On September 1st, the 100th season of Duke Football kicks off against Florida International University at 7:00 PM from Wallace Wade Stadium. Just over 8 months ago, we last saw the Blue Devils in their helmets and pads against UNC, in game that will likely go down in history as a V (as in “Vacated”).
There is, as there has been ever since Coach David Cutcliffe arrived in Durham, a sense of optimism that this could be “Duke’s year” that the Blue Devils return to a bowl game for the first time since 1994. Cutcliffe asserts that getting to a bowl is “achievable”. Coming off a season with three wins, and four losses by just one possession, the hill certainly seems to be that much closer to being overcome.
That process started yesterday, as the 2012-13 version of Duke Blue Devils Football reported to practice for team meetings and the beginning of three weeks of hard practicing to get ready for the Labor Day Weekend season opener. Practice kicks off today at the Wallace Wade Stadium complex, aided for the second year by the Bob Paschal Field House, Duke’s state of the art indoor practice facility that sits adjacent to Wallace Wade and runs along the outdoor practice field just south of The Wade.
In June, it seemed as though the biggest story of the offseason would have been the fact that Peyton Manning spent his offseason rehabilitating from neck injuries in Durham under the tutelage and care of his former offensive coordinator, Coach Cutcliffe. Manning held private workouts for the 49ers and Denver Broncos at Duke and continued working throughout the summer. He threw balls to a number of Duke receivers and working out with the team and current quarterbacks, Sean Renfree, Anthony Boone, Brandon Connette and Thomas Sirk. Manning also spent time with Duke offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach Kurt Roper and Cutcliffe had this to say about his former pupil:
During Peyton’s time here, Peyton was good enough to share with those guys, to talk to them about habits just playing quarterback. He was great with [Duke offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach] Kurt Roper. Peyton spent time with him.
“It’s immeasurable, but it’s continued because of the resource. And now Sean has really studied it and sees some of the things that you try to tell him would make a difference, and now he can see it because I have all of this drill tape of Peyton right here, which is just an unbelievable resource for a young quarterback.
The entire impact of Peyton on Renfree and Roper will likely not be seen immediately, but the mere presence of such a huge figure in the football world being at a downtrodden program like Duke has paid dividends off the field
“This has certainly helped generate some enthusiasm and interest in the program around this campus,” Cutcliffe said, acknowledging the exposure. ” . . . It’s shown in California. It’s shown everywhere.”
“I think it’s good for Duke football that we’ve gotten a lot of attention, a lot of words,” Cutcliffe said. “I would hope coaches — particularly young coaches everywhere — understand why something like that happens. It’s because of trust. And the only way to get somebody to trust you that much is that relationship’s got to be real.”
Unfortunately, an event that occurred to one of those wide receivers that Manning was throwing to turned out to be the most significant one of the summer. On July 4th, rising sophomore Blair Holliday was celebrating the holiday on Lake Tillery in North Carolina with a number of his teammates. Holliday was voted Duke’s most improved offensive player after a strong spring showing but on this day, his good fortune would not continue. A collision with teammate Jamison Crowder’s jet ski led to Holliday needing to be resuscitated lakeside by a nursing student who happened to be on the scene. Blair continues to make progress in his recovery and his family has setup a website (BlairHolliday.org) and a trust fund to accept donations. Please make a contribution if you can at: http://www.giveforward.com/theblairhollidayrecoveryfund
Duke added a number of players to the roster in the 2012 recruiting class, with North Carolina natives Keilin Rayner and Jela Duncan, both 3 star players, surprised many by faxing in their National Letters of Intent to Duke. While Duncan looks at a stacked depth chart ahead of him, along with fellow 3 star running back from the class of 2012 Shaq Powell, Rayner could see some snaps right away with an injury-stricken linebacker corps needing some players to step in.
While not the usual progression in the college football world, Duke also received a transfer from the Ohio State Buckeyes as DB Jeremy Cash chose to leave Columbus when Coach Jim Tressel left after scandal ripped through the program. Cash was a four-star defensive back when he committed to the Buckeyes in 2011 and played in five games as a true freshman last year. He would have been the highest ranked player in Duke’s 2011 recruiting class if he would have signed right out of high school, and will make a welcome addition to the defensive backfield in practice this season and in live play during the 2013-14 football season and beyond.
While there were many additions and changes to the Duke Football roster this offseason, the biggest factor for Duke’s success heading into this season lies in the hands of the 43 lettermen and 17 starters returning from last year’s team. 15 seniors, highlighted by preseason All-ACC first team selection Conner Vernon and redshirt senior Sean Renfree, look to lead Duke back to the postseason. These guys came to Durham in 2008 and 2009 because they believed the Blue Devils could be successful on the gridiron. This is the last chance they will have to see that success come to reality.
We’ll be previewing the upcoming season over the next three weeks. Stay tuned to get to know your Duke Blue Devils.
If you’re looking to get tickets for this season (one of the best deals in college football), go here. Duke will also be holding its annual “Meet The Blue Devils” day on August 18th. This is a family-friendly atmosphere and is a great way to meet the players and coaches on a personal level before they go to battle on the field. Go here for more details.
