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By Stephen Cheek
SouthernPigskin.com State of North Carolina Columnist
SouthernPigskin.com State of North Carolina Columnist Stephen Cheek wonders if Duke can go bowling this season?
Several weeks ago I wrote in this space that NC State had a clear path to the ACC championship game based on the play of everyone else in the ACC Atlantic Division. Since that time, NC State has rewarded my confidence in their abilities with 3 straight losses to teams I thought they would dominate. Last week, I placed my faith in Wake Forest as the best team in the state of North Carolina based on the fact that they seemed to have corrected the mistakes and miscues that had cost them wins against both BC and Baylor. The Deacs promptly rewarded my confidence in them with a blowout loss to Clemson in which they were not competitive. As a result, I figure I would turn my Kiss of Death column on the Duke Blue Devils. After their season opening loss to Richmond, I wrote their team off as the same old same old. Despite a rich pedigree from Coach David Cutcliffe and signs of life last year in competitive play, I figured Duke was still Duke: the worst program in the BCS. Now with the ACC Atlantic distinguishing itself as the worst division in major college football, and rival North Carolina possessing an offense to rival the Tennessee Titans (as in the goose egg they produced against New England last Sunday) the window is open for Duke to go bowling for the first time in 15 seasons.
David Cutcliffe would be the first to tell you that Duke stunk against Richmond in the season opener. No offense intended to the Spiders, for they are the defending FCS champs, but it is unlikely that there is a single player on Richmond’s squad who was offered a scholarship to Duke. That is not to say Duke is a football powerhouse, but they have more talent than Richmond without a doubt. Duke had a 4 year starter at QB returning, depth on the defense for the first time in many seasons and was playing at home. All that equaled a 16-13 Richmond win and everyone who pays attention to Duke Football resigning themselves to the idea that the new Blue Devils were the same as the old Blue Devils. The next week though, Duke showed some signs of life in a victory at West Point against the US Military Academy. While not the Army teams of Doc Blanchard and Glenn Davis, the victory was a FBS win none the less and at Duke you take every win you can get. Building on the confidence gained at Army, the Devils traveled out to Kansas and played an incredible basketball game with the Jayhawks (not really although that would have been fun) but did score on their opening play from scrimmage in the less exciting football matchup. While the 44-16 result in Lawrence was not to Devil fans liking, it did not crush the confidence of this team. The next week, Duke showed up and defeated a lesser opponent in crosstown foe North Carolina Central in a match designed to settle the score in the Duke Lacrosse fiasco (again not really and if anything, was meant to heal the wounds of that episode.) After that momentum building 44-14 victory over the Eagles from Central and a strong showing loss against national power VT however, the Devils proceeded to wipe the floor with NC State. In the victory over NCSU, Duke put up 500+ yards of offense and 49 points on a team that started the season with hopes of contending for the ACC. Now with pathetic Maryland coming to Durham, Duke is brimming with confidence at their own improvement. These are the types of games though that the old Duke loses, so it remains to be seen if the new Duke can show up and play from a position of strength for once.
Now if I were a betting man, the history says that you would never bet on Duke to go to a bowl but if you look at the ACC landscape right now, the question to ask is not “Why Duke?” But instead “Why not Duke?”
Their remaining schedule is Maryland, at UVA, at UNC, GT, at Miami and Wake to end the year. Of those only GT and Miami seem to be out of reach. I could easily see Duke winning the other four based on their improvement, and the poor play at times of the Terps, Cavs, Heels and Deacs. Since NCCU is considered a transitional program in the process of moving to Div 1 football, that win does not count towards bowl eligibility so Duke will have to win all four of those games I highlighted. Some might consider that a tall task, but if the Duke that played NCSU is the Duke team for the rest of the year, it is easy to see the Devils playing in Washington, DC or even Charlotte to end the season. Considering that the ACC has nine bowl tie-ins and that it has been 15 years since Duke last played in a bowl, any postseason game will jump at a chance to take the Blue Devils. They know their fans will travel and that Duke has a national fan base due to the nature of their Alumni base. If they make it at 7-5 or even 6-6 it will be a complete validation of David Cutcliffe’s work since his arrival at the start of last season. Of course Duke will have to survive the Old North State Pigskin curse…a feat that neither Carolina, State nor Wake has been able to accomplish. Something tells me though that the inconsistency and unpredictable nature of the ACC is just the medicine needed to overcome this column’s jinx. After all, as bad as some of the teams in the conference have played at times, somebody has to win the games. It might as well be Duke.
Week 7 Old North State Power Rankings
1. North Carolina – The Tar Heels are back atop my power rankings but more due to others losing than anything else. Offensive woes accounted for the drop and will have to improve in order to maintain this position. With a reeling FSU team on deck in the first ever Thursday night game in Chapel Hill, UNC fans are excited and some of the preseason enthusiasm has returned. I think the Heels have the highest ceiling of any team in the state, but may have the most difficult time reaching it due to the fact that VT, Miami and BC all remain in addition to rivals Duke and NCSU. Record 4-2 overall 0-2 in the ACC Next up: FSU Thursday Night
2. Wake Forest – Losing to Clemson is not anything to be embarrassed about, but it is the fact that Wake was not competitive in this game that has to be troubling to Deac fans. Maybe it is the curse of the #1 Old North State ranking, since that spot has been a musical chair over the past few weeks. Wake has a chance to redeem themselves on Saturday against Navy whom they will be facing for the third time in the past two seasons. Lose there and a bowl might be in doubt. Record 4-3 overall, 2-2 in the ACC Next up: at Navy
3. Duke – After a bye week, Duke has a chance to start a win streak on Saturday against reeling Maryland. If Duke is going to gain any respect as a program, this is the type of game they have to win. Maryland is not good by any stretch of the imagination, but I guarantee they are thinking that Duke is their get well game to turn their season around. Duke needs to change that perception and they can start by winning on Saturday at home. Record 3-3 overall 1-1 in the ACC Next up: Maryland
4. East Carolina – Good win over Rice chalks up another C-USA victory for the Pirates. Memphis is another winnable game followed by a nationally televised contest in Greenville with VT. While a win there is unlikely, ECU definitely can pick up some positive exposure with a good showing. With C-USA championship berth still available for the taking, there is a lot to still play for down east. Record 4-3 overall 3-1 in C-USA Next up: at Memphis
5. NC State – I think I can cut out some of the postings I have made for Western Carolina and paste them here for the Wolfpack. Terrible is the only way to describe the blasting that State got up in Boston from the BC Eagles. When a RB rushes for 5TDs on you, you know you don’t have a good run defense. And people said that was the State strongpoint? Man…it went south in a hurry in Raleigh this season. If things don’t improve soon the Wolfpack might not win again this year. Record 3-4, 0-3 in the ACC Next up: Bye
Tied for 6. Appalachian State – The Mountaineers are keeping the train rolling in up in Boone with a victory over Wofford. The fact that the defense is giving up a bunch of points might be cause for some concern, but App has the offense to outscore any opponent. Can they live up to those expectations and their pedigree? That is the question. Record 4-2 overall 2-0 in the SoCon Next up: Georgia Southern
Tied for 6. Elon – After a bye week, the Phoenix get a surprising Chattanooga squad at home. While the Mocs have won a few, I will be surprised if this game is within 2 TDs. Elon just has too much offense this year. Terrell Hudgins will play on Sundays in the future, but until then he is gonna catch a lot more TDs for Elon. Record 5-1 overall 3-0 in the SoCon Next up: Chattanooga
8. Western Carolina - Who would have thought that Western would pull out a win at home against the Citadel after spotting the Bulldogs 10 points? I wouldn’t have and would like to think that the Cats can build on this win. Wofford is beatable and the Cats get them at home. A more likely scenario though, is that this was an anomaly and the Catamounts might have used their free win card for the year. Still the players should feel good this week. Record 1-5 overall 1-3 in the SoCon. Next: Wofford
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Old North State Pigskin is a blog focused on the North Carolina schools in the ACC and Southern Conference. Referencing the state’s Revolutionary War nickname to include all the schools with its borders (and not just the Tar Heels with the state’s civil war nickname) this blog is written from a fan perspective, nothing more, nothing less. I am not a current or former coach, administrator or player of any university. I am not a professional journalist. While I am a graduate of the University of North Carolina, I am also the son of a lifelong Duke Football fan, and the son-in-law of an NC State alumnus. I just make observations as I see them…and try to leave the bias out. Comments, criticism, suggestions and corrections are all welcome at .
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