In the 28 games since the dawn of the Jim Grobe era at Wake Forest, there have been lots of changes. Two winning seasons in a row have steered the program in a new direction after Wake went 26-63 in eight years under previous coach Jim Caldwell. There has been only one constant on an offense that led the ACC in rushing from 2001-2002, however, and his name is Tyson Clabo.
Clabo is only one of three Deacons to have started every game in Grobe's tenure. The senior left guard spearheads a young offensive line which saw three players thrust into their first starting role in the season opener at Boston College.
Wake Forest (3-1, 1-0 ACC) has been the conference's biggest surprise in 2003. Despite going 7-6 last season, including a 38-17 win over Oregon in the Seattle Bowl, most preseason polls placed Wake to finish no higher than seventh in the ACC.
The Deacons proved that their opening win against Boston College was no fluke after they managed to derail then-No. 14 NC State in their first conference game of the year. In the face of Wolfpack quarterback Phillip Rivers passing for a career high 433 yards, the Wake Forest offense poured on 38 points and rushed for a season high 202 yards.
At 6'6" and 314 pounds, the towering Clabo has been instrumental to Wake's rushing attack the past three seasons. After starting every game in 2001 at left tackle, Clabo was asked to move over one spot to guard and handled the transition smoothly. In shifting his concentration from the mode of preventing the sack to one of establishing the run, the Deacon offense improved upon their ACC-leading 221.6 rush yards per game in 2001 by leading the conference again in 2002 -- this time with 241.2 yards per game.
Currently sitting fifth in the ACC in rushing yards per game with 152.8, the Deacons have not been as consistent on the ground as in the first two years of Grobe's stay in Winston-Salem. Their overall numbers are deflated by a one-game anomaly -- their 16-10 loss to Purdue -- in which they mustered only 56 yards on 34 carries. In the three Demon Deacon victories this season, they have averaged 34.7 points and 185 yards rushing.
As team captain, Clabo has a special responsibility to make sure this team gels as well as the others in years past. Seven out of the 11 offensive starters for game one were new, yet Wake seemed to spit in the face of first-game jitters as they posted 32 points in the late comeback victory over the Eagles.
"My role is to make sure no one gets complacent, and to make sure everyone keeps their energy up," Clabo said.
Coming out of Knoxville, Tenn., Clabo was a two-sport star at Farragut High School. He earned three letters in both football and basketball, while averaging a double-double -- 18 points and 10 rebounds -- his senior year. Growing up in a Volunteer household -- his father Phil played football at Tennessee from 1971-75 -- Clabo decided to blaze his own path and attend Wake Forest.
The senior's athleticism has undoubtedly been instrumental in his rapid progression at a new position. Earning All-ACC honorable mention in his first season playing guard, Clabo came into the fall being labeled the 18th best guard in the nation by The Sporting News.
While the NFL lies ahead as a distinct possibility, Clabo's current focus lies steadily on beating Virginia, as well as on an ACC title. Wake Forest last beat the Cavaliers in 2001. The 34-30 victory handed Virginia its fifth straight loss at the time. Last year, the tables were turned as the Deacons could not hold onto a 27-10 halftime lead in the 38-34 offensive carnival.
"We'd love to win the ACC," Clabo said. "We have to win every game to do that; this is just one step along the way. We just want to go up to Virginia and play our best football."
Like previous surprise teams Maryland (2001) and Virginia (2002), Wake Forest could deliver on Clabo's desire and rise to the ranks of ACC contenders. However, they have only won one conference game, and Virginia stands as the second roadblock in the eight-game marathon.
Read More
Live tracker: the men’s basketball offseason
By Michael Liebermann , Emory Huffman and Xander Tilock | 7 hours agoA frenetic offseason likely awaits.
Virginia’s future belongs to ‘the silent assassin’
By Michael Liebermann | 10 hours agoOdom is more reserved, people around his programs say. He is also a fiery competitor.
Women’s lacrosse overpowers VCU in dominant road win
By Eleanor Buchanan | 13 hours agoVirginia gained some offensive momentum before a tough upcoming slate.
