It lasted about four hours.
Interim head football coach Ted Roof savored Duke's first ACC win in 30 tries over Georgia Tech Saturday throughout Saturday evening until he turned on his television and saw Clemson defeat No. 3 Florida State in convincing 26-10 fashion. The Blue Devils take on the Tigers in Death Valley next Saturday, turning the joy of the immediate past into anxiety about the near future.
"I watched Clemson and Florida State play, and immediately reality hit me in the face," Roof said. "During the season you don't enjoy [wins] because there's always that next challenge. If you don't approach it like that, it can be a big time poison."
Roof also does not suspect that Duke will dwell on the euphoria of Saturday and become cocksure for Clemson.
"We've already gone to some lengths to make sure [Duke is not overconfident about Saturday's win]," he said. "As of yesterday, it's not about Georgia Tech anymore. It's about Clemson. If we don't put that behind us, then we're not as mature as I think we are as a football team."
Roof said Saturday's victory over the Yellow Jackets was a "relief" for him and his program, and that he received several phone calls in support of the Blue Devil program.
"I hope we give them a chance to call back next week," Roof joked.
Monday's press conference with the football team also included more praising of Chris Douglas' 218-yard day, and the exceptional performance of the offensive line against the ex-No. 1 ground defense in the conference--the Yellow Jackets fell into fourth place in run defense in the ACC after Duke's dominating performance. Roof complimented Douglas' intangible skills, strengths sometimes overlooked compared to the senior's devastating speed.
"I think he's got good vision," he said. "I think he knows how to set his blockers up. I think he knows how to set his pads where he can get an extra yard or two after contact. He's done a great job for us."
Douglas and the offensive line also praised one another, neither downplaying their symbiotic relationship.
"[Douglas] is as good as he wants to be," ACC offensive lineman of the week Rusty Wilson said. "He's an awful good tailback. It's great to see him get some of the credit he finally deserves. He gives credit to [the offensive line] when he has a big game."
Douglas proved Wilson was truthful later in the press conference, thanking the offensive line for every block he gets.
"[My performance] is basically a testament to the offensive line," Douglas said.
Douglas also discussed the possibility of being named first-team All-ACC, as he is the current leader in the conference in rushing. Always putting the team first, the computer science major said the all-conference accolade would honor his team more than himself. As a team that just broke the longest losing streak in the conference's history, Douglas said to have a first-team All-ACC player from Duke would prove the Blue Devils belonged with the rest of the ACC.
Though the players were obviously ecstatic about the win over Georgia Tech, they have not overlooked the two games that remain this season.
"We realize we have two games left," Douglas said. "Each week we want to finish 1-0. We finished 1-0 last week. It's 0-0 now. [The win] felt good, it gives you a little bit of confidence, but now people more expect more of you. After you win, it's harder almost to continue it than get that first win."
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