WakeyLeaks

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WakeyLeaks was a college football scandal involving leaked playbook information from the Wake Forest Demon Deacons football team. [1] [2] [3] [4]

On December 13, 2016, Wake Forest University announced that Tommy Elrod, a former Demon Deacon player and assistant coach, had provided or attempted to provide confidential game preparations to opponents several times starting in 2014. Elrod had been fired from the program prior to the 2014 season, leading many to speculate that revenge was his motivation. However, Elrod has never publicly commented on the matter. [5] [6]

Many were caught in the scandal's fallout. Elrod was fired from the IMG Radio Network and banned from Wake Forest athletics and facilities. [7] The University of Louisville, Virginia Tech, Georgia assistant coach Shane Beamer, and Army defensive coordinator Jay Bateman were all fined $25,000. [8] [9] [10] However, WakeyLeaks has been noted for receiving suprisingly little attention. It has been described as "the scandal that should have rocked college football". [11]

WakeyLeaks has been credited with sparking the program to unprecedented success. Wake Forest changed from being one of the most open programs in the country to being one of the most secure. Offensive coordinator Warren Ruggiero created a new scheme that drastically improved Wake Forest's average points-per-game. By 2021, the program had reached its highest final ranking ever in the AP Poll. [12] [13]

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References

  1. ↑ Tracy, Marc (December 15, 2016). "Despite Wake Forest Leak, Coaches' Code Is Stronger Than Stolen X's and O's". The New York Times . Retrieved December 21, 2023.
  2. ↑ Feinstein, John (December 16, 2016). "With 'Wakey|Leaks,' Louisville tries to sweep scandal under the rug — again". The Washington Post . Retrieved December 21, 2023.
  3. ↑ Hale, David M. (October 24, 2017). "Fallout from 'Wakeyleaks' still being felt across college football". ESPN . Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Retrieved November 9, 2023. college football's most bizarre scandal in recent memory, in which Wake Forest's radio broadcaster — a former assistant coach — was secretly passing along insider information to the opposition
  4. ↑ Feldman, Bruce; Fortuna, Matt; Jenks, Jayson (July 12, 2022). "Inside 'WakeyLeaks,' the scandal that should have rocked college football". The Athletic . Retrieved November 9, 2023. But as it turned out, the smallest Power 5 school in the country had played with one arm tied behind its back, in a scandal that came to be known as 'WakeyLeaks.'
  5. ↑ "Wake Forest: Radio analyst leaked football info". ESPN.com. 2016-12-13. Retrieved 2024-07-20.
  6. ↑ Staff, The Athletic. "'We were skunked': Revisiting 'WakeyLeaks', one of CFB's most bizarre scandals". The New York Times. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved 2024-07-20.
  7. ↑ "Wake Forest: Radio analyst leaked football info". ESPN.com. 2016-12-13. Retrieved 2024-07-20.
  8. ↑ Pantorno, Joe. "Shane Beamer Fined $25k for Role in Wake Forest Gameplan Leaks". Bleacher Report. Retrieved 2024-07-20.
  9. ↑ "ACC fines L'ville, VA Tech after Wake scandal". ESPN.com. 2016-12-17. Retrieved 2024-07-20.
  10. ↑ Wire, S. I. (2017-02-07). "Army fines DC for role in WakeyLeaks scandal". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved 2024-07-20.
  11. ↑ Staff, The Athletic. "'We were skunked': Revisiting 'WakeyLeaks', one of CFB's most bizarre scandals". The New York Times. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved 2024-07-20.
  12. ↑ Staff, The Athletic. "'We were skunked': Revisiting 'WakeyLeaks', one of CFB's most bizarre scandals". The New York Times. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved 2024-07-20.
  13. ↑ "Wake Forest Demon Deacons Poll History". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved 2024-07-20.
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