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Special Reunion of Wake Forest Football Friends at Hall of Fame Weekend

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Sitting in one of the plush sky box suites Saturday in the McCreary Tower at Truist Field, a lady I’d never met sat two seats over to my right. She recently moved to Greensboro, NC. It was her first Wake Forest in-person football game experience and she told me she didn’t know much about the university.

She started talking to me about what she was seeing on the field and the overall vibe.

“This looks like a great place,” she said. “I wish I went here to college.”

She asked me if I went to Wake Forest. I told her I had – a graduate in 1985. She had gone to Arizona State.

Her first impressions were intriguing and on target. Wake Forest football games uplift and fill-your-lungs-with-fresh-autumn air natural highs. They make you feel alive and think of the blessings life brings. It was the fourth quarter, Wake’s offense was doing whatever it wanted to score touchdowns on its way to blowing up Boston College, elevating to a 6-1 record and catapulting themselves into a top 10 national ranking for the second time in school history.

I watched the fabulous football performance in the VIP suite (hot dogs with sauerkraut, Dr. Peppers galore, and blueberry cookies by the way) with a dozen people celebrating the induction of Mike Elkins into the Wake Forest football Hall of Fame. He was the Sam Hartman of his era, filling the stat sheets and the star of the team back in the 1980s. Earlier this season, Sam Hartman (24 wins) passed Mike Elkins (19 wins) for 2nd place in wins as a WFU starting quarterback.

What was I doing there?

I was the guest of my long-time special friend from my undergraduate days at Wake Forest, Darden Jenkins. Over the past two-plus years he had been highly instrumental in initiating and orchestrating this weekend’s celebration of Elkins saying. I was his guest, he said, because “I don’t know of anyone who would appreciate being invited to a Wake Forest football party more than you.”

True is that.

I sat next to Mike during the game and asked him about his favorite places he played as a Demon Deacon. His two favorite venues are Death Valley at Clemson and the University of Tennessee. Why? He explained the stands on both sides of the stands elevate straight up next to the field so you could feel the noise and raucousness so close at hand.

Mike is a humble guy. He wasn’t interested in regaling me about what a great player he was in college. He’s a typical Wake Forest person: high achiever, smart, down-to-Earth, and not compelled to tell you how great he was – yet make no mistake he starred as the Wake Forest quarterback back.

Darden is the same kind of quality person. Caring about others, and charismatic to his core, he brought together old friends to celebrate high achievements. He’s spent countless hours helping to organize this day of celebration for a deserving football star and his friend Mike, whom he played pickup intramural basketball games with and against at Wake back in their undergraduate days.

Darden rallied to the event Chip Rives, who played fullback with Elkins at Wake Forest, and the man who recruited and coached both of them back then, Al Groh.

Rives and Groh officially recommended Elkins be inducted into the university’s special group of all-time great athletes.

Darden – who goes by DJ — Rives and Groh made dozens of calls and emails inviting several people that had not been back to WFU for 30-plus years. Nearly 70 former WFU players who played with Mike attended the festivities.

That impressive list included Rory Holt, Tony Mosely, A.J. Green, David Jarvis, Rod Ferguson, Kevin Wieczorek, Jay Deaver, Greg Hunter, Steve Fleming, Gary Baldinger, Ronnie Grinton, and Phil Barnhill.

The bonding and affection shared by this group on Saturday made me realize why Mike Elkins and his teams were lifelong friends. I felt appreciative to have had the opportunity to spend time with all these quality human beings who had lived the Wake Forest experience.

More than 40 years ago I made the decision to attend Wake Forest. After yesterday’s experience, I became more convinced than ever it was one of the smartest decisions I’ve ever made. From the first day on campus through yesterday’s parties, I’ve been meeting quality, high-achieving, intellectually curious, and engaging people.

Like the Wake Forest football team yesterday, the university produces people who are disciplined, prepare tirelessly, and use their sharp minds to achieve success.

Sammy Sportface

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Sammy Sportface

Sammy Sportface, a sports blogger, galvanizes, inspires, and amuses The Baby Boomer Brotherhood. And you can learn about his vision and join this group's Facebook page here: Sammy Sportface Has a Vision -- Check It Out Sammy Sportface -- The Baby Boomer Brotherhood Blog -- Facebook Page
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Sammy Sportface
Sammy Sportface
Sammy Sportface, a sports blogger, galvanizes, inspires, and amuses The Baby Boomer Brotherhood. And you can learn about his vision and join this group's Facebook page here:

Sammy Sportface Has a Vision -- Check It Out

Sammy Sportface -- The Baby Boomer Brotherhood Blog -- Facebook Page

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