The Demon Deacon riding on to the field with his motorcycle has become a tradition during many Wake Forest home games for not only football, but basketball and soccer as well.

The Demon Deacon is the mascot of Wake Forest University, a school located in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Probably best known for its slightly unorthodox name and appearance, the Demon Deacon has become a mainstay in the world of U.S. college mascots.

History[link]

The early years and "The Old Gold & Black"[link]

Like most old U.S. universities, the origins of Wake Forest's mascot are distinctive, yet somewhat debated. As early as 1895, Wake Forest College (as it was called at the time) was using its colors in athletic competition. The school's literary magazine, "The Wake Forest Student," described them in this manner:

"At last, Wake Forest has a college badge. It is a very neat button designed by Mr. John M. Heck and contains a tiger's head over the letters WFC. The colors are in old gold and black." [1]

During the early part of the 20th century, these colors became more and more associated with the college. Since Wake Forest was founded as a Baptist college, some historians have proposed an association with the Bible, but most people believe their adoption comes from the connection with the original tiger mascot.

The tiger mascot stayed with the school for a little more than two decades, but reports indicate that by the early 1920s, the college's nicknames were most commonly noted as the "Baptists," or "The Old Gold & Black."

The first few decades of the 20th century were particularly rough for the Wake Forest athletic squads, but in 1923, Hank Garrity took the head football and basketball coaching jobs. His leadership gave the school a short relief from its early mediocrity when he led the football team to three consecutive winning seasons, and the basketball team compiled a 33-14 combined record in two seasons.

In 1923, the Wake Forest football team defeated rival Trinity (later renamed Duke University). In the following issue of the school newspaper, the editor of the paper, Mayon Parker (1924 Wake Forest graduate), first referred to the team as "Demon Deacons," in recognition of what he called their "devilish" play and fighting spirit. Henry Belk, Wake Forest's news director, and Garrity liked the title and used it often, so the popularity of the term grew.

Mascot[link]

The actual mascot made its first appearance in 1941. As the "Demon Deacon" terminology became more popular, Jack Baldwin (1943 Wake Forest graduate) took the first step and became the first in the long line of Deacon mascots.

"Some of my fraternity brothers and I were just sitting around one evening," Baldwin recalls, "and came to the agreement that what Wake Forest needed was someone dressed like a deacon -- top hat, tails, a black umbrella and all that. We wanted him to be more dignified than other mascots, sort of like an old Baptist Deacon would dress" [2]

Baldwin found an old tuxedo and a top hat, and on the following Saturday, he led the Wake Forest football team onto the field, riding the North Carolina ram. Two years later, when Baldwin graduated, many interested students were willing to continue dressing up as the mascot. Initially, the responsibility to pick new Demon Deacons fell on Baldwin's fraternity, but later it broadened to include all students. Today, special tryouts are held annually for new Deacons, but the competition is very intense.

Number of years later the mascot continued to be the Demon Deacon but the full body was designed after a legendary fan and student named "Doc" Murphrey. If he wasn't going to become a star on the football field, he would become the biggest fan the school had ever seen. "We were playing against Carolina, and the fans started hollering, 'we want Murphrey, we want Murphrey.' Peahead got tired of it and hollered, 'Murphey come here.' And I said 'coach, who do I go in for?' And he said 'no damn body. They want you and I don't want you, so get up there with them.' I started right then and there being a cheerleader, not really a cheerleader, but just a guy who would get up when you needed somebody to rally the troops."

Memorable mascots[link]

Over the years, the Deacon has performed numerous memorable stunts:

• Jimmy Devos (1955 Wake Forest graduate) shocked a Bowman Gray Stadium football crowd one afternoon by dropping his pants -- only to reveal a pair of colorful Bermuda shorts.
• Ray Whitley (1957 Wake Forest graduate) introduced the art of goal-climbing to Wake Forest contests.
• Chet Kushman (1959 Wake Forest graduate) earned the moniker "Lunch Pail Deacon" because of his workmanlike attitude as mascot.
• Bill Shepherd (1960 Wake Forest graduate) answered Auburn's war eagle cry with his own "turkey buzzard."
• Joe Hensley (1961 graduate Wake Forest graduate) was the first Deacon to get on the roof of Wait Chapel to motivate the students during the football season.
• Hap Bulger (1965 Wake Forest graduate) gained notoriety as the stately "Debonair Deacon."
• Jeff Dobbs (1977 Wake Forest graduate), perhaps the most well-known Deacon, was a spirited and acrobatic dancer, who has returned on occasion to inspire Wake Forest crowds with his cheering and antics.
• Ras Chavman (1981 Wake Forest graduate) fell into a coma after smashing his head on a Gatorade jug while headbanging.

See also[link]

• Wake Forest Demon Deacons football
• Wake Forest Demon Deacons men's basketball

External links[link]

• Wake Forest Sports tradition page

This article relies on references to primary sources or sources affiliated with the subject, rather than references from independent authors and third-party publications. Please add citations from reliable sources. (July 2009)

Cone Health (formerly the Moses Cone Health System) is a private, not-for-profit, healthcare delivery system based in Greensboro, North Carolina. It includes Moses H. Cone Memorial Hospital, Wesley Long Community Hospital, Women's Hospital of Greensboro, Moses Cone Behavioral Health Center, Annie Penn Hospital (Reidsville, North Carolina), Moses Cone MedCenter High Point, Moses Cone MedCenter Kernersville, an extended care center, various offices, clinics and physicians' practices, including LeBauer HealthCare (a multi-specialty practice).

Cone Health is active^[1] in cardiology, neuroscience, oncology, rehabilitation and obstetrics. In January 2005, the health system became the first five-hospital system in the Southeast to be awarded the Magnet Recognition for Nursing Excellence,^[2] a grade of approval for quality nursing care.

The Moses H. Cone Memorial Hospital, the flagship of the system, opened in 1953 on 63 acres (250,000 m²) near downtown Greensboro. Bertha Cone established it in honor of her husband, Moses H. Cone. Moses Cone was a textile magnate and founder of Cone Mills.

References[link]

External links[link]

• Official website

This article about a medical organization or association is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. v t e

This North Carolina-related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. v t e

Jon Abbate (born June 18, 1985) is an American football linebacker, most recently on the roster of the Sacramento Mountain Lions of the United Football League. He played college football at Wake Forest University in 2004-2006 and was signed as a free agent by the Houston Texans of the NFL in 2007.

Early years[link]

Abbate grew up in Marietta, Georgia, where he attended Carl Harrison High School. His senior season, he was the state of Georgia's leading tackler with 207 total, averaging more than 15 tackles a game. He also had 25 tackles for a loss and 10 sacks that season. He was all county and all state every year except for his freshman year. He was the defensive player of the year in the state of GA for his senior season.

College career[link]

After redshirting his first year in college, Abbate immediately became a starter in 2004. During that redshirt freshman season, Abbate had 101 tackles, including 13 tackles for a loss.^[1] In 2005, Abbate only had 76 tackles because of injury problems.^[2]

During the 2006 season, Abbate led the team in tackles with 120 (second in the ACC). He had a late interception in the endzone against rival University of North Carolina. In the ACC Championship in Jacksonville, Florida, Abbate had 15 tackles against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets. The Deacons won that game 9-6. Abbate was voted as the MVP of the game for ABC.

Abbate then played in the Orange Bowl against the University of Louisville. He had 15 tackles in that game, the first Bowl Championship Series bowl game participation for Wake Forest. Abbate was named an All-American (honorable mention, Sports Illustrated) and first team All-ACC (ACSMA, College Football News) in recognition of his performance throughout his final season during which he averaged 8.6 tackles per game.

The 2006 season[link]

In February 2006, 15-year-old brother, Luke, was killed in a car accident on the way home from lacrosse practice. Before his junior season, Abbate asked head coach Jim Grobe whether he could switch his jersey number from 40 to 5 - the number his brother wore. Grobe agreed, and Abbate wore the number throughout his junior season. During the 2006 season, Abbate and his family would hold up five fingers before the start of the fourth quarter as a tribute to Luke. As the season progressed, Abbate's teammates, Wake Forest fans, and even fans of opposing teams began holding up five fingers as well—a tradition that would garner much media attention during the Deacons' successful year. Additionally, the Abbate family created the "Five Foundation" to raise awareness belowe young people of the responsibilities and dangers of driving.^[3] A movie about Jon Abbate, his brother Luke, and Wake Forest's 2006 football season, entitled The 5th Quarter, was released on March 25, 2011.^[4]

Professional career[link]

National Football League[link]

Houston Texans[link]

At the conclusion of the 2006 season, Abbate decided to enter the 2007 NFL Draft. "Unless someone could promise me if I went back that I'd grow three inches, the decision was pretty easy," Abbate said^{[citation needed]}. "I could have gone back and been productive again, had another 100-plus tackles. But I'd be in the same situation with my height as a knock." Abbate was not drafted due to tearing his hamstring at the nfl combine but following the draft he signed a three-year contract with the Houston Texans as an free agent.^[5] The Texans converted him from linebacker to fullback.

Abbate was placed on season-ending injured reserve on September 1, 2007, with an ankle injury. He was waived after a failed physical on August 29, 2008.^[6] However, he was re-signed shortly after on March 1^{[citation needed]}. He was waived again on July 22, 2009^{[citation needed]}.

Abbate was re-signed by the Texans again on August 24, 2008 after wide receiver Harry Williams was placed on injured reserve^{[citation needed]}.

Washington Redskins[link]

Abbate was picked up by the Redskins this offseason but was then released due to failing his physical.

New Orleans Saints[link]

Abbate spent the off season with the Saints after failing his physical with the Redskins.^{[citation needed]}

United Football League[link]

Abbate was on the roster of the Sacramento Mountain Lions (formerly known as the California Redwoods) for parts of the 2009 and 2010 seasons.^[7]

References[link]

External links[link]

• Houston Texans bio
• Wake Forest Demon Deacons bio
• The 5th Quarter at the Internet Movie Database

Randolph Childress (born September 21, 1972, in Washington, D.C.) is an American former professional basketball player who last played in Italy for Cestistica San Severo. He currently works as an assistant to the athletic director for the Wake Forest University athletic department.^[1]

Childress played collegiately at Wake Forest University, where he averaged 18.4 points per game for his four-year career. His collegiate highlight came in 1995, when he delivered one of the most outstanding ACC Tournament performances of all time. Named tournament MVP, Childress along with sophomore Tim Duncan, carried the Demon Deacons to the title, Childress averaged 35.7 points and 7 assists per game. In the finals, against a UNC team featuring Jerry Stackhouse and Rasheed Wallace, Childress scored 37 with 7 assists and hit a game-winning jumper with 4 seconds left in overtime.^[2] He was honored as the ACC Male Athlete of the Year in 1995. In 2002, Childress was named to the ACC 50th Anniversary men's basketball team, honoring the fifty greatest players in ACC history.

In the 1995 NBA Draft, Childress was selected in the 1st round (19th overall) by the Detroit Pistons. Childress played in two NBA seasons for the Pistons and Portland Trail Blazers, averaging 2.4 points per game. His NBA career was cut short by a torn ACL and disagreements with Trail Blazers coach P. J. Carlesimo.

After leaving the NBA, Childress played in 1997-1999 in the Turkish Basketball League for Tofaş SAS and Konya Kombassan.^[3] Childress went on to play ten games for the Sydney Kings in the 2000-01 Australian National Basketball League season.^[4] Childress then played for various teams in the Italian leagues.

Notes[link]

External links[link]

• NBA stats, basketballreference.com