Gold Rush - May 2012

maY 2012 www.wakeforestsports.comMOVING FORWARD

Deacons put on a show for fans in the spring game at BB&t fielD as they prepare

for the 2012 season

Top players C.J. Harris and Travis McKie to be joined by a highly touted group of freshmen

SPRINGFLING

WHere Are THey NoW?Senior Slugger CarloS lopez SaveS hiS beSt for laSt

ORTHOPAEDICS | Call 336-716-WAKE for an appointment.

This should not be

the most difficult part

of your workout.

WakeHealth.edu/orthopedics

If decreased range of motion and knee pain are keeping you from

enjoying the activities you love, you should see an orthopaedic

specialist. At Wake Forest Baptist Health, our experienced physi-

cians and advanced technology mean less invasive procedures,

less pain and shorter recovery times. Call 888-716-WAKE today

for a free information kit and to make an appointment to see a

Wake Forest Baptist orthopaedic specialist.

contents // may 2012

YellowTailAd_NoBleed_3-21-12.pdfPage 1 3/21/2012 2:37:58 PM

ORTHOPAEDICS | Call 336-716-WAKE for an appointment.

This should not be

the most difficult part

of your workout.

WakeHealth.edu/orthopedics

If decreased range of motion and knee pain are keeping you from

enjoying the activities you love, you should see an orthopaedic

specialist. At Wake Forest Baptist Health, our experienced physi-

cians and advanced technology mean less invasive procedures,

less pain and shorter recovery times. Call 888-716-WAKE today

for a free information kit and to make an appointment to see a

Wake Forest Baptist orthopaedic specialist.

eDItoR

Jim Buice

PHotoGRaPHeR

Donnie Roberts

WRIteRs

Jay Reddick, Sam Walker, Stephanie Hudson

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Presented by American Premium BeverageVoL. 21 // IssUe 7

A large crowd of 5,500, considered one of the best ever for a spring game, watched on April 14 as the Deacons went through their final paces. Story, Page 6. (Photo by Donnie Roberts)

FINAL PREPARATIONSThe Wake Forest football team concluded spring workouts with the spring game on April 14. The Deacons will open the 2012 season on Sept. 1 at BB&T Field against Liberty.

// 6

MOVING FORWARDA promising freshman class brings a variety of skills and will combine with last year’s top returning players, C.J. Harris and Travis McKie, for the Wake Forest basketball team.

// 20

PACKING A PUNCHFirst baseman Carlos Lopez goes on a power surge for the Wake Forestbaseball team in his senior season.

// 26

ON THE COVERRunning back Orville Reynolds takes a handoff and looks for a hole in the spring game on April 14. (Photo by Donnie Roberts)

4 from the a.d. 12 inside the deacon club

16 donor profile10 where are they now?

may 2012 3

roSTer UPHeAVAL CAUSeS ProBLeMSIn recent weeks, much attention has been given to the

decisions by Tony Chennault, Carson Desrosiers and Anthony Fields to transfer to other universities. Although we were disappointed with each of their decisions, and we would have liked to keep each of them in our program, in today’s college basketball world, players transferring is not an uncommon occurrence. This year more than 60 players from BCS Conference schools (ACC, Big East, SEC, Big 10, Big 12, and PAC 12) have declared that they will transfer to another institution. Programs that have had their best year in a long time are losing multiple players, including starters. Last year more than 400 basketball players transferred from Division 1 institutions, which is an average of more than one transfer per institution. NCAA President Mark Emmert recently stated that 40 percent of Division I players will transfer during their college career.

The combination of underclassmen making themselves available for the NBA Draft and those who are transferring to other institutions causes annual roster upheaval at many institutions. Consequently, it becomes extremely difficult to maintain a predictable roster from year to year that enables fans and coaches to anticipate who will be on the team over the next two to four years.

Sometimes there are good and legitimate reasons for players to transfer. Today’s college athletes are under extreme pressure from outside influences that may not have existed in the past. It can be difficult for the student-athlete to filter the advice that he receives from various parties and make the decision that is best for him both as a student and an athlete.

The rate of transfers today hurts the sport of college basketball, and in many cases, it does not serve those who are transferring well. For instance, one of the primary reasons that players transfer is to enhance their potential opportunities to play in the NBA when in fact, only 5 percent of the players on NBA team rosters transferred while they were in college.

It will be important for the NCAA to find a solution to this growing problem that will be beneficial to both the student-athlete and the university. Although there are no proposed remedies at this point, the matter has the attention of college coaches and administrators across the country that will hopefully produce a solution soon.

One of the reasons that mid-majors have done so well in recent NCAA basketball tournaments is that they do have more roster stability than many of the BCS Conference schools. If one studies the rosters of many of those successful mid-major schools as well as some of the successful BCS Conference School programs, those rosters are often dominated by upperclassmen who matured within that particular program. That is the model we want to implement for our program as well. Of course, the key to that model is recruiting players who are surrounded by people who are giving them sound advice and prioritize education. We believe that the individuals remaining in our program as well as the recruits who will join our team in the fall will provide the roster stability and will mature throughout their careers and lead us back to the top of the ACC.

Go Deacs!

Ron WeLLman

DIRectoRoF atHLetIcs

Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton LLP is proud to support the WAKE FOREST UNIVERSITY athletic program.

Whether on the court or in the courtroom, in the classroom or the boardroom, we understand the vision, dedication and teamwork that it takes to win.

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GoLD RUsH maGazIne4

FRom tHe a .D. // Ron WeLLman

In what head coach Jim Grobe called a “watered-down” scrimmage, the White team came from behind to defeat the Black team 21-10 in the spring game held in front of 5,500 on a sunny afternoon at

BB&T Field Saturday, April 14. Prior to the game, the team divided the seniors and then let them make alternating picks of underclassmen until two teams were formed. Minus special team plays, the White battled the Black team and played a true game-style scrimmage where everybody got to play.

There wasn’t a lot consistency on either squad, and taking care of the ball was an issue, but it was a fun way for the team to wrap up the spring practice season.

“The key to the game today was turnovers,” said Grobe. “The offense needs to take better care of the ball, but if the defense keeps taking it away like that we’ll be a pretty good defensive football team.”

A.J. Marshall, who started two games last season at cornerback, spent the spring playing safety and looked good in the spring game with two

interceptions and a certain comfort level in the defensive backfield. Marshall intercepted a pass from Kevin Sousa to stop the Black’s first drive of the second half and intercepted Tanner Price and returned it for 42-yard touchdown in the final minute of the game, which was broken into 10-minute quarters.

“I was just taking advantage of the opportunity when it was given,” Marshall said after the game. “We’ve really been getting after it this spring on defense and there’s been a lot of competition on

DEACONS WRAP UPSPRING DRILLS, LOOKAHEAD TO 2012 SEASONBy Sam Walker

I

Junior quarterback Tanner Price fires a pass in the spring game on April 14 at BB&T. (Photo by Donnie Roberts)

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FootbaLL // sPRInG WRaPUP

defense with the DBs, the linebackers and the D-line. For me, it’s been a great transition. Josh Bush (who graduated but made the switch from corner to safety as well) actually taught me a lot, as well as Duran Lowe and Daniel Mack. Josh Bush has been like my big brother, teaching me cornerback when I first got here, then nickleback, which I played more of las year, and now free safety, so he’s taught me a lot. I know where holes in the defense are going to be and some of corner’s weaknesses on certain coverages, so I know where I am supposed to be. I just have to be at the right place at the right time.”

Redshirt junior Josh Harris, a tailback with plenty of speed and elusive moves, battled injuries for most of the second half of last season but appeared to be back to full health in the spring game. Harris had six carries for 40 yards but scored twice and showed a burst he wanted his coaches and the fans to see.

“It sure is good to be finally back and good for the fans to see me, because a lot of fans were trying to see if I was healthy or not,” Harris said. “It was so frustrating last year because I was trying to show my team I was really trying to play and get back, and then when I finally got back I didn’t

feel I had my chance. So, now we’re in the spring, and I’ve finally had my chance. On my first touchdown, I was going to cut it outside, but then I saw the hole inside and a couple guys, so I just went in there as hard as I could, and as soon as I hit them, I knew I could score. I had a talk with Coach (Billy) Mitchell, and I told him my goal was not to miss one thing, so I made it through the entire spring and I feel like I did it.”

“He looked like Josh Harris, and that’s what I like,” Grobe said. “He had two or three inside runs. He wasn’t trying to bounce everything to the perimeter. I loved his touchdown run down in the red zone, I thought he got north and just powered his way up into the end zone, and if we can get him to do that all the time — we know he has a chance to be special. But today it looked like he had a little bit of determination and a little bit of pop and was getting up inside, which I like. I like guys that don’t mind running inside.”

Returning starting quarterback Tanner Price finished the day 3 of 6 for 45 yards with one touchdown and one interception but played sparingly. The other quarterbacks competing for the second string spot were Patrick Thompson, who went 6 of 8

Last year’s recorD: 6-7 overall, 5-3 ACC (T-2nd Atlantic Division)

returninG starters: 3 offense; 7 defense

Key returnees: Tanner Price (QB), Tommy Bohanon (FB), Josh Harris (RB), Michael Campanaro (WR), Garrick Williams (C), Merrill Noel (CB), Nikita Whitlock (NG)

Key Losses: Chris Givens (WR), Josh Bush (S), Kyle Wilber (DE), Cyhl Quarles (S), Tristan Dorty (DE)

First Game in 2012: Sept. 1, Liberty

comment : “I like our running backs. If our guys can get hats on people, we can run the ball more. Last year, we became a little too much fun and gun, and that was not good for us. We’ve got to continue to develop the running game and balance will come, but we have to be successful running the football.”

— Head coach Jim GrobeJim Grobe is entering his 12th season as the head coach of the Deacons. (Photo by Donnie Roberts)

may 2012 7

for 39 yards, and Brendan Cross, who was 3 of 5 for 22 yards and one touchdown for the White team.

“I feel like we made strides this spring,” Price said. “Last year we did well and went to bowl, but at the end of the year we had a losing record, so this team is looking for an eight-plus win season. I just wanted to work on my fundamentals and getting the offense really clicking.”

Redshirt junior Quan Rucker led all receivers with five catches for 20 yards, Spencer Bishop grabbed four passes for a team-high 49 yards, and Brad Idzik and Terence Davis both had three catches.

Tyler Jackson, who had 12 carries for 35 yards, led the White team’s rushing attack. The Black team was held to minus 13 yards rushing. Three White squad sacks for 26 yards by Johnny Garcia, Hunter Williams and Justin Jackson stymied the Black team’s attempts to run the ball.

Brandon Chubb led the White team defense with nine tackles, while Williams and Riley Haynes added four apiece. Joey Ehrmann and Josh Hunt had four tackles apiece and also had sacks for the Black team.

Three new full-time assistants were on the field all spring, marking the biggest coaching change during the Grobe era. However, Grobe said that the transition has gone well for both the coaches and players. Tim Duffie will coach the defensive backs; Derrick Jackson will coach the outside linebackers; and Jonathan Himebauch will coach the offensive line.

“Piece of cake for those guys,” said Grobe earlier in the week leading up to the spring game. “They’re good, solid football coaches and great fundamental football coaches. All three of them picked up what we’re doing right away. I worried a little about our schemes and our terminology and how quick they would adapt, but it was a very easy transition, and by the end of spring I think not only were our new coaches comfortable with what we were trying to do, but our players were, too.”

“When you have big changes in coaching, especially on one side of the ball, it can be tough, but the coaches we’ve brought in — we love them,” said nose guard Nikita Whitlock. “They’re really good coaches and haven’t been here long, but they fit in really well. It’s been an easy transition.

“We lost a few key players in Kyle Wilber, Cyhl Quarles and Josh Bush defensively, but we’ve had some young players step up. Our young linebackers are doing really well, and they’re hitting the holes hard and stepping up, so

right now our defense looks like it could be better then last year, and we had great defense last year. We just have to reach our potential. Today was just fun for all of us, and that’s how I think spring ball should be.”

The young offensive line will have to prove itself, but Grobe feels that at this point the team is at least ready to compete with a solid group of starters. The development of the “twos” will be key to add depth and provide stability in the trenches.

“I think we’re in pretty good shape right now, and the key for us is going to be having a good summer,” Grobe said. “It’s not where we want it to be, and today was not a good day to judge it. But I think we have five pretty good offensive linemen we can win with, and I don’t know who the backups are going to be. We’ll be a couple of weeks into August before we’ll feel good there.

“Obviously Garrick Williams is our bell cow as our returning starter. I think Colin Summers has done really well for us, and if you look at the guard positions I’m going to say (Daniel) Blitch has the potential to be solid and little bit better for us. One thing that has helped us is moving (Frank) Souza to tackle. I think that is going to be something good for us, and I think the best player we’ve got is Antonio Ford. I like those five right now.”

Wake Forest will open the 2012 season with back-to-back home games. The Deacons open Sept. 1 against Liberty and then begin conference play Sept. 8 against North Carolina. Other home games include Army, Duke, Clemson, Boston College and Vanderbilt. ■

Josh Harris, who has battled injuries, was impressive in the spring game. (Photo by Donnie Roberts)

GoLD RUsH maGazIne8

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First Class

may 2012 9

When did you graduate from Wake Forest? BA, 1967; JD, 1970

What was your Major? I was a political science major.

What does being a Demon Deacon mean to you? Wake Forest epitomizes the caring, classy academic community where good scholarship and personal development lead the way for a strong athletic program.

Why are you still involved with Wake Forest Athletics? I value the lessons learned from teamwork and dedication to being your best.

Why do you feel it is important to give back to the University? I learned — and continue to learn — many valuable lessons from other Wake Forest students and alums; I want to be an ongoing part of that tradition.

What is your current occupation? I am a senior partner and owner of Mike Lewis Attorneys in Winston-Salem. My practice is focused on personal injury law and eminent domain.

What is your favorite memory of your time at Wake Forest? Meeting my wife Kathy!

What makes you most proud of Wake Forest? We have such a long history of doing things the right way and always striving to serve the community.

When you come back to Wake, you always...Walk the Quad to reminisce.

I was at Wake Forest when...Brian Piccolo led the nation in rushing and scoring.

Who is your favorite coach at Wake Forest, past or present? Jim Leighton, tennis coach extraordinaire.

In each issue, Where Are They Now showcases a former Wake Forest student-athlete. This issue highlights Mike Lewis, a former track student-athlete and cheerleader. Mike

continues to hold the No. 8 spot on the all-time performance list for the long jump with 7.14m/23-5.25. He currently resides in Winston-Salem with his wife Kathy (’69).

I

Mike Lewis

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WHeRe aRe tHey noW? // mIKe LeWIs

may 2012 11

Our Gifts Lead To More Student-Athletes We Can Be Proud Of

It started here, and it started with you.

As we have heard countless times, the Masters is a tradition unlike any other, and we at Wake Forest have been fortunate to have so many talented alumni who have graced the tee box. Imagine what it must be like to play on that prestigious and historic stage and to have your talents on display to millions of people in hundreds of countries around the world. I am positive I will only ever be a spectator at this event, but the experience was one to be cherished forever.

On April 5, a new era of having multiple Wake Forest alums playing in the Masters began. For these men it was work. It is a job they have been preparing for and continue to improve upon every day. The question still remains: When did this all start for each of them? It would be foolish for us to think that life for Bill Haas and Webb Simpson began at Wake Forest, but Wake Forest was most certainly on their minds from a young age as they dreamed of wearing the black and gold on the golf course. As it so happened, it was only a matter of time before they matured into young student-athletes who were offered a scholarship to become part of the Wake Forest family. Did we, as Deacon Club members, know both these young men were out there working on their golf game and academics hoping to earn an opportunity to compete for the Deacs? Likely not, but we eventually had them on our radars as they would tee it up for Wake every fall and spring. Look where they are today and how we continue to follow them week to week.

A few weeks ago in Augusta, I had the privilege of attending the annual Wake Forest Masters’ Party, a legendary event that has spanned close to three decades. The event was packed with guests who were excited to have a common bond in rooting for our Wake Forest alums at the Masters. The pride and the energy there was electric. Bill, Webb and their families were so generous with their time and being there to thank the supporters for their enthusiasm and encouragement. Pictures were taken and memories established for years and years to come. The passion and support from the party carried over to the course over the next three days as well. A “Go Deacs!” could be heard from time to time after big shots were made and difficult putts were sunk. And there was an overwhelming amount of Wake Forest gear on fans following our guys’ groups each round. So what is the point I am trying to make? It’s simple. This dream, this experience and this enthusiasm for our alumni would not be a reality without your support as a Deacon Club member. These two graduates, along with thousands of others, could have earned degrees elsewhere if it were not for the commitment you make to the program year-in and year-out to help our university attract

the best student-athletes we can — student-athletes who will make you proud and that will serve as role models for future generations of Deacons looking to elevate their skills to a level of dominance no matter their sport. You play a significant role in that. Your gift leads to these emotions of pride that translate from games at BB&T Field, Spry Stadium, the LJVM Coliseum and all the way down in Augusta, Ga. Your trust allows Wake Forest University and the Athletics Department to develop and help foster young men and women into great citizens who thrive to advance themselves in their careers, lives and communities. The mission of the Deacon Club is to provide bright, eager and hopeful student-athletes with the opportunity to get to the big stage of their life, no matter if it’s on the PGA Tour or in an office. Your consistent generosity and belief in Wake Forest Athletics provides us with the opportunity to allow our student-athletes to be successful.

For many golf lovers, there is a feeling every spring, an internal reminder, that tells us it is time for the Masters, and with this feeling comes great anticipation. It is this feeling that connects us to an endless cycle of new moments, new memories and new experiences that we can share with our student-athletes. These are memories that will create a bond and memories you will relish. Similar to that, there is a time every year within the Deacon Club when we look forward to the prospect of a new ensemble of student-athletes coming to Wake and having our teams back out in competition. With our student-athletes studying hard for exams and graduation quickly approaching, we are yet again coming to the end of another great year for the Deacs. Each year, you as a proud supporter of our athletic programs, has the opportunity to renew your support for what you believe in and for the student-athletes who believe in your support. It is time to renew that pledge and give our student-athletes a chance — a chance to make you proud and a chance to bring pride to these student-athletes.

The Wake Forest Family is one of undying support on and off the athletic field. It starts with a belief in the black and gold, and grows every day as we continue to welcome new aspiring student-athletes into our family.

It starts here, and it starts with you. ■

mIKe PIsceteLLI

assIstant atHLetIc DIRectoR, majoR GIFts

Beth Becton (‘86) and Bill Haas (‘04)

Dowd (‘07) and Webb (‘08) Simpson pose with David H. Griffin (left) and his wife, Donna (right).

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InsIDe tHe Deacon cLUb

The Legacy of David “Sarge” TingaBy emily Giffin (’94)

When I reflect on my years at Wake Forest University, the first thing I think of is not my stellar education or many wonderful professors. Nor is it the men’s basketball team I managed for four winning seasons or all the fraternity parties and formals with friends. What I think of first and hold the nearest to my heart is the musty, faded, but immaculate equipment room in the basement of Reynolds Gymnasium. And more important, I think of the man who ruled it for more than 30 years and a span of four decades: David “Sarge” Tinga.

Like all freshmen managers, I feared Sarge when I first reported to him. He was a legend within the Wake Forest athletic department, and we had all heard the whispered stories from upperclassmen of his 21 years in the military, his three combat tours in Korea and his two tours in Vietnam, including one that cost him his leg. We knew that he applied his experience in the Army to his position as equipment supervisor, demanding excellence and accepting no excuses. And

like any good sergeant, he was an equal-opportunity intimidator. Whether you were the star quarterback, a walk-on tennis player or one of his many managers, Sarge would break you down, bark at you for being only a minute late and flat out make you earn his trust and respect, day in and day out. I distinctly remember watching Tim Duncan, a freshman but already a star everywhere but in the equipment room, grovel for a fresh

pair of socks. Sarge demanded that Timmy produce the allegedly worn-out pair and then spent several seconds assessing the holes before reluctantly doling out a new pair. Timmy shook his head with frustration, but I could tell he respected Sarge for showing him no preferential treatment. (Upon graduation, Timmy gave Sarge his game jersey, signing it: “You’ll always be the biggest tree in this forest.”) Sarge’s sense of fairness was one of

DaviD “Sarge” Tinga equipmenT FunDThe David “Sarge” Tinga Equipment Fund was established to celebrate Sarge’s legacy and honor his leadership. Funds raised will assist with the operation of the Equipment Room, which Sarge managed for nearly 30 years.

If you are interested in making a pledge to the “Sarge” Tinga Equipment Fund, please call the Deacon Club at (336) 758-5626 or visit DeaconClub.com for more information.

may 2012 13

InsIDe tHe Deacon cLUb

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the things we all loved about him — just as we also loved knowing that if we worked hard and long enough, we could find ourselves in his good graces. There was no greater reward or honor.

Although Sarge passed away in 2007, his “house” or “the cage,” as he sometimes called the equipment room now dedicated in his

honor and bearing his name, will forever be my first stop on visits back to campus, as it is for most former student-managers and many athletes. It has remained unchanged since his longtime assistant, Roxann Moody, took over the reigns a decade ago, a

testament to their loyalty to one another -- one of the many qualities he embodied and cultivated in all of us. Once dubbing Sarge a “teddy bear in gorilla’s clothing,” Roxann has retained Sarge’s systems, along with his organization and order, down to the last gleaming football helmet and neatly folded towel. She has also kept all of his clippings and photos taped over his desk and vows never to paint over the worn spot on the wall where his chair used to hit when he leaned back, told stories, bellowed fond insults and most of all, laughed. And laughed. And laughed.

It is in that sacred corner of Wake Forest University where I learned about what matters most in life — hard work and honor, respect and trust, friendship and family. Nothing in the world mattered more to Sarge than his family. Sarge loved his children and grandchildren and adored his wife Mary, known affectionately by the Wake Forest family as Mrs. T (who is like Demon Deacon royalty in her own right). But according to Mrs. T, Sarge considered his managers his second family, and many of us viewed him as a father figure. When my parents divorced during college, Sarge and I had a long talk while riding in the equipment van back to campus after a game and then afterward as we sorted laundry. It was the unlikeliest of

therapy sessions, but I will forever cherish the wisdom he imparted that night, just as I will always be grateful for his sense of humor and grace the day he broke every traffic rule in the book to get our jerseys to Chapel Hill after I forgot to pack them. (He arrived on time, of course, just minutes before tip-off of the televised game — a small miracle and one that only Sarge could deliver).

My stories and memories of Sarge are dear to me but are not unique. I am simply one of hundreds, even thousands of athletes, managers, coaches and colleagues who loved and revered him. Says Stephen C. Laws, basketball manager, class of ‘79: “My father died when I was 2, and Sarge became a guiding force for me. I’ve carried his lessons throughout my adult life.” Louis Moore, ’78, echoes these sentiments: “Sarge was an important part of my education. He taught me many things that still benefit me today. I will never forget the dressing down I got the first day I reported to work and was a few minutes late. I had never heard some of those words. Today, I still hate being late. He pushed me and made me a better person.” Lynne MacGregor Flood, football manager ‘82, recalls that he always gave you what you needed. For most college students, this meant instilling a sense of responsibility, but for Lynne, a manager who never made time

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for fun, Sarge once threatened to “take his leg off and hit me over the head with it if I didn’t stop pouting about failing to make an A in an English class.” Lou Case, baseball manager ’78, agrees: “Sarge was so down to earth and honest with us. We talked about things in our lives, not so much school, but relationships. He was a respected adult who would listen. One we could trust. And when we proved that he could trust us, he would do for us whatever he could.”

But it is perhaps Jacqueline Harris’s (ROTC and manager ’05) recollection of Sarge (who first came to Wake in 1968 when he was assigned as the sergeant major over the ROTC detachment at the university) that captures his essence more than any other, as she describes her first salute as a commissioned officer in the United States Army. Which, of course, came from Sarge. “That salute represented not only an Army tradition but also the Wake Forest family I strive every day to make proud,” Jacqueline said. “The core values I have held throughout my military career were learned in an equipment room: integrity, humility, honesty, compassion. Through [my time with Sarge], I learned the effect of these values, which is trust. Not a day goes by that I don’t remember that first salute, the man who gave it to me and the person he challenged me to be.”

Over the years, many people touch our lives in one way or another, but few actually shape us in the way that Sarge did. The David “Sarge” Tinga Equipment Fund is our way of showing gratitude to him and celebrating his legacy at the university to which he gave so much. “He truly did love Wake Forest and all that it represented,” Mrs. T said. “He would be so honored and surprised at what you all are doing for him.”

But it really is the least we can do for our beloved Sarge, the biggest tree in the forest. Through the fund, we will keep his memory alive and strong at Wake Forest — just as we will never forget the lessons he taught us. I know I think of him often, during big moments in my life, but also in small, quiet ones. Like when I’m folding laundry, and find myself refolding a shirt “Sarge’s way.” Which is to say I stop, go back and make it just a little bit better than it was before. ■

Emily Giffin, WFU men’s basketball manager under Sarge, graduated summa cumma laude in 1994. She then attended the University of Virginia School of Law and was a practicing attorney at a large New York City firm for several years before writing full time. She has since authored five New York Times bestsellers, which have been translated to 35 languages with more than 10 million copies in print worldwide. Her first novel. “Something Borrowed,” was turned into a major motion picture starring Kate Hudson, and her sixth novel, “Where We Belong,” will be released this July. Emily currently lives in Atlanta with her husband and three young children. You can visit her at www.emilygiffin.com or facebook.com/emilygiffinfans.

may 2012 1515

As a former high school football star, Mark Ellis (’74) arrived at Wake Forest in the fall of 1968 eager to prove himself as a walk-on for the freshman football team, but his college football career ended about two days after it began when he was

diagnosed with a malignant melanoma brain tumor. By the end of his freshman orientation week, Mark, at only 18 years of age, was facing a complicated brain operation and a terminal prognosis. But throughout the years, Demon Deacons have been known for their “fighting spirit,” and true to form, Mark Ellis defied the odds and beat his diagnosis. One year after his surgery to remove the tumor, Mark returned to Wake Forest, and despite having to endure four more years of intense, experimental chemotherapy, he was able to live a

relatively “normal” college life. He competed for the Demon Deacons as a member of the track team, pursued a degree in microbiology, and during Dr. Fred Horton’s New Testament religion class in 1973, he met his future wife, Lynn Hamilton Ellis (’75).

After graduating from Wake Forest with a degree in microbiology, Mark remained at Wake Forest for medical school as well as his internal medicine residency and went on to pursue a successful career as a most beloved and visionary cancer physician. Tragically, after enjoying 40 years cancer-free, Mark was once again diagnosed with malignant melanoma, and he passed away on April 3, 2010.

His wife Lynn recently published a book about Mark’s inspirational life story called “The Humanity of Medicine: The Story of Mark E. Ellis, MD, A Journey From Boyhood to Manhood and Cancer Patient to Cancer Doctor.” The dramatic narration chronicles his childhood, his education, his love of music, his family, his romance and his illness. Lynn originally wrote the book for their children and potential grandchildren because as she explains, “To know Mark as a young man is to understand that there is a way to face all of life’s challenges and to risk oneself enough to turn dreams into goals, and to understand that the route one takes to achieve those goals is never as direct as it seems after the fact.” Prior to Mark’s passing, he and Lynn decided that she should publish the book and use it as a fundraiser for various cancer care organizations. To that end, all proceeds from the sale of the book are donated to the Wake Forest School of Medicine, the Mark E. Ellis, MD Cancer Care Endowment Fund at the Riverside Health System Foundation, and Hospice House and Support Care of Williamsburg, Va.

Although the book chronicles Mark’s entire life from childhood through adulthood, Wake Forest plays a significant role in the story. Not only is Wake Forest his alma mater and the place where he met his beloved wife, but it is also the alma mater of his brother Stephen (’75) and sister-in-law Beth (’74), niece Megan (’04) and all three of his children: Mark (’02), Robert (’05) and Lisa (’05). Most significantly, Mark credited being at Wake Forest in 1968 for saving his life. Along with his determination, the care he received from Dr. Richard Janeway, the neurologist who provided the diagnosis, Dr. David Kelly, the neurosurgeon who operated on him, and Dr. Charles Spurr, who oversaw his experimental chemotherapy, is what allowed him to defy the odds. No one with his diagnosis had ever lived that long before, and according to his wife, “Every day of his life was a miracle, and everyone who had a role in his care was a participant and witness.”

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Mark’s passion for Wake Forest was also fueled by a love of athletics, and he and his wife became life-long fans and supporters. As students, they were both very active, Mark as a dedicated member of the track and field team, and Lynn as an avid participant in the intramural “society” leagues in which she competed in softball, volleyball and basketball for the Fideles. They attended all of the football and men’s basketball games as well as various baseball, volleyball and women’s basketball games. After graduation, throughout Mark’s years in medical school and residency, they remained avid fans, purchasing season tickets for both football and basketball.

Mark, Lynn and their family left Winston-Salem in 1980 to fulfill Mark’s obligation to the Air Force for putting him through medical school. They lived all over the country until 1989 when they settled in Williamsburg, Va. Some would say that 275 miles was too far to go for athletic events, but according to Lynn, a five-hour drive was close enough for Mark, so they purchased their season tickets for football and basketball, and began their regular family “jaunts” back to Wake Forest.

“Mark always firmly believed that a good athletic program helped to develop a good all-around academic school and that a great athletic program developed a great all-around academic school,” Lynn explained. “Our alma mater was immensely important to us. As our careers grew, our level of athletic support from a donation standpoint grew. Mark was very proud to be a part of the new athletic center on campus (Miller Center) with a patio named after him, as well as a very early huge supporter of Deacon Tower with the Mark Ellis Family Suite on the fifth level. He purchased four floor seats at the Joel the first year they were available, and we still have those four original seats in our home now.

“We made it to almost every home football and basketball game for the last 15 years. One of the sadder things about his passing in 2010 was that he did not get to enjoy the Deacon Tower suite for more than the first year. His illness prevented him from being able to thoroughly enjoy the suite during the 2009 season, although he made it to almost every game that year. However, since his passing, our suite remains full, and we raise a glass in toast to him prior to each game, and sometimes there are those among us who try to solicit his help for the Deacs from afar when needed.”

Lynn’s book recounts a variety of Mark’s cherished memories involving Wake Forest athletic events, including his trip to the ACC Football Championship in 2006, which earned the Deacs the opportunity to compete in the Orange Bowl. She includes a photo of Mark that was taken that day, and she remarked, “The look on his face tells it all.” Anyone who sees the photo will know without a doubt that Mark was proud to be a Demon Deacon.

When asked about the role Wake Forest Athletics played in their lives over the years, Lynn recalls a line from the movie, “Grease,” which said, “If you can’t be an athlete, be an athletic supporter.” After Mark’s days on the track team and Lynn’s days of intramural competition came to a close, they no doubt lived up to that mantra. Their generous support of the Deacon Club Annual Fund has had a significant impact on the lives of countless student-athletes over the past 15 years. They have invested in capital projects such as the Miller Center and Deacon Tower, recognizing that first-class facilities are a key aspect of a great athletic program, and they have been loyal and passionate fans, driving innumerable miles back and forth from Williamsburg for years to show their support for the Demon Deacons. Wake Forest Athletics is truly grateful for the support of Mark and Lynn Ellis.

On April 3, 2010, the world lost an inspirational man, a loving husband and father, a visionary physician, and a courageous fighter, and the Wake Forest community lost a treasured member of its family. But whether it is through a young aspiring oncologist studying at the Wake Forest School of Medicine, someone facing seemingly insurmountable obstacles who is encouraged by reading Mark’s inspirational story, a determined student-athlete enjoying the warm spring sunshine while studying for exams on the Mark Ellis Family Patio or a family member or friend cheering on the Deacs from the fifth floor of Deacon Tower, Mark’s legacy will continue to endure for generations to come.

“The Humanity of Medicine: The Story of Mark E. Ellis, MD, A Journey From Boyhood to Manhood and Cancer Patient to Cancer Doctor” is available in paperback and Kindle format from Amazon.com and will be available in paperback from other major booksellers by May 30, 2012. All proceeds to the author are donated to charitable cancer care organizations and to Wake Forest School of Medicine. ■

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

1 2 3 4

1 Deacon Club member George “Buck” Glover and his friends enjoy the ACC Tournament with Randolph Childress.

2 Norie Pocock cheers on the Deacs with her dad, Don (’97, JD ’00)

3 New Deacon fan Amelia Bayly Holcomb is the daughter of Ben (’02)

and Kristin (’02) Holcomb.

4 The staff at the W Buckhead in Atlanta showed off their Deacon spirit during the ACC Men’s Basketball Tournament.

may 2012 17

Keep up with the Deacon Club on Facebook & TwitterFor the latest news and information from the Deacon Club and to connect with other members, be sure to find us on Facebook and Twitter.

Facebook.com/WFUDeaconClub

@WFUDeaconClub or @DeacOnTheRun

DeACon ClUb SprIng AppreCIATIon DAySaturday, May 19Deacon Club members are cordially invited to the spring edition of “Deacon Club Appreciation Day” as a special thanks for your loyal support! Join us at 11 a.m. in the Deacon Tower parking lot for a pre-game tailgate before enjoying free admission to watch the Diamond Deacs take on the Clemson Tigers at Wake Forest Baseball Park at 1 p.m. Food and beverages will be provided. Please register online at https://deaconclub.inviteright.com/springappreciation by Wednesday, May 16. Members will need to bring their Deacon Club membership cards in order to receive free admission into the game.

VaRSIty CLub WeekeNd 2012 SAve The DATeAttention former Wake Forest student-athletes! Mark your calendars and make plans to join us for the 2012 Varsity Club Weekend, Sept. 7-8, 2012. This action-packed weekend promises to be one to remember, as we celebrate our former student-athletes, induct a new class into the Wake Forest Sports Hall of Fame, and cheer on the Deacs as they take on the Tar Heels. Be on the lookout for more information coming late-summer.

GeT Your 2012 FooTbALL SeASoN TickeTS TodAY2012 Football season tickets are on sale now, starting at $129. It promises to be another exciting season at BB&T Field. The Demon Deacons will host North Carolina, Duke, Clemson and Boston College in ACC action at BB&T Field while also playing non-conference opponents Vanderbilt, Army and Liberty at home. For season tickets, call the Wake Forest Ticket Office at (336) 758-3322.

every gIFT CoUnTS!

renew your Membership by June 30, 2012

All outstanding balances for 2011-12 are due to the Deacon Club by June 30, 2012. To make your payments, call (336) 758-5626, go online to www.deaconclub.com, or mail your checks to 499 Deacon Blvd, Winston-Salem, NC 27105. Every gift counts toward helping provide life-changing opportunities to our talented student-athletes, so if you haven’t already, please consider making your gift or pledge today!

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Be a part of a social network where having hundreds of friends still means something.

When you get behind Wake Forest, we stay ahead of the competition. To find out more about how you can stay involved with Wake Forest and connected to your fellow alumni, visit wfu.edu/alumni.

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The men’s basketball team took a step forward in 2011-12, improving from eight wins to 13 in Jeff Bzdelik’s second year at the helm and grabbing four conference wins. Despite the loss of two seniors and three transfers from the team’s rotation, Bzdelik hopes to continue the team’s progress behind leading scorers C.J.

Harris and Travis McKie, along with a highly touted group of freshmen. Gold Rush’s Jay Reddick talked to Bzdelik during postseason workouts in April.

GoLD rush: As you finish your second year at Wake Forest, what’s the general state of the program?

BzDeLiK: Oh, we’re moving forward. Our foundation has been established. We have a sustainable winning program. We’ve got a team that is committed, a team of players who have grown, and we’re not going to

compromise our values. We’re very excited about what we have and where we’re going.

GoLD rush: With so many freshmen coming in, will you be leaning a lot more on your upperclassmen for leadership?

BzDeLiK: In Travis McKie and C.J. Harris, we have two of the most experienced players in the ACC returning. Not only are they experienced, they’re talented — C.J. as All-ACC, Travis as honorable mention All-ACC — and they’re both working hard to elevate their games. Daniel Green has already gained 10 pounds. He’s working very hard, adding mass and strength and skill. Then you have Chase Fischer, who logged a lot of excellent minutes. Right there you have a core of four players who have grown through this experience.

Q&A WITH JEFF BZDELIKTop players C.J. Harris and Travis MCKie To be Joined by TalenTed fresHMen Class

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GoLD rush: Besides Daniel and his strength work, are there particular skills that you’re asking each player to work on individually?

BzDeLiK: C.J. has to get his shot off quicker. He has to be even better than he already is at creating offense off the bounce, and he needs to get out of his comfort zone in terms of his leadership, get more aggressive with his leadership, because people already listen so well when he talks.

Travis McKie has been selected to go to Kevin Durant’s skills camp in June, which is exciting. It recognizes him as one of the top forwards in the country. He needs to continue to develop his skill, improve off the bounce in creating more offense.

Daniel, I’m working with him personally in the post. We need him to have some post moves that he can count on, with counters, so we can get some more consistency out of him.

Chase is similar to C.J. in that he has to get his shot off quicker and also have the ability to have a mid-range game, because defenses will key on the 3-pointer.

GoLD rush: How do you address the three players who are transferring?

BzDeLiK: Very simply: We wish them well. And as Gene Hackman said in the movie “Hoosiers,” this is our team. We now have players who truly want to be here, who bleed black and gold, and that is a great thing.

GoLD rush: Any plans for extra team-building exercises during the offseason, as you had last year?

BzDeLiK: We’re planning a foreign trip to Canada, which will give us extra practices and games we can play, which will give our youth extra work and get the chemistry of our team to jell even quicker. That will happen this fall before the official start of practice.

GoLD rush: What do you take away from this year? You had more wins and more games in which you were competitive — what are the building blocks for the future?

BzDeLiK: I said a year ago that we would make great strides toward our future success and we did. So I say it again: We are making great strides toward our future success. I really, really like our team, we have depth at each position, and we’re going to have an exciting team to watch. ■

Guard C.J. Harris averaged 16.7 points per game to lead the Deacons in the 2011-12 season.

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With only four returning players, the Deacons will obviously be asking their freshman class to do a lot this year. The good news is that the class is deep and skilled enough to make a big impact for the team right away.

Wake Forest signed six players from the class of 2012 during the early signing period. The players run the gamut from small to tall and cover all five positions on the floor, but what coach Jeff Bzdelik likes most is their variation of skills.

“They’re all very versatile, so we can plug them into a lot of different situations,” Bzdelik said.

Brick Oettinger, a recruiting analyst for the ACC Sports Journal and accsports.com, said that Bzdelik and his staff have pulled in one of the top 15 recruiting classes in the country.

“The class is certainly top three in the ACC, along with Duke and Carolina,” Oettinger said. “It’s deep, too — four of the six are in my top 100 players in the class.”

The biggest kudos have gone to Codi Miller-McIntyre, a 6-foot-2 point guard from Concord who spent this year on the postgraduate team at Hargrave Military Academy.

“He has the ability to score off the dribble and the ability to finish above the rim,” Bzdelik said. “He’s a willing passer, and he’s strong — he was bench-pressing 275 pounds recently. He has the chance to be very special.”

Oettinger rated him 46th in the class and said he outplayed some McDonald’s All-Americans during the past year.

“With Codi around, C.J. Harris won’t have to do all the playmaking and all the scoring,” Oettinger said. “When they bring the house against Harris on the drive, he’ll have someone to throw it back to who can put it in.”

Arnaud Adala Moto, a 6-6 forward from Alexandria, Va., is rated 75th in the class by Oettinger, who touts Moto’s athleticism as his standout quality. Bzdelik reached back to the NBA of the 1990s to find a similar talent.

“Arnaud is very capable of playing all five positions,” Bzdelik said. “He has an ACC body, with long reach and quick feet. I think he’s similar to a poor man’s Larry Johnson.”

The Deacs’ other four signees are all 6-8 or taller, but their games are very different. At 6-8, Aaron Rountree of Wilson is “like a point forward,” according to Bzdelik. He played the point for his high school team.

“He has a unique ability for his size to handle the basketball and make timely passes,” Bzdelik said of the nation’s No. 86 senior prospect.

Oettinger said that Rountree is athletic enough to play wing guard in the ACC, and his biggest weakness, his jump shot, is improving quickly.

Harrisburg, Pa., forward Devin Thomas got national attention for shattering a backboard during a high school game this season (search “Devin Thomas dunk” on YouTube to see the video) and Bzdelik said that power plays like that show him at his best.

“He brings a unique piece to this because he loves playing inside,” Bzdelik said. “A lot of guys want to get out and shoot those 3s, but he loves getting down in the blocks. He embraces it. He has a lot of spunk to him.”

Oettinger calls 7-footer Andre Washington “the surprise of the lot.” Lightly regarded by many scouting services, the Rocky Mount, Va., resident is in Oettinger’s top 150. He spent this past year as Miller-McIntyre’s teammate at

Hargrave, where he showed an aggressiveness and an ability to block shots.Both Oettinger and Bzdelik agree that Washington needs to add muscle, but

both are optimistic about his potential.“His defense is ahead of his offense right now,” Oettinger said, “but with a

weight program and improved scoring tools, he could be an NBA player.”Tyler Cavanaugh, a 6-8 forward from Jamesville, N.Y., rounds out the class.

Bzdelik said that Cavanaugh can do a lot of things well.“He’s fearless,” Bzdelik said. “He can shoot the 3, he stretches the defense. He’s

hard-nosed — he can take charges, and I’m not sure he’s even shaving yet, so he’ll continue to grow.”

Bzdelik is careful to mention that the freshmen will have a learning curve, but he’s obviously excited to see what they’ll bring to Winston-Salem — all will attend summer school at WFU in July.

“I don’t want to oversell them, but I also don’t want to temper my enthusiasm about their ability,” Bzdelik said. ■

Head Of The Classsix freshmen bring new look to deacons

By Jay reddick

W

may 2012 23

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The departure of women’s basketball coach Mike Petersen, who accepted a job as the head coach at North Texas on April 16, will require some adjustments for

the Deacons going forward — but the team is a long way from starting over.

In 2012-13, Wake Forest will feature eight returnees from a 10-player rotation that won 20 games this year, only the second team in school history to reach that milestone. So Wake Forest’s new coach will take off from a historically high perch.

Leading scorers Lakevia Boykin and Chelsea Douglas will be back; guard Asia Williams will return from a broken ankle; and a highly regarded four-player recruiting class will add even more depth.

The team will add a point guard, Celina Rodrigo, to share playing time with Douglas; 6-foot-4 forward Kandice Ball, to provide depth inside;

and athletic wings Kelila Atkinson and Christelle Shembo, for athleticism on the wings.

Many of the Deacons’ accomplishments from the season just ended are either unprecedented, or at the very least, haven’t been done since before some on the current roster was born.

Players winning 72 games during a WFU career? Secily Ray, Brooke Thomas, and Camille Collier, the team’s departing seniors, are the first.

Beating a team ranked among the nation’s top 7, as the Deacons did on March 2 against Miami? Not since 1993.

A berth in the ACC semifinals? Not since 1988.In early February, the team was struggling with

a 12-10 overall record and was just 2-7 in the ACC. But starting with a 73-60 victory at Boston College on Feb. 5, the team won eight of its last 12 games and reached the second round of the women’s NIT, just the fifth postseason berth in school history.

Many of the losses were competitive, often coming down to a single possession, meaning

the team was just that close to its second NCAA tournament bid.

Not a bad way to make a fresh start. ■

On the riseWOMEN’S TEAM MOvING ON WITHOuT PETERSENBy Jay reddick

T

Lakevia Boykin, who led Wake Forest with an average of 12.2 points per game, is one eight returnees from a 10-player rotation after the Deacons won 20games for only the second time in school history.

may 2012 25

Carlos Lopez was destined to be a hitter.

It’s easy to see now that Wake Forest’s starting first baseman has skill, but if you had happened by

his Boynton Beach, Fla., home one night during his teenage years, you might have been able to predict his future.

Your first big clue would be the batting cage out back. OK, the kid hits a little bit. But look closer. What’s that in the garage? A taut net, attached to the ceiling and walls, with a hitter’s tee in front of it. Carlos and his brother, just swinging away, the ping of the bat echoing off the walls. Isn’t it close to midnight? Then you’d hear the neighbors grumbling about the noise, and you’d know — this

C

Swinging For The Fenceslopez blossoMs as a HiTTer in His senior year

By Jay reddick

CaRLOS LOPeZcLass: Senior

Position: Infielder (most of the time)

hometown: Boynton Beach, Fla.

major: Communication, with a minor in History

Favorite wFu memory: “I have three: Hitting a home run in the first game of my college career, on the first pitch I saw; qualifying for the ACC Tournament last year; and going through the winning streak earlier this year. But really, it’s the friends I’ve made during these four years — I’ve been lucky to play and hang with some really good guys.”

Favorite BooK: “Devil in the White City,” by Erik Larson

Favorite sPorts movie: “Bull Durham”

Favorite FooD: Lobster. “Saltwater fishing and lobstering is my favorite thing to do in the summertime.”

any PreGame suPerstitions? “I always have to sit in the hot tub before I get on the field. Also, I have a routine I go through in the on-deck circle before I hit that never changes.”

what’s on your BucKet List? “I want to go skydiving, and I want to go deep-sea diving on a famous shipwreck.”

iF you couLD have Dinner with one Person, LivinG or DeaD, who wouLD it Be? “Tom Hanks. ‘Forrest Gump’ and ‘Saving Private Ryan’ may be my two favorite movies, and he just seems like he’d be a fun guy to hang out with.”

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basebaLL // caRLos LoPez

goes on all the time.It’s that hard work that has made Lopez into one

of the ACC’s top hitters during his senior season.Lopez said his life as an athlete started when he

was about 10 years old. His father, Miguel, played football at Brown University and wanted his sons to play sports.

“My dad is a hard-working man, and he valued that,” Lopez said. “He had us doing push-ups and sit-ups to get in shape, and as we got older, he spent hours working on our swings.”

As it became obvious that both Carlos and his brother, Mike, were gifted baseball players, Mike put up a batting cage in the backyard so the kids could hit more often. But as the practices grew later and later, the neighbors started to talk about how loud it was getting. So Miguel devised a compromise.

“It was handmade,” Carlos Lopez said. “My dad took a heavy net and screwed it into the ceiling, so we could go in there, turn the lights on and go as late as we wanted, until midnight or later — the walls silenced the ping of the bat a little bit. Of course, it destroyed the garage.”

Lopez said that the support of his father helped both him and his brother, who became a catcher at Cornell, succeed in baseball. Deacons coach Tom Walter agrees.

“Carlos has a great set of parents,” Walter said. “They’ve been very supportive, but they do a good job of balancing that with being firm.”

Lopez is enjoying his best year as a senior. Through April 11, he led the team with a .333 batting average and 35 runs batted in, and his total

of eight home runs was in the ACC’s top five.Lopez has been a fixture in the Deacons’ lineup,

when healthy, since he got here, but he hasn’t always been easy to find. From the beginning, he has been a guy who could be plugged into multiple positions, with stints at first base, third base, in right field and as the team’s designated hitter.

“I was lucky enough to get playing time as a freshman and contribute,” Lopez said. “I had good streaks and bad, but just getting that opportunity helped me gain confidence.”

As a younger player, Lopez even got on the mound. He pitched in Little League and even a little bit in high school but knew all along it wasn’t for him.

“I pitched just because I had one of the better arms, but I didn’t always know where the ball was going,” Lopez said.

During his first three years at Wake Forest, he was a solid hitter with obvious power, but this year he has taken it to another level. He said that some swing adjustments have helped him, but more than that, just a change in mental attitude.

“As I’ve gained more experience facing pitchers, I’ve gotten a better feel for them,” Lopez said. “Previously, I had some trouble reading certain pitches, but now I know what to expect. It helps to slow the game down.”

Walter pinpoints the reason even better: patience.

“He’s much more disciplined,” Walter said. “In years past, his biggest thing was strike-zone discipline. He would chase bad pitches and get into disadvantage counts. Now, he’s seeing much better,

and he’s much more patient. He always had God-given ability and good power, but he’s becoming a thinking-man’s hitter. He’s really matured.”

Lopez’s contributions helped the Deacons to one of the best stretches in school history — 15 consecutive wins from Feb. 24 to March 14. During the streak, he went 22 for 50 (a .440 average) with six home runs and 25 RBIs, with a slugging percentage of .920. He calls it one of the best times he ever had playing baseball.

“We just showed up every day expecting to win,” Lopez said. “Losing was not in our minds. We fell behind? Whatever. We knew we could come back. Relaxed and confident — it felt like how baseball should be.”

The wins haven’t always come that easily this year, but Lopez said that the team still carries just enough of that swagger to get through it.

“The streak told us that we have what it takes to do anything,” Lopez said. “We have the memory of winning 15 straight. We have the memory of beating Florida State when they were No. 1. We know it’s there, and we just have to get it back.”

Lopez said he wants to close his college career by leading Wake Forest into an NCAA regional, but his baseball life probably won’t end there. Walter said that there’s “no doubt” that Lopez will get a chance to play pro ball.

“He can hit. That’s the thing he does best,” Walter said. “He’s versatile in the field, and that will certainly help, but his bat is what’s going to carry him.”

Carlos Lopez, professional hitter? Sounds like a good career option. ■

may 2012 27

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Winston-Salem, winning all around.

BIRTHDAY PARTY FOR THE DEACON! Saturday, May 12, 2012Junior Deacon Club members are invited to help the Deacon celebrate his birthday at the Children’s Museum of Winston-Salem. For more information, please contact Sports Marketing at (336) 758-5011.

2012 ACC BASEBALL CHAMPIONSHIP May 23 - 27, 2012 NewBridge Bank Park - Greensboro, NCFor tickets, please visit www.theacc.com .

WAKE FOREST BASEBALL - SPECIAL EVENTSMay 18 - Junior Deacon Club Day Junior Deacon Club members can enjoy a pre-game tailgate, run the bases and stay after the game for a post-game autograph session. For more information, call Sports Marketing at (336) 758-5011.

May 19 - Deacon Club Appreciation Day Deacon Club members are invited to join us at 11am for a pre-game tailgate in appreciation for their loyal support. Then enjoy free admission to the game with your Deacon Club membership card. Register online at https://deaconclub.inviteright.com/springappreciation.

May 19 - Senior Day Arrive early to show your support for our Diamond Deac seniors.

Deacon Club membersat or above the GoldenC level may present their11-12 membership cardsfor free admission toOlympic Sport events(immediate family only).Olympic Sport singlegame tickets and seasonpasses are available atWakeForestSports.comor 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) [email protected]

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ACC Baseball Championship - Greensboro, NC -----------------------

Baseball - vs. Charlotte 6pm

Commencement9am

Baseball - vs. Clemson 6pm

Baseball - vs. Clemson 6pm

Deacon Club Appreciaion Day 11am

Baseball - vs. Clemson 1pm

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may 2012 29

A. Gib McEachran & John W. Hardy, Jr. HMC Partners

2010-D New Garden Road Greensboro, NC 27410

(336) 544-6800 www.hmc-partners.com

Securities offered through LPL Financial, Member FINRA/SIPC

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setting up a college fund, or saving for the down payment on a home. Plus, you may learn a thing or two about college football, duck hunting, and dog training!

To listen go to www.hmc-partners.com and click LISTEN LIVE!

As we all know, graduation is just around the

corner. With that in mind, it’s probably a good

idea to think about what (if any) NCAA rules still

pertain to former student-athletes. For example,

is it permissible to buy a graduation gift for a

senior student-athlete? We all know that benefits

to a current student-athlete are not permissible.

However, one might assume that once a student-

athlete graduates, all NCAA rules are lifted. In

reality, however, the NCAA does still place certain

restrictions on the types of benefits these

individuals can receive.

NCAA rules permit donors and other institutional

representatives to provide gifts and benefits

of nominal value to student-athletes on an

occasional basis following graduation. Such

benefits would include things such as meals,

transportation or overnight lodging. So to answer

the question about the graduation gift, yes, it

would be permissible to provide a graduating

student-athlete with a gift. However, the value

should not exceed $50, which is the NCAA’s

general definition of “nominal value.”

The one condition to this exception, however,

is that such benefits are only permissible if Wake

Forest is not currently recruiting a relative of

the former student-athlete. Therefore, prior to

providing a benefit to a former student-athlete, it

is extremely important that you check with the

Athletics Compliance Office beforehand.

For other questions related to this, or any other

compliance-related issue, please contact Todd

Hairston at [email protected].

toDD HaIRston

assocIate atHLetIc DIRectoR, comPLIance

Benefits suBsequent to Graduation

GoLD RUsH maGazIne30

comPLIance coRneR // toDD HaIRston

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