Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, August 23, 1994 TAG: 9408230083
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C-2 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. LENGTH: Medium
Last year's 2-9 season seems to have spurred on Jim Caldwell even more. The former Penn State assistant under Joe Paterno even took his fax machine and computer on summer ``vacation'' in Wisconsin, corresponding with prospective recruits.
``My wife, Cheryl, says even when I'm away from the office I'm in the office,'' Caldwell said Monday during a stop on the ACC's football media tour. ``There's one thing about coaching - you neglect your family in a number of respects. I've always been a guy who has worked hard, and I think that's why I'm standing where I am today.''
Despite losing the final five games of 1993, Caldwell still envisions a master plan to place Wake Forest - a school that has had only four winning seasons in the last 14 - on the football map.
``I know a lot of folks would love for me to say there are certain limitations at Wake Forest but I really, honestly don't believe that - to the core of my being I don't believe that,'' he said. ``We have the same number of scholarships every other Division I school has.
``We don't have disadvantages we have advantages, you just have to know what to sell at your particular institution to get it done.''
Caldwell refuses to back down on the recruiting trail against more formidable opponents. Five recruits from his first class are on the Demon Deacon depth chart and should see action in 1994.
``If our coaches went out and hung their heads and didn't assume the posture of a winner, we wouldn't have been able to bring in the class that we brought in last year after a 2-9 season. That's why we don't think we have any limitations,'' Caldwell said.
``We are young and that is great for the future, but early on it's going to be interesting.''
Caldwell said he encountered some false perceptions from prep coaches during his first attempt at selling the Wake Forest program.
``We walked into some high schools and our assistant coaches might be interested in three of their top players and a coach might say, `These guys aren't interested in your program, you want to talk to three guys over here.' They actually knock us down a rung on the ladder. Those are the things we fight at some schools.
``But for the most part we are well received and we have an opportunity to talk to the best players and it is our job to be able to present ourselves properly.''
Caldwell produced a competitive team a season ago despite the losing record. In fact, the Demon Deacons led at halftime in four of the final five losses.
``Strength was a factor there,'' he said. ``Even now, it's an emphasis to us how we finish practice, simply because so many teams outscored us in the fourth quarter.''
It remains to be seen if Wake Forest can even approach .500 this season, but Caldwell insists the time will come - sooner than later.
``In regards to the state of the program, I think it is a night and day difference in the way the kids are working. We had them working fairly hard last year but it was like pulling teeth sometimes. ... This year is going to be different.
by CNB