DATE: Tuesday, August 26, 1997              TAG: 9708260026

SECTION: SPORTS                  PAGE: C2   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY FRANK VEHORN, STAFF WRITER 

DATELINE: WINSTON-SALEM, N.C.               LENGTH:   60 lines

THROWING STRIKES IS OLD HAT FOR THIS QB DEACONS' KUKLICK TURNS DOWN PRO BASEBALL FOR ANOTHER SHOT AT A BOWL GAME.

Brian Kuklick says he's never second-guessed his decision to play football at Wake Forest instead of signing a pro baseball contract out of high school.

In fact, Kuklick was given a second chance at a pro baseball contract this summer and made the same choice.

``This could be the break-through year for Wake Forest football, and I want to be a part of it,'' says Kuklick, a 6-foot-3 junior quarterback who led the ACC in total offense last season.

Kuklick, of Hatboro, Pa., was drafted in the fifth round by the New York Mets out of high school.

The Mets called again this summer and worked Kuklick out for two weeks before making another offer. Again, he said no.

Kuklick, a pitcher with a 90-plus miles-per-hour fastball, insists he has not closed the door on baseball, but he has changed his outlook.

``I never seriously thought about playing pro football coming out of high school. Everyone told me my future was in baseball,'' he says. ``Given a choice, I'd pick football. I love the competition.''

Kuklick's stock really could soar if the Deacons are as good as they think they will be this season.

``This is the biggest and the best team we've had since I've been here. We've got depth at every position and enough size that no one is going to push us around,'' Kuklick says.

The Deacons gave early indication they were ready to break through last year by stunning Northwestern following an opening win over Appalachian State.

But they had only one other win - a one-point victory over winless Duke.

Some local media are saying this could be a make-or-break year for coach Jim Caldwell's program.

He has not had a team win more than three games in any of his previous four seasons.

Senior defensive tackle Aljamont Joyner of Waverly, Va., doesn't think Caldwell is running out of time to build his program, though.

``It's make-or-break for me because it's my last season, but not for coach Caldwell,'' says the 303-pound Joyner.

``We can be good, and we are expecting a bowl-type season.''

In addition to being bigger and deeper, the Deacons took a $7 million step toward becoming more competitive with the construction of a new fieldhouse at Groves Stadium.

``It already has paid dividends as far as recruiting,'' says Caldwell.

He knows, however, to be better this season the Deacons have to generate a running game and play tougher defense.

The Deacons last year ranked 107th nationally in total defense and rushed for only 714 yards and four touchdowns.

``We are still a little thin in both lines, but we do have good interior size,'' Caldwell says.

Joyner is accompanied by 320-pound sophomore tackle Fred Robbins on the defensive line.

``No one is going to be able to double-team either one of us,'' Joyner says.

``Having that much size is a tremendous difference for us,'' says Caldwell. ``It's not going to be as easy to push us around.'' MEMO: Coming Tuesday: Clemson

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