I'm bummed that the Duke-UNC game is so early in the year. Per the media guide, 2012 is the only time in the last 40 years that it wasn't a November game, and even then it was late October. September 23 is not the ideal date for a matchup with one's main rival.
Just be you. You is enough. - K, 4/5/10, 0:13.8 to play, 60-59 Duke.
You're all jealous hypocrites. - Titus on Laettner
You see those guys? Animals. They're animals. - SIU Coach Chris Lowery, on Duke
Here's the Duke slate:
2017 Duke Football Schedule (2016 Record; Bowl game)
SEPTEMBER
2 – N.C. CENTRAL (9-3; 10-9 loss to Grambling in Air Force Reserve Celebration Bowl)
9 – NORTHWESTERN (7-6; 31-24 win over Pittsburgh in New Era Pinstripe Bowl)
16 – BAYLOR (7-6; 31-12 win over Boise State in Motel 6 Cactus Bowl)
23 – at North Carolina (8-5; 25-23 loss to Stanford in Hyundai Sun Bowl)
29 – MIAMI (9-4; 31-14 win over West Virginia in Russell Athletic Bowl)
OCTOBER
7 – at Virginia (2-10)
14 – FLORIDA STATE (10-3; 33-32 win over Michigan in Capital One Orange Bowl)
21 – PITTSBURGH (8-5; 31-24 loss to Pittsburgh in New Era Pinstripe Bowl)
28 – at Virginia Tech (10-4; 35-24 win over Arkansas in Belk Bowl)
NOVEMBER
4 – Open date
11 – at Army West Point (8-5; 38-31 win over North Texas in Zaxby’s Heart of Dallas Bowl)
18 – GEORGIA TECH (9-4; 33-18 win over Kentucky in Taxslayer Bowl)
25 – at Wake Forest (7-6; 34-26 win over Temple in Military Bowl presented by Northrop Grumman)
I like it ... although I wish the open date was a couple of weeks earlier. Seven home games again.
Now that I think about it, maybe the open date comes at a good time, setting us up for a strong finish. If we can get to the open date at 5-4 or 4-5, we'll be in good shape to go bowling again.
I would say -- two brutal games (Baylor and FSU), but a year ago, I thought the two toughest opponents on the schedule were at Notre Dame and UNC -- and we won them both. FSU is going to be the preseason favorite in the ACC. Baylor is reloading fast (their recent recruiting is unbelievable). On the other hand, the Coastal Division is in a shambles -- Duke and Virginia are the only two teams with returning QBs.
I love our chances against NCCU and Army. We need to beat Virginia and Wake Forest this season. Northwestern is a bugaboo -- they keep finding ways to beat us. The rest -- UNC, VPI, Georgia Tech, Miami, Pitt -- all tough, but winnable games.
Anybody else notice that Friday night game against Miami? Boo, ACC. I do not like the idea of college games on Friday night. Let the high schools have Fridays.
That said, if one is inclined to travel to see Duke play, this is a goldmine. Seven home games, road games at UNC, Wake Forest, UVA and VT. Only one game outside North Carolina/Virginia and that's the trip to West Point.
Miami also plays the previous Saturday, albeit a weaker opponent. Then again, they're the team having to travel.
And playing on Friday does give both teams an extra days rest before the next game.
Another concern is that Duke's open date is pretty late in the season. Coaches prefer to have the open day around mid-season, the better to rest and rehab nagging injuries while still having enough season left to benefit from that rest and rehab.
And Miami also gets the short week, although they get Toledo the week before.
That said, I think getting UNC early helps -- they are going to be breaking in a whole new offense and getting them early ought to help.
I was looking at the ACC schedule overall. The first couple of weeks could have a big impact on the national perception of the ACC. As you know, the ACC was the clearcut best conference in college football last season, but the commentators (meaning ESPN) didn't recognize it until after the league's dominant bowl run.
A lot of turnover in the ACC this season, but we get these P5 games early:
Saturday, Sept 2
FSU-Alabama in the new Atlanta stadium
Louisville-Purdue in Indianapolis
Cal at UNC
NC State-South Carolina in Charlotte
VPI-West Virginia in Landover, Md.
Monday, Sept. 4
Tennessee-Georgia Tech in the new Atlanta Stadiumm
Saturday, Sept. 9
Auburn at Clemson
Northwestern at Duke
Pitt at Penn State
Indiana at Virginia
That's four games against the SEC and four against the Big Ten ... one against both the Pac 12 and Big 12.
It won't be definitive, but if the ACC wins its share, it could change the narrative this season. The FSU-Alabama matchup between the ACC and SEC favorites on a neutral field could have a huge impact on conference perceptions.
I haven't followed Army as much recently, but they have historically run a somewhat unique option-style attack so having an off week to prep for that could be helpful, particularly since they seem to be a lot better at it than they were in the recent past when they were not very good. Then we play GA Tech the following week, which actually runs a somewhat similar offense, so it might be advantageous to have them back to back weeks. These are the games we have to win.
I was also thinking of the emotional aspect of these two games... UNC (nothing else needs to be said); and, I suspect, given what happened at home last time, Duke would really like to win this game. It would have been nice to put a little more focus on the Miami game with a weaker opponent preceding it.
September looks like it will be a tough month. It makes me nervous having four big games in a row (Northwestern, Baylor, @ UNC, Miami). I suppose it will test our mettle early. UNC-CH loses a lot from this past season, but I'm not up on the projected strength of Northwestern, Baylor, or Miami. Anyone have an opinion on how we match up?
Let me help break the code. Duke usually schedules a bye-week before Georgia Tech, in order to better prepare for the triple option. Army plays a very similar offense. Therefore, we have a bye-week to prepare for Army and then a bye-week plus Army to prepare for Georgia Tech.
Sage Grouse
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'When I got on the bus for my first road game at Duke, I saw that every player was carrying textbooks or laptops. I coached in the SEC for 25 years, and I had never seen that before, not even once.' - David Cutcliffe to Duke alumni in Washington, DC, June 2013
In the way too early schedule analysis, once again, I think the Northwestern game will be a key game. Unlike some recent seasons, our first month+ has several tough games (the ACC in general is now filled with relatively tough, competitive teams). I think it will be key going into the Baylor game 2-0. You don't want the season to get out of hand early. Let's get some early momentum. We'll have a young but experienced quarterback leading us, which will be nice. I'd like to finally win that Northwestern game. Losing to them is very annoying. Just saying.
I can't give a detailed breakdown of what Northwestern returns and what they don't have, but will point out that they had three superb skill players last season
QB Clayton Thorson threw for 3,182 yard and 22 TDs (9 int) returns for his junior year
TB Justin Jackson rushed for 1,524 yards and 15 TDs. He was rumored to be looking to jump to the NFL, but announced that he's returning for his senior year.
WR Austin Carr caught 90 passes for 1,247 yards and 12 TDs. He was a senior this year and will be gone. Big drop to the No. 2 guy -- former Duke recruit Flynn Nagel had 40 catches for 447 yards and 2 TDs.
They also lose their PK Mitchell, but he was just okay, not outstanding.