Backer Bond: Arnoux, Curry and McClinic Bring Experience, Character and Success
By Evan Lepler

Sept. 29, 2008

Amidst the transcendent success that Demon Deacon football has basked in during the last few magical seasons, there exists an underlying shift in mentality that might be traced, in part, to the recruiting class of 2004. On defense alone, the Deacs welcomed playmakers like Alphonso Smith, Kevin Patterson, Chip Vaughn, Kerry Major, Antonio Wilson and Anthony Davis, not to mention a trio of linebackers that would help transform a program from an ACC also-ran to a national contender.

As anchors of the conference's -- and perhaps the nation's -- most underrated front seven, Stanley Arnoux, Aaron Curry, and Chantz McClinic have cultivated the seeds of possibility into an unprecedented payoff that has included records, glory and championships.

It began with a vision. They met as true freshman that first August, immediately formed a special connection and, together, contemplated what the future could bring.

"We all just got along," Arnoux said. "The whole class was pretty tight through the whole redshirt year."

"We definitely were telling each other that we wanted to be something special," recalled Curry, remembering his early days in the program. "We didn't want to come out here and just play average. We wanted to be better than average, and the only way to do that is to come out every day and work hard. And we did that together."

Entering their fifth fall in Winston-Salem, Arnoux, Curry and McClinic had already started a combined 75 games, accumulating 434 tackles, 45 tackles for losses and 13 sacks. They had picked off eight passes, returned three for touchdowns (all by Curry in 2007) and forced eight fumbles, all while serving as the backbone for Wake Forest's ball-hawking, game-changing defense.

Now, as redshirt seniors, they are as hungry as ever, enjoying the luxury of experience and cherishing the familiarity of each other both on and off the field.

"We know each others games so well," explained McClinic. "We can tell when the other does something wrong. And we've been together so long that we're comfortable enough telling each other when we've done something wrong. I know AC and Stan's games inside and out, so I can tell exactly when something's going wrong."

Although the 5'11", 225 lb. McClinic is the only member of the triumvirate not to start any games as a freshman or sophomore, both Arnoux and Curry say that McClinic is the smartest of the three.

"Chantz, he brings the brains to the table," acknowledged Curry. "He's like the quarterback of our linebacking core. He knows the whole defense in and out. He can put people in the right places. He can tell young kids what they have and what their responsibilities are."

After playing strong safety in high school and entering Wake Forest as a member of the secondary, McClinic made the transition to linebacker following his redshirt freshman year. Since he preferred the physical nature of the front seven and was able to strategically add the necessary size and strength, the shift was a seamless one under the guidance of linebackers coach Brad Lambert.

"Coach Lambert was pretty much the stepping-stone with me playing linebacker," said McClinic. "And I think he kind of coached me into the player that I am today."

Consequently, Coach Lambert might be the most appreciative beneficiary of the boatloads of experience that he is fortunate to mentor on a daily basis. Since the three backers can react to each other almost subconsciously, it is very easy to both refine old habits and teach new wrinkles.

"One thing that stands out is, when we put a new defense in or something, you'll hear them over there saying, `look I'll call this, you call that'," explained Lambert. "So they really have a good feel for each other. Chantz really calls where our defense lines up and how we do it. But they come up with ways to help him, and that's all a part of playing together and being together for so long. Those little things that you don't normally get when you have a freshman or a sophomore. You have three guys who have been together that long, they know how each other work, and that's been the thing that's fun to watch."

With McClinic functioning as the signal caller on the weak side, Arnoux and Curry pack a plethora of physical pop from the epicenter of the Deacon defense. Although Curry has exceeded his teammates in terms of national recognition and accolades, he is surprised that his 6'1", 240-pound buddy in the middle has not received even more public praise.

The All-American Curry opined, "Every time that my friends ask about our defense, I tell them, `Stan's the best defensive player we got,' because of his quickness and his abilities to change the game."

All modesties aside, when it comes to powerful game-altering play, the 6'3", 247-pound Curry brings an imposing frame that has drilled opposing tailbacks like a boxer relentlessly pounding a speed bag. If McClinic provides the wits and Arnoux supplies the consistency, Curry is the never-ending battery of enthusiasm and excitement that pursues the crowd-awing contact with every snap.

While he smiles when admitting that a weakness of his game is his uncontrollable urge to "kill everyone he hits," Curry's exceedingly passionate presence in between the lines is most certainly a vital tool towards his spectacular success.

"My passion for the game is just contagious and it spreads throughout the whole defense," Curry said with a grin. "Stan and Chantz do a really good job of keeping me going, making sure that my passion's always there and making sure I'm always excited about playing."

"[Curry] is kind of the guy that makes those big, flashy plays," said Lambert. "He's a big strong guy that can run, so he's jumped out there in terms of making big plays and that's gotten him some more accolades, but the other two are extremely steady and making a lot of good plays for us."

When the troika of talented athletes arrived on campus together for the first time as true freshmen, Lambert witnessed the gelling of youth and distinctly foresaw how important character could translate into on-field achievement.

"They came with such a good attitude, an attitude of hard work," Lambert remembered. "They're good players, but one of the best things about them is their work ethic and how much they enjoy playing football."

To have these three experienced redshirt seniors manning the middle of an already daunting defense, the Demon Deacons are enjoying another great boon to this already record-shattering Jim Grobe Era. While the Deacs have had other standouts like Brad White and Jon Abbate at the linebacker spot during this decade, the overall collective strength of the position--in terms of experience and ability--has never been stronger.

"When I first got here," said Grobe, "our linebacking core was really pretty thin. Right now, that's become not only a really talented position but one where we've got some depth."

Across the ACC, you would be hard-pressed to find a linebacking unit akin to the Arnoux, Curry and McClinic trio that Wake Forest has formed among its highly-touted 2004 recruits. Between their longevity, productivity and positive spirit that rings through on and off the field, it is quite easy to back the Deacon `backers.