In 1938, head football coach Wallace Wade guided the Duke football team through an undefeated regular season. The "Iron Dukes" did not give up a single point until the 1939 Rose Bowl -- a 7-3 loss to Southern California.
Saturday night, the Florida State Seminoles' defense, led by linebacker Derrick Brooks, came into Wallace Wade Stadium after last week's 42-0 blanking of Kansas to open the season with a similar don't-bend-and-you-won't-break attitude.
But with 4:07 remaining in the game, Duke prevented FSU's brief run at the Iron Dukes' legacy by scoring on a 1-yard touchdown run by fullback J.D. Lewis. It was the only blemish on the 'Noles 45-7 victory and the first points scored on FSU in two games this season.
In all fairness to Brooks and company, the Blue Devils were handed the ball on the 1-yard line after Duke cornerback Sidney Wells blocked a Sean Liss punt. Where the ball was spotted was no excuse for giving up a score in the minds of the Seminole defenders.
"We're angry about a touchdown scored from anywhere," FSU linebacker Ken Alexander said.
The rainy weather was about the only weapon Duke's offense had against FSU.
"Our defense is an attack defense with quickness," FSU defensive end Tyrant Marion said. "By being in the mud, it really slowed our pass rush down. It really slowed our attack down."
Despite the lopsided final outcome, the Seminole defenders were actually upset by their overall performance.
"As a defense, we won the game," Brooks said. "But we feel a little bit down because we let them score after holding them for so long. Generally, the attitude of the guys is that we know we should have had a shut-out."
Alexander echoed Brooks' comments in the most frank way.
"We don't think Miami should score on us, so you know how we feel about Duke scoring," Alexander said.
The sloppy field did not slow the Seminole defense down enough for Duke's quarterback duo of Spence Fischer and Joe Pickens, who were sacked three times and forced into throwing three interceptions.
The rushing defense was even more dominating. The Blue Devils could not manage a single net yard on the wet ground in the first half, and finished with just 17 yards for the night.
Fischer, Duke's quarterback in the second half, summed up the view from his side of the ball.
"Again, up front, they were tough," Fischer said. "They were playing some stunts and getting some key people loose. They didn't even have to blitz. We came in thinking they were really going to pressure us, and it turned out they didn't even have to."
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