Swank might return

Wake's all-time scoring leader will be a game-time decision

Wake Forest senior kicker Sam Swank, who has missed six games this season, practiced 35-yard field goals on Monday for the first time since spraining his right quadriceps on Oct. 6.

Swank, a fifth-year senior who owns the school's all-time career scoring record, kicked with Nerf footballs last week but now has been cleared to practice with real footballs.

Coach Jim Grobe said in a news conference Tuesday that Swank has moved into the regular practice rotation with redshirt freshman Shane Popham, although whether Swank plays is likely to be a game-time decision for Saturday's home game against Boston College (7-3 overall, 3-3 ACC).

The Demon Deacons (6-4, 4-3) need a win over the Eagles -- plus some Maryland losses in the next two weeks -- if they are to keep alive their hopes of earning a berth into the ACC championship game on Dec. 6.

An appearance by Swank, Grobe said, probably would give the Deacs a shot of adrenaline, though the coach will not put the kicker in the game unless he's at full strength.

"He's been cleared to do everything," Grobe said. "He ran [sprints] last night with the team, he's kicking footballs. ... Now it's a matter if he's physically capable of performing well. I don't think the injury is an issue. I think it's leg strength and not having done it for so long that will be more a factor."

Grobe said that if Popham, a backup who has replaced Swank in the lineup, has the stronger week, he will be the starter.

Also, when and if he returns, Swank no longer will punt.

OFF THE TEAM: Wake redshirt sophomores Alex Frye (nose guard) and Michael Carter (free safety) have been suspended from the team.

Grobe did not indicate why they had been removed from the team with two games left in the season, other than to say they were being "knot heads."

"I have no patience at the end of the year when I've got guys that aren't focused on their team and focused on winning and doing silly stuff," Grobe said. "We'll talk after the season. When we're playing games that are as important as the ones we're playing right now, anybody on our team that I don't feel is totally focused toward that goal ... we'll sit down after the season and talk about what the future holds."

Grobe added: "It doesn't have to be much. I have a really short fuse right now."