Duke football notes, 10-2-12
Renfree practiced today. Game-time decisions likely on a number of the injured players.
Cut joked that there was no place to sit in the training room, the defensive backfield had taken all the room.
Cut said that he and Knowles get together every Monday and put together a "rotation of disaster," of where they can plug in people. But lots of guys can play lots of positions and Duke practices that way. Versatility and depth have been life-savers.
Cut made several appeals for fan support Saturday.
Recent Duke-UVA games have been a bit chippy. Folks remember.
Lots of meaning-of-life talk. "This team has more faith in itself and the quality of work they've put in." Cut said that the attititude on the sidelines Saturday when Wake tied the game and Renfree went out was "so different. I never saw any panic. There was no 'here-we-go-again.' The attitude is more 'enough is enough.' "
Maintaining focus? Boone had a great line. "It's easy to stay focused when you're 4-1." Cut says he told the team that everyone learns when they lose. "It takes special people to learn when they win." The team mantra is that they're 0-0 this week. Sounds like a cliche but the team seems to be buying into that mentality. Lots of veteran leadership and the youngsters are listening to them.
Lots of praise for Dwayne Norman. Best game last week. A likely redshirt two months ago, Norman has played 160 plays.
Duke was -4 on turnovers against Memphis, +3 against Wake. Cut said you have to keep reminding players not to take for granted things like snaps and exchanges. "Unforced errors are not part of the game." On the other end of the ball, Wake's turnovers were "forced, not gifts."
Injury report Thursday. Fingers crossed.
