Friday, December 29

Ken Bennett shots photos of the ocean

DEACON INJURY REPORT

Photographer Ken Bennett limps down from his hotel room to snap a photo of Spencer and the Vaughns. While covering the great kayak races this afternoon, he got a little too close to the action and was clipped by a kayak, hurting his left ankle. After taking the photo, he heads back to his room to ice his ankle.

Posted by Kerry at 7:45 p.m.


Oscar Vaughn and his wife, Sharifah Vaughn, and Mike Spencer in the lobby of the Westin Diplomat.

THEIR SON

Sitting in the lobby updating the blog (Internet access is free in the lobby; $13 a day in your room), when safety Chip Vaughn’s parents, Oscar and Sharifah, walk by. They’re stopped by Mike Spencer (’72), who says “We’re here because of your son.” Deacon fans know, of course, that he’s referring to Vaughn’s miraculous block of a short field goal to preserve the win over Duke.

Spencer, a school teacher back in Winston-Salem, was a backup center on the 1970 team, the last year Wake Forest won an ACC Championship, and he proudly displays his championship ring, which team members didn’t receive until 2000. He says he had just about given up hope that Wake Forest would ever win another championship. About 10 members of that team are planning to attend the game; they’ll be remembering team mate Bill Bobbora, who died about a year after graduating, Spencer says.

The Vaughans are obviously proud of their son, but they said it’s more about the team accomplishments than any one individual. Oscar Vaughn, a Lieutenant Colonel and squadron commander at Travis Air Force Base in California, has especially enjoyed this season after missing all of Chip’s games last year because he was stationed in Afghanistan, although he had tapes of every game sent to him. The Vaughns lived in Winston-Salem for several years when Chip was little, and they took him for walks around the track on campus.

Posted by Kerry at 7:38 p.m.


PART OF THE FAMILY

Lisa Billings, back from her visit to the aquarium this morning, is enjoying the beach party with her husband Tim, the wide receivers coach, and their children Taylor and Trenton. They’re going to the Miami Heat game tonight. Billings is new to the staff this year, but Lisa said they feel like part of the family now. “Grobie promotes that. The coaches and wives are very supportive of one another.” The team has breakfast at 6:30 every morning, then meetings and practice, but they’re finished for the day by 1:30 so the coaches have time to spend with their families and the players have time to enjoy being in Miami. “It’s a reward for the players,” Billings said. “We didn’t want them to come here and not get to enjoy it. We don’t want to work them so hard that they don’t want to come back.”

Posted by Kerry at 4:50 p.m.


The Abbate family

HONORING LUKE

The “Beach Blitz” is only for players and coaches, but players’ parents and alumni are hanging out at the adjacent pool deck. Steven Abbate, father of linebacker Jon Abbate—the emotional leader of this year’s team—is with one of his children, Rachel, and friend Jim Greenwell (’83). The Abbates and Greenwells used to be neighbors outside Marietta, Ga., and although the Abbates have since moved to another neighborhood, the families have remained close. “I’ve known him since he was little,” Greenwell said of Jon Abbatte. “I told my children any bowl game we go to this year, we’re going. I figured we’d be 7-5, 6-6, and end up in Charlotte. I joked about making it to the Orange Bowl. I’m convinced coach Grobe is going to have us in more bowl games.”

As players return from the beach, they stop and hug Abbate and Rachel and sign a football for Greenwell’s son, Zack, 13. Jon walks by on his way back from the beach and stops for a minute. “It’s been great to spend so much time with the team,” he says of their time so far in Miami. “But I know we’re down here for business.” He politely asks if he can continue on to his room for a shower so he can get ready for tonight’s team dinner.

It’s been an emotional year for the Abbates, as Deacon fans know. After Jon Abbate’s younger brother, Luke, was killed in a car accident last February, Jon changed his jersey number from 40 to 5, his brother’s number in high school. And, in what quickly became a new tradition for Wake Forest football this season, Abbate started holding up five fingers at the end of the third quarter of every game, a tribute to his brother quickly picked up by his teammates and fans. “It started out between Jon and us,” his father said. “Then one side of the stands picked up on it and then both sides of the stadium were doing it. It seemed to grow every game, and I wonder if it will continue next year. It’s beyond description, the outpouring of love and affection and the honoring of Luke that we’ve received.”

Abbate said that in dealing with Luke’s death, his family has looked forward to football Saturdays, so this season’s success has been especially poignant to them. “I feel that Luke has been there every step of the way. His fingerprints are all over the season. So many players have said to us after a win, ‘that was for Luke.’ It warmed our hearts; in very dark days it brought a ray of sunshine into our lives.”

Abbate said it was especially meaningful when Wake Forest beat Florida State 30-0. The whole family, but especially Luke, was hurt when Florida State declined to offer Jon a scholarship. Both Steven Abbate and his wife, Maryanne, are Florida State alumni. “When we shut out Florida State, that was Luke’s last laugh, for not taking Jon.”

Posted by Kerry at 4:25 p.m.


Players row a kayak

ROLL ROLL ROLL YOUR BOAT

There are half a dozen sit-on-top kayaks at the “Beach Blitz,” and the Wake Forest players are attempting to use them, with varying levels of success. Well, mostly varying levels of non-success. Hilarity ensues. Tight end Dan Callahan and wide receiver Chip Brinkman have a nice ride out past the breakers, which Callahan credits solely to Brinkman’s kayaking experience, but the rest of the kayakers that I see are tipping over. And tipping over again, and again. I try to offer some basic advice: keep paddling, keep the bow into the waves, don’t stand up. I’m not sure how much of it sinks in, but the players are having a blast, and there is a steady line for the kayaks.

Posted by Ken at 3:47 p.m.


Milton Kern on the pier

PROUD TO BE A DEACON

Milton Kern of Greensboro, husband of Deacon Club President Debby Kern, is enjoying the “Beach Blitz” while his wife is out shopping. Neither Kern nor his wife are alumni; they got involved with Wake Forest athletics when Debbie Kern’s daughter, Ashley Linder Sharp (’99), was a cheerleader. At first, they just went to football and basketball games to see her cheer, but now they go to soccer, field hockey, women’s basketball games, you name it. Debby Kern is the first female and the first non-alumnus to be president of the Deacon Club, and Kern is clearly proud of his wife’s role. “I told Ron Wellman it took a woman being president to get us to the Orange Bowl.” Fortunately, Debbie Kern will be president of the Deacon Club for another year, so who knows what will happen next year?

Posted by Kerry at 3:23 p.m.


AN “INCREDIBLE EXPERIENCE”

Mike Vest, associate sports information director for football, is taking a break from his duties working with the news media to enjoy the “Beach Blitz.” He describes the Orange Bowl as a “Wake Forest family reunion. The entire Wake Forest community is going be down here.” He had high praise for the Orange Bowl committee members and staffers for providing the team with an “incredible experience.”

Posted by Kerry at 3:20 p.m.


Arch that says Beach Blitz

WHAT A BLAST!

This afternoon is the “Beach Blitz” (sponsored by the Orange Bowl) for the team, and it is a blast. We send Ken out to the beach, while Matt and I stay behind on the hotel terrace overlooking the beach. The height of the hotel (36 stories) casts a long shadow over the terrace and almost all of the beach, so it’s very comfortable on the terrace. Most of the players are on the beach, but a dozen or so are up here, leaning over the terrace railing, watching the action on the beach. A DJ is playing rap music, and redshirt freshman linebacker Dominique Midgett has the microphone and is rapping along. The only words I can understand are “Wake Forest! Wake Forest!” and “Touchdown!” which draws loud applause. On another part of the terrace are half a dozen blackjack tables, manned by uniformed dealers. The players sitting around the tables have chips and look pretty serious but they are not really gambling! A number of coaches’ wives and kids sit at tables on the terrace. A group of young kids is playing football below us.

Posted by Kerry at 3:11 p.m.


Matt Nelkin eats gelato

MMMMMM, GELATO

Web guru Matt Nelkin enjoys a raspberry gelato from a local shop in downtown Hollywood. There’s a lot of construction and renovation going on in the downtown historic district, with many small shops and cafes open, and more on the way. It’s a pleasant place for an outdoor lunch and a little walk.

Posted by Ken at 2:14 p.m.


dogs named Nemo and Frodo

DOWNTOWN HOLLYWOOD

Nemo and Frodo are hanging out with their owner, Larry, at the Universe Cafe in historic downtown Hollywood. They get pats and belly rubs from everyone who walks by the restaurant.

Posted by Ken at 12:53 p.m.


The Hollywood "Broadwalk"

ON THE BROADWALK

The old beach in Hollywood has what they call here a “Broadwalk” – it’s made of bricks, mostly, and it’s pretty wide, hence the name. It’s about two miles of old beachfront motels, small restaurants, t-shirt shops, and crowds. When we parked our car in the garage, more than half of the license plates were from Quebec, which explains all the French restaurants along the beachfront.

Posted by Ken at 11:25 a.m.


Frank and James Turner, left, and Glenn Gentry in the lobby

FANS HAVING FUN

Clent Gentry (’66), who’s kept stats for Wake Forest games for 22 years, came in with the ISP broadcasting crew and football team on Wednesday afternoon. With not much official business to take care of until the game on Tuesday, he’s had plenty of time to enjoy the Westin. He played a round of golf at the Diplomat Golf Course yesterday, and insists that I mention that he beat Bill Merrifield (’84).

Frank Turner (’77), here with his wife, Lee, and children James and Elizabeth, is staying at the Westin, too. James is the biggest Deacon fan around, his dad says. Turner went deep-sea fishing yesterday and wants me to mention that he caught a really big, really aggressive fish, and that Jimmy Strickland (’81) didn’t catch anything.

Posted by Kerry at 9:59 a.m.


Team bus driving to practice

NICE RIDE

The Wake Forest football team leaves the Westin Diplomat on their way to practice on Friday morning. The Deacon graphics make the bus stand out on highway A-1-A as the team drives up the beach road.

Posted by Ken at 9:40 a.m.


SURF’S UP!

Don’t forget your room key card when you go to the pool or beach if you’re staying at the Westin. They take security/access very seriously here. Hotel employees are up early spreading towels over the hundreds of lounge chairs around the upper-level infinity pool and the lower-level lagoon pool. Noting my Wake Forest shirt, one employee asks if we’re in town for a game. Leave the ratty old beach umbrella at home. You can rent a poolside cabana for $220 for the day or $155 for a half day. We decide to be frugal and go for the beachfront portable cabana, which is only $75 for the day.

Posted by Kerry at 9:05 a.m.


MUFFINS TO GO

Coaches wives Lisa Billings and Wendy Mack are in line with us, grabbing muffins, hot chocolate and coffee to go. With their husbands gone most of the day, the football wives and kids are on their own. A bus is waiting out front of the hotel to take them to the aquarium in Miami for the day; Taylor Billings, 16, was looking forward to swimming with the dolphins.

Posted by Kerry at 8:44 a.m.


Guests wait in line at Common Grounds

BREAKFAST ON THE CHEAP

With two eggs costing $13.95 and a waffle costing $15.95 in the hotel café, many of us are opting to grab breakfast at the small coffee stand. There are about 20 people in line, including Sports Information Director Dean Buchan. When asked about this afternoon’s “beach party” for the team, Buchan said he’s not sure what’s planned, but he can pretty much guarantee that coach Grobe won’t let any of the players jet-ski like the Florida State players did last year.

Posted by Kerry at 8:32 a.m.


JUST LIKE NEW YORK

There’s a little bagel shop just up the road from the hotel, and my family and I are sitting at an outdoor table enjoying our blintzes and bagels, listening to the retired men with Brooklyn accents talk about world affairs at the next table. The Sage Bagel cafe carries three newspapers: the New York Times, the New York Post, and the daily racing paper, all at New York prices (much cheaper than in Winston-Salem). I could sit and finish my Times and drink coffee all morning, but alas, duty calls.

Posted by Ken at 8:15 a.m.


Sun rises over the ocean

SUNRISE

About 40 hotel guests watched the sun rise through the clouds Friday morning in a spectacular display of light. The air felt tropical, with a warm, humid breeze off the ocean.

Posted by Ken at 7:15 a.m.


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Greetings from Miami graphic

Bloggers

Live from Miami, it’s Window on Wake Forest’s crack team of Deacon fans:

Kerry King headshot

Kerry King (’85)
Writer


Ken Bennett headshot

Ken Bennett
Photographer


Matt Nelkin headshot

Matt Nelkin (’03)
Web Guru


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