to continue dressing up as the mascot. Initially, the responsibility to pick new Demon Deacons fell on Baldwin's fraternity, but later it broadened to include all students. Today, special tryouts are held annually for new Deacons, and the competition is very intense. A number of years later the mascot continued to be the Demon Deacon, but the full body was designed after a fan and student named "Doc" Murphrey. If he wasn't going to become a star on the football field, he would become the biggest fan the school had ever seen. "We were playing against Carolina, and the fans started hollering, 'We want Murphrey. We want Murphrey.' Peahead got tired of it and hollered, 'Murphrey, come here.' And I said, 'Coach, who do I go in for?' And he said, 'No damn body. They want you and I don't want you, so get up there with them.' I started right then and there being a cheerleader, not really a cheerleader, but just a guy who would get up when you needed somebody to rally the troops." Memorable mascots Over the years, the Deacon has performed numerous memorable stunts: Jimmy Devos (1955 Wake Forest graduate) shocked a Bowman Gray Stadium football crowd one afternoon by dropping his pants—only to reveal a pair of colorful Bermuda shorts. Ray Whitley (1957 Wake Forest graduate) introduced the art of goal-climbing to Wake Forest contests. Bill Shepherd (1960 Wake Forest graduate) answered Auburn's war eagle cry with his own "turkey buzzard." Joe Hensley (1961 Wake Forest graduate) was the first Deacon to get on the roof of Wait Chapel to motivate the students during the football season. Hap Bulger (1965 Wake Forest graduate) gained notoriety as the stately "Debonair Deacon." Jeff Dobbs (1977 Wake Forest graduate), perhaps the most well-known Deacon, was a spirited and acrobatic dancer, who has returned on occasion to inspire Wake Forest crowds with his cheering and antics. See also Wake Forest Demon Deacons football Wake Forest Demon Deacons men's basketball References External links Wake Forest Sports tradition page Atlantic Coast Conference mascots Wake Forest Demon Deacons