American Football Wiki
Wake Forest Demon Deacons
Current season:
2025 Wake Forest Demon Deacons
First season 1888
Athletic director John Currie
Head coach Jake Dickert
5th year, 36–40–0 (.474)
Home stadium Allegacy Federal Credit Union Stadium
Stadium capacity 31,500
Stadium surface FieldTurf
Location Winston-Salem, North Carolina
Conference ACC
Division Atlantic
All-time history
Wake Forest Demon Deacons Historical Teams
1888 1889
1890 1891 1892 1893 1894 1895
No program (1896-1907) 1908 1909
1910 1911 1912 1913 1914 1915 1916 1917 1918 1919
1920 1921 1922 1923 1924 1925 1926 1927 1928 1929
1930 1931 1932 1933 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 1939
1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945 1946 1947 1948 1949
1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959
1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969
1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979
1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989
1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999
2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009
2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019
2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026
All-time record 462–660–33 (.414)
Postseason bowl record 9–5 (.643)
Claimed national titles 0
Conference titles 2 (1970, 2006)
Heisman winners 0
Consensus All-Americans 3
Current uniform
Colors Black, Oldgold, and White

                     

Fight song O' Here's to Wake Forest
Mascot Demon Deacon
Marching band The Spirit of the Old Gold & Black
Rivals Duke Blue Devils
North Carolina Tar Heels
NC State Wolfpack
Vanderbilt Commodores
Navy Midshipmen
Website Wake Forest University Official Athletic Site

The Wake Forest Demon Deacons football team represents Wake Forest University located in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. The Demon Deacons are a member of the NCAA FBS Atlantic Coast Conference and play their home games at Allegacy Federal Credit Union Stadium in Winston-Salem. The Demon Deacons are currently coached by Jake Dickert.

Wake Forest struggled in football for much of the second half of the 20th century. This is largely because it is the third-smallest school in FBS in terms of undergraduate enrollment (behind only Rice and Tulsa). It is also by far the smallest school playing in a BCS conference. However, since the start of the 21st century, the Deacons have been mostly competitive.

Wake Forest was ranked in the Top 25 in the nation by the AP Poll during most of the 2006 season. Wake Forest won the 2006 ACC Atlantic Division Title and the 2006 ACC Conference Championship by defeating Georgia Tech 9-6 on December 2 in the ACC Championship Game in Jacksonville, Florida. The win sent Wake Forest to the Orange Bowl to play Big East champion Louisville, where they lost to the Cardinals. This made Wake Forest the smallest school to ever compete in the Bowl Championship Series.

For his part in the record-setting season, coach Jim Grobe was unanimously selected ACC Coach of the Year, and handily won the AP Coach of the Year award several weeks later.

Records[]

All-time bowl record[]

  • Main article: List of Wake Forest Demon Deacons bowl games

Wake Forest has played in ten bowls in its history and owns a 6–4 record in those games. For the 2006–2007 season, the school earned a bid to its first ever BCS game, with an Orange Bowl match-up against Louisville. Wake also had played in the 1982 Mirage Bowl in Tokyo, Japan against Clemson. However, because this game was played during the regular season, the NCAA does not recognize it as an official bowl game. Wake also competed in the 1951, 1953 and 1954 Tobacco Bowls in Richmond, Virginia. According to the NCAA, it doesn't count as an official bowl game since this game wasn't a postseason bowl.

Rivalries[]

Wake Forest is referred to as being a part of "Tobacco Road" or the Big Four[1], terms that refer to the four North Carolina schools that compete heatedly against each other within the ACC. Wake's all-time records against the members of Tobacco Road are 34-68-2 against UNC, 37-62-6 against NC State, and 37-53-2 against Duke.[2] Wake Forest defeated North Carolina 6-4 on October 18, 1888 during the first intercollegiate football game played in the state of North Carolina.[3] Wake Forest swept the series with its Tobacco Road rivals in 1924, 1951, 1970, 1984, 1987, 2006, and 2007. Wake Forest has a contract through 2014 to play Vanderbilt during the final "rivalry week" of the regular season.

Wake Forest head football coaches[]

Tenure Coach Years Record Ratio
1888 W.C. Dowd 1 1-0 1.000
1889 W.C. Riddick 1 3-3 .500
1891-93 W.E. Sikes 3 6-2-1 .722
1908 A.P. Hall Jr. 1 1-4 .167
1909 A.T. Myers 1 2-4 .333
1910 Reddy Rowe 1 2-7 .222
1911-13 Frank Thompson 3 5-19 .206
1914-15 W.C. Smith 2 6-10 .375
1916 C.M. Billings 1 3-3 .500
1917 E.T. MacDonnell 1 1-6-1 .188
1918-19 Harry Rabenhorst 2 3-8 .273
1920-21 James L. White 2 4-15 .211
1922 George Levene 1 3-5-2 .400
1923-25 Hank Garrity 3 19-7-1 .722
1926-27 James A. Baldwin 2 7-10-3 .425
1928 Stanley B. Cofall 1 2-6-2 .300
1929-32 F.S. Miller 4 18-15-4 .541
1933-36 James H. Weaver 4 10-23-1 .309
1937-50 D.C. "Peahead" Walker 14 77-51-6 .597
1951-55 Tom Rogers 5 21-25-4 .460
1956-59 Paul Amen 4 11-26-3 .313
1960-63 Billy Hildebrand 4 7-33 .175
1964-68 Bill Tate 5 17-32-1 .350
1969-71 Cal Stoll 3 15-17 .469
1972 Tom Harper 1 2-9 .182
1973-77 Chuck Mills 5 11-43-1 .209
1978-80 John Mackovic 3 14-20 .412
1981-86 Al Groh 6 26-40 .394
1987-92 Bill Dooley 6 29-36-2 .448
1993-00 Jim Caldwell 8 26-63 .292
2001-2013 Jim Grobe 13 77-82 .484
2014-present Dave Clawson 2 6-18 .250
1888–2015 32 coaches 114 435-642-33 .404

Championships[]

Conference championships[]

Conference affiliations[]

Year Conference Overall record Conference record
1970 ACC 6-5 5-1
2006 ACC 11-2 6-2
Total conference championships 2

Retired jerseys[]

  • 16 - Norm Snead
  • 19 - Bill Armstrong
  • 31 - Brian Piccolo

==

  1. 33 - Billy Ray Barnes==

Individual award winners[]

Players[]

  • ACC 25th Anniversary Football Team
Billy Ray Barnes
Bill Armstrong
  • ACC 50th Anniversary Football Team
Bill Armstrong
Brian Piccolo
Norm Snead
  • ACC All Decade Football Teams
(2000-2009) Chris Barclay, Steve Justice, Ryan Plackemeier, Aaron Curry, Alphonso Smith
  • All SoCon selections
1936 - Raleigh Daniel
1938 - Louis Trunzo, Marshall Edwards
1939 - Rupert Pate, John Polanski
1940 - Tony Gallovich
1941 - Carl Givler
1942 - Pat Preston, Red Cochran, Buck Jones
1943 - Nick Sacrinty, Elmer Barbour, Bill Starford
1944 - Nick Sacrinty, Elmer Barbour, Dick Foreman, John Kerns, George Owens, Dave Harris
1945 - Nick Sacrinty, Dave Harris, Dick Foreman, Buck Garrison, Rock Brinkley, Pride Ratterree
1946 - Nick Sacrinty, Bob Leonetti, Nick Ognovich
1947 - Jim Duncan, Tom Fetzer, Harry Clark, Ed Royston,
1948 - Jim Duncan, Tom Fetzer, Bill George, Red O'Quinn, Bill Gregus
1949 - Jim Duncan, Bill Miller, Bill George, Red O'Quinn, Bill Gregus, Ray Cicia, Carroll Blackerby
1950 - Jack Lewis, Bill Miller, Guido Scarton, Jim Staton, Bob Auffarth, Ed Listopad
1951 - Jack Lewis, Bill Finnance, Dickie Davis, Bill Link, Bill George, Jim Zarkas, Guido Scarton
1952 - Jack Lewis, Bill Finnance, Joe Koch, Sonny George, Ken Bridges, Bob Gaona
  • All ACC selections
1953 - Bob Bartholomew, Gerald Huth
1954 - Bob Bartholomew, Ed Stowers, Gerald Huth
1955 - Bob Bartholomew, Billy Ray Barnes
1956 - Billy Ray Barnes, Eddie Moore
1958 - Norm Snead, Pte Manning
1959 - Norm Snead, Pete Manning, Nick Patella
1960 - Norm Snead, Wayne Wolff
1961 - Alan White, Bill Hull, Bill Ruby
1964 - Brian Piccolo, John Mackovic
1965 - Joe Carazo
1966 - Bob Oplinger, Robert Grant
1967 - Rick Decker, Freddie Summers
1968 - Digit Laughridge
1969 - Joe Dobner, John Mazalewski
1970 - Bill Bobbora, Larry Hopkins, Larry Russel, Ed Stetz, Tracy Lounsbury, Win Headley
1971 - Bill Bobbora, Larry Hopkins, Larry Russel, Ed Stetz, Steve Bowden
1972 - Chuck Ramsey, Nick Arcaro
1973 - Chuck Ramsey
1975 - Bill Armstrong, Clark Gaines
1976 - Bill Armstrong, Steve Young (TE), James McDougald, Don Cervi
1977 - Steve Young (TE), Larry Tearry, James McDougald
1979 - Wayne Baumgardner, Jay Venuto, James McDougald, James Parker
1980 - Bill Ard, Jay Venuto, Carlos Bradley
1981 - Phil Denfeld
1982 - Phil Denfeld, Tim Ryan, Harry Newsome
1983 - Harry Newsome
1984 - Gary Baldinger, Ronnie Burgess
1985 - Gary Baldinger, James Brim
1986 - James Brim, Tim Morrison, Paul Kiser
1987 - Mark Young, Jimmie Simmons, A.J. Green (DB)
1988 - A.J. Green (DB), Martin Bailey
1989 - Ricky Proehl
1990 - John Henry Mills
1991 - John Henry Mills, George Coghill
1992 - John Henry Mills, George Coghill, Todd Dixon, Ben Coleman
1993 - Dred Booe
1995 - Tucker Grace
1998 - Desmond Clark
1999 - Dustin Lyman, Morgan Kane, Bryan Ray, Fred Robbins
2001 - Michael Collins, Tarence Williams, Nate Bolling, Calvin Pace, John Stone, Vince Azzolina
2002 - Blake Henry, Calvin Pace, Fabian Davis, Tarence Williams, Mark Moroz, Tyson Clabo, Eric King, Quintin Williams, Montique Sharpe
2003 - Tyson Clabo, Eric King, Ryan Packemeier, Chris Barclay, Mark Moroz
2004 - Chris Barclay, Ryan Plackemeier, Steve Vallos, Eric King, Jon Abbate
2005 - Chris Barclay, Ryan Plackemeier, Josh Gattis, Steve Vallos, Jon Abbate
2006 - Steve Justice, Steve Vallos, Jon Abbate, Josh Gattis, Sam Swank, Riley Skinner, Jyles Tucker, Patrick Ghee, Sam Swank, Chip Vaughn
2007 - Steve Justice, Kenneth Moore, Alphonso Smith, Josh Adams, Aaron Curry, Sam Swank, Kevin Marrion, Chip Vaughn
2008 - D.J. Boldin, Aaron Curry, Alphonso Smith, Boo Robinson, Riley Skinner
2009 - John Russell, Riley Skinner, Marshall Williams, Chris DeGeare, Kenny Okoro
2011 - Chris Givens, Josh Bush, Joe Looney, Nikita Whitlock, Merrill Noel


The ACC and SoCon All Decade, and the all-conference lists aren't complete. The all-conference lists include selections for 1st team, 2nd team, and honorable mention.

  • ACC Male Athlete of the Year
Brian Piccolo - 1965
  • ACC Player of the Year
Billy Ray Barnes - 1956
Brian Piccolo - 1964
Jay Venuto - 1979
Chris Barclay - 2005
  • Acc Offensive Player of the Year
Chris Barclay - 2005
  • Ray Guy Award
Ryan Plackemeier - 2005
  • ACC Rookie of the Year
James McDougald - 1976
Michael Ramseur - 1982
Riley Skinner - 2006
Josh Adams - 2007
  • ACC Offensive Rookie of the Year
Josh Adams - 2007
  • ACC Defensive Rookie of the Year
Merrill Noel - 2011
  • ACC Brian Piccolo Award
Kenny Duckett - 1982
John Piedmonte - 1983
John Lewis - 1996
Matt Robinson - 2007
  • Butkus Award
Aaron Curry - 2008
  • Jacobs Blocking Award
James Ringgold (SoCon) - 1939
Elmer Barbour (SoCon) - 1943
Nick Ognovich (SoCon) - 1945, 1946, 1947
Paul Kiser (ACC) - 1986
Ben Coleman (ACC) - 1992
Steve Justice (ACC) - 2007

Coaches[]

  • ACC Coach of the Year
Paul Amen - 1956
Paul Amen - 1959
Bill Tate - 1964
Cal Stoll - 1970
John Mackovic - 1979
Bill Dooley - 1987
Bill Dooley - 1992
Jim Grobe - 2006
  • Walter Camp Coach of the Year
John Mackovic - 1979
  • Associated Press Coach of the Year
Jim Grobe - 2006
  • Bobby Dodd Award
Jim Grobe - 2006

Current NFL players[]

Other notable players[]

  • Jon Abbate – Former NFL linebacker; the central figure in The 5th Quarter, a 2011 feature film on Wake's 2006 season.
  • Richard Burr - Current Republican Senator of North Carolina
  • Jim Clack - Former NFL center who won Super Bowl rings with Pittsburgh and played for New York Giants
  • George Coghill - Former NFL defensive back who won back-to-back Super Bowl rings with the Denver Broncos in 1998 and 1999.
  • Charlie Crist - Former Republican Governor of Florida
  • Clark Gaines - Former NFL running back, holds NFL record for most receptions in a game by a running back (3rd most receptions in a game among all players), and was the first undrafted rookie to rush for over 500 yards in a rookie season; currently serves as Assistant Executive Director of the NFL Players Association.
  • Gerald Huth - Former NFL offensive guard who won 2 NFL championships (1 with the NY Giants in 1956, and the other with the Philadelphia Eagles in 1960)
  • Brian Kuklick - Former NFL quarterback
  • Rusty LaRue - Still owns several NCAA passing records
  • Brian Piccolo - Former NFL running back, basis for the movie Brian's Song
  • Ricky Proehl - Former NFL wide receiver who won Super Bowl rings with St. Louis and Indianapolis
  • Norm Snead - Four time Pro Bowl quarterback.

Logos/Uniforms[]

Seasons[]

References[]

External Links[]