I actually thought Vernon's first TD catch was more impressive than the second. It essentially was a jump ball and the Virginia DB had inside position. But Vernon just went up and took it away.
I was reminded of all the times I've seen that play go the other way. A Duke DB in great position on a 50/50 ball but an athletically superior WR comes away with it. Just one play but perhaps symbolic of a change.
First of all the Chronicle is incorrect - 1 coach gave a vote to Duke when we were 5-3 in 2009-2010. (The speculation was that it was Phil Fulmer.)
Second of all: http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/football/polls?poll=3 - we got TEN points in the Coaches' poll, good for more than NC STATE! How about that.
<devildeac> anyone playing drinking games by now?
7:49:36<Wander> drink every qb run?
7:49:38<loran16> umm, drink every time asack rushes?
7:49:38<wolfybeard> @devildeac: drink when Asack runs a keeper
7:49:39 PM<CB&B> any time zack runs, drink
Carolina Delenda Est
The last time Duke went to a bowl, K went on the injury list, and MBB went 2-12 in the ACC. So, bite your tongue.
Also, for the record, I am not one the people who volunteered to give up five December MBB wins in exchange for a win against FIU. I did agree to sacrifice one though. Sorry.
Almost mantra-like, sometimes after the fact, I have made that observation about our defense. It usually happens when the situation cries out for that momentum-building play when you can just sense that it will be a game-changer. Obviously, we haven't made enough of those plays for years.
The whole Duke defense, especially considering our injury situation, deserves kudos for a fine second half.
But when it came time to change the game, Walt Canty blitzed twice on the same 4-down set. Both times, once on a crucial 4th-and-1, Walt Canty came up with Wahoo scalps in the offensive backfield. Walt Canty. Just like a speeding bullet. Thanks, Walt.
Man, if your Mom made you wear that color when you were a baby, and you're still wearing it, it's time to grow up!
Bless Heather Dinich's heart; she almost brought a tear to my eye when I read this...
From a lifelong Duke fan, thanks for the props, Heather - always enjoy reading your musings on college football. Hopefully we'll continue to impress you (and others).On a day in which the rest of the ACC forgot how to play defense, Duke shut out Virginia for the entire second half. Duke is not only playing defense this year, it's playing hard-hitting, attitude defense. Virginia had two turnovers. Duke had none. This is a well-coached, disciplined team that is off to a 5-1 start. It's 2-0 in the ACC. It's undefeated at home. And it's ONE WIN away from going bowling for the first time since 1994.
The balance of power has shifted in the Coastal Division, and for the first time in a long time, Duke has it. More importantly, it deserves it.
Take a look at her Bowl preditions at this link.
OldPhiKap doing his best Ozzie impersonation!5-1 or 6-0 and we are playing after NYE.
Just sayin'
He is not the only one. In the post game press conference Luke Decock was discussing the possibilities of Duke playing in the ACC Title game even if they happen to lose next week to Va. Tech. I personally think a win agaisnt Virginia Tech is not only possible but very probable given how these two team are playing right now. Hokies are tough and tough at home, but they are not the same team they have been. And Duke isn't either and that is a good thing.
<devildeac> anyone playing drinking games by now?
7:49:36<Wander> drink every qb run?
7:49:38<loran16> umm, drink every time asack rushes?
7:49:38<wolfybeard> @devildeac: drink when Asack runs a keeper
7:49:39 PM<CB&B> any time zack runs, drink
Carolina Delenda Est
I think Carolina did us a definite disfavor by humiliating the Hokies. They will be more than ready for us. Your "very probable" win smacks of extreme over-confidence. If Duke brings its A or B game it will definitely be a game -- but I expect Tech to be bringing its A game as well.
Couldn't one just as easily say that Pitt and Cincy did Carolina a disfavor by humiliating the Hokies? Maybe they did bring their A game to Chapel Hill.
I certainly don't think a Duke win next Saturday is very probable, even probable. But VT is 3-3 on merit. They have some flaws and are quite beatable.
Unfortunately we got FSU and Clemson on our schedule from the other division instead of BC and Maryland. If the team wants to win the conference then we're very likely going to need to beat VT. We're also in the uncomfortable position of being helped by every Carolina win (UNC can't make the postseason, so every loss they tack on to someone else in our division is helpful).
Serious props need to go to our secondary for what they've been doing with all the injuries. The Foster interception kept us afloat in a first half in which I thought we "deserved" to be down by a lot more than 3 points, and Canty's 4th down stop was the most important play of the game to me.
Also our punter is awesome. Nine punts and their longest return is 6 yards?
Agreed. Hokies had every reason the be in top form on Saturday -- they still had a chance to go undefeated in conference (and they have a history of following OOC missteps with great conference play). But there was a complete defensive collapse. At this point, the weight of potentially being the worst Va Tech team in 20 years may result in unhelpful pressure for them. Consider what happened in Chapel Hill during basketball season a few years ago when the wheels started to come off.
I think the spread seems right. Blacksburg is a very tough place to win a game, but, if you have to play there, this might be the season.
"Just like you man. I got the shotgun, you got the briefcase." Omar Little