2007 Wake Forest Demon Deacons football team
American college football season
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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]
- Jim Grobe (7th season)
| 2007 Wake Forest Demon Deacons football | |
|---|---|
Meineke Car Care Bowl champion | |
Meineke Car Care Bowl, W 24–10 vs. Connecticut | |
| Conference | Atlantic Coast Conference |
| Atlantic Division | |
| Record | 9–4 (5–3 ACC) |
| Head coach |
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| Offensive coordinator | Steed Lobotzke (5th season) |
| Offensive scheme | Spread |
| Defensive coordinator | Dean Hood (7th season) |
| Base defense | 4–3 |
| Captain | Game captains |
| Home stadium | BB&T Field |
| Conf. | Overall | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Team | W | L | W | L | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Atlantic Division | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| No. 10 Boston College x | 6 | – | 2 | 11 | – | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| No. 21 Clemson | 5 | – | 3 | 9 | – | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Wake Forest | 5 | – | 3 | 9 | – | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Florida State | 4 | – | 4 | 7 | – | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Maryland | 3 | – | 5 | 6 | – | 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| NC State | 3 | – | 5 | 5 | – | 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Coastal Division | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| No. 9 Virginia Tech x$ | 7 | – | 1 | 11 | – | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Virginia | 6 | – | 2 | 9 | – | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Georgia Tech | 4 | – | 4 | 7 | – | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| North Carolina | 3 | – | 5 | 4 | – | 8 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Miami (FL) | 2 | – | 6 | 5 | – | 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Duke | 0 | – | 8 | 1 | – | 11 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Championship: Virginia Tech 30, Boston College 16 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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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
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Bold indicates starter in last game
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Coaching staff
| 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 |
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* |
| ACC Select | W 21–10 | 32,142 | |
| September 22 | 3:30 pm | Maryland |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 | NC State |
| 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 | ||
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Game summaries
@ Boston College
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Demon Deacons | 14 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 28 |
| Eagles | 7 | 14 | 14 | 3 | 38 |
Nebraska
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cornhuskers | 3 | 10 | 7 | 0 | 20 |
| Demon Deacons | 0 | 10 | 7 | 0 | 17 |
Army
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Black Knights | 0 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 10 |
| Demon Deacons | 14 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 21 |
Maryland
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | OT | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Terrapins | 10 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 24 |
| Demon Deacons | 3 | 0 | 7 | 14 | 7 | 31 |
@ Duke
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Demon Deacons | 7 | 17 | 10 | 7 | 41 |
| Blue Devils | 9 | 0 | 14 | 13 | 36 |
Florida State
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seminoles | 0 | 14 | 0 | 7 | 21 |
| Demon Deacons | 0 | 7 | 7 | 10 | 24 |
@ Navy
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Demon Deacons | 14 | 13 | 10 | 7 | 44 |
| Midshipmen | 10 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 24 |
North Carolina
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tar Heels | 0 | 3 | 0 | 7 | 10 |
| Demon Deacons | 10 | 7 | 6 | 14 | 37 |
@ 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 |
NC State
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wolfpack | 0 | 3 | 15 | 0 | 18 |
| Demon Deacons | 7 | 14 | 7 | 10 | 38 |
@ Vanderbilt
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Demon Deacons | 7 | 7 | 17 | 0 | 31 |
| Commodores | 3 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 17 |
Vs. Connecticut
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Huskies | 7 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| Demon Deacons | 0 | 0 | 14 | 10 | 24 |
Postseason honors
Conference
- Steve Justice (C)- 2007 Jacobs Blocking Trophy[24]
- All-ACC First Team
- All-ACC Second Team
- All-ACC Honorable Mention
National
- Steve Justice (C) - 2007 Rimington Trophy Finalist[28]
- 2007 AFCA First Team All-American[29]