By John Werner

Tribune-Herald staff writer

Waco Mayor Virginia DuPuy declared this Art Briles Day at last week’s kickoff luncheon.

There’s only one way Briles can make it more special: shock the college football world by beating No. 23 Wake Forest in his Baylor coaching debut.

“This is certainly a big chance to showcase nationally what we hope to be about as a football program,” Briles said. “We can show we’re a credible, respectable football team. When you play against a team like Wake Forest, you have an opportunity to do that. But we know we’ve got to perform at a high level with intelligence and intensity.”

The Bears will go into the season opener at Floyd Casey Stadium at 7 tonight as heavy underdogs against a Wake Forest program that is experiencing a rebirth. Coming off 12 straight losing seasons, the Bears hope to undergo a similar rebirth under Briles beginning with tonight’s game.

“This is a real important game for us,” Baylor cornerback Dwain Crawford said. “There’s a lot of excitement because we realize what an opportunity we have to show what we’ve got.”

While Briles will start a new era tonight, Wake Forest coach Jim Grobe has pulled off one of the most remarkable turnarounds in college football in the last eight seasons. Once an ACC bottom feeder, the Demon Deacons have gone 20-7 over the last two years, capped by back-to-back bowl games for the first time in school history.

Two years ago, the Demon Deacons won their first ACC championship since 1970 to earn an invitation to the Orange Bowl. Wake Forest capped last year’s 9-4 season with a 24-10 win over Connecticut in the Meineke Car Care Bowl. With 16 starters returning, Wake Forest is expecting another great season.

“They’ve been a real dominant football team over the past two years,” Briles said. “They’ve got a quarterback who has been starting for three years and a mature defense with a lot of seniors. Coach Grobe and his staff really emphasize defense and special teams, and they’re very good in those areas.”

Wake Forest quarterback Riley Skinner threw for 2,204 yards and led the nation with a 72.4 passing percentage last season, while running back Josh Adams is a preseason all-ACC choice after rushing for 953 yards and 11 touchdowns as a freshman. However, the Demon Deacons have had to rebuild their offensive line and receiving corps following the departures of All-America center Steve Justice and receiver Kenneth Moore, who set an ACC record with 98 catches last year.

The Bears return nine defensive starters, but will go into tonight’s game with a pair of new cornerbacks — converted wide receiver Krys Buerck and converted safety Crawford.

“They’re going to try to manage the clock and take what the defense gives them,” Crawford said. “We’re going to have to play sound defense and not allow them to get into position to make plays. We need to put them into third-and-long situations. We feel real confident in our defense, and I think we have the personnel to run the 4-3.”

When asked if he’s comfortable with his switch from safety to cornerback, Crawford said, “I feel I can play anything but the offensive line, the defensive line and quarterback. We’ve got enough competition at quarterback already.”

Briles hasn’t yet named his starting quarterback, put plans to play at least two. Freshman Robert Griffin, fifth-year senior Kirby Freeman and returning starter Blake Szymanski have battled since spring drills for the starting job.

No matter who plays quarterback for Baylor, mistakes must be kept to a minimum against a defense that led the nation in touchdowns last season with six interception returns and two fumble returns. The Demon Deacons return nine defensive starters including a pair of preseason All-Americans — linebacker Aaron Curry and cornerback Alphonso Smith.

Freeman played for Miami against Wake Forest as a redshirt freshman in 2005, hitting one of four passes off the bench in the Hurricanes’ 47-17 win. Wake Forest finished 4-7 that season, but has since turned the program around.

“They’ve come a long way since then,” Freeman said. “I saw some of those guys three years ago and now they’re seniors. They’re a mature football team and won’t be rattled.”

Briles hopes the season opener brings out a large crowd tonight at Floyd Casey Stadium. The Bears will need every edge they can get against a talented Wake Forest team.

“The home field could be an unbelievable advantage for us,” Briles said. “Baylor and the city of Waco have to help make it an advantage. It could be a critical factor.”

jwerner@wacotrib.com

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