For Wake Forest Football, Spring Is Here

It may be true that when most the country thinks about spring's relationship to new beginnings in sports they think about baseball. In some circles, however, this isn't quite the case.

For many years the football powerhouses all over the country - places like Oklahoma, Florida, Alabama, LSU and just about any other large southern school - have had a different reason to be excited for spring: Football.

Some may never have expected to see it at Wake Forest, but today things are changing. There was some excitement last year, but I think much of the Wake community was still so wound up from the ACC championship and Orange Bowl experience that we didn't really want to think about the future yet.

This time around, coming off of a good but not amazing season, spring practice brings with it plenty of anticipation and excitement. The talent is returning, the coaching staff is strong as ever, Deacon Tower is waiting, and right now just about anything seems possible.

Such was the attitude today at the practice fields on campus. It was a beautiful afternoon and everyone seemed pretty excited to be playing (or in my case watching) some football. It was a helmets only day (we'll see more pads added to the mix over the next couple weeks), but it was still good to see guys get out there and work.

With today's news that junior guard Chris Degeare won't be playing this season because he's academically ineligible, the offensive line has quickly vaulted to the top of the list when it comes to things to focus on for the spring. It was already up there due to graduation, but this doesn't help.

At practice today lots of guys were getting looks, including recently enrolled freshman Joe Looney, as well as Russell Nenon, Gage Crews, and a couple of other young guys. Playing without pads its hard to evaluate what's going on with the line, so we'll have to wait and see how that shakes out.

Much of today was spent on drills, with some scrimmaging towards the end. Of course, there was no real contact, but guys were still hustling and running their plays, which was good to see. It looks like we may see Skylar Jones get some work as a slot receiver this season, which should be a great way to utilize his athleticism.

I can't promise to be reporting on practice every day, but I'll definitely get out there when I can and keep you all posted on what's going on. I'll try to snap a few pictures if I get the chance and possibly even talk a bit with Coach Grobe. We'll see how it all shakes out.