As the 14 seniors came together for a picture with Coach Dave Clawson of Wake Forest, they started to walk slowly off the field as the school fight song blared from the public address speakers.
They seemed to want the moment to last a little longer, since their proper senior day was squashed with Saturday's cancellation of the Florida State game at Truist Field.

Wake Forest senior Boogie Basham hugs Coach Dave Clawson on Friday night at Truist Field. The Deacons game against Florida State that was scheduled for Saturday was cancelled.
It wasn’t a normal way to recognize one of the best senior classes in school history, but in the season 2020, it was the best they could do.
“Just another way of doing things,” Clawson said on Friday night.
On Friday afternoon once Florida State had pulled the plug on the game because of a positive COVID-19 test in its program, the school decided to put together something to honor a class that has 34 wins over the last five seasons and have gone to four bowl games in a row. This senior class also won three of those bowl games and last year claimed the Big Four Championship by beating N.C. State, North Carolina and Duke in the same season.
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While only a few of the senior parents were able to make it for the ceremony, maybe what was more satisfying was the seniors were surrounded by their fellow teammates. With all the isolation that’s gone on this season in trying to keep COVID-19 away, any team function is a good function.
Friday night was one of those functions.
“I think it was great that we did something and in some ways these guys might remember their senior day more than other classes because of how unique it was and how different it was,” Clawson said.
None of the seniors were made available to journalists after the ceremony.

Wake Forest seniors Ja'Cquez Williams (8) and Boogie Basham (9) watch with teammates as fireworks go off over Bridger Field House on Friday night.
After a video board tribute was played with each senior talking about their experience in the program, each senior was then introduced as the smoke machine rolled on. Each player ran through their teammates who were lined up on both sides as they cheered each one of them.
The ceremony didn’t last long on a cold night. It concluded with a short fireworks show that rang out pretty loudly because of the emptiness of the stadium.
Clawson said they tried to make the best of it, something they’ve had to do all season long.

Wake Forest senior captain Ja'Sir Taylor poses with Coach Dave Clawson (left) and athletics director John Currie.
While it was about the best way to send out the seniors, Clawson couldn’t help but relay what the team was feeling on Friday afternoon when they were told there would be no game.
Clawson said they were midway through their walk-through when he was told Florida State wasn’t coming.
“Our director of football operations Jordan Jarry came up to me and said they weren’t coming,” Clawson said. “It was like ‘no way’ and there was no easy way to say it (to his team) and I ripped the band-aide off and I just told them.”
But the senior night at least gave the Deacons some positive vibes before they went back to their hotels and their single rooms. They've been staying off campus for a few days and will stay there until the bowl game.
When Clawson was asked if his players had anything left with all the emotional tugs this season has provided, he didn’t pull any punches.
“It’s the roll of the dice every single week this year,” Clawson said. “There’s not a week that’s gone by and we wondered about that dark cloud and if it’s raining and you wouldn’t be able to play.”
The only certainly now is that the Deacons, who won’t get to go home for Christmas, only have a few days left together. They've been together since July and none of them have been home at all as they've tried to keep the football bubble from popping.
“We’re going to see it through and we can take pride that we’ve done that,” Clawson said. “We know there is a possibility of one more game and that’s it.”
PHOTOS: Wake Forest honors senior football players Friday night at Truist Field

Wake Forest seniors Ja'Cquez Williams (8) and Carlos "Boogie" Basham (9) watch with teammates as fireworks explode over Bridger Field House after a special senior night celebration, Friday, Dec. 18, 2020 at Truist Field. The Deacons game against Florida State that was scheduled for Saturday was cancelled due to coronavirus issues.

Wake Forest senior captain Carlos "Boogie" Basham (9) is greeted by teammates as he is introduced during a special senior night celebration, Friday, Dec. 18, 2020 at Truist Field.

Wake Forest senior Carlos "Boogie" Basham (9) hugs head coach Dave Clawson during a special senior night celebration, Friday, Dec. 18, 2020 at Truist Field.

Wake Forest senior captain Ja'Sir Taylor poses for a photo head football coach Dave Clawson, left, and athletics director John Currie, during a special senior night celebration, Friday, Dec. 18, 2020 at Truist Field.

Wake Forest senior captain Ja'Sir Taylor is greeted by teammates as he is introduced during a special senior night celebration, Friday, Dec. 18, 2020 at Truist Field.

Wake Forest senior captain Carlos "Boogie" Basham (9) hugs Assistant Head Coach for Defense/Defensive Line Dave Cohen during a special senior night celebration, Friday, Dec. 18, 2020 at Truist Field.

Wake Forest seniors pose for a group photo with head coach Dave Clawson at midfield of Truist Field during a special senior night celebration, Friday, Dec. 18, 2020.

Wake Forest senior linebacker DJ Taylor poses for a photo head football coach Dave Clawson, left, and athletics director John Currie, during a special senior night celebration, Friday, Dec. 18, 2020 at Truist Field.

Wake Forest senior Ja'Cquez Williams (8) gets a pat on the back from athletics director John Currie during a special senior night celebration, Friday, Dec. 18, 2020 at Truist Field.

Wake Forest senior linebacker DJ Taylor is greeted by teammates as he is introduced during a special senior night celebration, Friday, Dec. 18, 2020 at Truist Field.

Wake Forest head football coach Dave Clawson watches a presentation on the video board a special senior night celebration, Friday, Dec. 18, 2020 at Truist Field.

Wake Forest senior Ja'Cquez Williams (8) gets a fist bump from head coach Dave Clawson during a special senior night celebration, Friday, Dec. 18, 2020 at Truist Field.

Wake Forest senior Jake Simpson is introduced during a special senior night celebration, Friday, Dec. 18, 2020 at Truist Field.

Wake Forest athletics director John Currie, right, jokes with head football coach Dave Clawson before a special senior night celebration, Friday, Dec. 18, 2020 at Truist Field.

The Deacon mascot enters Truist Field on motorcycle to kick off a special senior night celebration, Friday, Dec. 18, 2020.

Wake Forest senior Connor Hebbeler poses for a photo head football coach Dave Clawson, left, and athletics director John Currie, during a special senior night celebration, Friday, Dec. 18, 2020 at Truist Field.

Wake Forest senior Taleni Suhren is greeted by teammates as he is introduced during a special senior night celebration, Friday, Dec. 18, 2020 at Truist Field.

Wake Forest senior Adam Winter is greeted by teammates as he is introduced during a special senior night celebration, Friday, Dec. 18, 2020 at Truist Field.

Wake Forest senior Goran Jovanovic reacts as he is introduced during a special senior night celebration, Friday, Dec. 18, 2020 at Truist Field.

Wake Forest senior Ian Driscoll takes the field as he is introduced during a special senior night celebration, Friday, Dec. 18, 2020 at Truist Field.

Wake Forest senior Jeff Burley takes the field as he is introduced during a special senior night celebration, Friday, Dec. 18, 2020 at Truist Field.

Wake Forest senior Keegan Good poses for a photo head football coach Dave Clawson, left, and athletics director John Currie, during a special senior night celebration, Friday, Dec. 18, 2020 at Truist Field.
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