Gold Rush - November/December 2016 by Wake Forest Athletics

A SPECIAL TRIBUTE TO ARNOLD PALMER

TAKING THE NEXT STEP Young Deacon men’s and women’s teams ready to make climb in ACC standings

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2016

WAKEFORESTSPORTS.COM

VOL. 26 // ISSUE 3 (USPS 014-373) EDITOR

Jim Buice PHOTOGRAPHERS

Donnie Roberts, Brian Westerholt WRITERS

Sam Walker, Stephanie Hudson, Rachael Bari, Lauren Close Design & Layout

Summit Athletic Media www.summitathletics.com Advertising

IMG College Jeff Salisbury, Ike Fullard, Neil Bishop, Melissa Sexton

CONTENTS

// N O V E M B E R / D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 6

For information on advertising, please call (336) 758-7230 REMEMBERING ARNIE: See Ron Wellman¹s column on golfing legend Arnold Palmer on Page 4, and a special eight-page tribute to the beloved Deacon alum (Pages 27-37). (Photo by Ken Bennett)

Gold Rush is published eight times a year in August/ September, October, November/ December, January, February/ March, April, May/June and July by IMG College in conjunction with Wake Forest Athletics. Periodicals postage paid at Winston-Salem, NC 27102 and at additional mailing offices. The price of an annual subscription is $20. Members of the Deacon Club receive a one-year subscription as part of their membership. Persons wishing to subscribe to Gold Rush should send a check or money order (credit cards not accepted) to: IMG College 540 N. Trade St. Winston-Salem, NC 27101 All material produced in this publication is the property of Wake Forest University and IMG and shall not be reproduced in whole or in part without permission. POSTMASTER: Please send all address changes to the attention of Stephanie Hudson, Wake Forest Athletics, 519 Deacon Blvd. Winston-Salem, NC 27105. The appearance of advertising in this publication does not constitute an endorsement of the advertiser and/or the advertiser’s product or service by Wake Forest or IMG. The use of the name of the University or any of its identifying marks in advertisements must be approved by WFU and IMG.

4 18 20

FROM THE AD 100% COTTEN INSIDE THE DEACON CLUB

24 27 38

WHERE ARE THEY NOW? CALENDAR COMPLIANCE CORNER

// 6 ‘UNBELIEVABLE OPPORTUNITY’ Former walk-on Trent VanHorn’s hard work and dedication paid off with a scholarship – and key contributions to Deacon wins – for the men’s basketball team.

// 10 COMING OF AGE Senior Milan Quinn learned from former Deacon star Dearica Hamby how to become a standout player and leader herself for the women¹s basketball team.

// 14 APPLYING PRESSURE Junior defensive end Duke Ejiofer emerges as a strong pass rusher to lead an improved Wake Forest defense in sacks.

// 27 SPECIAL SECTION

REMEMBERING ARNOLD PALMER ON THE COVER Men’s head coach Danny Manning and women’s head coach Jen Hoover look to lead their respective programs to new heights. NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2016

FROM THE A.D.

// R O N W E L L M A N

Arnie gave all Demon Deacons so many wonderful memories Dear Demon Deacons,

RON WELLMAN DIRECTOR O F AT H L E T I C S

Last month we lost our most recognizable and beloved alum, Arnold Palmer. Not only was he an icon to all Demon Deacons, he was also viewed in the same manner nationally and even worldwide. He was such an example of a gentleman to all of us. Regardless of the situation, he was always gracious and considerate of others. When we came to Wake Forest in 1992, one of the first official events that Linda and I attended was a dinner at which we were seated next to the Palmers. It was our first opportunity to meet them. He immediately asked me what I thought of our athletic program. Since I had only been here for a few weeks and had not made any conclusions about our program, I told him that I would be much more interested in his thoughts about our program since he had a relationship with it for decades. He looked quizzically at me and responded, “You are the athletic director. I want to know what you think!” Gulp! The rest of the evening went much better and by the end of the evening, I was definitely a member of “Arnie’s Army.” In June, 2012, I visited Mr. Palmer at his Latrobe home. It happened to be the weekend of the U.S. Open that was played at Olympic Club in San Francisco. Webb Simpson would go on to win the tournament. As Mr. Palmer and I were having lunch at his country club, we were watching the tournament on TV. I wasn’t aware of it initially, but Mr. Palmer made it very clear that he had a chance to win the U.S. Open at the Olympic Club in

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1966. In fact, he led by seven shots with just nine holes to play but let the lead slip away. As the TV cameras followed Webb around the course, Mr. Palmer offered his own special commentary on every shot. He’d say “I left it short there” or “I missed a makeable putt on that hole” or “I hit it into the bunker there.” With each successive hole, Mr. Palmer’s reminiscing became more and more intense.

By the end of the lunch, he wasn’t talking much as he continued to stare down the TV as though he could return to the event that he played 46 years earlier. He was absolutely convinced that if he could return to the course that day, he would win the tournament. What a competitor! Mr. Palmer took such pride in his Demon Deacons. He served as our honorary captain at the 2007 Orange Bowl. Linda and I picked him up at the airport on game day and immediately took him to the team’s pre-game meal. It was a surprise appearance by Mr. Palmer, and when the team noticed him, they immediately jumped to their feet to give him a standing ovation. Mr. Palmer responded with his famous “thumbs up” signal. The team responded with another standing

ovation. Another thumbs up… and another standing ovation. Finally, Mr. Palmer simply said, “I am so proud of you.” Another standing ovation. Mr. Palmer was so overwhelmed that he tearfully thanked them. After that statement, Riley Skinner, our freshman quarterback, asked me if he could get a picture with Mr. Palmer. Of course, Riley got his picture … and then practically everyone on the team asked for the same opportunity … and Mr. Palmer obliged. Our last visit to Latrobe was about a year ago. Linda and I went to visit Kit and Arnold and spend the day with them. At lunch, I made the off-hand comment that while I had been to his home and club a number of times, I had never actually been to the town of Latrobe. Mr. Palmer immediately and enthusiastically offered to show us “his town.” What a tour guide he was! He drove the four of us around downtown Latrobe, telling us about the various stores that had changed over the years; he then took us to his elementary school (and showed us the way he walked to school every day) and his high school, proudly recalling his athletic achievements as a high school star. He then took us to his homestead and finally gave us a tour of the Latrobe Country Club golf course. What a trip we shared with him down his memory lane. Thank you, Mr. Palmer, for all of the wonderful memories you have given all Demon Deacons…and the example you set for all of us!

Go Deacs!

Ron Wellman

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MEN’S BASKETBALL

// T R E N T VA N H O R N

THE RIGHT CALL

FORMER WALK-ON TRENT VANHORN EARNS SCHOLARSHIP, MAKES IMPACT IN DEACON BASKETBALL PROGRAM By Steve Shutt

hey say that your life can change with a single phone call. For Trent VanHorn, he has experienced more than his share of phone calls. All lifechanging. But not all were good news.

The most recent phone call, in the fall of 2015, brought joyous news. VanHorn, a junior on the Wake Forest basketball team at the time, received the call from Director of Basketball Operations Justin Bauman. VanHorn was asked to report to the basketball office.

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“I had no idea what was going on, thought I was probably in trouble for something I did,” VanHorn said. Upon arriving at the office in Manchester Center, VanHorn was ushered into head coach Danny Manning’s office. “Coach Childress and Coach Manning were in there and they said, ‘We want to put you on scholarship, what do you think about that?’” VanHorn said. “I said that’s an unbelievable opportunity. I hope I’ve made the most of it. I try to.” That VanHorn was offered a scholarship after two years as a walk-on on the Demon Deacon team came as a surprise to some. It is not the path most traveled in the world of Division I basketball. Typically, there are the recruiting calls, the visits from coaches, the opportunities to visit multiple campuses. That was not VanHorn’s journey.

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2016

MEN’S BASKETBALL “I got recruited by a lot of schools in Indiana, Michigan and Ohio, a lot of Division III schools,” said VanHorn, a native of Fort Wayne, Ind., who played his high school ball at The Canterbury School. “It was cool to go on those visits. I visited Wheaton, and I looked at Hope College, which is another good D-III program. Ultimately, I cared more about academics and I wanted to be at a school I was really going to be happy. “I actually had a couple friends that were older than me that went to my high school. I visited them here, got to see the school and got a little exposure that way. I visited the campus a couple more times, went on a tour and just fell in love with the school.” While not highly recruited by Division I schools, basketball was still a major part of VanHorn’s life. At Canterbury, he set the school scoring record with a 46-point outburst against Clinton Christian. Against Fort Wayne Bishop Luers, VanHorn went head-to-head with James Blackmon, Jr., now a starter at Indiana. “We were guarding each other and I had 30 points that game and he had 28 or 30, and it was a pretty good battle,” VanHorn recalled. “That was one of my more memorable games.” The lure of playing college basketball continued to appeal to him after arriving on campus in the fall of 2013. “The walk-on tryout wasn’t until October, so the season was almost here and I was wondering if there would even be a tryout,” VanHorn said. “I was working out the whole time since I got to school, missing out on a lot of things that freshmen do because I was in the gym thinking, ‘I really want to make this team.’ There were probably 25 to 30 guys at the tryout, and I knew there was only one or two slots, and I’m thinking this is going to be tough. I played hard, tried to communicate with my teammates. I played decent in the tryout but I didn’t walk out of there thinking, ‘Yeah, I got it, I’m on.’ I did what I could, I hoped it worked out.” That’s when VanHorn received the second phone call. “I got a call and it was only two days after the tryout,” he said. “It was Coach (Jeff) Battle, and he said can you come into the office. I said sure. I had no idea what was going to happen. I was hoping. I talked to Coach (Jeff) Bzdelik and a couple of the assistants, and they said we really liked what we saw, we want you to come out to practice for a few days and see what you can do. Again, I’m thinking here we go, I have to play well in practice.” VanHorn practiced well enough to make the club. He appeared in five games in 2014

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and five more in 2015, Manning’s first year. “Trent was in the role of a walk-on when we got here,” Manning said. “From day one, he always played with an edge and had a chip on his shoulder. He has continued to work and get better. For me, it is really rewarding to see him earn a scholarship. Last year, especially early on, he helped us win some games. He had a career-high 12 points against a nationally-ranked Vanderbilt team in Maui. His effort, his workload and his intensity have been things that have been very beneficial to our team.” While juggling his basketball schedule with a full academic load may seem like a near-impossible task, VanHorn is working towards admission to medical school and a career in medicine. “He burns the oil on both ends,” Manning said. “He is a pre-med student and spends a lot of time working on the academic side. He takes that very seriously, and I look at him as a student-athlete in the truest sense of the term.” Deciding to pursue a career in medicine was not an instantaneous decision for the Deacon senior. “My dad’s a chiropractor, and I had a little bit of exposure growing up with the health care profession around me,” VanHorn said. “In high school, I found out that the science-related classes were the ones I was excited to go to. Once I got to Wake Forest I did some volunteering and really got my feet wet in the health care profession and did some shadowing of physicians. It was probably my freshman year that I said this is where I want to go.” But there was another experience, and another phone call, that helped set VanHorn on the medical path. “My best friend, Austin Hatch, who played at Michigan, we were best friends in high school,” VanHorn said. “We played on the same teams. We grew up together.” The two were basketball teammates throughout their formative years. You may not immediately recognize Hatch’s name, but his story is unforgettable. Hatch had the extreme misfortune of surviving two fatal airplane crashes. The first when he was 8. His father, Dr. Stephen Hatch, was a pilot and was at the controls as the plane returned to Fort Wayne from a family vacation in Michigan. The crash killed Austin’s mother, Julie, his older sister, Lindsay, and his younger brother, Ian. Only Austin and his father survived. Eight years later, Dr. Hatch had remarried, and he and his wife, Kimberly, adopted each other’s children. Austin was again part of a family, with a brother Austin and sisters Maria and Brittnee.

TRENT

vanhorn POSITION: Guard HEIGHT/WEIGHT: 6-3, 215 CLASS: Senior HOMETOWN: Fort Wayne, Ind. FAVORITE FOOD: Steak FAVORITE BOOK: “Toughness” by Jay Bilas FAVORITE ATHLETE: Rory McIlroy FAVORITE WAKE FOREST MOMENT: Beating Indiana at last year’s Maui Invitational

2016-17 OUTLOOK COACH: Danny Manning, 5th year overall, 3rd year at WFU, 62-68 overall record LAST YEAR’S RECORD: 11-20 (2-16 ACC, 14th) STARTERS RETURNING/LOST: 3/2 KEY RETURNEES: Bryant Crawford, Dinos Mitoglou, Mitchell Wilbekin, John Collins KEY LOSSES: Devin Thomas, Codi MillerMcIntyre OUTLOOK: Wake Forest returns three starters, including ACC All-Freshman Team point guard Bryant Crawford. The additions of transfers Keyshawn Woods and Austin Arians will give the team more outside shooting as the Deacs look to climb the ACC standings.

Austin, his mother and father, again flew to the family vacation home in Michigan. This plane crash in Michigan killed both Stephen and Kimberly. On the night of the second plane crash, VanHorn received a phone call. His mother answered the phone and broke the news to VanHorn. When he learned that Austin was in a hospital six hours away, he and his friends drove through the night to lend support to their friend. “I’ll remember that night for the rest of my life,” VanHorn told ESPN. “I was in the hospital when he was in a medically induced coma for a few months,” VanHorn recalled. “I got really involved in the health care profession and seeing a lot of different aspects because I was in the hospital visiting him all the time. I was helping him with his recovery. That was the first time I really saw what (medicine) was about.” Today, VanHorn is preparing for his senior season, his third under Danny Manning and staff. He has witnessed the evolution of the Demon Deacon basketball program under Manning. “The biggest thing has just been the expectations that Coach Manning sets, especially for the walk-ons,” VanHorn said. “He expected us to get way more reps in practice, to be way more involved which really elevated my game that much more. I came to practice every day knowing every day I needed to give something to help our team get better. It continued throughout the year when I got a lot more playing time. There’s a strict attention to detail, we do things a certain way, and that translates onto the court. There’s good structure here, there’s a good foundation in place.” And that foundation, as well as the foundation he has set for Hanes Holiday Socksuccess Drive FINAL.pdf 1 10/20/16 12:24 PM himself, will lead to future for Trent VanHorn.

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MILAN QUINN OVERCOMES EARLY CHALLENGES TO BECOME STALWART ON THE COURT, ROLE MODEL FOR TEAMMATES By Mat Batts

hree years ago as a freshman at Wake Forest, Milan Quinn had high expectations for herself. The Mega-7 Conference Player of the Year during her senior year at Philip O. Berry Academy of Technology in Charlotte, Quinn expected to have an immediate impact on the Demon Deacons women’s basketball team as soon as she stepped on campus. Instead, she was met with a number of tough challenges. “It was kind of a struggle at first,” Quinn said of her freshman year. “Coming from high school, everybody is the best player on their team, and then you get here, it’s kind of discouraging not playing.” Quinn appeared in 31 games during the 2013-14 season, starting 14 games. She averaged 3.3 rebounds a game and finished the season with just 62 total points. Playing behind Wake Forest’s prized forward Dearica Hamby — who, as a junior during that season, led the ACC in both scoring and rebounding — Quinn could have easily relegated herself to the shadows of Hamby’s star. Quinn, though, chose to use Hamby’s talent and her leadership as a guide to college basketball. “I just tried to use that as a positive and look at her as a role model,” Quinn said. “I tried to just look and see what was making her successful and how I could use that to improve my own game.” Over the course of her sophomore and junior years, Quinn steadily increased her offensive and defensive contributions, scoring 128 points (3.8 ppg) in 2014-15 while grabbing 4.0 rebounds per outing. She followed that with a big season a year ago, averaging 10.7 points and a team-high 9.1 rebounds per game.

Now a senior heading into the 2016-17 season, Quinn is a star in her own right and a model for the way hard work and dedication pay off – The Wake Way. “I couldn’t be more proud of Milan,” head coach Jen Hoover said. “She has been a joy since she got to campus. She’s just continued to get better every single year. And that’s what we want every one of our players to do, is to develop from wherever they came in and add to their game every year. “She’s always had a great attitude, she’s a great leader for us. and I couldn’t be more proud or happy for a kid just to see that kind of success.” A 6-1 forward, Quinn credits a summer of hard workouts in 2015 as the real turning point for her performance. Quinn and Hoover both agree that confidence plays a major factor in how she approaches the game and performs on the court. “She’s a kid that once she has confidence, she’s really hard to guard,” Hoover said. “She exudes this confidence about herself, and the key for her is keeping her confidence at a high level.” Off the court, Quinn has her sights set on the medical field. A Health and Exercise Science major, Quinn said she intends to take a gap year after graduation before applying to med school, which she hopes to attend by 2018. And if an opportunity arises for Quinn to play basketball professionally? Well, she says she hasn’t given it much thought.

NOW A SENIOR HEADING INTO THE 2016-17 SEASON, QUINN IS A STAR IN HER OWN RIGHT AND A MODEL FOR THE WAY HARD WORK AND DEDICATION PAY OFF – THE WAKE WAY.

MILAN quinn POSITION: Forward HEIGHT: 6-1 CLASS: Senior HOMETOWN: Charlotte, NC FAVORITE FOOD: Pizza FAVORITE BOOK: “The Notebook” FAVORITE ATHLETE: LeBron James FAVORITE WAKE FOREST MOMENT: Beating Duke last season

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WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

// M I L A N Q U I N N

2016-17 OUTLOOK COACH: Jen Hoover, 5th year, 58-71 record at Wake, 78-84 overall record as head coach LAST YEAR’S RECORD: 17-16 (6-10 ACC, T-9th) STARTERS RETURNING/LOST: 4/1 KEY RETURNEES: Amber Campbell, Milan Quinn, Ariel Stephenson, Elisa Penna, Kortni Simmons KEY LOSSES: Ataijah Taylor, Kandice Ball OUTLOOK: Though a young team on paper, Wake Forest returns a lot of on-court experience, and the 2016-17 squad should be the deepest team Jen Hoover has had at Wake Forest to date. The Deacs added four freshmen that could make an impact immediately.

Hoover, though, thinks she has a good chance to play overseas, if that’s an opportunity she wants to pursue. “She’s a beautiful kid, and that’s inside and outside,” Hoover said of Quinn’s future. “The sky is the limit for a young lady like that.” Looking ahead to the upcoming season, Quinn said “it just feels different this year. I’m really excited.”

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Quinn’s goals include maintaining her status as one of the ACC’s most prolific rebounders and helping the team “earn some respect in this conference.” While she’s got her for one last year, Hoover said that Quinn will play an important role during the 2016-17 season as an obvious stalwart on the court but also as a role model for teammates on and off the court.

“I think it’s really important, especially for young kids that are watching,” Hoover said. “Because Milan, when you look at her story, it’s a true story of a blue-collar work kid. She just kept working and working so when that opportunity came, she was ready. “She’s just such a great representative of what it truly means to be a Demon Deacon.”

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FOOTBALL

// D U K E E J I O F O R

MAKING AN

IMPACT

REDSHIRT JUNIOR DUKE EJIOFOR LEADS DEACONS IN SACKS FROM DEFENSIVE END POSITION

By Sam Walker

lthough Duke Ejiofor was born in the United States, his family heritage is Nigerian. Dr. Samuel and Franca Ejiofor, his father and mother, moved to Texas where they had seven children.

Duke says that in Nigeria his family are descendants of royalty. He says he knows no details, but he’s been told it is a fact. His two brothers’ names are Prince and Kingsley, and he has four sisters as well. But family aside, this season as a redshirt junior, Ejiofor is being a royal

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pain for opposing offensive linemen and quarterbacks. Seven games into the 2016 season, Ejiofor led the team in sacks by a substantial margin and was tied with teammate Marquel Lee in tackles for loss. Now, it’s difficult to believe Ejiofor had only two major college football scholarship

offers – one from the University of Houston and the other from Wake Forest. And Ejiofor could have stayed close to home, family and friends had he played at Houston. But the allure of the academics at Wake Forest and competition of the ACC drew Ejiofor to Wake Forest after former

DUKE

ejiofor POSITION: Defensive End HEIGHT/WEIGHT: 6-4, 270 CLASS: Redshirt Junior MAJOR: Sociology HOMETOWN: Houston, Texas FAVORITE FOOD: Pizza FAVORITE BOOK: The Harry Potter Series by J.K. Rowling FAVORITE ATHLETES: J.J. Watt and Stephen Curry FAVORITE WAKE FOREST MOMENT: Wake Forest’s 3-0 victory over Boston College in 2015. “It was my first game back after missing five games, and just to come back and win at that time and at that moment in the program was special.”

recruiting coordinator Ray McCartney and cornerbacks coach Derrick Jackson sold him on the value of Wake Forest as a full college experience for a student-athlete like him. “I was recruited as a linebacker,” Ejiofor said. “I had only two big offers coming out of high school in Houston and Wake Forest. I took two official visits to both schools, and I just saw Wake Forest had a better academic program and saw I could excel athletically here, too, with the high level of competition in the ACC. On my

visit, I felt at home here. I felt I had a better opportunity here. Nobody really pressured me to stay home and play at Houston, and my family watches me play on TV now. They don’t make it to too many games. “When I got to Wake Forest, I gained too much weight, so they moved me to defensive end, which wasn’t too much of a change since that was what I played in high school. I feel like redshirting was good for me getting used to school and just getting bigger, faster and stronger, and getting used to the college feel. I can see it paying off

right now as I continue to get better.” Once head coach Dave Clawson took over the program, Ejiofor felt like he had to “audition” all over again, but he was prepared to make a statement. Going into the 2016 season, Clawson had a feeling Ejiofor could be the impact player he needed to put pressure on opposing quarterbacks and diversify the defense. “Duke is a factor every single week,” Clawson said. “You have to account for him, you’ve got to block him, you have to slide protections because of him and he allows us NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2016

FOOTBALL

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to get other guys free. He gets back up and gets loose and just keeps going (every play).” Ejiofor had 12 tackles and two sacks in 10 games as a freshman, but then had to begin his sophomore season on the sideline watching, recovering from a concussion sustained in the preseason. It wasn’t until the Deacons earned a 3-0 victory over Boston College that Ejiofor got a taste of both live action and victory. It’s one he still appreciates because of the result and timeliness. Through seven games this season, Ejiofor was tied for second in the ACC in sacks and tackles for loss. He was named ACC defensive player of the week following Wake Forest’s victory over Duke when he recorded career highs in tackles (7), sacks (3) and tackles for loss (4) as well as forcing two fumbles and recovering one. He was also named the Chuck Bednarik Award Player of the Week for his performance against Duke. The Maxwell Football Club announced that honor and is responsible for honoring the nation’s best defensive player at the end of the season with the Chuck Bednarik Award. “That’s the first time I’ve gotten an award like that, and it was a blessing,” Ejiofor said. “I played a good game and was happy to get a ‘W’ and just to get that award on top of it.”

Senior defensive back Ryan Janvion said that Ejiofor is a tough guy who can really move. “He’s definitely an NFL-type defensive end, and I think he’s the best defensive end in the ACC,” Janvion said. “What he does, and how it changes the game, makes our jobs so much easier because Duke gets that pressure put on so fast it takes the pressure off us because we don’t have to cover as long. It you have a one-on-one matchup with Duke right now, chances are 65 percent of the time he’s going to win. “Everything he does, he goes hard. He’s big in the weight room, and he might be a soft-spoken guy, but when he gets on the field, he just goes.” Linebacker Marquel Lee agreed with the assessment provided by his teammate. “It’s great to have a pass rusher like Duke,” Lee said. “Giving him the chance to cut the ball off on the weak side, to have that strong end – he’s good at that, and his pass rushing ability is second to none. Teams are starting to maximum protect him so we have confidence in our other guys, too (to make plays). But Duke makes plays.” Ejiofor is proud his family name commands respect back in Nigeria, but here in the United States he just thinks it’s a neat fact to drop into a conversation.

Right now, he is focused on getting Wake Forest to a bowl game. He’s already won almost as many games this season as he has in his entire time at Wake Forest, and this team knows it’s getting better and wanting to prove more.” “Week in and week out, I take a good long time studying my opponents, how they scheme against us and the kind of moves I would use in the game,” Ejiofor said. “It’s preparation, and that’s how you have success in games. It’s a lot more mental now. This season has been amazing so far, but we want to keep going. I just see there’s more buy-in to what Coach Clawson has been bringing to the table, and with that everybody is on the same page. We have more people working extra in the weight room, and also we’re excelling academically. Right now, I feel like everything is going well for us.”

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Hit the Bricks

S TA N COTTEN VOICE OF THE DEMON DEACONS

If Brian Piccolo were alive today and a Wake Forest student, he’d likely be first at the start line and then the last one running at the annual “Hit the Bricks” campus event, which raises money for cancer research. Piccolo had that kind of drive. He had that kind of compassion. He had the heart of a champion. Piccolo was the life of the party – a big man on campus. He was a football star, good enough to play in the NFL. He had a loving wife. A great life. But he couldn’t beat cancer. Not in 1970 anyway. The testicular cancer that took Brian Piccolo from us is treatable and beatable today, thanks to years of research and advancements in various kinds of treatment for the disease. If we knew then what we know now, it’s most likely the movie “Brian’s Song” would have never been made. But if it had, instead of a story about a life cut short, it would have been one of two men, one black and the other white, battling for playing time with the Chicago Bears and forging a life-long friendship. Life. Long. That’s what “Hit the Bricks” is all about. Making life longer by raising money for the Brian Piccolo Cancer Research Fund to support the work of the nationally acclaimed Wake Forest University Cancer Center. It’s a student-driven event that has picked up steam and continues to grow every year. Starting with a modest number of 17 teams in the fall of 2003 and a total of $3,965 raised, last year the day-long event had ballooned to 100 teams, 1,250 participants and just over $42,000 raised. The numbers are now in from the 2016 “Hit the Bricks” just recently held, and altogether Wake Forest students combined for 118 teams, 1,401 participants and more than $50,000 raised for cancer research. That’s a pretty good day’s work. “The students and others have latched on to Hit the Bricks because it taps into their understanding of Pro Humanitate as a way to tangibly serve those and their families who are fighting this terrible disease of cancer,” says Mike Ford, Director of

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Philanthropy and Legacy Programs, Pro Humanitate Institute, Wake Forest University. “Most every participant has a loved one or friend who is a cancer victim or survivor, and many of them share the story of that relationship(s) during the day. Also, students are energized by Hit the Bricks because it is fun, competitive, all inclusive, and represents a connection to the Wake Forest ethos and larger campus community. “I believe the event has experienced significant growth in the past several years due to a broader recognition across the Wake campus of the significant impact of HTB in the life of campus community,” Ford adds. “The event has grown in recent years to bring together students (freshmen, upperclass, Greeks, athletes, graduate students) as well as faculty and staff members to make a united statement of support for cancer awareness and research. In addition, the student leadership team has expanded its reach across campus and improved its organizational processes.” Several years ago Ford called and asked if I could help start the event at the beginning of the day. He asked

if I could pass along a little of Brian Piccolo’s story to help connect the ACC Player of the Year’s life and legacy to what the students were doing and introduce a few folks, including members of the football team, who would also participate by not only voicing their support but also “hitting the bricks” with their fellow students. Mike had no idea that I had “connected” to Piccolo myself as a youngster just before Christmas in 1971 when the movie was released and shown on ABC-TV. I probably watched it because I thought it was a “football movie.” But we all know it was much more than that. I had never heard of Brian Piccolo. I don’t recall if I had ever heard of Wake Forest, either – doubt it, I had just turned 11. But “Pic’s” story has stayed with me all of these years. And now each fall, as long as I am asked, I have the incredible honor of telling his story, or part of it, on the very campus where he captivated those around him with not only the way he ran with the football, but moreso with his humor, his love, his heart – which all remain. Cancer is a monster. An indiscriminate killer. This past year one of my sisters and a dear friend each heard those three words none of us wants to hear: “You have cancer.” You, or someone you love or know, have likely heard them, too. Together, with the courage, heart and fight of Brian Piccolo, we’ll eventually catch cancer and beat it. It might not be tomorrow or next month – but cancer’s day is coming. And Wake Forest is doing its part.

Live Where You Vacation!

Serving Isle of Palms, Wild Dunes Resort & Sullivan’s Island, SC Amy Cartner, Broker Class of 1988 Women’s Basketball ‘84-’88

704-281-8936 amy@iop-residential.com iop-residential.com iop_residential

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PROUD SUPPORTER OF 2016 WFU FOOTBALL NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2016

INSIDE THE DEACON CLUB

It is Now Time to ROLL!

BA R RY FA I R C L O T H SENIOR A S S O C I AT E AT H L E T I C DIRECTOR, DEVELOPMENT

In December 2013, Wake Forest Athletics embarked on the most ambitious fundraising initiative in our history. The project was the gamechanging Sports Performance Complex and the fundraising goal was a jaw-dropping $68 million. The complex included the $21 million McCreary Field House, $37 million Sutton Sports Performance Center, which also included the renovated Doc Martin Practice Fields and the $12 million Basketball Player Development Center. Through the incredible generosity of our donors, in less than three years we have raised approximately $78 million for this all-important project. Much has been documented about Bob McCreary’s recent $15 million gift, bringing his total contribution to the Sports Performance Complex to $27.5 million. This is in addition to Ben Sutton’s $15 million in gifts. These two incredibly generous alums and former student-athletes have inspired a generation of Wake Forest alums, friends and parents. In total, 1,784 individuals joined Bob and Ben in this Herculean effort that has the college athletic world taking notice of Wake Forest and the incredible generosity of our donors. A total of 53 individuals have contributed over $100,000 with 11 gifts over $1 million. An astonishing six gifts were over $2 million with one being $4 million and another being $5 million. It is inspiring that our generous donors care so deeply about our mission to Develop Champions. On November 1, ground was officially broken on the 87,000 square-foot Sutton Sports Performance Center and 24,400 square-foot Basketball Player Development Center.

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The Sutton Sports Performance Center, named for former “mic man”, Wake Forest Trustee and sports marketer extraordinaire, Ben Sutton, will feature a state-of-the-art strength and conditioning area that will include both weight rooms and cardio areas, dedicated space for enhancing the nutrition of Wake Forest student-athletes and will house football and men’s and women’s basketball coaches’ offices and team meeting areas. The Basketball Player Development Center will enable the men’s and women’s basketball programs to avoid scheduling issues that make sharing one facility challenging. Connecting the Sutton Sports Performance Center to the Miller Center, the Basketball Player Development Center will feature an additional regulation court that allows space to run the baseline as well as access to on-campus strength and conditioning facilities dedicated to men’s and women’s basketball. Construction on these facilities will occur concurrently and they are expected to be completed in the summer of 2018. This dramatic facility buildout will place Wake Forest in a position to have some of the best facilities in the country in order to attract the nation’s most talented student-athletes. Furthermore, not only will we attract these talented student-athletes, but our facilities will allow us to retain and further develop them in the pursuit of championships. With championships comes my favorite tradition of rolling the Quad and I am ecstatic to say that it is now finally time to stock up and get ready to roll because there is an incredibly bright future ahead of us. Go Deacs!

INSIDE THE DEACON CLUB

BASKETBALL BEST DARN PACKAGE NOW AVAILABLE The Best Darn Package is back again this year and is available starting at $155. The package includes five premium ACC matchups at the Coliseum: North Carolina on Wednesday, Jan. 11 at 8 p.m.; Miami on Wednesday, Jan. 18 at 8 p.m.; Duke on Saturday, Jan. 28 at 3 p.m.; NC State on Saturday, Feb. 11 at noon; and Louisville on Wednesday, Mar. 1 at 9 p.m. Packages are only available while supplies last, so contact Wake Forest Athletics at (336) 758-3322 ext. 1 to purchase today.

Keep up with the Deacon Club on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram! For the latest news and information from the Deacon Club and to connect with other members, be sure to find us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram! @WFUDeaconClub Facebook.com/DeaconClub @WFUDeaconClub | @DeacOnTheRun | @BarryFaircloth

ACC SINGLE GAME TICKETS

IS WAKE FOREST ATHLETICS

Single game tickets for the 2016-17 men’s basketball season will go on sale to Deacon Club members on Monday, Nov. 14. For ticket information or to purchase, please visit WakeForestSports.com or contact Wake Forest Athletics at (336) 758-3322, ext. 1.

Planned giving ties your legacy with the future of Wake Forest Athletics. To learn more about the many ways you can support Wake Forest Athletics through planned giving, please contact Paul Kennedy at (336) 758-3875 or kennedpj@wfu.edu.

AVAILABLE FOR DEACON CLUB MEMBERS ON NOVEMBER 14

IN YOUR WILL?

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2016

DONOR PROFILE

// B O B M c C R E A R Y

Bob McCreary Donates $15 Million to Wake Forest Athletics

n Oct. 13, Bob McCreary (’61) announced he will donate $15 million to Wake Forest Athletics. Bob’s support of our athletic programs has been unparalleled, with a lifetime giving of approximately $35 million to the Athletic Department. He has given to numerous projects including McCreary Field House, Sutton Sports Performance Center, Deacon Tower, the Bob McCreary Video Board Honoring the Class of 1961, Miller Center and Bridger Field House. In addition, Bob has provided 23 full scholarships to our student-athletes over the past 13 years. It is truly incredible to think about all that Bob has done for Wake Forest. Ron Wellman, Director of Athletics remarked: “What an impact one man can have on a program, and that man for our program is Bob McCreary.” Beyond all of his giving, however, there is a generous, compassionate and kindhearted man – a man who has a vision. Bob comes from humble beginnings, growing up in a house with no indoor

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facilities and being one of the first in his family to graduate from high school. “We had nothing, but we had everything,” Bob said. While he may not have grown up having the same material objects as others,

Bob grew up with an extremely loving and close-knit family. To this day, Bob’s mother, Christine, who is 97 years old, remains the light of his life. After a successful high school football career, where he received Honorable Mention All-State accolades during his senior year, Bob accepted a scholarship to play football at Wake Forest. During his freshman season, however, Bob suffered a serious knee injury – an injury so threatening that he thought his football career was over. Lewis “Doc” Martin, the legendary Wake Forest athletic trainer, was able to convince Bob otherwise. Doc spoke with Bob, telling him that he couldn’t quit, and if he did, it might set the tone for the rest of his life. Bob took Doc’s advice to heart, returning to football and proving that he was not a quitter. Bob has always possessed a strong work ethic, but it was his time at Wake Forest that he attributes his success to. The environment of this wonderful university served as a launching pad for Bob, teaching him invaluable life lessons.

“I love this university,” he said. “It was the springboard for my life.” In 1961, Bob McCreary graduated from Wake Forest and was drafted by the San Francisco 49ers as the 65th overall pick. After a short stint with the 49ers, he was signed by the Dallas Cowboys where he was the starting right tackle during the 1961 season. Once he retired from professional football, Bob spent the next 20 years working in sales and management within the furniture industry, where he began his career by working at the same furniture company as his father, who was a furniture sander. In January 1986, Bob and his wife, Michele, decided to open their own furniture company. It was at this point that McCreary Modern Inc. was born. The company has grown substantially since 1986 with over 1,000 employees and six manufacturing facilities. Even as Bob moved on from Wake Forest to pursue his career, he remained connected with the university. Bob has been there to celebrate our many successes but has also actively helped support our department’s needs as we strive to Develop Champions, both in the classroom and during competition. With that said, Bob shares in our vision and wants to see all of our programs succeed. This is one of the many reasons

why he invests so much in our studentathletes. Bob doesn’t view his financial commitments as gifts, but rather as investments. “The benefit of investing in Wake Forest Athletics is that I can do something that can be shared by so many,” he said. By giving to the Athletic Department and investing in resources and facilities for our student-athletes, there is something extraordinarily tangible, and for Bob, that is well worth it. “I want to make an impact while I’m in good health and am able to see and enjoy the products of my investments,” he said. A prime example of this is McCreary Field House. Going into the Army West Point game, our football team is off to a 5-2 start, and the new football facilities undoubtedly played a role in the team’s ability to prepare for the current season. Bob realizes the importance of his investments stating, “Without these new and upgraded facilities, we would not be where we are right now.” Bob McCreary perfectly embodies the Wake Forest motto – Pro Humanitate. Not only does he consistently give to others, he is committed to putting forth his best self. Bob is a model alumnus and has been recognized by Wake Forest in many ways. He has received the Gene

Hooks Achievement Award in 2008, a Distinguished Alumni Award in 2016 and was named Deacon Club Member of the Year on two separate occasions. In addition, Bob was inducted into the Wake Forest Sports Hall of Fame in 2013. “I feel privileged to be able to have done what I have,” Bob said. Even after his substantial gift, however, he knows that there is still work to be done. “We are going to continue winning at Wake Forest, but we need to keep supporting our dedicated coaches and student-athletes.” At the Oct. 29 Homecoming football game, it was announced that Deacon Tower will be named in Bob’s honor, becoming McCreary Tower. Bob celebrated this special day with his family and friends at his side, including his mother, Christine, wife, Michele, son and daughterin-law, Robert and Michelle, as well as his grandchildren, Cash and Kate, and brother and sister-in-law, Larry and Judy. On behalf of the entire Wake Forest community, we would like to sincerely thank Bob and his family. Words alone cannot express how grateful we are for your continued support. With your investments in our Athletic Department, you are helping to shape an incredibly bright future for Wake Forest Athletics.

deacon club photos Deacon Club members are encouraged to submit photos for publication in the Gold Rush. Send your photos in digital format to deacclub@wfu.edu. Submission of a photo does not guarantee that it will be published. Thanks for showing off your Demon Deacon pride!

1 The Deacon stopped by to tailgate before the Wake Forest vs. Delaware game with Frank McNally (’74), who was celebrating his 65th birthday.

2 Deacon fans enjoying the men’s basketball Fan Fest. Jay Ward (’96) (left) with his daughter Gracie and son Jack (left and front) and Bobby Finch (’92) (back center) and his two daughters, Vivi and Nora (center).

3 T OMS founder and CEO Blake Mycoskie, wife Heather and friends enjoyed the football win against Syracuse over Family Weekend. From left to right, Ben Sutton (’80), Heather Mycoskie, Sara Crawford (’90), Wubetu Shimelash (’20), Blake Mycoskie, Matt Crawford, Jr. (’20), Matt Crawford (’88). NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2016

WHERE ARE THEY NOW?

K AT E ( C R O W L E Y ) PA R K E R

n each issue, Where Are They Now showcases a former Wake Forest student-athlete. Kate (Crowley) Parker was an inaugural member of the Wake Forest women’s soccer team in 1994, and the only student-athlete to play in every game of the team’s first three seasons. She finished her career (1994-97) with 74 games played, including 49 starts, recording 10 points on three goals and four assists. She took 52 career shots and played everywhere on the field - forward, midfield and defender. She helped the Demon Deacons qualify for their first-ever NCAA Tournament in 1996, beating Clemson in the opening round.

Kate T. (Crowley) Parker When did you graduate from Wake Forest? 1998 What was your major and/or minor? Communication What does being a Demon Deacon mean to you? I am always so proud to be a Deac. It means that I am part of something larger than myself. Why are you still involved in Wake Forest Athletics? Playing soccer at Wake was, and still is, such a huge part of my life. I learned so much, worked so hard, had so much fun and made lifelong friends who I consider family to this day. I will forever be thankful that I had the opportunity to play, attend and graduate from a place like Wake. I feel like I won the lottery with the four years I had there and the friends I made. Why do you feel it is important to give back to the University? Even in a small way, if there’s anything I can ever do to enable someone to have the kind of experience that I had at Wake, I’d do it in a heartbeat. What is your current occupation? I am a commercial and fine art photographer and author. My first book, Strong is the New Pretty, coming out in March, celebrates the strength and spirit through photographs of girls being 100 percent themselves. Some of the images were actually shot on campus! What is your favorite memory of your time at Wake Forest? This is so hard! I have so many fun, silly memories, but the ones that are the best always involve time spent with my soccer teammates. Not even necessarily the games, but the practices, the travel, the hotels, the planes, study hall with Tim Seymour, meals at Denny’s, our mutual hatred of the “beep test,” rolling the Quad for ourselves after our first win, uniforms made for men, getting our first pairs of “free” cleats and freaking out over how cool that was, playing Carolina

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and our coach telling us not to “ask for any autographs” while on the field. I love my teammates so fiercely, and it think it comes from being a family for four years. What makes you most proud of Wake Forest? I love that however prestigious it becomes, how many accolades bestowed upon it, how many championships won, Wake remains a small community. It always feels like home, and I always feel welcome there. When you come back to Wake Forest, you always… Head up to Spry and kick a ball around and show off to my kids that my name is in the locker room. I was there when… The first-ever varsity women’s soccer game was played. I got to take the first kick (we won the kickoff and I was forward).

Who is your favorite coach at Wake Forest, current or past? Tony da Luz, hands down. Jason Lowe is a close second, though. Love those guys; Tony was my coach when I was there, and Jason was (and is) my friend. My daughter has gone back to Wake camp to play and has had them coach her as well; strange full circle Deac moment.

SUN NOV 13

MON 14

TUE 15

WED 16

Men's Basketball vs. Bucknell 2pm

THUR

FRI

SAT

Women's Basketball vs. Rutgers 7pm

Volleyball vs. Miami 6:30pm

Football vs. Clemson

NOVEMBER // DECEMBER 2016

WAKE FOREST ATHLETICS

Men's Tennis Wake Forest Invitational

Deacon Club members at or above the Deacon Bench level may present their 2016-17 membership cards for free admission to Olympic Sport events (immediate family only). Olympic Sport single game tickets and season passes are available at WakeForestSports.com or by calling (336) 758-3322. SPORTS MARKETING (336) 758-5011 TICKET OFFICE (336) 758-3322 GROUP TICKETS (Football & Basketball) (336) 758-4030 DEACON CLUB (336) 758-5626 www.deaconclub.com deacclub@wfu.edu

GoldRushCalendar_Nov_Dec_2016.indd 1

Volleyball vs. Florida State 1pm

Women's Basketball vs. Furman 4pm

Women's Basketball vs. Eastern Michigan 2pm

Men's Basketball vs. Coastal Carolina 7:30pm

Football vs. Boston College

DEC 01

Men's Basketball vs. Charlotte 7pm

Women's Basketball vs. Xavier 7pm

Women's Basketball vs. Samford 2pm

Women's Basketball vs. Radford 2pm

Women's Basketball vs. VCU 11am

Men's Basketball vs. LSU 9pm

31 Men's Basketball vs. Clemson 12pm

SAVE THE DATE THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY DEACON CLUB OFFICES: The Deacon Club offices will be closed November 24-25 in observance of the Thanksgiving holiday TICKET OFFICE: Thursday, November 24 - Closed Friday, November 25 - Open 12pm-5pm Saturday, November 26 - Open three hours prior to kickoff of the Wake Forest vs. Boston College football game

11/2/16 10:48 AM

DEACONS IN THE PROS BASEBALL Coaches/Scouts Ross Atkins Neil Avent TJ Barra Development Danny Borrell George Greer John Hendricks Michael Holmes Crosschecker Kevin Jarvis Bill Masse Matt Price Mike Rikard Eric Schmitt Adam Wogan Tommy Gregg

WOMEN’S SOCCER

MLB MLB MLB

Toronto Blue Jays Oakland A’s New York Mets

General Manager Area Scout Manager of Baseball Research &

MLB MLB MLB MLB

New York Yankees St. Louis Cardinals New York Mets Oakland A’s

Rehab Pitching Coordinator Minor League Offensive Strategist National Pitching Crosschecker Asst. Scouting Director/National

MLB MLB MLB MLB MLB MLB AAA

Los Angeles Angels Seattle Mariners Kansas City Royals Boston Red Sox New York Yankees Boston Red Sox Kansas City

Special Assignment Scout Area Scout Area Scouting Supervisor Director of Amateur Scouting Director of Minor League Operations Area Scout Omaha Storm Chasers Hitting Coach

MAJOR LEAGUES Mac Williamson

San Francisco Giants (AAA)

MINOR LEAGUE RANKS Pat Blair Tim Cooney Will Craig Michael Dimock Aaron Fossas Brian Holmes Connor Kaden Garrett Kelly Nate Mondou Joe Napolitano Matt Pirro

Tampa Bay Rays (AA) St. Louis Cardinals (AAA) Pittsburgh Pirates (Short Season A) San Diego Padres (AAA) Cincinnati Reds (Rookie) Houston Astros (AA) San Francisco Giants (A) Minnesota Twins (Rookie) Oakland Athletics (Short Season A) New York Mets (Rookie) Washington Nationals (Rookie)

WOMEN’S GOLF Laura (Philo) Diaz LPGA Played in 21 tournaments in the 2015 season Jean Chua Symetra Played in 16 events in 2016, best finish t-11th at Island Resort Championship Nannette Hill LPGA Played in 14 tournaments in 2016, qualified for U.S. Women’s Open Natalie Sheary Symetra Played in 22 tournaments in 2016, won W.B. Mason Championship in May Michelle Shin Symetra Played in 13 events in 2015 Cheyenne Woods LPGA Played in 20 events in 2016 Marissa Dodd Symetra Played in 18 events in 2016 with two top-30 finishes Olafia Kristinsdottir LET Plays on the Ladies European Access Tour Allison Emrey Symetra Played in 21 events in 2016, had first top-10 at Tullymore Classic in July

MEN’S SOCCER Corben Bone Brian Carroll Sam Cronin Austin da Luz Chris Duvall Sam Fink Akira Fitzgerald Jack Harrison Tolani Ibikunle Michael Lahoud Andy Lubahn Collin Martin Justin Moose Ben Newnam Ike Opara Sean Okoli Michael Parkhurst Jalen Robinson Ross Tomaselli Jared Watts

FC Cincinnati Philadelphia Union Colorado Rapids Carolina RailHawks New York Red Bulls Saint Louis FC Carolina RailHawks New York City FC Ekenas Sport Club (Finland) Miami FC Louisville City FC D.C. United Wilmington Hammerheads Louisville City FC Sporting Kansas City FC Cincinnati Columbus Crew DC United FC Cincinnati Colorado Rapids

COACHES/MLS FRONT OFFICE James Riley Kurt Schmid Zack Schilawski

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MLS Director of Player Relations Seattle Sounders (Head Scout) Carolina RailHawks U23s (Assistant Coach)

Aubrey Bledsoe Kim Marshall Annick McBryar Katie Stengel Kelsey Zalimeni

Orlando Pride (NWSL) Boston Breakers (Reserves) Boston Breakers (Reserves) Washington Spirit (NWSL) Crystal Palace Ladies FC

MEN’S BASKETBALL Al-Farouq Aminu James Johnson Chris Paul Ishmael Smith Jeff Teague Justin Gray C.J. Harris Jamaal Levy Travis McKie Codi Miller-McIntyre Aaron Rountree Devin Thomas Ty Walker David Weaver

NBA NBA NBA NBA NBA Belarus Turkey Argentina Lebanon Belgium Slovakia Turkey Bahrain Japan

Portland Trail Blazers Miami Heat L.A. Clippers Detroit Pistons Indiana Pacers Tsmoki-Minsk Sakarya BSB Bahia Basket Louaize Leuven Lucenec TED Kolejilier Al Muharraq Shiga L-Stars

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL Dearica Hamby Sandra Garcia Chelsea Douglas Alex Tchangoue

WNBA Puerto Rico Germany France

San Antonio Stars Manatee Freiburg Lyon

FOOTBALL Tommy Bohanon K.J. Brent Josh Bush Michael Campanaro Brandon Chubb Chris Givens Josh Harris Kevin Johnson Joe Looney Nikita Whitlock Kyle Wilber

NFL NFL NFL NFL NFL NFL CFL NFL NFL NFL NFL

FB WR S WR LB WR RB CB OL FB/DL LB

Free Agent Oakland Free Agent Free Agent Detroit Free Agent BC Lions Houston Dallas NY Giants Dallas

COACHES/STAFF Jim Caldwell Charlie Dayton Pat Flaherty Joe Kenn Ricky Proehl John Spanos Brad White Jeff Triplette James MacPherson

NFL Detroit NFL Carolina NFL NY Giants NFL Carolina NFL Carolina NFL San Diego NFL Indianapolis NFL NFL Chargers

Head Coach Vice President Offensive Line Coach Strength Coach Wide Receivers Coach Executive VP of Football Operations OLB Coach Referee Scout

MEN’S GOLF Billy Andrade Bill Haas Jay Haas Gary Hallberg Scott Hoch Len Mattiace Kyle Reifers Webb Simpson Curtis Strange

Champions Played in 22 events in 2016 with nine top-10s, 9th in 2016 Charles Schwab Cup PGA Played in 24 events in 2016, first major top-10 at British Open, No. 44 in World Golf Rankings Champions Played in 18 events in 2016 with one win, 26th in 2016 Charles Schwab Cup Champions Played in 16 events in 2016 with one top-10, 65th in 2016 Charles Schwab Cup Champions Played in 19 events in 2016 with two top-10s, 59th in 2016 Charles Schwab Cup Web.com Played in 17 events in 2016 PGA Played in 34 events in 2016 with five top-10s, No. 114 in World Golf Rankings PGA Played in 20 events in 2016 with seven top-25s, No. 72 in World Golf Rankings Champions Played in three events in 2016

FIELD HOCKEY Lauren Crandall (Captain) Michelle Kasold

USA National Team USA National Team

MEN’S TENNIS Noah Rubin

ATP

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Remembering ARNOLD

PALMER 1929-2016

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2016

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THE ARNOLD PALMER I KNEW By President Nathan Hatch S E P T. 2 7, 2 0 1 6

remember the first time I visited Arnold Palmer in Latrobe, Pa. I walked around his office, taking in the displays of memorabilia that marked moments of his life: Four Masters trophies and the corresponding scorecards; President Dwight Eisenhower’s golf clubs; a Norman Rockwell portrait of the golfer; the Presidential Medal of Freedom; and the Congressional Gold Medal. He still has the Pennzoil tractor that co-starred with him in early television commercials, reels and reels of tournament film stacked on bookshelves, and all of the golf shoes and clubs he used throughout his career. And on the wall to the left of his desk is his chapter on Wake Forest. There is an aerial photo of campus, a picture of the Quad after it had been rolled, his honorary degree, and a photo of him speaking at Commencement in 2005. In the center of that collection is a picture of a college-aged Arnold with his best friend. They were holding a trophy – evidence of a Wake Forest golf victory. Over the last decade, it has been a delight to get to know Mr. Palmer. He was a gentleman of great warmth and grace, a person who sustained meaningful friendships, and one who loved Wake Forest and did a tremendous amount to support and advance our University. Mr. Palmer loved people, and he treated them with dignity and respect. He kept every gift that anyone ever sent him – posters from local Girl Scout troops, honors from Rotary Clubs around the country, customized golf equipment. He signed every book, photo and golf pin flag put in front of him; he had stacks of items ready to be signed and mailed back to waiting fans. And he welcomed visitors into his world with gracious hospitality. Mr. Palmer often entertained groups of Wake Forest alumni and friends in Latrobe. He would invite the group to tour his office, pointing out special trophies and awards and explaining the context behind the pictures that overtook his walls. During those visits, he would prove his great ability to captivate people with his stories. There was the one where President Eisenhower, after leaving office, showed up unannounced on his doorstep in Latrobe as a birthday surprise. Then, there was the one where he beat the great Yankee Roger Maris to win the 1961 Hickok Belt given to the professional athlete of the year. And then, there was the one about how he broke all kinds of aviation records flying a plane around the world.

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It was his love of people that made him a good friend. His loyal assistant, Doc Giffin, had worked with Mr. Palmer for more than 50 years, and the other staff in his office counted their years of service in decades, too. When he met you, it was as if you had been his friend for years. As a professional celebrity, he reached the heights of fame and fortune. He’s probably the most important golfer that has ever lived. He built an enormously successful business, won scores of distinguished awards and has dined with presidents and kings. Through all of it, he never forgot who he was or from whence he came. Mr. Palmer didn’t come from privilege. His father, who had worked in steel mills, became the groundskeeper – and eventually the club pro – at the Latrobe Country Club near Pittsburgh. Arnold Palmer learned golf from working on golf courses, not from enjoying them as places of leisure and privilege. Even with his vast success, he remained deeply committed to his hometown. Latrobe is not a large or pretentious place, but it was Mr. Palmer’s home, and he loved it. He invested in its people and organizations. He operated the country club where his father had worked and ate lunch there every day. He also remembered Wake Forest. More than any other person, Arnold Palmer is responsible for the great golf tradition that Wake Forest enjoys. He came here almost by accident, following his friend, Bud Worsham (’50), who had been a highly sought after golf recruit. Mr. Palmer’s meteoric rise on the professional tour after leaving Wake Forest enhanced the University’s reputation, and his scholarships served, in time, to recruit a host of superb athletes like Curtis Strange (’77), Billy Andrade (’86) and Webb Simpson (’08). Mr. Palmer once told me, “At Wake Forest, there was a friendship and education that created a background for my entire life. It didn’t come out of the books; it came out of the association with my fellow students and my professors.” This week, Wake Forest lost a giant. We lost a gentleman who loved people and offered us the depths of his kindness. We lost a legend who changed the way we play the game of golf. And we lost a friend who displayed what it meant to live with character and honor and so inspires us to do the same.

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OVER

THE LAST DECADE, IT HAS BEEN A DELIGHT TO GET TO KNOW MR. PALMER. HE WAS A GENTLEMAN OF GREAT WARMTH AND GRACE, A PERSON WHO SUSTAINED MEANINGFUL FRIENDSHIPS, AND ONE WHO LOVED WAKE FOREST AND DID A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT TO SUPPORT AND ADVANCE OURÂ UNIVERSITY. NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2016

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Honoring a Legend Following the passing of Arnold Palmer, the Wake Forest University Athletics Department announced plans for all Demon Deacon teams to honor his memory throughout the year. All competitive athletic fields, including those at BB&T Field, Spry Stadium, Kentner Stadium, David F. Couch Ballpark and the LJVM Coliseum, will have Palmer’s distinctive multi-color umbrella logo on or near the playing surface. Other venues that will have the umbrella logo include the Wake Forest Tennis Complex, the Indoor Tennis Center, the Cliff Neal Throws Area and the Arnold Palmer Golf Complex. All Wake Forest athletic teams will also sport a patch with Palmer’s initials on their jerseys. Palmer was also honored in a variety of ways on Oct. 8 when Wake Forest hosted Syracuse in football. Fans were invited to sign a large banner that will be presented to the Palmer family at a later date. The Demon Deacon football team wore a special helmet sticker honoring Palmer and carried a flag bearing the umbrella logo when it took the field. The team will continue to carry that flag for all remaining football games. As the only person ever to have been asked to “Open the Gate” twice, Palmer relished the opportunities he had to join the Deacon on the motorcycle and lead the team onto the field, so in his honor, a special tribute video was played as part of the “Open the Gate” ceremony, and the Deacon rode onto the field alone in memory of his friend, “the King.”

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SPECIAL SECTION

Philanthropy

Palmer held a lifelong love affair with WFU

rnold Palmer’s philanthropy may be his greatest legacy. From the inspiring work of the Arnie’s Army Charitable Foundation to his generous support of Wake Forest University and Wake Forest Athletics, Palmer contributed a tremendous amount of time and resources to support his passion of helping others and in doing so has had a profound impact on many lives. Arnold Palmer was an advocate and mentor for many generations of Wake Forest studentathletes, especially golfers who followed in his professional footsteps. In the early 1960s, Palmer endowed Wake Forest’s first golf scholarship in honor of his close friend and teammate Buddy Worsham, who was killed in a car accident in 1950. The Buddy Worsham Memorial Scholarship has provided many talented students with the opportunity to compete at the highest levels in golf while getting a Wake Forest education. In 1992, the Annenberg Foundation established the Arnold D. Palmer Golf Scholarship in Palmer’s honor. The scholarship is awarded to outstanding freshmen student-athletes who are talented both in the classroom and on the golf course. Palmer also contributed generously to Wake Forest’s golf facility, which is named in his honor. He not only provided the lead gift that helped make the $7 million complex a reality, but he also donated countless hours of consulting and design services during the redesign and renovation of the Arnold Palmer Golf Complex which includes the Dianne Dailey Learning Center, the Haas Family Range, and the Haddock House. Wake Forest Athletic Director Ron Wellman said: “Arnold Palmer’s impact on Wake Forest University cannot be measured. Arnold held a lifelong love affair with this University and spoke frequently and lovingly of his alma mater. While he was an outstanding competitor as a collegian, he made a worldwide impact throughout his life. His global fame and charitable nature helped create

PAST RECIPIENTS OF THE BUDDY WORSHAM MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP:

HANS ALBERTSSON BILLY ANDRADE EVAN BECK BOB BYMAN MARK CERO BOBBY COLLINS PATRICK DAMRON ROBERT DEAN JAMIE GALLACHER BRENDAN GIELOW JERRY HAAS GARY HALLBERG JACK LEWIS LEN MATTIACE EOGHAN O’CONNELL EDDIE PEARCE JUSTIN ROOF JAY SIGEL CURTIS STRANGE TIM STRAUB LANNY WADKINS BRENT WANNER CHAD WILCOX WOODY WOODWARD PAST RECIPIENTS OF THE ARNOLD D. PALMER GOLF SCHOLARSHIP:

LEE BEDFORD THOMAS BIRDSEY MICHAEL CAPONE BILL HAAS WEBB SIMPSON KYLE STERBINSKY JUAN VIZCAYA BUCK WILLIAMS WILL ZALATORIS

international recognition for Wake Forest. Arnold’s financial commitment to the University has allowed us to create outstanding facilities. And his consistent interaction with the student body helped to generate many generations of Arnold Palmer fans.” Palmer’s connections and philanthropy to Wake Forest extend beyond the golf program he helped to solidify. He served as a University trustee from 1983 to 1997 and became a life trustee after his final standard term ended. From 1989-96, Palmer co-chaired the University’s “Heritage and Promise” capital campaign, which exceeded its $150 million goal by $23 million. In recognition of his many contributions to Wake Forest, Palmer received the Distinguished Alumni Award in 1962 and an honorary doctor of laws degree in 1970. Also in 1970, he was enshrined in the Wake Forest Sports Hall of Fame. Palmer Residence Hall was named in his honor in 1982; he served as Commencement Speaker in 2005 and as Honorary Orange Bowl captain in 2006. Each spring, Wake Forest students celebrate Arnold Palmer Day with his signature drink of iced tea and lemonade and golf-related activities on Manchester Plaza. Palmer shared golf lessons and life lessons with Wake Foresters for more than six decades. “The message of Pro Humanitate – giving back to others – has been front and center in Arnold Palmer’s life,” said Wake Forest University President Nathan Hatch during the 2013 unveiling of a statue of Palmer. “In that way, he is a great model for all of us.” NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2016

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Remembering Arnold Palmer’s days as a Deacon By Bill Hensley

was a junior at Wake Forest in 1948 when Arnold Palmer enrolled on a golf scholarship. He was accompanied by Marvin (Buddy) Worsham, his friend and golfing pal. Since I was sports editor of the student newspaper, I was in contact often with Palmer and other members of the team, covering some classic matches involving such fine players as Mike Souchak and Art Wall of Duke and Harvie Ward of North Carolina. In the ensuing years, Palmer literally put Wake Forest on the map with his golfing exploits, which included winning the NCAA individual championship. His tenure as a Deacon was the beginning of the school’s long and successful reign in collegiate golf and attracted

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such top players as Jay Haas, Curtis Strange, Lanny Wadkins, Scott Hoch, Gary Hallberg and others. It didn’t take long for Palmer to become a campus favorite. Though friendly and personable, he was a bit reserved in comparison with Worsham, who was outgoing and humorous. It isn’t widely known, but Worsham is the reason Palmer came to Wake Forest. A native of the Washington, D.C., area and the brother of famed tour player Lew Worsham, his high school record attracted the attention of Jim Weaver, Wake Forest’s director of athletics and golf coach, who offered him a scholarship.

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In a conversation with Weaver, Worsham asked if he was seeking other good players for the school. “I certainly am,” was the reply. “Then you ought to recruit Arnold Palmer of Pennsylvania,” Worsham said. “He is a great player. One of the best I have seen. And he beats me every time we play.” With that information in mind, Weaver contacted Palmer and offered him a scholarship sight unseen. And Palmer, who evidently was not recruited by other schools, accepted. And the rest is history. The only person who was not thrilled with Palmer as a golfer was football coach D.C. (Peahead) Walker. He jokingly told Weaver to make Palmer stop walking around the football practice field with his clubs over his shoulder en route to the school’s golf course. “He ought to be playing linebacker for me,” Walker snorted, “instead of playing that sissy game of golf.” In reality, Walker firmly believed that Palmer would have been an excellent football player. But Palmer was serious about his game, and football was not an option. At every opportunity, he drove to Pinehurst for a weekend of golf, which was mostly on the No. 2 course, his favorite. He was perturbed one weekend when Worsham wouldn’t go with him, saying that he wanted to stay home and wash his car and play tag football with the guys. “You ought to go,” Palmer commented, “because your game could use the practice.” Sadly, Worsham was killed in 1950 in an automobile accident while returning from a fraternity dance in Durham. Ordinarily, Palmer would have been with him, because the two were inseparable, but for some reason he decided to miss the affair.

Worsham’s death left Palmer in a state of depression. Soon afterward, he dropped out of school and joined the Coast Guard. The golfing great returned to Wake Forest in 1954 after three years in the service to complete his collegiate eligibility. At the time, Weaver was busy with helping form the Atlantic Coast Conference and considering an offer to be the first commissioner, which he later accepted. He didn’t have much time for golf, so he asked Palmer if he would serve as the team’s coach, and he agreed to do so. I was the school’s sports information director at the time and enjoyed a special reunion with Palmer, who had given me much to write about over the years. On several occasions, we double-dated but were ill at ease about dating co-eds since we were both several years older. “It wasn’t like he gave us lessons,” said Sandy Burton, who was from Jamesville, N.Y., and a golf team member in 1954. “He was more like NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2016

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a manager. He drove the van on trips and handled all the off-course details. He was just one of the guys and a joy to play with. Everyone liked him a lot, and we followed his career with enthusiasm.” Another team member, Henry Kerfoot of Boynton Beach, Fla., agreed. “Arnold was older, wiser and a better player than the rest of us so we had a lot of respect for him. He would help us with our swing if we asked. We wanted to play with him as much as we could, so it pleased us greatly when we had that opportunity. He was a winner.” Other team members in 1954, in addition to Burton and Kerfoot, were Phil Weichman, Al Birmingham, Joe Turner and Sonny George. John Gerring and Red Sapp were freshmen but not eligible for varsity play because of the freshman rule. Palmer won the first ACC golf tournament with an even par round of 72 at the Old Town Club in Winston-Salem. He was declared the winner after the second round of the tournament was rained out. The Deacons, as a team, came in second, losing the title by one stroke. In 1954, Palmer won the national amateur and later turned professional, beginning his spectacular career on the PGA Tour. He won a tournament his rookie year, taking the Azalea Open crown in Wilmington, N.C. In the early 60s, Dick Tiddy of Charlotte, who was head pro at the Charlotte Country Club and a golf teammate of Palmer’s in 1949

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and 1950, former Deacon basketball great Dick Hemric and I drove to Augusta to watch him play in the Masters. We talked with him on the putting green and then met him that evening for dinner in downtown Augusta. Photographs of that trip show the three of us wearing jackets and ties to a golf tournament. Times have changed. Over the years, I would see Palmer at golf tournaments or other special events that I covered. I had the pleasure of attending his induction into the Wake Forest Sports Hall of Fame, the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame, the Carolinas Golf Hall of Fame and the national Golf Hall of Fame. During a conversation at Quail Hollow in Charlotte, I asked him if he thought Worsham would have been a big star on the tour had he lived. “I don’t think he would have pursued that,” he answered. “I believe he would have gone into the business end of golf and ended up as president of Titleist, Taylor Made or one of the major golf companies. That would have been just like him.” As the record shows, Arnold Palmer was a special person, an international sports hero and an unforgettable character whose name will be remembered for ages. I’m glad I knew him, and I will cherish the memories.

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Haddock House formally dedicated

he culmination of four years of fundraising and countless hours of planning came to fruition on Tuesday, October 11 with the dedication of Haddock House. More than 200 people, including current student-athletes and alumni from both golf programs, gathered as Wake Forest formally dedicated the new home of the Demon Deacon men’s and women’s golf teams and the showcase piece of the Arnold Palmer Golf Complex. The house is named for legendary coach Jesse Haddock, who was in attendance along with his family. Coach Haddock led the Wake Forest men’s golf teams to three NCAA and 15 ACC championships during his tenure from 1960-92, and as Barry Faircloth, Associate AD of Development, said in his remarks, “The Haddock House is truly the most fitting name for this state-of-the-art facility which is such a fantastic representation of the golf legacy that Coach Haddock was pivotal in establishing.” Among the speakers at the dedication were Wake Forest University president Nathan Hatch, Director of Athletics Ron Wellman, men’s golf head coach Jerry Haas, women’s golf head coach Dianne Dailey, men’s golf alumni Jay Haas, Curtis Strange and Billy Andrade, who represented the Demon Deacons’ three NCAA title teams (1974, 1975, 1986). Each speaker paid tribute to Coach Haddock and his legacy of excellence. “He was a coach who cared in equal measure about academics and the game of golf,” Hatch said, “but ultimately, he was devoted to shaping the lives of the young men entrusted to his care. It was not enough for Coach Haddock’s players to have skill on the course, they were to be gentlemen, who competed with courage and lived with honor. His greatest legacy is not the trophies

that fill this building and titles that have been collected; his life’s work is the men who called him ‘Coach.’” Hatch went on to say, “When you walk in this building, when you see the space and feel the history of excellence that surrounds and inspires, know that you are part of something special. This facility represents the best of who we are and the heights to which we aspire; it inspires coaches, players and teams to train well and perform better; and it speaks to the depth of tradition celebrated through our golf teams.” The completion of the Haddock House – a 10,000 square foot building that provides a true home for the men’s and women’s golf programs – marked the final phase of the transformation of the Arnold Palmer Golf Complex into one of the finest oncampus collegiate golf training facilities in the country. The Haddock House features coaches’ offices, locker rooms, team meeting areas and a heritage room that showcases the history of Wake Forest Golf. Following the remarks of Andrade, Strange, and Haas, all of whom were among the many former players affectionately known as “Coach’s Boys,”

Haddock’s daughter, Dottie Hill, addressed the crowd on behalf of the Haddock family. “In 1960 my dad took over as golf coach, and for the next 30 years he became a surrogate father to what he called “his boys.” He took care of them physically, emotionally, mentally, and they were truly his children. He made those young men not only better golfers, but better husbands and better fathers. In his 30 years, we’ve heard what his boys did – three national championships, the 15 ACC championships – all of that they did, not because of themselves, but because of what my dad was able to instill in them. So today we honor, not only the man whose name is on this house, but also his boys who helped build this house. Without them there would not be a Haddock House.” NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2016

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Arnold Palmer’s impact on Wake Forest University cannot be measured. Arnold held a lifelong love affair with this University and spoke frequently and lovingly of his alma mater. While he was an outstanding competitor as a collegian, he made a world-wide impact throughout his life. His global fame and charitable nature helped create international recognition for Wake Forest. Arnold’s financial commitment to the University has allowed us to create outstanding facilities. And his consistent interaction with the student body helped to generate many generations of Arnold Palmer fans.

Arnold Palmer was a great man and a man who never forgot where he came from. Almost singlehandedly, he made golf a sport and not just a recreational activity. He showed people that golf is beautiful and skillful and artistic. Arnold’s demeanor will also have a lasting impact. His charisma and his caring for other people touched everybody he came in contact with and will never be forgotten. Arnold had an international impact that has forever impacted the great game of golf.

— Jerry Haas

— Ron Wellman

When you talk to anyone who came into contact with Arnold, they’re going to tell you something about how he took the time, whether they were a player or a spectator. But when he was with you, he made time stand still. He never rushed anything when he was with people. He cared about the game and was passionate about it, but he also cared about people.

— Len Mattiace

(from Jacksonville News, Sports and Entertainment | jacksonville.com)

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No other person had the impact on golf like Mr. Palmer. He was a humble man, who never forgot his roots. He was gracious and kind to all who met him and he was the face of Wake Forest golf.

— Dianne Dailey

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Arnold Palmer might not have been the best professional golfer of all time, but he was the best person I ever knew. He never spoke ill about anyone or anything, always positive and uplifting. He led by example, and if you were smart enough to follow his lead, you became a better person. He was my idol, my mentor, and, most importantly, my friend. I will miss him.

— Curtis Strange

No alumnus ever has had a bigger impact on Wake Forest University as an ambassador, role model, benefactor and friend than Arnold Palmer. Julie and I will always remember his kindness, his gracious hospitality, his love for golf and its culture of respect and fair play — as well as his love for Wake Forest. He was a true gentleman. Wake Forest University has become synonymous with exceptional golf and that extraordinary reputation began with Arnold Palmer.

Our team had the opportunity to visit Mr. Palmer after the NCAA Regionals in 2012. He was a gracious and engaged host— we got to play Latrobe Country Club, visit with him in his office and tour the warehouse where his memorabilia is stored. He took a lot of time for us and we were so fortunate to have spent that time with him. It was a day none of us will ever forget!

— Dianne Dailey

— Dr. Nathan Hatch NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2016

COMPLIANCE CORNER

// T O D D H A I R S T O N

The Early Recruiting Conundrum

TODD HAIRSTON A S S O C I AT E AT H L E T I C DIRECTOR, COMPLIANCE

One of the recent hot topics within college athletics has been the issue of early recruiting. In many instances, college coaches are evaluating middle schoolers and extending verbal offers to 9th and 10th graders. All of this has led us to examine whether this practice aligns philosophically with the NCAA and its membership. In response to these concerns, the NCAA Division I Council, with the support of the NCAA Student-Athlete Experience Committee, has introduced several legislative concepts and proposals that would curb the trend of early recruiting and vastly change the current recruiting landscape. One proposal, in particular, would prohibit coaches from inviting recruits for unofficial campus visits (which are visits in which the students pay the total cost of the visit) until Sept. 1 at the beginning of the prospectâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s junior year

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in high school. Under current rules, an unofficial visit may occur at any time. Another proposal would prohibit coaches from extending verbal scholarship offers until the same Sept. 1 date at the start of the recruitâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s junior year. Even if adopted, however, it is uncertain whether these rules would in fact have the intended effect. The prohibition against extending verbal offers would be exceedingly difficult to enforce. Additionally, even if restrictions are placed on the timing of unofficial visits, current NCAA rules still allow prospects to attend institutional sports camps at any age. As such, sports camps would likely morph into de facto unofficial visits for recruits who are interested in a particular school. Whether or not the current proposals are the ideal solution to the issue of early recruiting remains to be seen. At the very least, however, exploring concepts such as these would seem to be a necessary first step in addressing the problem.

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