Wake Forest Shows Up All Business at ACC Media Day

© Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports

Wake Forest is a team committed to the grind that football requires to grow as a player and a program.

The Demon Deacons arrived at Atlantic Coast Conference Media Day dressed sharply and speaking proficiently about everything from NIL to Tobacco Road and in-state rivalries.

Wake Forest POV From Dave Clawson

Coach Dave Clawson is college football. In his 25th year as a coach and 11th as coach of Wake Forest, Clawson has seen the game change. It's gone from adolescent stages to a major machine millions watch every Saturday. Clawson pointed out that college football's most significant change is the addition of NIL.

“I can remember, 10 or 11 years ago, when you could put out bagels and not put out cream cheese," Clawson said. "Now we are paying players 10s, 100s and millions of dollars a year with unlimited free agency.”

Clawson offered observations about the ACC’s schedule model after the conference added new teams.

“The old scheduling model, one of the negatives of it is, right now our rivalry with NC State is the second-longest continuous rivalry in the country behind Wisconsin and Minnesota and we were going to lose that," Clawson said.

"So if it took bringing in 2 West Coast teams and a team from Texas to allow us to play NC State every year, then it’s all been worth it.”

Redemption for the Demon Deacons

If there was 1 sentiment echoed throughout by Wake Forest players, then it was disappointment in last year’s results. In 2023, Wake Forest finished 4-8 overall, 1-7 in ACC play. The Demon Deacons stood strong on not being satisfied with last season's results.

“Yeah, I'd say the hunger is high," senior offensive lineman DeVonte Gordon said. "Obviously, last season didn't go as we had planned and that kind of motivated us this whole offseason. We've been working as hard as we ever have. I know a lot of guys in my room and every other room on the team feel as though we left something on the table."

© Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports

Defensive lineman Jasheen Davis was also adamant that anything mirroring last season is an improper reflection of the program’s current mindset.

“Like we said last year, it didn't really go too good for us," Davis said. "I feel like this offseason, we worked out with a chip on our shoulders. Our mantra was ‘Earn It’ and I feel like we have to earn everything we do.”

Earning It in 2024

Wake Forest looks to back up their talk in 2024 and earn everything within their focus. It might come in a rivalry game or in the desire to prove they belong among the top ACC programs. The Demon Deacons are ready to enter every game focused. They also hope to carry out their on-field tasks and earn respect at the same time.