THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, August 23, 1994 TAG: 9408230557
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C4 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY FRANK VEHORN, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. LENGTH: Medium: 80 lines
You might not expect to find the No. 1 trash-talker and arguably the dirtiest player in the ACC wearing a Wake Forest uniform.
But if anyone wants to say that about Kevin Giles, the Deacons' senior linebacker from Hampton, he won't shy away from such notoriety.
Told that some Virginia players had labeled him the most prolific trash-talker in the league, Giles smiled and nodded his head.
``That is probably true,'' he said.
``I know a lot of guys on the Virginia team, and I even call them up on the telephone and mess with them.''
It is far better to be trashed on the telephone by Giles than on the field, too.
He volunteered that he has spit on more than one player.
``I guess that is the nastiest thing I've ever done,'' he said. ``I learned that from some Clemson players, who spat on me.''
Giles said he has been a big trash-talker ever since his high school days at Phoebus.
It is appropriate, too, that he is majoring in speech and communication at Wake Forest.
``When I was in high school, I loved talking about other players and teams,'' he said. ``It helps to get me fired up.''
Couldn't it fire up the other team, too?
``Maybe,'' Giles conceded. ``But it might make them scared, also.''
Giles backs up his trash-talking on the field by being one of the hardest and most frequent hitters in the ACC.
He ranked fifth in the league last year in total stops (109), even though he missed one game because of an injury, and he has been the Deacons' leading tackler the last two years.
Wake Forest, though, normally is not a team to strike fear in the hearts of opponents.
The Deacons have not won more than three games in four of the last five seasons.
The exception was two years ago, when they finished 8-4, including an Independence Bowl victory over Oregon, in coach Bill Dooley's final season.
A year ago, with Jim Caldwell replacing Dooley, the Deacons dropped back to 2-9, finishing last in the ACC.
Giles admitted he enjoyed the trash-talking more during the bowl season, but he had to play a price for it last season.
``Usually, I speak only for myself and not for the team on the field,'' Giles said.
``But two years ago when we played Vanderbilt, I was talking for the team, too. I kept telling the Vanderbilt guys that they were no better than a high school team. We beat them, 40-6.''
The Deacons opened last season by losing, 27-12, to Vanderbilt. ``They kept asking me what high school we were from,'' Giles said.
The Deacons play Vanderbilt in the first game again this season. Giles won't be as boisterous, but it has nothing to do with last year's loss. The NCAA and the ACC have promised to crack down on trash-talkers this season.
``We had a referee come talk to us the other day about that,'' Giles said. ``He told us they would be throwing flags this season if they hear anything.''
Caldwell described Giles as ``one of those guys whose motor never stops running, and who has a great nose for the football.''
Caldwell doesn't seem too concerned that Giles has a great tongue for trash-talking, too.
``I don't think he is going to get a lot of penalties because of that this season,'' Caldwell said. ``We've stressed that, and he will keep it under control.''
Giles said that he doesn't think Caldwell is aware of how much he talks on the field, and that his coach would be very upset to know about his spitting.
Giles admitted he'll have to watch his conduct more this season because of the crackdown.
``I won't be quiet all the time, though,'' he added. ``I will just have to pick my spots.'' ILLUSTRATION: Photo
Kevin Giles backs up his talk by being one of the hardest and most
frequent hitters in the ACC.
by CNB