Wake Forest 23rd in USA Today Coaches' Poll
Posted by Zach Smith
on August 1, 2008 at 11:14 AM
USA Today released the preseason Coaches' Poll this morning, and the Demon Deacons came in at 23. It is the first time in school history Wake Forest has been ranked in the preseason top 25.
Even though this is about what has been expected given all the other preseason coverage this summer, I think it's still exciting to see the coaches validate what Wake fans already know.
According to a release from the athletic department, Jim Grobe (one of 61 voters in the poll) had this to say:
I think it's rewarding for us in that people respect our football program. But at the same time, it's a little bit scary because we have a really tough schedule. I think we can be a good football team but that certainly doesn't guarantee a good season. From our perspective, it's nice to be ranked in the preseason but it would be nicer to be ranked highly at the end of the season.Other ACC schools in the top 25 are Clemson at 9 and Virginia Tech at 16.
8/1/08, 4:26 PM
Wake has earned the right to be in the top 25. We will lose a lot of games this year and be back at the bottom with Vandy. Don't worry that will not stop us we will get right back up and fight for an ACC championship in 2015 if recruits happen to fall in our lap.
8/1/08, 4:46 PM
What makes you think we're going to lose so many games this season?
8/1/08, 8:32 PM
I think FSU has our number this year. They have two cupcakes and then us at home with some fresh talent. After two years of us destroying them.
8/5/08, 11:47 PM
I think this will be a scary year for Wake fans like us Zach. The expectations are here. I have followed the football team blindly since 1994 and took great joy in every victory and sadness in every loss. In 2006 I was redeemed and all was wonderful. 2007 was in some ways almost an even better surprise because they kept it going despite many graduations and injuries. Now the average Wake Forest grad who did not know the TE two years ago is talking about New Years Day bowl games and 10-2 seasons. I am hoping for that, I believe the talent is there, I think Riley is a championship QB, Coach Grobe, etc.... But the world is littered with teams like Wake who slipped up against a Baylor or Mississippi, lose to a team like FSU that at the end of the day still has higher rated athletes, lose an expected game to Clemson, go on the road and lose one or two games and next thing you know this team is 7-5 and everyone is crying wolf.
Enjoy the season for what it is and take joy in being someone who has been there for this time of Wake football. It has never been like this, it was completely ignored when I was there. Enjoy it, hope for the best and ignore the critics. But recognize a college football season can get away from a team very quickly.