Going to round up a few thoughts on the swirling rumors of the past 24-48 hours ...
- First, here's the story from Football Scoop that cites Virginia Tech's interest in Dave Clawson as their next head coach. There should be some measured surprise here, as Clawson's profile has never been more visible than right now with Wake Forest at 9-1 in 10th in this week's CFP poll -- and yet, you don't often see coaches move within conferences.
- We've established Clawson is a smart man with self-awareness. He knows -- and his record shows -- that he's not a coach who's going to enter a job and immediately win with somebody else's players. He's 13-34 in four combined first seasons. He's a program-builder, and it's not like Virginia Tech is a program with a fanbase (or, more importantly, alumni base) that's going to be OK with his tear-it-down, build-it-up model.
- The fan support this season, particularly the last two games being sellouts, plays a factor in Clawson seeing what Wake Forest can become. I vividly recall what BB&T Field (now Truist) looked like when a 5-0 and ranked Wake Forest team played Louisville in 2019, and I'd wager a lot of money Clawson remembers that scene too. The stadium was 75% full for an unbeaten, ranked team. I've said to a few people in the department that I've always felt like if Dave left, the lack of a homefield advantage would be a key factor, and every time I've brought that up, it's been agreed.
That's why it's made such an impact to have sellouts and an overflowing student section this season. Wake Forest *has had* that homefield advantage this year. It's a previously unchecked box that's been filled.
- Staff continuity is key for Clawson and he knows it. That's why he went to Ron Wellman after the 2017 season and said he needed whatever it would take to keep Warren Ruggiero on staff. Clawson wants to keep most of his staff intact, and he's likely going to need more money from Wake Forest to do that in the coming months.
- Clawson has indicated he wants to retire at Wake Forest to multiple sources, but that it will take financial commitment toward the program to ensure that happens.
Here's what I know about Clawson's comfort in staying in Winston-Salem: He's a 4-hour drive from a beach house. His daughter recently got a job in the Washington area. Within the last two years, he's started a building project for a new house in the area. His parents live in the Charlotte area.
And, now that it's been published by David Hale's feature: Clawson was absolutely miserable at Tennessee, where he couldn't live a "normal" life and go out to eat with his family without being told he needed to run the ball more. He's able to live a relatively anonymous life as Wake's football coach in Winston-Salem, and that's important to him.
- A source told me that, while he signed a "very good" extension in 2019, Clawson has remained "maniacally focused" on the continued investment into everything and anything that would help the football program continue winning.
- My Take: I think the Virginia Tech interest has been an agent leak to expand Wake Forest's financial commitment to football. This ends with Clawson and his assistants signing extensions and/or getting raises.
- First, here's the story from Football Scoop that cites Virginia Tech's interest in Dave Clawson as their next head coach. There should be some measured surprise here, as Clawson's profile has never been more visible than right now with Wake Forest at 9-1 in 10th in this week's CFP poll -- and yet, you don't often see coaches move within conferences.
- We've established Clawson is a smart man with self-awareness. He knows -- and his record shows -- that he's not a coach who's going to enter a job and immediately win with somebody else's players. He's 13-34 in four combined first seasons. He's a program-builder, and it's not like Virginia Tech is a program with a fanbase (or, more importantly, alumni base) that's going to be OK with his tear-it-down, build-it-up model.
- The fan support this season, particularly the last two games being sellouts, plays a factor in Clawson seeing what Wake Forest can become. I vividly recall what BB&T Field (now Truist) looked like when a 5-0 and ranked Wake Forest team played Louisville in 2019, and I'd wager a lot of money Clawson remembers that scene too. The stadium was 75% full for an unbeaten, ranked team. I've said to a few people in the department that I've always felt like if Dave left, the lack of a homefield advantage would be a key factor, and every time I've brought that up, it's been agreed.
That's why it's made such an impact to have sellouts and an overflowing student section this season. Wake Forest *has had* that homefield advantage this year. It's a previously unchecked box that's been filled.
- Staff continuity is key for Clawson and he knows it. That's why he went to Ron Wellman after the 2017 season and said he needed whatever it would take to keep Warren Ruggiero on staff. Clawson wants to keep most of his staff intact, and he's likely going to need more money from Wake Forest to do that in the coming months.
- Clawson has indicated he wants to retire at Wake Forest to multiple sources, but that it will take financial commitment toward the program to ensure that happens.
Here's what I know about Clawson's comfort in staying in Winston-Salem: He's a 4-hour drive from a beach house. His daughter recently got a job in the Washington area. Within the last two years, he's started a building project for a new house in the area. His parents live in the Charlotte area.
And, now that it's been published by David Hale's feature: Clawson was absolutely miserable at Tennessee, where he couldn't live a "normal" life and go out to eat with his family without being told he needed to run the ball more. He's able to live a relatively anonymous life as Wake's football coach in Winston-Salem, and that's important to him.
- A source told me that, while he signed a "very good" extension in 2019, Clawson has remained "maniacally focused" on the continued investment into everything and anything that would help the football program continue winning.
- My Take: I think the Virginia Tech interest has been an agent leak to expand Wake Forest's financial commitment to football. This ends with Clawson and his assistants signing extensions and/or getting raises.
