An ode to Duke football

'Twas the 25th of September, two

thousand and two,

With four games in the books for the

old white and blue.

True, there are still eight games left

to be played,

But columnists like

me would not be dismayed.

albeit in prose.

Duke entered the season having lost

23 straight,

Setting the longest losing streak

record seemed to be their fate.

Northwestern held the record��

they'd lost 34,

But with 12 games this season, Duke

could total one more.

The media attention was

getting intense,

Even though the season had

yet to commence.

On the last day of August,

things got underway,

With Duke, the ECU Pirates figured

to have their way.

Wallace Wade was packed in

a sea of purple,

With fans whose intelligence rivaled

that of a gerbil.

The hicks from Greenville were making some noise,

But their men on the field showed an immense lack of poise.

The Blue Devils scored early, then

held on for the win,

For the first time since '99, Coach

Franks managed to grin.

Students rushed the field, the goal

posts came down,

Duke's 1-0 football team was the talk of the town.

The ECU fans sighed a

collective groan,

Then got into their pickup trucks and went home.

But alas, the euphoria did

not last for long,

Against Louisville, Duke's QBs too

more hits than a device used for smoking marijuana.

The offensive line looked

ever so porous,

(Hey ECU fans, go consult

your thesaurus.)

A 40-3 loss gave Duke fans few

reasons to cheer,

While administrators cased the parking lots, taking students' beer.

The next week in Evanston,

Northwestern beat Duke,

Which led to speculation that the

Blue Devils' win was a fluke.

True, they had indeed

halted the streak,

But now they were back to their

losing ways every week.

Would Duke still lose 11

games this year?

And can't students be left alone with

their beer?

Against Florida State, the

game remained tight,

Then an untimely penalty pretty

much put an end to the night.

Duke was out-everythinged by

the No. 5 'Noles,

Who embodied their slogan for this

year: "Let's roll."

That night, Duke's lone highlight came from Calen Powell, a tight end.

Whose hit on Bobby Bowden left the

FSU coach on the mend.

This weekend gives Duke's egos a

chance to be nursed,

For Duke may not be good, but Navy

might be worse.

The Blue Devils see the chance to get their second win,

Which may be their last chance to

avoid 1-11.

Should Duke lose, however, the team

can still celebrate,

For at least it is not loss No. 28.

Evan Davis is a Trinity senior and senior associate sports editor. His column appears every Wednesday.