2006 Monday Thoughts (on a Tuesday): The Wake Forest Game

This
one was supposed to be harder for the Hokies. This is the year that Wake Forest
was supposed to be big enough, strong enough and mature enough to stand up to
the neighborhood bully, after all this time. And it’s true that Wake Forest looked
more buff, the product of a few years in Grobe’s Gym. But in the end, the Demon
Deacons reverted to their old ways, like the successful businessman who goes
back to his high school reunion and finds his knees still quake when he tries to
talk to the Prom Queen.

At 9-1, with a recent 30-0 win in Tallahassee to their credit, Wake Forest
was expected to present a stiff threat to the Hokies. That was something to be
concerned about, because after all, on Tech’s last trip to Wake Forest, the
Hokies had to break a sweat to come away with a 17-10 win, and that was against
a Deac team that finished 4-7.

This edition of the black and gold came in with a better record and a higher
ranking than the Hokies. On one level, we knew that, and we knew you had to
respect Wake Forest, but on another level, be honest: weren’t you thinking,
“Yeah, but it’s Wake Forest — how good can they really be?”

If you’re guilty of that line of thinking — and I was to some extent,
despite Boston College’s best efforts this year to teach me a lesson — then
Wake Forest failed to make you pay for your arrogance. Wake did some good
things. They’re obviously well coached, and they’ve got a quarterback in Riley
Skinner who I think is pretty darn good. Wake coach Jim Grobe has an offensive
system that might not work everywhere, but it works well at Wake Forest, and the
Deacons have some talent on defense, including a handful of guys that I’d like
to have on VT’s team, for depth if nothing else. (Wake’s linebackers are good,
but Vince Hall and Xavier Adibi sit for no man, know what I mean?)

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