Showing posts in the “Football” category
Mike Potter ·
23 Feb 2010, 9:30 PM ·
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Matt Lubick, who spent the last three seasons on the staff at Arizona State, has been added to the Duke football staff.
Lubick will serve as Duke’s passing game coordinator and recruiting coordinator while coaching the wide receivers.
At ASU, Lubick was assistant head coach and recruiting coordinator while coaching the safeties.
Lubick is replacing Scottie Montgomery, who left to take a coaching position with the NFL’s Pittsburgh Steelers.
Lewis, Oghobaase to NFL Combine
In other Duke football news, 2009 senior quarterback Thaddeus Lewis and defensive tackle Vince Oghobaase are headed to the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis.
The event, which begins Wednesday and runs through March 2, will include 329 draft-eligible players.
ACC, Duke, Football Arizona State, Matt Lubick, Pittsburgh Steelers, Scottie Montgomery, Thaddeus Lewis, Vince Oghobaase
Mike Potter ·
17 Feb 2010, 11:45 AM ·
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Duke has placed a conference-high 11 players on the 42-man ACC All-Academic football team, while N.C. State has three players on the list and UNC one.
The list was announced on Wednesday by conference commissioner John Swofford.
To be eligible, a player must have earned at least a 3.00 GPA for both previous semester and his cumulative academic career.
Duke placed All-ACC linebacker Vincent Rey, a senior, and All-ACC kicker Will Snyderwine, a junior, along with sophomore punter Kevin Jones who was honored for the second straight year.
Other Blue Devils on the squad are junior linebacker Adam Banks, sophomore cornerback Lee Butler, sophomore defensive back Matt Daniels, sophomore tackle Kyle Hill, junior guard Mitchell Lederman, freshman guard Brian Moore, junior cornerback Chris Rwabukamba and sophomore wideout Johnny Williams.
From N.C. State are sophomore quarterback Russell Wilson, senior guard Andy Barbee and senior safety Bobby Floyd.
Junior tackle Mike Ingersoll is the selection from UNC.
ACC, Duke, Football, N.C. State, UNC-Chapel Hill Adam Banks, Andy Barbee, Bobby Floyd, Brian Moore, Chris Rwabukamba, John Swofford, Johnny Williams, Kevin Jones, Kyle Hill, Lee Butler, Matt Daniels, Mike Ingersoll, Mitchell Lederman, Russell Wilson, Vincent Rey, Will Snyderwine
Mike Potter ·
14 Feb 2010, 3:30 AM ·
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YOH FOOTBALL CENTER/DURHAM David Cutcliffe says if his Duke football team wants to have spring practice in warmer weather, it would best start winning enough games to get bowl bids.
But the third-year Blue Devil coach wasn’t saying that just to be a tough guy. He just wants to get back to serious work as quickly as possible and figured his team has had plenty of rest since November.
The Blue Devils will have the first of their 15 spring practice days today. They won’t be 15 straight days, of course, but 15 total sessions leading up to the Spring Game on March 27 at Wallace Wade Stadium.
“I told the players when I changed the first day of practice from Monday to Sunday, that it was appropriate to call it the ‘Valentine’s Day Massacre,’” Cutcliffe (pictured) said during a Friday press conference. “Be prepared for a work day. I’m excited about it. … If they want to go a little bit later in the warm, then play in a bowl game. It’s been too long since we’ve played football.”
Cutcliffe also said he would rather have more time for him and his to evaluate his 2010 team than to continue rehashing the 2009 season.
Duke returns 40 lettermen including 18 starters from the 2009 club, which finished 5-7 in earning the most wins for Duke in 15 years. Continue reading »
ACC, Duke, Football Abraham Kromah, Austin Kelly, Brandon Connette, Brandon King, Brett Huffman, Brian Moore, Bryan Morgan, Charlie Hatcher, Chris Rwabukamba, Conner Vernon, Damian Thornton, Danny Parker, David Cutcliffe, Desmond Scott, Donovan Varner, Elon, Jackson Anderson, Jay Hollingsworth, Johnny Williams, Kenny Anunike, Kevin Jones, Kyle Hill, Matt Daniels, Mitchell Lederman, Patrick Egboh, Patrick Kurunwune, Sean Renfree, Sean Schroeder, Thaddeus Lewis, Will Snyderwine
Mike Potter ·
11 Feb 2010, 2:19 PM ·
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N.C. Central has announced its 10-game football schedule for 2010, with six home dates including the Eagles’ two biggest historic rivals.
NCCU has had back-to-back four-win seasons in the transition process from Division II to Division I, but should have an excellent change to surpass the .500 mark this time in the fourth season under coach Mose Rison (pictured).
Coming to O’Kelly-Riddick Stadium on Sept. 25 is former CIAA rival and both former and new MEAC rival North Carolina A&T, which will be visiting Durham for the first time since 1992.
Also visiting, on Sept. 11, will be long-time former CIAA rival Winston-Salem State.
The Eagles’ schedule opens on a Thursday night, with the Sept. 2 home game against former CIAA rival Johnson C. Smith.
The Eagles will host Edward Waters for their annual homecoming game on Oct. 30, the final game of the home schedule.
NCCU, which will be a member of the MEAC in the fall but not eligible for conference championships until the next season, will also host MEAC members Hampton on Oct. 9 and Bethune-Cookman on Oct. 23.
The four road games include a return trip to Appalachian State on Sept. 18, a game against Georgia State in the Georgia Dome on Oct. 16, a visit to MEAC member Delaware State on Nov. 6 and the season finale at Savannah State on Nov. 13.
The only first meeting is with Georgia State, which will be fielding varsity football for the first time. NCCU leads the all-time series with six opponents, the exceptions being ASU, A&T and Hampton. Continue reading »
Football, N.C. Central Appalachian State, Bethune-Cookman, Delaware State, Edward Waters, Georgia State, Hampton Pirates, Johnson C. Smith, Mose Rison, North Carolina A&T, Savannah State, Winston-Salem State
Mike Potter ·
4 Feb 2010, 2:30 PM ·
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Duke has released its 2010 football schedule along with the other teams from the ACC, and the Blue Devils’ home slate really may be its most attractive in school history.
Among the obvious highlights is the Sept. 18 home game with defending national champion Alabama, which happens to be the alma mater of third-year coach David Cutcliffe (pictured).
That contest will mark only the fourth time a defending national champion has visited Wallace Wade Stadium, and the first since Nov. 2, 1991, when Georgia Tech beat the Blue Devils 17-6.
The other home non-conference games are against Elon and Army.
And it’s archrival UNC’s turn to visit Durham, along with the other home ACC opponents Miami, Virginia and Boston College.
The Blue Devils will visit Navy, Wake Forest, Maryland, Virginia Tech and Georgia Tech. Continue reading »
ACC, Duke, Football, UNC-Chapel Hill Alabama Crimson Tide, Army Black Knights, Boston College, David Cutcliffe, Elon, Georgia Tech, Maryland Terrapins, Miami Hurricanes, Navy Midshipmen, Virginia Cavaliers, Virginia Tech, Wake Forest
Mike Potter ·
3 Feb 2010, 9:17 PM ·
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N.C. Central coach Mose Rison has announced a 14-member football signing class, including a pair of transfers from Winston-Salem State.
Eligible to play in the fall after leaving WSSU, which is returning to NCAA Division II beginning in 2010-11, will be a pair of rising sophomores in defensive lineman Chase Tripp from Chocowinity and wideout Lamar Whidbee from Perquimans.
The two are among six North Carolinians in the class, which also includes three players from Georgia and two from Virginia.
“We are extremely excited about these young men,” Rison (pictured) said in a press release issued by the school. “We’ll be glad to get them here in August to see exactly where we are. We think some of these kids will have an opportunity as freshmen to make a contribution to this football program.” Continue reading »
Football, N.C. Central Andre Clarke, Chase Tripp, Dajuan Calloway, Darren Moore, Demontray Ryland, Dennis Alleyne, Duval Smith, Jordan Toomer, Lamar Whidbee, Mose Rison, Rasheen Person, Ryker Goodell, Shaun Millien, Shavarez Smith, Ty Brown, Winston-Salem State
Mike Potter ·
3 Feb 2010, 6:08 PM ·
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BROOKS FOOTBALL BUILDING/DURHAM “Duke football got better today. Absolutely, Duke football got better today.”
That was Blue Devil coach David Cutcliffe’s assessment of the third recruiting class of his tenure, in which there are nine North Carolinians in the class of 19 players.
Cutcliffe announced the signing of two quarterbacks, eight backs and nine linemen to national letters of intent at his annual signing day press luncheon.
And a key part of that is the North Carolinians, most of them from across the Piedmont portion of the state. Smithfield-Selma running back Josh Snead and Tarboro offensive tackle Takoby Cofield are the two from the local TV market.
Cutcliffe said the Blue Devils’ recruiting efforts in the state are getting consistently better.
“I’m really thankful for the coaches in the state of North Carolina and what they’ve done working with us,” Cutcliffe said. “We’re just thrilled with the (in-state) results and we’re deep into that again. Looking across the state over the next few years, you’re going to see more and more and more players at Duke out of the state of North Carolina for lots of reasons and first and foremost because of the quality of the athletes and the coaches. …
“I have a lot of long-term relationships in the state of North Carolina. I came over here as a very young, full-of-hair coach back in the ’80s and signed some good players and made some good friends. Fortunately I’m not so old that all of those friends have retired. … I think the coaches in North Carolina realize that we’re going to listen to what they say. I don’t think there’s any question that recruiting and winning go hand in hand. When you recruit better it’s easier to win games, and when you win games it’s easier to recruit. The quality of the player that is interested (in Duke) is getting better.” Continue reading »
ACC, Duke, Football Anthony Boone, Brandon Braxton, Brandon Connette, Braxton Deaver, C.J. France, David Cutcliffe, Dezmond Johnson, Isaac Blakeney, Jamal Bruce, Jamal Wallace, Johnny Williams, Jordan Ondijo, Josh Snead, Juwan Thompson, Kelby Brown, Kenny Anunike, Laken Tomlinson, Nick Sink, Quan Stevenson, Steven Ingram, Takoby Cofield, Will Bryant, Will Snyderwine
Mike Potter ·
21 Jan 2010, 5:19 PM ·
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Four Triangle ACC players are scheduled to play in the annual Pro Football Hall of Fame Texas vs. The Nation Challenge on Feb. 6 in El Paso.
2009 seniors set to play in the contest include UNC offensive tackle Kyle Jolly and defensive end E.J. Wilson, Duke quarterback Thaddeus Lewis, and N.C. State running back Toney Baker.
Players selected are rated as among the Top 15 at their position by NFL scouts.
Other ACC players on the rosters include Maryland’s fullback Cory Jackson and defensive tackle Travis Ivey, Virginia Tech punter Brent Bowden, Miami tight end Derrick Epps, and Virginia offensive guard Will Barker. Also in the game will be two East Carolina players, running back Dominique Lindsay and defensive tackle Jay Ross.
ACC, Duke, Football, N.C. State, UNC-Chapel Hill Brent Bowden, Cory Jackson, Derrick Epps, Dominique Lindsay, E.J. Wilson, East Carolina, Jay Ross, Kyle Jolly, Maryland Terrapins, Thaddeus Lewis, Toney Baker, Travis Ivey, Virginia Cavaliers, Virginia Tech, Will Barker
Mike Potter ·
17 Jan 2010, 11:57 PM ·
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David Cutcliffe didn’t make excuses and talk about second chances and “strike ones.”
The Duke football coach took action to resolve a bad situation quickly, cleanly and sensibly on Sunday.
He announced the immediate dismissal of freshmen John Drew, Kyle Griswould and Brandon Putnam from the team after some gunplay on the Duke campus early Sunday morning.
The three were charged with felonious possession and discharge of a weapon following an early-morning incident, and will not be permitted to return to campus pending the resolution of the charges.
“These types of offenses are going to be associated with dismissal from our team,” Cutcliffe (pictured) said in a statement released by the school. “While these three young men did not meet the expectations of those in our program, our prayers are with them and their families during this difficult time. We’ll continue to move forward, and we are excited about the direction of Duke football.”
Defensive tackle Drew played in all 12 games for the 2009 Blue Devils finishing with 34 tackles including four for losses, half a quarterback sack, two pass breakups, one fumble caused and one recovered. The other two players had been redshirted.
ACC, Duke, Football Brandon Putnam, David Cutcliffe, John Drew, Kyle Griswould
Mike Potter ·
15 Jan 2010, 5:31 PM ·
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Duke coach David Cutcliffe decided sometime overnight he didn't want to move back to Knoxville. (File photo by Rob Rowe)
YOH FOOTBALL CENTER/DURHAM David Cutcliffe gave the media a “man bites dog” story today.
The Duke football coach, who will be heading into his third season at the helm this fall, turned down the head coaching position as Tennessee to remain with the Blue Devils. That conclusion came despite numerous published and broadcast reports late Thursday that he was almost certainly going to be in orange next season.
“I can’t control what’s being reported,” Cutcliffe said at an afternoon press conference. “I took that job five times last night. And I’m learning how many E-Mails and texts a Blackberry can take.”
Reports said that a major sticking point during his negotiations with Tennessee had to do with the former long-time UT assistant bringing his entire staff with him to Knoxville.
“It’s a part of friendship,” Cutcliffe said. “There’s no way to have great friends unless you are a great friend. There’s no way to have loyalty unless you are loyal. I know (my coaches’) wives, children, their wives’ parents, their parents. Wherever we go, we go together.
“In following my heart, I had just too many indicators to be here. Too many people I have great respect for are here.” Continue reading »
ACC, Duke, Football Brett Huffman, Emily Cutcliffe, Jay Hollingsworth, Katie Cutcliffe, Tennessee Volunteers
