM | Link to this
I am sick of being a loser. I am going to pull for the Dawgs from now on. All this EE degree from North Avenue got me was a 60 hour/week job where I can now afford tix just to go see us get kicked around by the red and black.
Plus, UGA is in that powerful SEC where they were a mid-level team this year that just waxed us in football for the umpteenth year in a row.
Man, it stinks being a Yellow Jacket.
By JudgeDawg
December 1, 2006 01:06 PM | Link to this
Hey nerds! If you guys lose to Wake Forest you better not ever mention Vanderbilt again.
By Butch Holmes
December 1, 2006 01:09 PM | Link to this
Wake Forest lost to “ahem-Air Force???” This was the very same “ahem-Air Force” that beat Georgia Tech last year.
By Pitbull
December 1, 2006 01:19 PM | Link to this
Reggie Ball would fumble and throw interceptions against Agnes Scott College.
By Pitbull
December 1, 2006 01:21 PM | Link to this
BTW, the ACC Championship Game is just a game, dog.
By Hobnailboot
December 1, 2006 01:21 PM | Link to this
Wake’s secondary has tackling issues on occasion. If the ball gets to Calvin Johnson, it’s trouble. Of course, with Reggie, he could just as easily throw it to that other team in gold. Go Deacs.
By ZGOLDATOWN
December 1, 2006 01:26 PM | Link to this
Tech Defect you are what is wrong with Georgia Tech fans. The people in the booth of CBS did mention interference no calls twice. Also that “touchdown fumble recovery” couldn’t have been a good call. All a player who was laying there had to do was grab the ball just long enough to establish possesion (which is just grabbing it with both hands if your already down). After watching it on a 56 inch plasma in Hd upon arriving home from the game in shock i definetely think both tech and ugay players had possesion before that idiot pulled it out and ran. what a joke
By famous_bt8
December 1, 2006 01:40 PM | Link to this
15-12
By john mcrae
December 1, 2006 02:05 PM | Link to this
Flying down today for what I hope is a good trip! Go Jackets!!!! Sting ‘em.
By Mike
December 1, 2006 02:05 PM | Link to this
Wake 38; Tech 14. Techs defense can’t stop the option and the offense will have it’s usual woes.
By Dollar Dawg
December 1, 2006 02:18 PM | Link to this
First of all, congratulations to Calvin Johnson for the honors awarded this week he has spent all year to earn and best of luck to all of you this weekend.
Coming from a dyed-in-the-wool DAWG (I was born into a UGA family and graduated with a degree in Finance) please allow me to be bluntly honest with you:
When the vast majority of UGA fans watch a game like last Saturday’s we watch the effort and grace displayed by players like Calvin Johnson and Joe Anoai (I had never heard of him before Saturday but that kid did not leave anything on the field in an effort to win) we have nothing but respect for them. They are college KIDS busting their butts for their school that they love.
However, when we watch Reggie Ball we have nothing but contempt. His attitude on and off the field would turn off anyone with any character. And we know of where we speak; we suffered through Quincy Carter and we were the very ones who thought his coming to Athens was such a great thing to begin with.
Take heart guys, you automatically upgrade the QB position next year but I’ll be honest with you one more time before ending this (too long, I know) post: I sure hope Calvin Johnson turns pro next year. A DAWG’S nightmare is a QB who can get him the football.
By Steven Lynch
December 1, 2006 03:04 PM | Link to this
First of all, quit crying about the UGA game. You didn’t win and you have the best player in the country-PERIOD. The ACC is a basketball conference and that’s it. Enjoy the World’s Largest Calculus Party!
By Tyler
December 1, 2006 03:05 PM | Link to this
Hey Frontman….I attended Clemson Unversity, Home of the best fans in the country. I’m very much pro ACC but get upset that some of fans at other ACC schools cannot support their teams by traveling to aways games or bowls. For example Ga Tech and Wake Forest. So take your sorry attitude back to UNC pal.
By Hoobleegoobleemain
December 1, 2006 03:21 PM | Link to this
Wake…..35 to 10
By Tech Defect
December 1, 2006 03:27 PM | Link to this
Donnie, ZGOLD…seriously. We all know that we had our shot and we blew it! Georgia just wanted it more than we did…certainly more than Ball did. When our QB doesn’t care about the game and our coach doesn’t seem to care that our QB doesn’t care, what can we expect!?!
Now we have to worry about Wake, and after our performance with Georgia, I think the game is in their favor!
By GT Fan Jeff
December 1, 2006 04:04 PM | Link to this
Dollar Dawg,
Thanks for the nice comments and well wishes. I agree with you 100% on Reggie Ball, but I blame Chan Gailey as much as Reggie for allowing this situation to be prolonged for four years. Chan seems to have a “blind spot” when it comes to Reggie, as Reggie’s inconsistent play and embarassing behavior have been obvious to even casual GT fans. After refusing to change QBs against Georgia in the second half, I do not understand how Chan could have looked his players in the eye and told them “we did everything in our power to try and win this game,” as that quite obviously would not have been true.
If their is any justice in the world of college football, Reggie will sustain a minor injury early in the game against Wake Forest and Chan will be forced to play Taylor Bennett. Bennett will then play very well, GT will win a close game and the first question Chan is asked after the game by the new GT AD is: “why was Taylor Bennett not given a chance to play against UGA when Reggie Ball was struggling so badly?” I realize this will not happen, but I can dream, can’t I?
By GREG
December 1, 2006 04:36 PM | Link to this
LOL!!!!!!
By halldl5
December 1, 2006 04:38 PM | Link to this
Go Deacs! 35-10
By GREG
December 1, 2006 04:40 PM | Link to this
TECH FANS MAKE SOME FREAKING NOISE!!!!YOU CAN STILL WIN OUT AND BE 11-3 WITH A ACC CHAMPIONSHIP!!!I ADMIT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE TECH WIN THE GAME!!BE THANKFUL THAT REGGIE BALL IS LEAVING!! QB PLAY LOST THE UGA AND CLEMSON GAME!!!
By macc
December 1, 2006 08:15 PM | Link to this
GT fans should WAKE up! I don’t think any of the GT fans know which team will show up this weekend. The team that defeated VT or the one that showed up in Athens. One thing is for sure, GT has not faced this kind of offense ALL season. I’m not talking about the fact that they put points on the board, but the manner in which they control the clock with a offense that has totally confused most defenses. What is a gadget play for most teams, is a key part of Wake’s everyday play book. Tech’s defense will be the key to this game. As for Wake’s defense….They are for real..expect them to stay in Ball’s face most of the day. Tech will have to play big on both sides of the ball to pull this off !
By BigStinger
December 2, 2006 10:45 AM | Link to this
Ahem,
I understand the dawgs not watching the ACC Champ. Game. The reason is that the “rabbit ears” on their K-Mart black and white TVs are broken from the fights those yard apes have incurred with their toothless wives. :)
By Kenny
December 2, 2006 11:30 AM | Link to this
Get lost dogs. you are at home on the porch while we are playing for a Championship. our loss to you didn’t effect our outcome whatsoever. I guess we were looking ahead to our next game.
By Kenny
December 2, 2006 11:33 AM | Link to this
ZGOLDATOWN, remeber the game was in Athens
By Kenny
December 2, 2006 11:39 AM | Link to this
remember*
By Eric S.
December 2, 2006 02:47 PM | Link to this
Half time at ACC Championship. Where the hell is everybody? This is pathetic. So much techie smack talk going around, i would’ve thought the Gator Bowl would be drowning in dirty gold and blue / black / white….what are tech’s colors again? Some techie left a message on here touting tech as a top tier athletic program…not with these fair-weather fans…looks like a high school play-off game.