Why do we always sleep on Wake?
I’m trying out a new mid-week angle today, throwing out a topic to a bunch of folks from various perspectives in football. This week’s topic: Why does Wake Forest always tend to be underrated?
Phil Steele, oddsmaker/preseason magazine guru: Wake Forest is a team that plays better than the sum of its parts. They are not loaded with VHT’s or NFL-caliber players but are one of the best-prepared teams in the NCAA, and that is a huge credit to coach Grobe. They must be considered the favorites to win the ACC Atlantic as of today, as they get a disappointing Clemson team at home, and when they face Florida State, the Seminoles will be in the third game of their suspensions and still not at full force.
Kent McLeod, Director of Football Relations, Duke: I would say it is because they don’t worry about recruiting rankings and just recruit guys that fit their system. Even after they won two years ago, they still have not been ranked in the recruiting rankings high.
They also redshirt most of their players which gives them more time to develop. A couple of years ago, a stat came out about they had redshirted 100 of 105.
espn.com
9/4/08
Magnolia Tribune
