In 1988, under Dooley, not Grobe, WF was 6-4 heading into the finale against the Apps. There were Independence Bowl reps in the end zone with their red jackets ready to extend a bid to the 7-4 Deacs with the win over the Apps. IIRC, this was before CFB OT; App scored late, but rather than going for the win, they kicked the PAT for 34-34 tie. The Indy Bowl reps skipped out of Groves, and the Deacs' bowl drought continued until 1992, when Dooley's Deacs did secure an Indy Bowl invite, and beat Oregon despite giving up two pick sixes (almost never happens).
Okay, I'm going to have to look up which Groh (weird how close that is to Grobe) team flirted with adequacy. Mike Elkins, maybe? All of this from childhood memories so please forgive the error. That part about the Indy Bowl bid tracks perfectly with my emotional scar tissue.
eta: Here it is. 1984, 6-5. State title. I seem to recall Wake lost on a FG at the horn to open the season (can't recall if it was missing a winning one or giving up a losing one). I do recall that my little brother was scared of the fireworks.
G Date Day School Opponent Conf Pts Opp W L T Streak Notes
1 Sep 8, 1984 Sat Wake Forest Virginia Tech Ind L 20 21 0 1 0 L 1
2 Sep 15, 1984 Sat Wake Forest Appalachian State Non-Major W 17 13 1 1 0 W 1
3 Sep 22, 1984 Sat Wake Forest @ North Carolina State ACC W 24 15 2 1 0 W 2
4 Sep 29, 1984 Sat Wake Forest @ Maryland ACC L 17 38 2 2 0 L 1
5 Oct 6, 1984 Sat Wake Forest @ Richmond Non-Major W 29 16 3 2 0 W 1
6 Oct 13, 1984 Sat Wake Forest North Carolina ACC W 14 3 4 2 0 W 2
7 Oct 20, 1984 Sat Wake Forest @ Virginia ACC L 9 28 4 3 0 L 1
8 Oct 27, 1984 Sat Wake Forest William & Mary Non-Major W 34 21 5 3 0 W 1
9 Nov 3, 1984 Sat Wake Forest @ Clemson ACC L 14 37 5 4 0 L 1
10 Nov 10, 1984 Sat Wake Forest @ Duke ACC W 20 16 6 4 0 W 1
11 Nov 17, 1984 Sat Wake Forest Georgia Tech ACC L 7 24 6 5 0 L 1