The 2007 Wake Forest Demon Deacons football team represented Wake Forest University during the 2007 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The team was coached by Jim Grobe in his seventh season at the school and played its home games at BB&T Field. The team began its season with an Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) game on Saturday, September 1, 2007 against Boston College. Wake Forest played its first season since winning the 2006 ACC championship, their first in 36 years.[1]
Preseason
Following the most successful season in team history in 2006, the 2007 team was not widely predicted to win the ACC despite returning many offensive starters from 2006.[1] Some sports writers stated that they believed 2006 to have been a fluke and that Wake Forest was not going to win as many games in 2007, especially because of the losses on defense, including the loss of linebacker Jon Abbate to the National Football League.[2] Wake Forest was picked to finish fourth in the Atlantic Division of the ACC in the annual preseason poll conducted by the Atlantic Coast Sports Media Association. Lindy's was the only major preseason magazine to pick Wake Forest as a Top-25 team.[3]
Roster changes
Linebacker Eric Berry was ruled academically ineligible for the 2007 season.[4]
Mike Rinfrette moved from fullback to linebacker in spring practice.
Recruiting
On National Signing Day, Wake Forest signed 20 recruits in all, eleven defensive players and nine offensive players.
Award candidates
- Steve Justice (C)- 2007 Lombardi Trophy Watch List;[5] 2007 Outland Trophy Watch List;[6] 2007 Rimington Trophy Watch List [7]
- Zac Selmon (TE)- 2007 Wuerffel Trophy Nominee [8]
- Riley Skinner (QB) 2007 Maxwell Award Watch List;[9] 2007 Davey O'Brien National Quarterback Award Watch List [10]
- Sam Swank (P)- 2007 Ray Guy Award Watch List [11]
Roster
Personnel
| Position | Name | First year at WFU |
| Head Coach | Jim Grobe | 2001 |
| Wide Receivers | Tim Billings | 2006 |
| Fullbacks / Tight ends | Tom Elrod | 2003 |
| Defensive Ends | Keith Henry | 2001 |
| Defensive coordinator / Secondary | Dean Hood | 2001 |
| Linebackers | Brad Lambert | 2001 |
| Offensive coordinator / Offensive line | Steed Lobotzke | 2001 |
| Defensive tackles | Ray McCartney | 2001 |
| Assistant Head Coach / Running backs / Kickers | Billy Mitchell | 2001 |
| Quarterbacks | Jeff Mullen | 2001 |
| Source: http://wakeforestsports.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/wake-m-footbl-mtt.html |
Schedule
| Date | Time | Opponent | Rank | Site | TV | Result | Attendance |
|---|
| September 1 | 3:30 pm | at Boston College | | | ABC | L 28–38 | 42,292 |
| September 8 | 12:00 pm | No. 17 Nebraska* | | | ESPN | L 17–20 | 32,483 |
| September 15 | 3:30 pm | Army* | | - BB&T Field
- Winston-Salem, NC
| ACC Select | W 21–10 | 32,142 |
| September 22 | 3:30 pm | Maryland | | - BB&T Field
- Winston-Salem, NC
| ESPNU | W 31–24 OT | 31,964 |
| October 6 | 1:00 pm | at Duke | | | ACC Select | W 41–36 | 20,134 |
| October 11 | 7:30 pm | No. 21 Florida State | | - BB&T Field
- Winston-Salem, NC
| ESPN | W 24–21 | 32,906 |
| October 20 | 1:00 pm | at Navy* | | | CSTV | W 44–24 | 36,992 |
| October 27 | 12:00 pm | North Carolina | | - BB&T Field
- Winston-Salem, NC
| LFS | W 37–10 | 33,023 |
| November 3 | 12:00 pm | at Virginia | No. 21 | | LFS | L 16–17 | 60,106 |
| November 10 | 12:00 pm | at No. 20 Clemson | | | ESPN2 | L 10–44 | 82,422 |
| November 17 | 4:00 pm | North Carolina State | | - BB&T Field
- Winston-Salem, NC
| ESPNU | W 38–18 | 33,052 |
| November 24 | 2:00 pm | at Vanderbilt* | | | | W 31–17 | 27,650 |
| December 29 | 1:00 pm | vs. Connecticut* | | | ESPN | W 24–10 | 53,126 |
- *Non-conference game
- Homecoming
- Rankings from Coaches' Poll released prior to the game
- All times are in Eastern time
|
Game capsules
@ Boston College
| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Demon Deacons | 14 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 28 |
| Eagles | 7 | 14 | 14 | 3 | 38 |
[12]
Nebraska
| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Cornhuskers | 3 | 10 | 7 | 0 | 20 |
| Demon Deacons | 0 | 10 | 7 | 0 | 17 |
[13]
Army
| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Black Knights | 0 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 10 |
| Demon Deacons | 14 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 21 |
[14]
Maryland
| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | OT | Total |
| Terrapins | 10 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 24 |
| Demon Deacons | 3 | 0 | 7 | 14 | 7 | 31 |
[15]
@ Duke
| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Demon Deacons | 7 | 17 | 10 | 7 | 41 |
| Blue Devils | 9 | 0 | 14 | 13 | 36 |
[16]
Florida State
| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Seminoles | 0 | 14 | 0 | 7 | 21 |
| Demon Deacons | 0 | 7 | 7 | 10 | 24 |
[17]
@ Navy
| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Demon Deacons | 14 | 13 | 10 | 7 | 44 |
| Midshipmen | 10 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 24 |
[18]
North Carolina
| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Tar Heels | 0 | 3 | 0 | 7 | 10 |
| Demon Deacons | 10 | 7 | 6 | 14 | 37 |
[19]
@ Virginia
| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Demon Deacons | 3 | 3 | 7 | 3 | 16 |
| Cavaliers | 3 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 17 |
@ Clemson
| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Demon Deacons | 7 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 10 |
| Tigers | 10 | 17 | 10 | 7 | 44 |
[20]
North Carolina State
| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Wolfpack | 0 | 3 | 15 | 0 | 18 |
| Demon Deacons | 7 | 14 | 7 | 10 | 38 |
[21]
@ Vanderbilt
| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Demon Deacons | 7 | 7 | 17 | 0 | 31 |
| Commodores | 3 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 17 |
[22]
vs. Connecticut
| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Huskies | 7 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| Demon Deacons | 0 | 0 | 14 | 10 | 24 |
[23]
Post Season
Conference
- Steve Justice (C)- 2007 Jacobs Blocking Trophy [24]
- All-ACC First Team
- Kenneth Moore (WR)
- Steve Justice (C)
- Alphonso Smith (CB)
- Josh Adams (RB)
- Aaron Curry (LB)
- All-ACC Honorable Mention
- Chip Vaughn (S)
- Sam Swank (K)
- Kevin Marion (KR)[25]
- Josh Adams (RB)- 2007 ACC Rookie of the Year and 2007 ACC Offensive Rookie of the Year [26]
- Matt Robinson (DE)- 2007 ACC Brian Piccolo Award [27]
National
- Steve Justice (C) - 2007 Rimington Trophy Finalist[28]
- 2007 AFCA First Team All-American[29]
- Louis Frazier (OT) - 2007 ESPN Academic All-American[30]
References
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