On time: a look back at our coverage during the Coach Clawson era as Wake's head football coach steps down after 11 seasons

On December 16, 2024, some big news from the smallest of the Power 4 schools is announced, and that is the resignation of Dave Clawson as the head coach of the Wake Forest University Demon Deacons. As he transitions as a special advisor (to the VP and Director of Athletics, John Currie), we take a look back at our vantage point of the Clawson Era, specifically through our coverage of the team (from 2019-24).

Before taking our look, consider a few of the many accomplishments achieved during his time as the head coach:

• 7 winning seasons out of 11 during his tenure at Wake Forest University (2014-2024).

• 7 consecutive bowl game appearances (2016-22) with a 5-2 bowl game record (only Clemson has a longer consecutive bowl game appearance stretch during this time).

• An appearance and win in the 2021 Gator Bowl.

• Top-10 rankings during the 2021 and 2022 seasons.

• Consistency in graduating student-athletes, including having the program above a 990 (the top score is 1000) in the most recent multi-year Academic Progress Rate and a 97 (the top score is 100) in the most recent Graduation Success Rate report.

• 13 current alumni on NFL rosters in 2023 and 2024.

• 2021 ACC Coach of the Year.

Our first year of covering the team is 2019 (with a win over Utah State, whose quarterback, Jordan Love, is the starting quarterback for the Green Bay Packers). During our time covering the team, we experience the winning streak (including covering the Gator Bowl and the Gasparilla Bowl, the team's most recent bowl game appearance). Likewise, we're able to provide an up-close look at the makeup and mettle of the coach and how it's embodied across the board from the student-athletes, coaches, and related personnel.

In building a winning culture and expectations, there are some triumphant and some tense times, but a key takeaway is the consistency and tone setting, a hallmark of Coach Clawson's energy, drive, and overall effort in delivering the most successful stretch Wake Forest has ever experienced when it comes to football.

Here's a look at a key (or two) interview/conversation for each season of our coverage with the exception of 2020 (due to the pandemic as it is more virtual in nature):

2019: Arguably, given the number of players on the roster who would end up on NFL rosters, an argument can be made this is one of the more talented teams in school history. After peaking at a 7-1 record and ranking in the top-20, injuries and some off-schedule play would result in the team finishing 8-5 and concluding their season with a loss to Michigan State in the Pinstripe Bowl (at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx, NY).

However, a sense of the team's makeup is captured during our post-game interview in their 22-20 win over Florida State. The week prior, Wake would lose their first game of the season to Louisville by a 62-59 score in a a game marred by special teams miscues and other mistakes to where the Cardinals are spotted a 28-7 lead at the 14:50 mark of the 2nd quarter before storming back and nearly winning the game. The Deacs would bounce back with a gutty performance on a cold and rainy night to get back in the win column, and the coach's response is very telling:

2021: By far, some would argue this is the school's most successful team in its history.

Wake would finish ranked inside the top-15 with an 11-3 record. In addition to winning the ACC Atlantic Division and appearing in the ACC Championship Game, the team appears in a New Year's Eve Bowl, the Gator Bowl, and closes out the season with a 38-10 win over Rutgers (who replaces top-20 ranked Texas A&M who withdraws from the bowl game barely 10 days prior to the game).

The school would earn their second 11 win season in school history and cap off an extraordinary season across the board. And during the post-game, Coach Clawson provides his usual blend of open conversation and more as the team focuses on going from good to great:

2022: Wake would have another successful season, including time ranked in the top-10. Despite some tough sledding from the end of October through November, the Deacs would make their 7th consecutive bowl game.

Their win over SEC foe Missouri in the Gasparilla Bowl by a 27-17 margin allows the team to close out the season with 8 wins and their 5th bowl win during their run (5-2 overall). Not only does he reflect on the season, but shows his fun side with the student-athletes.

2023: The season is a tough one for Wake Forest. In addition to their 3-game winning streak against Florida State snapped, their bowl game run would end.

Part of reading between the lines of their 4-8 record (1-7 in the ACC) is three of their losses are by a combined 12 points. With unfavorable outcomes on the road against Clemson (17-12), Duke (24-21), and Syracuse (35-31), the team falls short of their goal of playing in December (or January) to close out the season.

In highlighting the team's lone conference win against Pitt over homecoming, Coach Clawson speaks to the win and perspective as at the time, Wake still has an opportunity to play in December (bowl game):

2024: Wake gets off to a 1-3 start, including 2 losses by a combined 4 points (31-30 to UVA and 38-35 to Louisiana) going into their first off-week. After going through "the gauntlet" with a 3-2 record (wins over NC State, UConn, and Stanford) prior to their second off-week, the team has an opportunity to play meaningful games in November and return to a bowl game. With losses down the stretch to Cal (46-36), at UNC (31-24), at Miami (42-14), and a final-play of the game loss at home against Duke (23-17), the team has another 4-8 season.

During our post-game in covering their games against 5th ranked Mississippi and 10th ranked Clemson, Coach Clawson speaks to the current landscape of college football due to NIL and the Transfer Portal and the efforts taking place to put the team in a position to be as successful as possible and achieve their goals:

There likely will be speculation on multiple levels, including who the new head coach may be, let alone which players may return or go elsewhere (as there's already some student-athlete movement).

However, over the past 11 seasons (and during our 6-year and counting experience), #DeaconNation has experienced a level of excellence that is hoped for in December 2013, when a head coach whose previous stops include 10-win seasons at Division I schools (Fordham, Richmond, and Bowling Green). Overall, he, his staff, and the student-athletes have done things that many felt could not happen at the smallest Power-4 school in the country.

Clearly as a special advisor, he'll still be around and maintain a presence synonymous with the heightened expectations that it can happen here.

Job well done Coach Clawson as Wake Forest Football, et al, embark on a new journey.

Notes: The first image and all video is recorded by Creative Community Solutions (and the closing image is used via Wake Forest Football; you may view the complete playlist for this story by clicking HERE. You may also read our college football coverage by clicking HERE.