Duke head football coach David Cutcliffe is known for starting press conferences off on a lighthearted note. Today's media luncheon was no exception.
"I have a bulletin that just came in from Duke Sports Medicine," said Cutcliffe to start off his talk. "It informs me that the sports information office is no longer allowed to play basketball. Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina has said the next case will be a death penalty," he said to the audible delight of the media in the room. The team's sports information director, Art Chase, had been sporting a big black boot this summer boot due to an injury sustained in a basketball friendly.
Cutcliffe attributed his amiable mood to the good work the Blue Devils have done in preparation for Saturday's 7:00 p.m. game against Elon. He offered genuine praise of the Phoenix ("that's not just coach speak," he said) and admitted to having some pregame nerves.
"Someone was talking to me today saying I'm sure it makes you nervous to play that kind of opponent to start," Cutcliffe said in reference to Elon. "And I said I'm nervous about all of them. I think it's great for us to play a quality team that knows how to win because we need to measure ourselves."
The young Duke team will take this year one game at a time, Cutcliffe said, and take each contest as an opportunity to build a stronger program. "Every time we play is a golden opportunity to grow our program," he said.
Other highlights included:
- Expect some true freshman to take the field on Saturday. Cutcliffe rattled off the names of running backs Josh Snead and Juwan Thompson and wide receiver Brandon Braxton when asked who fans should expect to see. He also said that he wants quarterback Brandon Connette to work in for a few snaps as well.
- Cutcliffe said the defense was one of the "unknowns that I'm anxious to see" in the first game. He is confident the defense, which is breaking in several new starters, will chase after the ball aggressively. He has been pleased with the unit's performance when scrimmaging the first-team offense.
- Duke will start a new tradition this year and run out of the tunnel behind three flags—those of the ACC, the United States and North Carolina. Each flag will be carried by a member of the scout team that has performed well in practice that week.
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