WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - Hot and humid conditions greeted the Wake Forest football team on Monday night as the Deacons started preseason camp at the Doc Martin Football Practice Complex. By the end of the session, the Deacons were practicing in a driving rainstorm.
Head coach Jim Grobe put the Demon Deacons through a nearly two-hour practice session that focused on fundamentals and effort. As mandated by NCAA rules, the team will spend its first two practice sessions in helmets, jerseys and shorts before moving into shoulder pads for the third and fourth practice sessions.
"Really what we're looking for right now is to set a foundation to make sure that all the intangibles that you look for, work ethic, heart, desire, the want-to, all those kinds of things, are taken care of right now," said Grobe. "We're going to teach some Xs and Os. I've told our coaches to be especially cognizant of the effort we're getting at every position. Not to allow a lazy effort out of anybody. To make sure we're full speed and flying around all the time."
Monday night's practice focused not only on offense and defense but also included several special teams sessions including punt return and kickoff return.
The coaching staff will work on developing the team's depth chart as practice progresses over the next three weeks, leading to the season-opener against Liberty on Sept. 1 at BB&T Field.
As for Wake Forest's 13 seniors, Grobe said all of them are in a competitive battle with underclassmen for playing time and starting positions.
"They're not (comfortable)," said Grobe. "I think they do realize the position they're in. (It is a) tough spot for seniors. You'd like to kind of feel like your job is nailed down. You want them to know they're competing but the competition is really fierce right now. Seniors need to not only play well but they need to be leaders for us. It's hard to be as good a leader as you can be when you're fighting tooth and nail for your job. But for our football team, it's a really good situation right now. We've got competition at so many positions and I think if you ask most coaches they'd tell you their best football teams are made from teams that have competition for jobs."
The Deacons will hit the field again on Tuesday night at 7:45 p.m.
