Tuesday, December 4, 2007

Deacs have bowl, but will they travel?

Around lunch time on Monday, Wake Forest coach Jim Grobe said the Meineke Car Care Bowl will be a test of sorts for the Deacons.

“We need to prove to the bowl people that not only are we a good football team, but that we’ll travel,” Grobe said.

At the same time, Clemson was demonstrating the fan support that makes the Tigers a favorite of bowl executives. At 12:30 p.m. Monday, a day after Clemson accepted a Chick-fil-A Bowl bid, the school sold the last of the 17,500 tickets in its allotment for the Dec. 31 game against Auburn in Atlanta.

Based on play on the field, Boston College was more deserving of a Chick-fil-A Bowl bid than Clemson. The Eagles won Nov. 17 at Clemson to nose out the Tigers for the Atlantic Division’s spot on the ACC championship game.

But Boston College sold only 3,500 to 4,000 tickets out of its allotment for the championship game. Those aren’t numbers that get bowl executives excited, and the Eagles wound up in the less prestigious Champs Sports Bowl in Orlando.

Because of Wake Forest’s much smaller enrollment, it’s unrealistic to expect the Deacons to travel in the same numbers as Clemson does. But Wake Forest got off to a good start by selling out its allotment of 17,500 seats to the Orange Bowl last season.

The Meineke Bowl – where the Deacons (8-4) will meet Connecticut (9-3) at 1 p.m. on Dec. 29 in Charlotte – is less prestigious than the Orange Bowl but easier for in-state Wake Forest fans to get to.

A strong turnout would help the Deacons secure attractive bowl destinations in the future if they continue to win.

– Ken Tysiac

12 comments:

Anonymous said...

I'm not even a Wake Forest fan, but I'll be going to the game because a few of my cousins in Raleigh went to WF and they're coming down to see the Deacs play the Huskies.

Anonymous said...

Heck yes, we'll be there too, and bringing a few more with us! Go Deacs!!!!

Anonymous said...

WF has arrived as a "football school" now that the rank and file in Winston and surrounding areas attend the games. It took the community to get on board to make BB&T field a sellout and an exciting place to be. We will be in Charlotte!

Anonymous said...

How about another "football school" in your backyard that the Observer continually fails to cover/comment on? Anyone heard of Appalachian State? Obs from the 50 -- did you know they're playing in the semi-finals tonight? Look them up. The Apps have made news elsewhere across the US, why not in Charlotte??

Anonymous said...

Because App.State is a trashey, and
cocky little town in Boone,N.C.
And you don't deserve the attention
as pile the field end of the game
like you never been to a championship game.
SO PITFUL..........

Anonymous said...

Appalachian State is a rude and don't deserve news coverage.
Beat Richmond, fans goes beserk as
if this was your first EVER win, wow wee(LOL)

Anonymous said...

First of all, Go Deacs !!

Has Carowina or State ever won a National football Championship? Will they ever ? I don't think so.

ASU is an excellent school and Boone is a wonderful place to live. We are not rude, nor do we disrespect anyone. Yes, we are a small school, however, we have a huge family. Our Chancellor Dr Peacock is the best thing that has happened to the Mountaineer family. We Love him !! As for Coach Moore and his team of coaches, they are awesome and we support them 100 percent. GO ASU!

People in Charlotte make me Sick !
Plus, maybe the Panthers could learn something from us Mountaineers.

Tony

Anonymous said...

good job, Tony!

Anonymous said...

You are still rude, and disrespectful. By saying Charlotte makes you sick proves my point.
Wake and ASU wanna bees and never will be.

Anonymous said...

This is about Wake Forest!! GO DEAC's. GO BIG D. Smith, Curry thanks for a GREAT YEAR. Lets run um back every chance we get. NOW TO THE WAKE FANS. ITS IS TIME TO SHOW OUR TEAM THE LOVE CLEMSON SHOWS THEIRS. LEAVE THE WINE & CHEESE AT HOME. BRING ON THE SCREAMING DEMONS. I DON'T CARE HOW OLD YOU ARE. WE NEED TO KEEP GROBE. ITS TIME FOR THE TEAM TO HEAR THE LOVE

Anonymous said...

Yes, the Observer's coverage of ASU is putrid at best. Wasnt it the observer that voted them the best program in football for the past 20 years? Yet NO Coverage, Amazing...

When the rest of the North Carolina teams decide to actually play some football (minus Wake's performance last year), people can play down ASU. Oh, How about scheduling ASU? OH WAIT, ECU,Wake,and UNC wont do it. Keep hiding your tails and running

Anonymous said...

OWE, We are running as fast as we can.Please don't beat US to to bad when you catch us.(LOL)