Calling for a Blackout

Wake Forest, in its first game in 12 days, will be back in black tonight when it plays Clemson on national television on ESPN.

The Deacons' athletics-marketing department has called for a blackout, encouraging all Wake Forest fans to show up dressed in black for the 7:45 kickoff at BB&T Field.

Senior D.J. Boldin said that it promises to be the type of game that a player can wait a career to play. The Deacons, who haven't played since a home loss Sept. 27, are ranked No. 21 at 3-1 overall and 1-0 in ACC play. Clemson is unranked at 3-2 and 1-1.

The winner will take a giant step toward finishing first in the ACC's Atlantic Division.

"Man, Thursday Night, ESPN Live, the whole world is watching," Boldin said. "It's going to be a blackout night. We want everybody to wear black. We're even going to wear black uniforms.

"So it's something real special for the school, for the fans, for us, for television, for everybody."

Showtime players show up ready for games like this, meaning that both teams will be counting heavily on their stars to come through. One of Wake Forest's brightest stars, kicker Sam Swank, is questionable because of strained quadriceps suffered in Monday's practice.

Swank, who has not practiced since, said whether he will be available will be a game-time decision. If he's sidelined, Shane Popham will handle all the kicking and punting. Popham is a redshirt freshman who was a walk-on last season. He has since been given a scholarship but has yet to punt or kick in college.

How the absence of Swank might affect Clemson's strategies, Coach Tommy Bowden wasn't saying. Swank is Wake Forest's all-time leader in points and field goals, and this season, he leads the nation with an average of 2.5 field goals a game.

"He's been such a productive player for them," Bowden said yesterday. "But I wouldn't say beforehand, ‘Yeah we're going to rush the punter,' and let them make some adjustments in protection -- or on field goals or any of the kicking he has handled.

"But again, he's been awfully productive. I'm sure they would miss him, just like we'd miss our kicker."

Coach Jim Grobe of Wake Forest said after the 24-17 loss to Navy that he would like to take more pressure off quarterback Riley Skinner, who threw four interceptions and lost a fumble in what was probably his worst performance in his 28 games in college. Losing Swank might complicate the plan.

Skinner took the loss to Navy hard, shouldering much of the blame.

"There's a reason I put a lot on me, because a lot of it was me," Skinner said this week.

That said, Skinner insisted he'll leave the past performance where it belongs.

"I've been really excited all week -- and all last week actually -- about this game," Skinner said. "There's nothing you can do to control the outcome of the last game. It's over with. All I can do is try to control what goes on this week.

"It's a big game for our conference. You can't ask for a better stage. So we're ready to get back and prove that we can win."

Boldin, who leads the ACC with 28 catches, said that Skinner reverted to familiar form during the spirited days of practice last week and early this week. Skinner still leads the ACC with a passing efficiency rating of 132.2. Cullen Harper of Clemson ranks second at 129.5.

"You definitely will see the old Riley Skinner," Boldin said. "That Wednesday when we practiced, I just saw a different guy, a guy who was ready to come back out and work to get better.

"He really took that loss personal. He wanted to blame it all on himself. I called him and told him ‘It was a team effort. I would be selfish as a football player if I let you take that defeat by yourself. We lost together.'

"He really took it hard, but he came back in that Wednesday ready to work."

Clemson builds its offense around the running-back rotation of James Davis and C.J. Spiller. Spiller has been especially tough for the Deacons to tackle. Two seasons ago, he broke a 72-yard run for a touchdown in a 27-17 comeback victory at Wake Forest. Last season he returned a kickoff 90 yards for a touchdown in Clemson's 44-10 romp.

But Bowden's more pressing concern is how his team will bounce back from a stunning 20-17 home loss to Maryland on Sept. 27.

"Wake's got no conference losses," Bowden said. "We've lost one. Of course, we both lost our last game. So you're anxious to see how your team responds with their backs against the wall.

"You really don't know until they perform. So we'll see (tonight) how the leadership of this team has worked. They've worked hard. I think they'll respond well."

■ Dan Collins can be reached at 727-7323 or at dcollins@wsjournal.com.