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Dave Clawson Credibility Watch

Check my math but, pretty sure at no point in his time so far at Wake, has Clawson had a better record than Grobe had in the same number of games.
 
KEYSERSOZE said:
Check my math but, pretty sure at no point in his time so far at Wake, has Clawson had a better record than Grobe had in the same number of games.
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Looks like Dave is 59-53 right now and Grobe 59-51 through their first 9 seasons.
 
Clawson already has more winning seasons (6) than Grobe did (5) in his 13 seasons (didn't have a winning season his last five years).
 
So KeyserSoze is Nic Cage and the other (same) guy who outed himself over the weekend, right? Not sure what the utility is of comparing Grobe to Clawson at this point.

Grobe did have 3 winning seasons within ACC play compared to one for Clawson so far.
 
I think it's a pretty interesting comparison just to see how they've collectively done at Wake. Numbers are actually pretty similar across the board. Grobe obviously won his ACCCG appearance while Clawson lost his.
 
The numbers are what they are, but the Grobe era was highlighted by maybe the greatest Wake sports event in recent memory - the ACC Championship win and the party that followed in Jax at the Landing. We'd been so bad for so long - older fans were walking around with tears in their eyes hugging everyone in sight with Wake gear on. It really was incredible.

At the same time, the reality is Grobe struck gold with a blocked 20 yard field goal against Duke, an injury the promoted Riley Skinner early, and an awful year for the ACC in general with only 2 other teams even in the discussion of top 25 (one of which blew us out at home). We steadily declined after that, didn't improve recruiting, and eventually didn't even make a bowl game for Riley's senior year. That was it for winning seasons and bowl wins.

While Grobe inherited enough talent for 2 winning seasons out of the gate, he left the cupboard completely bare for Clawson who won 2 ACC games in his first 2 years. After that it's been nothing but winning seasons and bowl games every year (not counting the COVID-shortened 2020 which still featured a bowl game). If you were a fan during both eras, especially one that attends games - there's no way to honestly equate the two coaching performances. Grobe delivered an epic year and an incredible few weeks between the ACC win and the Orange bowl (still get goose bumps remembering the first "WAKE... FOREST" chant and the flyover), but the degree to which Clawson has transformed the program to the point that an 8-5 year was a "disappointment" in many eyes is simply far and away the more impressive accomplishment. The game day experience, recruiting, consistency, facilities - he's been a catalyst for the program exactly when we needed it to remain relevant in the college football arms race.

Grobe was great, deserves all the credit in the world for showing what was possible at Wake - but just tossing out their records as some kind of negative for Clawson just because we lost a few close games this year... Woof.
 
Both are/were great coaches.

In 2001, when Grobe replaced Caldwell, Grobe had far more to work withwhen he arrived at WF than Clawson. Grobe's first two seasons at WF:

6-5
7-6

13-11

In 2014, Grobe left nothing, but two corners for Clawson. So, Clawson's first two seasons were:

3-9
3-9

6-18 is a big hole to dig out of, and Clawson did that. When each coached their own recruits, Clawson has a better record.

As noted above, Grobe coached WF for 4 more years after season 9 (Clawson is currently in season 9). Grobe's last 4 years at WF:

5-7
3-9
6-7
5-7

19-30. Will take the "over" 19 in Clawson wins over the next 4 seasons.
 
Right, each was what we needed for his moment. I wonder what the next moment will require, and when it will start. Presumably Clawson is here for quite a long while.
 
Next season will determine the strength of the program. The team is losing some key contributors over the past few seaons. The extra season of eligiblity granted by covid was beneficial for a program that depends on development. If the football program has truly improved, there should be skill in the rising underclassmen to accomplish a winning season and another bowl invitation. Consistent winning records have heightened expectations. Can they be met?
 
BlackjackMc said:
Next season will determine the strength of the program. The team is losing some key contributors over the past few seaons. The extra season of eligiblity granted by covid was beneficial for a program that depends on development. If the football program has truly improved, there should be skill in the rising underclassmen to accomplish a winning season and another bowl invitation. Consistent winning records have heightened expectations. Can they be met?
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great post

completely agree
 
BlackjackMc said:
Next season will determine the strength of the program. The team is losing some key contributors over the past few seaons. The extra season of eligiblity granted by covid was beneficial for a program that depends on development. If the football program has truly improved, there should be skill in the rising underclassmen to accomplish a winning season and another bowl invitation. Consistent winning records have heightened expectations. Can they be met?
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Agree. We all expect to be .500/bowl eligible even in the worst of seasons at this point.
 
deacdixieboy said:
Agree. We all expect to be .500/bowl eligible even in the worst of seasons at this point.
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WF is currently tied for the 10th longest bowl streak among the 131 FBS schools. WF has bowled each of the past 7 seasons. Among ACC teams only Clemson has a longer streak. FWIW, WF and Clemson are the only ACC teams with a longer streak than 4 straight bowl seasons. So, if the expectation is that WF's worst possible season is to qualify for a bowl, 12 of the 14 ACC teams have failed to meet that standard in the last 5 seasons.
The link.
 
Pilchard said:
WF is currently tied for the 10th longest bowl streak among the 131 FBS schools. WF has bowled each of the past 7 seasons. Among ACC teams only Clemson has a longer streak. FWIW, WF and Clemson are the only ACC teams with a longer streak than 4 straight bowl seasons. So, if the expectation is that WF's worst possible season is to qualify for a bowl, 12 of the 14 ACC teams have failed to meet that standard in the last 5 seasons.
The link.
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I believe that is the expectation of fans, the AD, and the coaching staff. Although we should remember that the Covid season screwed up a lot of streaks with teams saying they weren’t making themselves eligible. It also gave us a bowl in 2020 (I stand corrected that we were under .500. I misremembered).
 
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It's not covid that stopped any of the ACC bowl streaks at less than 7.

Miami, GT, BC, UVA and VT all failed to qualify for bowls this year with a full slate of bowls.

NC State failed to qualify for a bowl in 2019 which was not a Covid year.

UNC and FSU, failed to make a bowl in 2018 which was not a Covid year.

Duke and Cuse failed to qualify for a bowl in several recent seasons including 2021, 2020, 2019.

In addition to 2020, L'ville failed to qualify for a bowl in 2018 - not a COVID year

In addition to 2020, Pitt failed to qualify for a bowl in 2017 not a COVID year.

WF was not under .500 when WF went to the Belk Bowl in 2020. WF played 8 regular season games and went 4-4; essentially the same as 6-6 with a full 12 game season.
 
Pilchard said:
WF is currently tied for the 10th longest bowl streak among the 131 FBS schools. WF has bowled each of the past 7 seasons. Among ACC teams only Clemson has a longer streak. FWIW, WF and Clemson are the only ACC teams with a longer streak than 4 straight bowl seasons. So, if the expectation is that WF's worst possible season is to qualify for a bowl, 12 of the 14 ACC teams have failed to meet that standard in the last 5 seasons.
The link.
Click to expand...

Correct. Which is why Wake is arguably the 2nd best program in the ACC. And it wouldn’t be arguable with an ACC Championship last year or a 10 win season this year.
 
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