Jake Dickert drops bold statement before Wake Forest and NC State matchup

Brian Schaible

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Jake Dickert drops bold statement before Wake Forest and NC State matchup image

Wake Forest head coach Jake Dickert made it clear his team must embrace urgency, energy, and focus as they prepare for tonight’s primetime clash with NC State.

“The best part, there’s no one satisfied in this building. Everyone that showed back up on Sunday morning and Sunday morning early was ready to get back to work,” Dickert said.

He emphasized the need for intensity, warning his players not to take shortcuts. “We need to get better…and be a better football team…you can have every excuse in the world to kind of go out there and go through the motions. We need to bring fire.”

Dickert, who has coached in the Dakota Marker, the Border War, and the Apple Cup, spoke passionately about the Big Four rivalry. “Now to walk into the Big Four, I think is something really important. And I think we got to preserve these games. I’m a big fan of always playing all three of them. I think that’s a big thing for us, our state, and hopefully all four institutions.”

He praised his defense for toughness and discipline: “Defense continues to be elite at not giving up explosive plays. I don’t care who we play. I think that’s really, really important.”

And he spotlighted the energy of running back Demond Claiborne. “He’s the table setter for our offense. Obviously, big plays, explosive plays, shot plays…when you have a live wire back there, that’s what I call him. Sometimes you run a zone to the right and he goes way left. I’ve coached some players like that…there is a lot of greatness that’s going to come out of him playing the way he plays naturally.”

Wake Forest and NC State kick off tonight at 7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN from Allegacy Federal Credit Union Stadium.

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Brian Schaible

Brian Schaible is a freelance writer with The Sporting News. He is an award-winning journalist with over 25 years of experience covering college and professional sports. Brian holds a master’s degree in journalism/public relations from Kent State University.