Bowl Blog
Postgame wrapup
12/30/2011
A disappointed group of Deacons walked to the locker room after the game. As the players filed down the big hallway in LP Field, they were silent, other than a few sniffles here and there.
Most of the players were very stoic, and certainly not ready to see the good in what they accomplished.
However, coach Jim Grobe chose to focus on some positives in his postgame comments. He praised the team's effort, saying it played hard enough, though not well enough, to win.
"We've got a really disappointed group of seniors right now who have played their last game," he said. "I'm really, really proud of them. I think one of the reasons we had a good year this year when many people picked us to not be very good was senior leadership."
Grobe could have pointed out the on-field accomplishments, such as returning to a bowl game after a two-year absence. Instead, the off-the-field accomplishments carried more weight for him.
"We had a really good chemistry on our football team this year," he said. "I think we won some games this year because of who we are, rather than what kind of talent we had at times. It's a good feeling for me as a coach to know that our kids had a good team chemistry and were good teammates.
"I feel like this was one of my more enjoyable years in coaching."
See photos on Flickr of the fans in the second half
See photos on Flickr of the second-half action
See all the photos from the week
See the coverage from wakeforestsports.com
-- Mark Anderson
Deacons fall
12/30/2011
Wake Forest couldn't muster a final drive to win the game, and Mississippi State won the Music City Bowl 23-17.
Stay tuned for more pictures and postgame comments ...
Halftime update
12/30/2011
The Deacons trail 16-7 at halftime. They've forced three turnovers and will get the ball to start the second half.
Wake Forest fans may be outnumbered (and out-cowbelled), but they have been loud and have their gold-and-black pompoms waving.
See photos on Flickr of the fans
See photos on Flickr of the first-half action
-- Mark Anderson
Game time!
12/30/2011
The youth football players and veterans have been honored. The flag and footballs have been delivered by military parachuters. The songs have been sung by future country music stars and active military members. It's finally time to play football.
Tailgate togetherness
12/30/2011
Before the game, it was time to tailgate, Deacon style.
Wake Forest fans gathered under a large tent between the parking lots and LP Field, enjoying catered food and drinks.
They also were treated to music from Jason LeVasseur ('94).
The mood was festive and optimistic as game time approached.
See photos on Flickr of the tailgate party
-- Mark Anderson
Students get ready
12/30/2011
Four best friends, Aaron Bullock (Conyers, Ga.), Christie Jones (Atlanta, Ga.), Emily Maciag (Wayne, N.J.) and Roman Nelson (Kernersville, N.C.), traveled from around the country to meet at the game. The four fans tailgated by LP Field wearing gold and black and huge smiles.
-- Melissa McKeon ('12)
Rallying the crowd
12/30/2011
Before most fans left downtown, the Deacons held a pep rally at First and Broadway.
The Deacon, the cheerleaders and the dance squad performed on stage, and the band played for downtown fans for the second time in 24 hours.
Downtown is across the Cumberland River from LP Field, where the Music City Bowl will be played. But Nashville has a pedestrian bridge that runs from the downtown area right to the field (and the Deacon Tailgate).
See photos on Flickr of the pep rally
-- Mark Anderson
Grabbing some autographs
12/30/2011
Joe Haney ('88) and his son, Joseph, 10, had perfect timing in the lobby. They walked through just in time to get autographs from players Cody Preble and Dylan Inteman.Getting ready for action
12/30/2011
Also in the Opryland lobby this morning were Angie Hinshaw and Carly Collins of Yadkinville.Loving the Nashville experience
12/30/2011
As game day opened, many Wake Forest fans milled around the gigantic Gaylord Opryland Hotel. A welcome center staffed by the University handed out buttons, pompoms and information.-- Mark Anderson
Road trippin'
12/29/2011
Last night, plenty of Wake Foresters flooded downtown Nashville until the wee hours.
Seniors Katherine Feeney and Paige Beaumont needed to relax after a long trip. They made last-minute plans to road trip to the Music City Bowl. Their journey from New Jersey began on Dec. 28 and took a total of 18 hours.
Crazy? Maybe, but the two loyal fans, who will stay in Nashville for New Year's Eve, say it was a trip well worth it.
-- Melissa McKeon ('12)
A football family
12/29/2011
Deacons go country
12/29/2011
-- Mark Anderson
Dedicated Deacons
12/29/2011
Also hitting the street for the evening party was the Mauney family from Maiden, N.C."A lot of people don't understand it, but I always keep the faith."
See photos on Flickr of Thursday's street party
-- Mark Anderson
Prepared to party
12/29/2011
As the sun went down on Thursday night, Wake Forest fans started to head downtown to see the neon sights, take in some music and watch the Battle of the (Marching) Bands.Students hit the shops
12/29/2011
It's not enough to just come to Nashville and attend the game. Wake Forest fans want to look the part!
Seniors Kelly Russo, Aubrey Vaughan and Keeley Lawner shop for black and gold at Posh, a boutique in downtown Nashville. Mississippi State may not appreciate that Wake Forest is taking Nashville by storm, but the boutiques will!
-- Melissa McKeon ('12)
Coaches meet the media
12/29/2011
This afternoon, coaches Jim Grobe and Dan Mullen met the media in LP Field. They spoke for about 20 minutes about their teams and what might happen on Friday night.
Grobe landed the one-liner of the press conference. In response to a question about the health of cornerback Merrill Noel, he referenced the morning team photo and said: "He looked good taking pictures."
Grobe also emphasized the bigger picture when talking about Wake Forest's bowl appearance, including getting in extra practices for young players.
"It's been invaluable," Grobe said. "We try to get as many reps with the young guys as we can, but we also want the guys to enjoy the bowl experience. We don't want them to dread going back to a bowl game. So we've had to balance that out a little bit.
"It helps us in recruiting. It helps the younger people realize that if we work hard during the season we've got a really big reward at the end.
"Our guys are excited to be in a bowl game. The younger players can be a little goofy from time to time. They don't know how to handle it like the older guys who have been there before do, but this is great for our program."
See photos on Flickr from the press conference
-- Mark Anderson
Benson, Teague support Deacs
12/29/2011
Bob Benson ('72, JD '75) and Bill Teague ('73, P '01, '05) were among the crowd cheering on the Deacons at today's luncheon.Pitz family offers home away from home
12/29/2011
Whether by plane, train or car, Wake Forest students have arrived in Nashville from all different parts of the country. The question is where will they all stay?Showdown at the Saloon
12/29/2011
Much like Tuesday night, the Music City Bowl events brought Wake Forest and Mississippi State together again today, this time at the Wildhorse Saloon in downtown Nashville.
The players paraded down the middle of the room to cheers from their fans, and then everyone was treated to a buffet lunch. Both senior classes were recognized, and highlight videos were shown for both teams. (The Deacons' blocked punt against UNC received the most audible response from the Wake Forest fans.)
Jeff Fisher, the former Tennessee Titans coach, addressed the crowd and recognized nine military members in attendance.
Both coaches answered questions from the moderator and the crowd, and Dan Mullen of Mississippi State probably landed the one-liner of the afternoon. While praising the bowl travel as an educational experience, he said: "We're staying in a hotel with more people in it than some of our players' hometowns."
When coach Jim Grobe was asked about whether the Mississippi State cowbells would be a problem, he was frank: "I absolutely do." He went on to say that it should be a great, exciting atmosphere.
See photos on Flickr of the luncheon
-- Mark Anderson
Easy like Thursday morning
12/29/2011
The Deacons had some easy assignments on Thursday morning. First, the team gathered at LP Field to get a look and feel for what they'll see on Friday night.
Mostly, the time on the field was a chance for players to take photos with their phones and iPads. Workers were still painting the yard lines and logos on the field.
"They were really cranked up this morning when we had a chance to go over," coach Jim Grobe said. "They were taking lots of pictures, and I think it kind of hits home that we're getting ready to play a game again. So it was an exciting time for our players."
Everyone gathered for a team photo in the stands, with photographer Brian Westerholt taking the image from a ladder.
Afterward, the players broke briefly into their position units, but talk was light. Assistant Steed Lobotzke and his offensive linemen tried to figure out what the LP stood for (it's Lousiana-Pacific, a manufacturer of building materials, industrial wood products and pulp). Assistant Steve Russ went over some Mississippi State formations with his defensive backs.
Next, the team boarded a bus for a bowl luncheon at the Wild Horse Saloon.
See photos on Flickr of the Thursday morning activities
-- Mark Anderson
Putting it on ice
12/28/2011
The Music City Bowl treated both teams to a Nashville Predators game tonight. The players were seated in lower-level sections ("These kids don't realize these are $125 seats or more," said co-defensive coordinator Brian Knorr.)
For many players, such as Kris Redding, a sophomore defensive lineman from Georgia, this was their first hockey game. Redding was all set with a drink and some nachos, and he looked excited to see the action.
Redding said that the players don't often get to do something as an entire team.
"Before road games we usually go to a movie, but nothing that's open like this," Redding said. The team usually goes to a closed theater.
So far, Redding said that Nashville has been a great host.
"We've been having fun," he said. "Last night, we walked around on Broadway, listened to some music in some clubs. We had a good time."
Senior offensive lineman Joe Looney was named the O'Charley's Fan of the Game, getting some time on scoreboard video screen while playing air guitar.
The Predators beat the Minnesota Wild 2-1 in a shootout.
See photos on Flickr from the Predators game
Read more about day 2 in Nashville from wakeforestsports.com
-- Mark Anderson
Redemption song?
12/28/2011
One of the themes for any discussion with Wake Forest seems to revolve around the ACC vs. SEC rivalry. More specifically, how does Wake feel about getting another shot at an SEC team after closing the season with a 41-7 loss to Vanderbilt?
So far, the Deacons are taking the approach that they are relaxed, refreshed and ready for revenge.
"We're excited about playing an SEC team," quarterback Tanner Price said. "I don't think our last outing against an SEC team was telling of how talented a team we are and how good the ACC is. It's nice to get a chance to redeem ourselves."
Grobe acknowledged that trying to measure up to the SEC is a tough task. The league is on its way to its sixth straight national champion this season.
"The SEC is the strongest league in the country," Grobe said. "Football-wise, the SEC is king.
"The ACC hasn't had that marquee team in a while, one that is in the top five all year and in the hunt for the national championship. I think that hurts the overall evaluation of the conference.
"But as far as balance, the ACC is really strong. Top to bottom, you have to come to play each week."
Grobe also paid his kind of compliment to the league: "Any time you play an SEC school, you'd better buckle up."
Price said that the team is ready to fight the power.
"We're going to prove to the rest of the nation that we're a good team and that we can play with some of the best conferences in the nation," quarterback Tanner Price said.
View photos from the media interviews on Flickr
Read more about day 2 in Nashville from wakeforestsports.com
-- Mark Anderson
Ring those bells
12/28/2011
Mississippi State's football tradition includes a constant ringing of cowbells during games. To learn more about the tradition, check out the school's website.
Although the cowbells were outlawed by the SEC from 1974-2009, bowl games carried no such restrictions. So other ACC schools have heard the bells clang often when facing the Bulldogs in postseason play: Clemson (1999), N.C. State (1995, 1963) and North Carolina (1993, 1974). The ACC is 2-3 in those games.
Quarterback Tanner Price was asked about the cowbells today.
"Yeah, I heard that Mississippi State likes to ring those cowbells," Price said with a laugh. "It's definitely going to add to the overall game noise, and I'll just have to be a little bit louder with my calls. We've played in some tough environments, so I think we're ready for it. It's going to be a fun atmosphere."
View photos from the media interviews on Flickr
Read more about day 2 in Nashville from wakeforestsports.com
-- Mark Anderson
Bragging rights
12/28/2011
Receiver Chris Givens has a number of reasons to be motivated for Friday's game against Mississippi State. If Givens is contemplating leaving for the NFL a year early, a good showing in the bowl game would certainly help.
But perhaps more important, Givens is originally from Mississippi (before moving to Texas, where he attended high school). He was born in Jackson, and his mother and other relatives still live in Mississippi.
In fact, Givens might have a chance to play against a relative. Linebacker Christian Holmes, a redshirt freshman linebacker for Mississippi State, is a second cousin to Givens.
"We just started back talking maybe a month ago when we found out we were playing each other," Givens said. "I got on Twitter, and he hit me up and we've been talking since."
When asked if he'd like to match up with Holmes, Givens jumped to answer.
"Oh, I hope he gets in," Givens said with a big grin. "He's been talking a little too much for me."
View photos from the media interviews on Flickr
Read more about day 2 in Nashville from wakeforestsports.com
-- Mark Anderson
Building a new tradition
12/28/2011
I ate lunch with Ken Bennett, the University photographer, at Noshville, Authentic New York Delicatessen, in downtown Nashville. It was a packed house, which is to be expected for a place that's been voted the best deli in the area every year since 1996.
Noshville's motto is: "Check your cares at the door, order with reckless abandon, and indulge your senses." Can't argue with that. One Rueben and one tuna melt (both on rye, of course) later, Ken and I were both quite happy.
Our waiter recognized that we might be in town for the bowl and struck up a conversation. He became the second local in less than 24 hours who I had discussed Wake Forest with who immediately identified Wake as a basketball school. Both noted the Deacons' winning tradition and were able to name a number of players, such as Randolph Childress, Tim Duncan, Rodney Rogers and Chris Paul.
They were less familiar with Wake Forest football, although both quickly noted hometown Vanderbilt's drubbing of the Deacons in the season finale. We were happy to inform them that this will be the fifth bowl in the last 10 years for the Deacons, who are 3-1 so far under coach Jim Grobe.
-- Mark Anderson
Who's the toughest?
12/28/2011
At practice, receiver Chris Givens was running a drill with assistant coach Lonnie Galloway acting as a defensive back. Givens made his cut a little late and banged into Galloway, who was left rubbing his shoulder.
"I was hoping I didn't hurt him. He's a little fragile," Givens said.
Galloway called to Givens after the play, wondering if his star receiver was OK after taking the hit.
"He was just trying to be a tough guy," Givens said. "He's probably icing that shoulder right now."
When asked about Galloway's impact in his first season at Wake Forest, Givens got serious.
"It's made a huge difference," he said. "He's just pushed me to levels where I couldn't go before. I can't say enough good things about coach Galloway. He's everything a player could every ask for in a coach, on the field and off the field. I just appreciate him so much."
See photos from practice on Flickr
Read more about day 2 in Nashville from wakeforestsports.com
-- Mark Anderson
Getting down to business
12/28/2011
After spending last night enjoying the hospitality of Nashville, it was back to work for the players this morning. The team practiced at 10:45 a.m. at Father Ryan High School, just south of Nashville.
The mood was quiet and workmanlike, with drill after drill being run without much to be heard other than the coaches' voices. Coach Jim Grobe kept a watchful eye from the sideline, but let his assistants work with their individual units.
Steve Shutt, the associate athletic director for media relations, said that Wake Forest chose the location because it shared the same style of field turf that Wake Forest uses. Although LP Field, where the Music City Bowl will be played on Friday, is a grass field, it was important to Wake Forest to keep consistency for practice.
Several administrators from Father Ryan were on hand to welcome the Deacons and help provide necessary items for practice. The school had a welcome banner to greet the players, and also welcomed Wake Forest on its scoreboard.
Check out the pictures on Flickr
Read more about day 2 in Nashville from wakeforestsports.com
-- Mark Anderson
Night on the town
12/27/2011
Tuesday's events closed with action in downtown Nashville. Players from both teams were given time to explore downtown, and some fans and administrators were treated to a private party at the Hard Rock Cafe.
It was cold and rainy for much of Tuesday, but it cleared off just in time to create a great atmosphere for wandering the downtown streets. You can't escape the music anywhere you walk, whether it's coming out of honky-tonks or speakers on street corners. The neon lights up the night.
-- Mark Anderson
WFU falls in rib-eating contest
12/27/2011
The second competition at the welcome party was a rib-eating contest.
Deacs are Juke Box Heroes
12/27/2011
One of the features of the welcome party for the Franklin American Mortgage Music City Bowl on the General Jackson Showboat is some friendly competition between the two teams.
The Showboat that didn't float
12/27/2011
The Wake Forest and Mississippi State contingents were treated to a night on the General Jackson Showboat. In past years, while the bowl welcome party raged on, the boat has moved down the Cumberland River from Opryland to the Hard Rock Cafe downtown.
Heavy rains have caused high water on the Cumberland, however, so the General Jackson stayed put last night. It didn't seem to change the festive atmosphere, though, as both groups enjoyed dinner and team members battling it out in Rock Band and rib-eating contests.
See more on Flickr of the welcome party on the General Jackson
-- Mark Anderson
Deacons arrive in Nashville
12/27/2011
The Wake Forest football team arrived at Gaylord's Opryland Resort in Nashville on Tuesday afternoon as the Deacons prepare for Friday's Franklin American Mortgage Music City Bowl.
The team went through a full pad practice at 9 a.m. on Tuesday morning at the Doc Martin Football Practice Complex. After a shower and bus ride to Greensboro, the Deacons arrived in Nashville mid-afternoon.
Read more and see a photo gallery on wakeforestsports.com
-- Mark Anderson
Welcome to the bowl blog -- live from Nashville!
12/27/2011
The Deacons are in Nashville, and the Franklin American Mortgage Company Music City Bowl is only a few days away. Leading up to kickoff on Friday night, members of the athletics department and the University's communication team will be bringing you updates from all the week's events.
Tonight is the welcome party, so stay tuned.
-- Mark Anderson
Nashville Deacs welcome fellow alumni
12/26/2011
Paul Bond (’89) and Lauren Matise (’07) are looking forward to welcoming classmates and other Wake Foresters to Nashville when Wake Forest plays in the Franklin American Mortgage Music City Bowl on Dec. 30. Bond, president of the Wake Forest Alumni Club in Nashville, is a commercial banker for SunTrust bank. Matise, president of the Young Alumni Club, is a graduate student in the PhD cancer biology program at Vanderbilt.
Read more on the Wake Forest Magazine website
-- Mark Anderson
Nashville is going to be the place to be for Deacon fans on December 30th
12/8/2011
Gold Rush Article - Bowl Games are Memory Makers
12/7/2011