Wake Forest wants to move on from leaked game-plan scandal
WASHINGTON - A security breach that resulted in Wake Forest's game plans being leaked to three different opponents covering four games has shaken the program.
WASHINGTON - A security breach that resulted in Wake Forest's game plans being leaked to three different opponents covering four games has shaken the program.
Now the Demon Deacons (6-6) will attempt to move on when they face Temple (10-3) in Tuesday's Military Bowl game in Annapolis, Md.
The Atlantic Coast Conference announced on Dec. 17 it has fined Louisville and Virginia Tech $25,000 each after reviewing the findings of a Wake Forest investigation that concluded broadcaster and former assistant coach Tommy Elrod leaked game plans to opponents.
The ACC said its review and follow-up discussions with the schools indicated that game plan information for four of Wake Forest's games was provided to three schools over a three-year period from 2014-16 - Virginia Tech in 2014, Louisville in 2016 and Army in both 2014 and 2016.
As for Army, the school released this statement.
"The U.S. Military Academy's Superintendent, Lt. Gen. Robert L. Caslen, has directed Army's Athletic Director, Boo Corrigan, to conduct an investigation into allegations that an individual affiliated with the Wake Forest football program provided Army inappropriate information about that program.
"The investigation will be conducted by a U.S. Army officer. Given the seriousness of these claims, it is important that all the facts and findings are gathered and analyzed to determine what action, if any, is warranted."
None of that has made Wake Forest people feel better.
"It's almost great to have a game," Wake Forest coach Dave Clawson said Friday afternoon when asked about the situation.
While Clawson said he wants to move on he addressed whether this has been a distraction as the Demon Deacons prepare for Temple.
"How can something like that not be a distraction? But nobody in our program is to blame, and it wasn't their fault," said Clawson, who was Villanova's offensive coordinator from 1996-1998. "We control what we control, and what we control is our preparation and moving forward."
Junior John Wolford, who this year became the school's first quarterback to throw for at least 1,500 yards and run for 500, said he also is looking to move forward from an unsettling situation.
"It is in the past and didn't change anything," he said. "We are now just looking forward to playing in the Military Bowl."
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