Lebanon, Tennessee – This Friday, CollegefootballFan.com ventures on to carry out our toughest task this season, and that is to continue our “tradition” of attending a Wake Forest Victory! You ask, “Against No. 5 Miami? Are you crazy?” Of course! Attending our 744th and 745th college games this weekend doesn’t already prove that? Yes, I’m crazy, but we always feel inclined to make a commitment each year to our Wake Forest host, Jim “Bugaluga” Harton and his dedicated Demon Deacon friends and fellow Alum.
For when I first met “Bugaluga” daily in the wee hours of morning work-outs at our company gym in Cranbury, New Jersey, we didn’t talk much business. Instead, we focused more on fun stuff like sports. That turned to college football discussions, of course. Easy lead-in. Jim mentioned he proudly graduated from Wake Forest in 1974.
Proud Wake Forest Alum
There, he had his “smart friends” (those who helped him prepare for a very successful career in the chemical industry). They nicknamed him “Bug.” Had to do with him quietly hanging around them sucking up a lot of gainful knowledge. Still though, he remains closer to his “fun friends.” Basically, his fraternity brothers who love to golf, party and get-together for football tailgates for many years since graduation. With them, he sucked down a lot of Jack Daniels.
Demon Deac alumni generally earn more than one nickname
The fun group friends tagged Jim with the name “Bugaluga.” That from a cast of friends who all still go by their college nicknames – “One Iron,” “Goober,” Bugaluga’s Army General roommate, “Large Wally,” and the one female member of the group, “Wheels.” Then, there is “Earl,” the primary organizer. He goes by his real name because he’s got 42 about different nicknames among the Wake Forest community.
Rare statistic among Demon Deacon fans
Well, when we met, I hit Jim with an amazing stat of my own pertaining to Wake Forest. As of 2014, I told him that I had seen his Deacons play five games, and they had won all five! Amazed, Jim responded, “Nobody has ever attended five Wake Forest games and seen them win all five!” Later that season, we tailgated in Annapolis when the Deacs defeated Temple in the Military Bowl, 34-26.
In 2017, Jim and his wife Courtenay retired to Winston-Salem, closer to family and Jim’s alma mater. They invited me and fellow company “gym-rat,” George “Iron Man” Lazarides to tailgate with his “fun friends.” Wake defeated Louisville in an exciting game, 42-32. Afterwards, Jim’s fun friends bestowed a nickname on me. Due to my history with Wake Forest football, my moniker marked me as “Seven and oh Koreivo!” Well later that season, the Deacs defeated Texas A&M, 55-52, at the Belk Bowl I attended with Jim and Deacon friends. Upgraded me to “Eight and oh.” In 2019, the Deacons disappointingly lost in my presence to Louisville. Hard-fought scrape, however, 62-59! Stalwart Deacon fans and alum insisted to adjust my moniker only slightly – “Eight and almost oh.”
Deacon fans persist
Got up to “11 and almost oh.” Disaster struck though in 2023. Florida State drubbed the Deacs, 41-16. But the faithful fans held tight. They held me at ”11 and almost oh.” Wins against NC A&T the next year and then vs. UNC last season put me up to “13 and almost oh.” Wake Forest – 13-2? Not bad. Still an honorable record! I told them I’m up to a big challenge in 2026. I decided I want to give the Hurricanes my best shot this year.
Unknown Edge at play here
With a backfield of Tulane portal transfer Darian Mensah at QB, outstanding WR Malachi Toney returning, and RB Mark Fletcher back from the CFP runner-up last year, the Canes are formidable and ranked No. 5 in the AP poll. The Deacs have some talented returnees from a pretty good defense under HC Jake Dickert last season. They rely on new QB Gio Lopez with his former OC Bob Ezell who guided him successfully at South Alabama to direct the offense two years ago.
Thus far, the Demon Deacons defeated Akron and Purdue in their first two games. Miami defeated Stanford and FCS Florida A&M (77-7) last week. So, what? They haven’t been challenged yet. If the Deacons can pull out the win against the Hurricanes, remember it might have happened because the future “14 and almost oh Koreivo” made the effort to attend to bring the Deacs an upset Victory!
“Oh, here’s to Wake Forest!”
D-2 side trip on return home on Saturday
When scheduling this Friday night ACC brawl, I sought a Saturday game not too far from Winston-Salem. It had to preferably be on my way back to HQ to post games on my website by Monday. It could be at any level of NCAA football, but it had to be competitive, and it had to be within budget. A few ideas got kicked around. It looked like West Georgia, a new FCS program, would visit East Tennessee State in Johnson City. WGU started 0-3. Outscored 125-17 to date. Doesn’t look very competitive now.
Our research resulted with a better choice finding a D-2 game between two teams with 2-1 records. We will add both to our history for the first time. In a South Atlantic Conference clash, the Anderson Trojans from South Carolina meet the Pioneers of Tusculum University in Greeneville, Tennessee. We get to attend a game near the birthplace of Davey Crockett. We know of him, but nothing else about either team. We look forward to this new experience and sharing it online.
Mark your calendars for around October 3
For the second time this season, an interview with Pete Spadora on Sports will be broadcast on the I-Hart radio network during the weekend of October 3. Pete delves into topics with me regarding the impact of the new “Protect College Sports Act,” pending changes, Power Five teams that can possibly faulter, and a surprise or two to make this year’s CFP in my humble opinion. All in about 12 minutes. Look for updated announcement here to link on here before then!
