The Demon Deacon
Those Deacons…
There are few college mascots as interesting as the Wake Forest Demon Deacon.
The Demon Deacon is a nod to the university’s history. Though now an independent university, Wake Forest was founded by Baptists near Raleigh in 1834. The name Deacon made its first appearance in the public domain on Nov. 9, 1923, when the Old Gold and Black referred to the football team as the “demon deacons” in a brief story about the next day’s game.
But it wasn’t until 1941 that some WFU students came up with the idea of designing a mascot based on a Baptist church deacon. The Deacon made his first appearance in top hat, tails, and umbrella.
Then, anecdotally at least, the Deacon was christened with his fierce adjective during a football game when a school reporter announced, “Those Deacons are playing like demons.”
The mascot has gone through some changes over the decades – but remains distinguished and distinctive.
Did You Know? 
The Demon Deacon mascot is 7 feet tall. While he is not certified to compete in actual games, he does make an appearance at more than 120 home contests every academic year.
What’s next?
Keep Exploring
Exciting things happen at Wake Forest every day! Check out additional topics to discover your niche and where you’ll leave your mark as a Demon Deacon, and learn more about affordability and explore our residence halls.
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Learn more about how to enroll and make your deposit.
Register for Campus Day
Welcome home, Deac! Are you ready for a sneak peek into your next four years? Join us for Campus Day on either Friday, April 4, or Friday, April 11. It’s your chance to explore the Forest and get a feel for what makes this place so special.
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Questions?
Reach out to your regional dean, who will be more than happy to answer them.