Turns out Wake Forest has been playing 11-on-12 football this whole time.
The college revealed Tuesday that radio announcer Tommy Elrod has been giving away its game plans to Demon Deacons opponents since 2015. An investigation uncovered emails, text messages and phone records that “provided or attempted to provide confidential and proprietary game preparations on multiple occasions,” Wake found.
No members of its actual athletic department, football staff or players were involved in the actions, the university specified Tuesday in a media release. Elrod — an alum of the school and a member of its football team from 1993-1997 — has been fired from his radio job and banned from Wake Forest athletics and facilities.
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Elrod was at one point on the actual coaching staff. The former graduate assistant under Jim Grobe held various positions over 11 seasons.
Current head football coach Dave Clawson did not retain him, however. Instead, Elrod joined the Wake Forest IMG Radio Network in 2014 as a football analyst.
“I have known Tommy Elrod since his days as a player on our football team. I’m deeply disappointed that he would act against Wake Forest, our football team and our fans in such a harmful manner by compromising confidential game preparation information,” Ron Wellman, Wake Forest Director of Athletics, said. “It is a relief that the team can move forward without his actions further undermining the positive strides Dave Clawson, his staff and the team have made. All of us are now preparing for final exams and the Military Bowl and continuing to build an outstanding football program.”
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“I am extremely disappointed that our confidential and proprietary game preparation was compromised. It’s incomprehensible that a former Wake Forest student-athlete, graduate-assistant, full-time football coach, and current radio analyst for the school, would betray his alma mater,” Clawson added. “We allowed him to have full access to our players, team functions, film room, and practices. He violated our trust which negatively impacted our entire program. I am glad we have taken steps to ensure it will not happen in the future. At this point, this is a matter for Ron Wellman and others to act on. My staff and I are focused on Temple and preparing the team for the Military Bowl.”
Wake finished 6-6 this regular season. The ACC team will face off with Temple University on Tuesday, Dec. 27, in the Military Bowl.
The investigation for a mole began following the school’s blowout loss to Louisville last month despite Wake having a second-half lead. Clawson said at the time that he was “concerned that there was some type of security breach.”
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