Virginia Tech contacted over involvement in Wake Forest leaking scandal
Virginia Tech has emerged as the third school to be informed of its involvement in the Wake Forest leaking scandal, according to a source. Virginia Tech joins Louisville and Army, which emerged earlier in the week.
Virginia Tech’s only game with Wake Forest in the three years being investigated, 2014 through 2016, came from Wake Forest’s 6–3 double overtime victory in 2014. That game ended scoreless in regulation and became a popular target for Internet mockery.
A source told Sports Illustrated that the information provided to Virginia Tech came to a former assistant coach and was regarding potential trick plays for that game. Former Virginia Tech coach Frank Beamer, who was the head coach at the time, told David Teel of the Daily Press this week that he had no knowledge of being given information by Wake Forest.
“We have recently been made aware that a former Wake Forest staff member provided one of our former assistant coaches with some game plan information prior to our game in 2014," Virginia Tech athletic director Whit Babcock said in a statement. "We have no indication at this time that any of this information was shared with any other staff members, nor utilized during the game itself. However, should new information become available, we will be forthcoming and transparent.
"We hold ourselves to a higher standard at Virginia Tech. We are disappointed and embarrassed that this type of information was distributed to, and apparently received by one of our former assistant coaches. The distribution of this type of information among peers or rivals is wrong and not in the vein of sportsmanship and integrity that we demand and expect, and for this, I would like to take this opportunity to personally apologize to the coaches, student-athletes, administration, alumni, students and fans of Wake Forest University."
Not just a joke: ACC must punish offending teams in Wake Forest scandal
This widens the scope of the scandal that’s become known as WakeyLeaks. Louisville athletic director Tom Jurich admitted in a statement Wednesday night that a staff member accepted a “few” plays from former Wake Forest assistant coach Tommy Elrod. Elrod worked as the Demon Deacons color commentator the past three years. He played at Wake Forest from 1993–97 and later coached on the staff until being let go prior to the 2014 season. Current Wake Forest coach Dave Clawson chose not to retain Elrod, who then took a job as the school’s color commentator.
Army athletic director Boo Corrigan told Sports Illustrated on Wednesday night that he’d received notice from Wake Forest as well.
