I am a proud graduate of Wake Forest University as was my father (old and new campus).  I grew up cheering for Wake Forest. I was fortunate enough to have been relocated back to Winston-Salem in 2000 and now have the opportunity to hold season tickets which my daughter and I enjoy in order to spend time together. I have read this forum for years, but just recently joined in order to post my opinion. This is my first post.

Wake Forest fans are not necessarily concerned about records. We are concerned about our student athletes conducting themselves in a mature, sportsman-like manner, giving 100%, executing the game plan to perfection, and using "brains" to overcome the lack in "brawn." We expect the coaching staff to recruit to the Wake Forest story, to never sell the university short, to be relentless in their pursuit of quality student athletes that would prosper here, to recruit to the offensive and defensive schemes of the football team, to utilize the redshirt program to improve the student athletes' size, strength, quickness, and football awareness, and to provide a competitive advantage in scheming and game day play calling. We also expect to see improvement each and every year during a student athlete's development.

I am dumbfounded by the number of participants on this board that approve of Jim Grobe continuing as head football coach just because he took Wake Forest to an Orange Bowl in 2006, a year in which the league was particularly weak while Wake Forest had a very good team. The current bar is set so low that as long as the team shows up on the field and not in the newspaper headlines for criminal activities, let's shell out another $2.2 million and keep going.

The feeling in the crowd on Thursday night was at or near an all-time low.  People didn't even stand up when the team ran (walked) onto the field before the game. Grobe stood as far from the team as he possibly could with crossed his arms the whole game in seeming disbelief, while Dabo (right in front of our seats) was completely engaged in the game.  One thing I noticed was that every time a kickoff sailed out of the end zone, Clemson's kicker received a congratulations and slap on pads from Dabo himself.

It is clear that after the Orange Bowl and the new 10-year $2.2 million (annual) contract, Jim Grobe felt that he had the secret formula: recruit anyone to Wake Forest and we will make them great, just like Aaron Curry. Why spend all of this time and effort recruiting? Meanwhile the league slowly began to improve (with numerous coaching changes) and Wake Forest experienced coaching brain drain as key staff continued to leave. Rumor has it that Jim Grobe plays a lot of golf during the season and delegates game planning completely to the coaching staff.  This is not the model of the 21st century head coach.

This team is clearly lost out on the field. We run the dual threat (quarterback run/pass) spread offense with a quarterback that can't run. We throw to one receiver.  We have a track star at halfback, but never pitch him the ball so he can get a running start to the corner.  One of Clemson's long passes on Thursday came on a cornerback blitz where the safety had no idea the blitz was on.  We don't recruit defensive lineman. We recruit tight ends and never throw to them. Jim Grobe was a linebacker and our linebackers are pathetically slow. Jim Grobe was unhappy about the second quarter fumble on Thursday night because we could have closed out the first half only down 28-7.   Must I go on?...

Jim Grobe is very quick to accuse the other team of being faster than he thought, that the players aren't making enough plays, and that the coaches are giving the players too many ideas to execute. I though we were recruiting student athletes at a higher standard than other teams?  Are they actually not as smart? When did Jim Grobe ever say he was not not doing a good job and that the entire coaching staff and team needed to improve?

If I were coming into work on time and sober, but delivering unsatisfactory results as of last quarter let alone since 2006, I would have shown the door or at least been given an improvement plan long ago.  But I guess we can't do that since our Athletic Director bit on Jim Grobe's head fake to Arkansas and signed him at the top of the market. For those of you satisfied with mediocrity, I will tell you that is certainly not a value I was taught as a student of Wake Forest University. Go Deacs!

Well said. It is time for something to give. The majority of of our fan are not grads, they simply lovve MSD. They and we grads deserve more. Go Deacs

This year's team lacks a sense of urgency and belief in themselves like no other during the Coach Grobe era. As a fan you just don't get the feeling they are excited to play, especially the offense.

With all of the recruiting advantages of being the top state university how do you explain Wake's victories this year over UNC-CH and Virginia?

I want everyone to read this post! Every word this man has said is true, and deep down 80% of deacon nation knows this! I have tried to say this over, and over, about how much we are paying Grobe for a below 500 record, but everybody wants to always give him a pass! Does Jim represent Wake in a good way? Yes,Is Jim one of the nicest person you could ever meet?Yes, but you can't let that cloud your mind, and not let you see that our football program has steadily been on a decline since 06, and I'm afraid its going to get worse before it gets better! He either needs to retire after this season, or either lay out a new plan for his solution on how to get our program back on track!

I am a '79 alum and have been 100% behind Grobe since he got here, but I agree completely with DeacAlum84.

I wish someone would answer my two questions.

My biggest fear that Grobe and Wellman will name Steed the "next coach in waiting".

Very good post, DeacAlum 1984.

How about an answer. I need to go eat soon.

keeper wrote: With all of the recruiting advantages of being the top state university how do you explain Wake's victories this year over UNC-CH and Virginia?

No Bernard for UNC and UVA is straight garbage. Now go eat big dawg. Other question isnt answerable as who strives for %500 in sports

section2overalls wrote:

keeper wrote: With all of the recruiting advantages of being the top state university how do you explain Wake's victories this year over UNC-CH and Virginia?

No Bernard for UNC and UVA is straight garbage. Now go eat big dawg. Other question isnt answerable as who strives for %500 in sports

keeper is bad like that, always insisting on wanting to come back to the facts...

attaining a percentage of 500 would be a major improvement for some of our existing coaches, and a hell of an improvement for most of our past football coaches - I hope they all strive for it

Hey keeper how about looking up Grobes overall win% during his 12years at Wake thats what I'm talking about! Get back to me with his win %!

Many of the apologist continue to hold Jim Grobe up as a fine representative of the school.  There is no doubt that Coach Grobe is a likable and decent person.  In fact I would say that such a person might make a difference when recruiting talent.  Yet, the stories are that this fine representative of our institution does not recruit, leaving the tasks up to his assistants.  If Grobe is such an asset, and talent is below what other schools are able to recruit, why wouldn't he visit the homes of potential recruits? 

Many, many head coaches take the lead in recruiting talent.  They then become successful on the field, molding that talent in to a competitive unit.  Grobe leaves recruiting, practice coaching, planning, and game day coaching to a staff of his assistants.  This model continues to disappoint many of our fans.  Replacing his assistant coaches (unless done at the level that Clemson has) will only prolong the march of mediocrity we now have.  

If Grobe doesn't want to do this, then send him packing.  Wake Forest does not have the financial resources to also have the highest paid defensive and offensive coordinators on our staff, just to make the head man look better.

What is needed is a hands on attitude, willing to do what ever it takes to enhance the football program, even if it means visiting a player's home, meeting with his parents, and selling Wake Forest by the head coach.   And actively participating in coaching the team.

Ok Keeper here you go for over 2,245,545 dollars this is what you get a overall record of 72-71, so hes what sitting at 51% win %, which will be in the negative before this season ends! Hey in my opinion I think Grobe would make a good Athletic director, I just think the fire has burned out as a coach, and as a small university, and everybody loves to always use the LOWF statement as a excuse, well 2,245,545 dollars isn't LOWF, that is a big time coaching salary! Hell who wouldn't like to come and coach in a BCS conference make over 2.2 million, just to have a overall record of 500, and take us to a few bowls, and maybe out of 12 years have a good enough team to make a push for the ACC Championship, like I've told you all what a GIG grobe has, the mountains less then a hour away, the beach less then 4 hours away, great weather most of the time!

MocksvilleDeac wrote: I want everyone to read this post! Every word this man has said is true, and deep down 80% of deacon nation knows this! I have tried to say this over, and over, about how much we are paying Grobe for a below 500 record, but everybody wants to always give him a pass! Does Jim represent Wake in a good way? Yes,Is Jim one of the nicest person you could ever meet?Yes, but you can't let that cloud your mind, and not let you see that our football program has steadily been on a decline since 06, and I'm afraid its going to get worse before it gets better! He either needs to retire after this season, or either lay out a new plan for his solution on how to get our program back on track!

Bingo! The on field product is just not up to ACC standards and the ACC standards are really low this year.

MocksvilleDeac wrote: Hey keeper how about looking up Grobes overall win% during his 12years at Wake thats what I'm talking about! Get back to me with his win %!

Right at 52 %. Next question.

I agree with much of the original post. I too am WFU progeny and a graduate and even put on the shoulder pads and cleats in my day. I remember, as do many of you, when Ron Wellman introduced two great hires for Wake Forest. Skip and Jim had a shared belief in the greatness of the Wake Forest institution and it's people. All of us had great admiration and respect for these two men who we believed would transcend the mediocrity of our "place" in the ACC. LOWF would overachieve and show the nation a touch of class. We would play like our hair was on fire and for a brief moment in time, the trio of Wellman, Grobe, and Prosser was on it's way to becoming as legendary as Bones and Peahead.

I am not going to assign blame, but the fire of belief must be relit and the desire to overachieve has to be reborn. That's all I have to say about that.

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--- keeper wrote:

MocksvilleDeac wrote: Hey keeper how about looking up Grobes overall win% during his 12years at Wake thats what I'm talking about! Get back to me with his win %!

Right at 52 %. Next question.

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You are severely outnumbered and this time around its not by illogical, emotionally driven knot heads. I've followed the boards for years and the tone of change is coming from true WFU fans who are alum and staunch supporters. Attendance totals this year will be lowest for a long time and excitement and overall fan support even lower. With no major change next year will be an even bigger embarrassment from the fan support perspective. The financial implications are too much to ignore and I don't see a pass being given unless they make a bowl this year and make the school some money.