After spending enough time in this job, you find yourself in numerous post-game interviews filled with a spectrum of emotions ranging from joy to cautious optimism, and sometimes, disappointment. Following the narrow 31-30 loss to Virginia on Saturday night, the feelings in the post-game press conference were intense. There was a mix of disbelief, disappointment, and a hefty amount of confusion. Let’s take a look at what Wake Forest expressed after this heartbreaking loss that could have been avoided.
It’s typical for players and coaches across the country to take a cooling-off period before facing the media, usually waiting about 15 minutes after the game ends. However, on Saturday night, Wake Forest head coach Dave Clawson was ready in the press room even before the media had fully arrived. Who could blame him for wanting to get through it quickly?
Hank Bachmeier
The veteran quarterback usually feels comfortable discussing football, given his extensive experience. However, it was evident he was emotionally deflated when he addressed the media on Saturday night. “A great quarterback’s mark is consistency and execution on every play. Personally, I don’t think I achieved that,” he said.
Regarding the team’s mood, he reflected, “We just lost a heartbreaking game, so it hurts.” On bouncing back from such defeats, he added, “These losses linger with you. There are always those moments. But you need to stay present; you can’t dwell on the past. There will always be another two-minute drill. You’ve just got to focus on the next play.”
Bachmeier faced six sacks during the game and, as is typical for quarterbacks, he took responsibility. “I’ve got to improve on getting rid of the ball and not holding onto my progressions too long,” he acknowledged.
Nick Anderson
Defensive back Nick Anderson addressed the speed of Virginia’s offense, noting that starting in the second quarter, they were snapping the ball in just 10-12 seconds. This pace left Wake Forest unable to make necessary adjustments or substitutions for several plays.
“I think their tempo hurt us a bit,” Anderson commented post-game. When asked about Wake’s practice tempo, he replied, “Their speed was different. What we faced wasn’t the same as what we practice in terms of the plays.”
This resulted in instances where Virginia receivers found the middle of the field wide open.
Luke Petitbon
Center Luke Petitbon found it challenging to articulate the locker room’s mood after the loss. “No one’s happy. If you’ve been in a situation like this, it’s tough. It’s quiet. It’s disappointing.”
However, the feeling of disappointment had to dissipate quickly. Sunday is typically reserved for reviewing the previous game before moving on. And looming ahead is a tough matchup, as Heisman candidate and Top Five-ranked Ole Miss is set to visit for Wake’s homecoming game on Saturday night.
Dave Clawson
Clawson graciously acknowledged the improvement of the Virginia team, noting earlier in the week that he believed their talent had the potential to surpass their performance in 2023.
Yet, amid the complexities of football, Clawson’s answers were quite straightforward: “They made a few more plays than us,” he stated. “We didn’t make enough, and the turnover at the end was crucial.”
It was clear that losing a game they could have won weighed heavily on him: “This one stings,” Clawson admitted.
One significant issue for Wake Forest was their failure to convert red zone opportunities into touchdowns. Matthew Dennis successfully kicked three field goals, but two occurred after drives faltered in the red zone. “We tried to be aggressive with a double pass, which didn’t pan out, and then settled for a field goal. Instead of being up by 17, we were only up by 13, and I feared that might come back to haunt us,” Clawson explained.
Ultimately, football is a straightforward game. With Wake down by one in the final minutes, quarterback Hank Bachmeier connected with Morin near the Virginia 35-yard line. Morin was hit and fumbled the ball, while receiver Donavon Greene attempted to scoop it up instead of just falling on it. Virginia recovered, sealing their win. Clawson emphasizes ball security during practice, teaching players about clean versus dirty plays: “They made a play, and we didn’t.”
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