FB: Virginia 28, Duke 14

[Reilly]

Ten-day forecast saying 66 degrees, showers, and 91% humidity in Durham for Saturday, October 20.

[OldPhiKap]

Virginia looked pretty good last night. We won but we made a lot of errors (th fully, we played a team which made more).

Getting win number six will be tough this week, I imagine the line will give us the home field advantage and maybe another tick or two, but that’s it.

[hallcity]

I’m glad U.Va beat Miami. Helps Duke in the Coastal but, more important, it’s awfully hard to have that kind of performance two games in a row. The next week after fans rushing the field to celebrate your victory is a week you have trouble concentrating on your next opponent. To compare it to BB, remember Duke beating UNLV in 1991? Coach K was immediately trying to bring the team down to earth, even before they left the court, reminding them they had a game on Monday. It worked then but it’s hard to do.

[HereBeforeCoachK]

I’m glad U.Va beat Miami. Helps Duke in the Coastal but, more important, it’s awfully hard to have that kind of performance two games in a row. The next week after fans rushing the field to celebrate your victory is a week you have trouble concentrating on your next opponent. To compare it to BB, remember Duke beating UNLV in 1991? Coach K was immediately trying to bring the team down to earth, even before they left the court, reminding them they had a game on Monday. It worked then but it’s hard to do.

THIS ^^^^, exactly what I thought when that game was over. I think the result of catching Virginia after a big win will be better than catching VT after an embarrassing loss.

[Bob Green]

I’m glad U.Va beat Miami. Helps Duke in the Coastal but, more important, it’s awfully hard to have that kind of performance two games in a row. The next week after fans rushing the field to celebrate your victory is a week you have trouble concentrating on your next opponent.

On October 5, 1974 Duke beat Purdue 16-14 in Wallace Wade Stadium. It was an exciting afternoon of football for those of us in attendance. The previous week, Purdue knocked off #1 Notre Dame 31-20 in South Bend.

[jimsumner]

I think the result of catching Virginia after a big win will be better than catching VT after an embarrassing loss.

Let's hope.

[chrishoke]

On October 5, 1974 Duke beat Purdue 16-14 in Wallace Wade Stadium. It was an exciting afternoon of football for those of us in attendance. The previous week, Purdue knocked off #1 Notre Dame 31-20 in South Bend.

A lot of really good football players on that 74 team.

[brlftz]

What’s the deal with Brittain Brown? Is he hurt? I’ve somehow missed out on whatever the explanation is for his absence.

[Bob Green]

What’s the deal with Brittain Brown? Is he hurt? I’ve somehow missed out on whatever the explanation is for his absence.

Yes, Brittain Brown is hurt. He has never fully recovered from his hyper-extended knee in the Army game.

[HereBeforeCoachK]

On October 5, 1974 Duke beat Purdue 16-14 in Wallace Wade Stadium. It was an exciting afternoon of football for those of us in attendance. The previous week, Purdue knocked off #1 Notre Dame 31-20 in South Bend.

I was at that game...moreover, I was the "guest" picker that week for something The Raleigh Times called "The Fearless Forecast." Each Thursday in football season, 5 Times/Observer sports writers and one guest would pick 20 games. At the time, I was a Times sports correspondent as a young lad, so young my parents had to drive me to the high school games I was writing about. I was also a Raleigh Times paperboy.

Caulton Tudor (RIP) ran the FF, and he chose me, but to hack off his buddy Tim Stevens of the Times, he recognized me as "Ace Paperboy" and did not mention I was a correspondent. Anyway, I picked Duke to upset Purdue that week, and I picked the Cheats to NOT upset the heavily favored Pitt Panthers (I think it was Pitt, someone heavily favored). Dang Cheats won also though. Cost me the weeks picking title.

Now this means nothing to anyone who isn't local and "of a certain age" - but I think some on here must remember the Fearless Forecast.

[cato]

What’s the deal with Brittain Brown? Is he hurt? I’ve somehow missed out on whatever the explanation is for his absence.

I had the same question. I googled it and per the N&O, Brown was unavailable after having been “limited in practice this week with a lower body injury.”

[Bob Green]

Duke opens as an eight (8) point favorite in Vegas:

http://www.vegasinsider.com/college-...dds/las-vegas/

That is more points than I expected.

[Reilly]

I was at that game...moreover, I was the "guest" picker that week for something The Raleigh Times called "The Fearless Forecast." Each Thursday in football season, 5 Times/Observer sports writers and one guest would pick 20 games. At the time, I was a Times sports correspondent as a young lad, so young my parents had to drive me to the high school games I was writing about. I was also a Raleigh Times paperboy.

Caulton Tudor (RIP) ran the FF, and he chose me, but to hack off his buddy Tim Stevens of the Times, he recognized me as "Ace Paperboy" and did not mention I was a correspondent. Anyway, I picked Duke to upset Purdue that week, and I picked the Cheats to NOT upset the heavily favored Pitt Panthers (I think it was Pitt, someone heavily favored). Dang Cheats won also though. Cost me the weeks picking title.

Now this means nothing to anyone who isn't local and "of a certain age" - but I think some on here must remember the Fearless Forecast.

Good memory: https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb...-schedule.html

10 5 Oct 4, 1974 Fri (11) Auburn 3 @ (16) Miami (FL) 0
211 5 Oct 5, 1974 Sat (3) Alabama 35 @ Mississippi 21
212 5 Oct 5, 1974 Sat (12) Arizona 42 Texas-El Paso 13
213 5 Oct 5, 1974 Sat (18) Arizona State 16 @ Wyoming 10
214 5 Oct 5, 1974 Sat (20) Arkansas 49 @ Texas Christian 0
215 5 Oct 5, 1974 Sat Arkansas State 14 Eastern Michigan 7
216 5 Oct 5, 1974 Sat Baylor 21 @ Florida State 17
217 5 Oct 5, 1974 Sat Boston College 37 @ Navy 0
218 5 Oct 5, 1974 Sat Brigham Young 33 Colorado State 33
219 5 Oct 5, 1974 Sat California 31 @ (14) Illinois 14
220 5 Oct 5, 1974 Sat Chattanooga 24 @ Middle Tennessee State 7
221 5 Oct 5, 1974 Sat Clemson 28 Georgia 24
222 5 Oct 5, 1974 Sat Colorado 28 @ Air Force 27
223 5 Oct 5, 1974 Sat Cornell 24 Bucknell 0
224 5 Oct 5, 1974 Sat Duke 16 Purdue 14
225 5 Oct 5, 1974 Sat (13) Florida 24 Louisiana State 14
226 5 Oct 5, 1974 Sat Fresno State 9 @ New Mexico State 7
227 5 Oct 5, 1974 Sat Furman 24 @ Richmond 14
228 5 Oct 5, 1974 Sat Georgia Tech 28 Virginia 24
229 5 Oct 5, 1974 Sat Hawaii 23 @ Pacific 14
230 5 Oct 5, 1974 Sat Holy Cross 14 Dartmouth 3
231 5 Oct 5, 1974 Sat Houston 24 @ South Carolina 14
232 5 Oct 5, 1974 Sat Idaho 28 @ Idaho State 9
233 5 Oct 5, 1974 Sat Iowa State 27 New Mexico 3
234 5 Oct 5, 1974 Sat Kansas 28 (5) Texas A&M 10
235 5 Oct 5, 1974 Sat Kent State 28 Western Michigan 6
236 5 Oct 5, 1974 Sat Lamar 38 @ Louisiana 13
237 5 Oct 5, 1974 Sat Louisville 14 @ Wichita State 7
238 5 Oct 5, 1974 Sat Maryland 31 @ Syracuse 0
239 5 Oct 5, 1974 Sat Miami (OH) 14 @ Kentucky 10
240 5 Oct 5, 1974 Sat (4) Michigan 27 @ Stanford 16
241 5 Oct 5, 1974 Sat Mississippi State 21 Kansas State 16
242 5 Oct 5, 1974 Sat (6) Nebraska 54 Minnesota 0
243 5 Oct 5, 1974 Sat North Carolina 45 (17) Pittsburgh 29
244 5 Oct 5, 1974 Sat (8) North Carolina State 24 East Carolina 20
245 5 Oct 5, 1974 Sat North Texas 24 Drake 24
246 5 Oct 5, 1974 Sat Northwestern 14 Oregon 10
247 5 Oct 5, 1974 Sat (7) Notre Dame 19 @ Michigan State 14
248 5 Oct 5, 1974 Sat Ohio 31 Northern Illinois 14
249 5 Oct 5, 1974 Sat (1) Ohio State 42 @ Washington State 7
250 5 Oct 5, 1974 Sat (2) Oklahoma 63 Wake Forest 0
251 5 Oct 5, 1974 Sat (15) Penn State 21 @ Army 14
252 5 Oct 5, 1974 Sat Pennsylvania 14 @ Brown 9
253 5 Oct 5, 1974 Sat Princeton 40 Columbia 13
254 5 Oct 5, 1974 Sat Rutgers 24 @ Harvard 21
255 5 Oct 5, 1974 Sat San Jose State 27 Long Beach State 17
256 5 Oct 5, 1974 Sat (9) Southern California 41 Iowa 3
257 5 Oct 5, 1974 Sat Southern Illinois 38 @ Dayton 16
258 5 Oct 5, 1974 Sat Southern Methodist 37 Oregon State 30
259 5 Oct 5, 1974 Sat Tampa 16 @ Akron 7
260 5 Oct 5, 1974 Sat Temple 31 Marshall 10
261 5 Oct 5, 1974 Sat Tennessee 17 Tulsa 10
262 5 Oct 5, 1974 Sat Tennessee Tech 24 Appalachian State 14
263 5 Oct 5, 1974 Sat (19) Texas 35 Washington 21
264 5 Oct 5, 1974 Sat (10) Texas Tech 14 Oklahoma State 13
265 5 Oct 5, 1974 Sat Toledo 24 Bowling Green State 19
266 5 Oct 5, 1974 Sat UCLA 27 @ Utah 14
267 5 Oct 5, 1974 Sat Virginia Military Institute 22 Virginia Tech 17
268 5 Oct 5, 1974 Sat West Texas A&M 31 Southern Mississippi 0
269 5 Oct 5, 1974 Sat West Virginia 24 @ Indiana 0
270 5 Oct 5, 1974 Sat William & Mary 16 Citadel 12
271 5 Oct 5, 1974 Sat Wisconsin 59 Missouri 20
272 5 Oct 5, 1974 Sat Yale 30 Colgate 7

[jimsumner]

1974 was one of those agonizing what-if-seasons that Duke football during the long period when they were decent, before the bottom fell out in the mid-1990s.

Some real talent. Linebacker Keith Stoneback, defensive back Bob Grupp, running back Art Gore, defensive lineman Denis Turner, wide receiver Troy Slade, defensive back Jeff Christopher, center Billy Bryan. A decent quarterback in Hal Spears.

Mike McGee the head coach.

Perhaps his best Duke team.

That team went 6-5, with wins over Purdue, South Carolina and Georgia Tech, among others.

Nowadays, 6-5 gets you a decent bowl.

In 1974, it got you regrets over a 17-13 loss at Clemson, in a game where Duke had twice as much total offense and a last-second 14-13 loss at Chapel Hill.

Basically, a couple of plays from 8-3.

Horse shoes, hand grenades and all that.

But it was close.

[OldPhiKap]

Duke opens as an eight (8) point favorite in Vegas:

http://www.vegasinsider.com/college-...dds/las-vegas/

That is more points than I expected.

Same here. Guess they like us.

[HereBeforeCoachK]

In 1974, it got you regrets over a 17-13 loss at Clemson, in a game where Duke had twice as much total offense and a last-second 14-13 loss at Chapel Hill.
.

OMG Jim...horrid memories...we lost in Chapel Hill by ONE POINT three consecutive trips...74 as you said above...in 76 we lost 39-38 and in 78 a Mike Dunn team lost 16-15...and I happened to be at the 78 game. Still too soon, but until your post, I'd no idea it was 3 straight one point losses at the Hill.

[duke2x]

Duke opens as an eight (8) point favorite in Vegas: http://www.vegasinsider.com/college-...dds/las-vegas/
That is more points than I expected.

Sagarin is roughly Duke by 9. That's a fair opening line if you're trying to get 50% of the money on both sides.

[CameronBlue]

1974 was one of those agonizing what-if-seasons that Duke football during the long period when they were decent, before the bottom fell out in the mid-1990s.

Some real talent. Linebacker Keith Stoneback, defensive back Bob Grupp, running back Art Gore, defensive lineman Denis Turner, wide receiver Troy Slade, defensive back Jeff Christopher, center Billy Bryan. A decent quarterback in Hal Spears.

.

Grupp punted for Duke as well and led the NFL one season IIRC. For you old timers who still work off a 12K dial-up modem, here's Grupp's wiki page:

Robert William Grupp[1] (born May 8, 1955) in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) is a former American football punter with a 3-year career in the National Football League. He was selected to the Pro Bowl after the 1979 season as a member of the Kansas City Chiefs. In 1984, he played with the New Jersey Generals of the United States Football League.[2] Prior to his career in professional football, Grupp was a star quarterback at Neshaminy High School in Langhorne, PA. He also punted and was an all-ACC cornerback at Duke University (class of 1977) where he also lettered as an outfielder on the baseball team during his junior and senior years (MVP of the 1977 Duke baseball team).

[rtnorthrup]

Ok, so this one here is going to be a big test. I am frankly much more concerned about this matchup than I was GaTech. GaTech just is not set up to test our weaknesses. UVa, on the other hand, is built perfectly to give us fits. UVa will test our CBs, especially Blackwell. I was frankly surprised that GaTech didn't throw at us more. Even Army had more success against us throwing the ball out of the option formations.

On the flip side, UVa has an excellent secondary that will put our inconsistent WRs to the test.

Much like the VaTech game, UVa's strengths fit well against our weaknesses. This is going to be a tough game with very fine margins. We can't have a sloppy half like the first half against NCCU or GaTech. Im hoping that Brittain Brown is able to give us something this weekend. We could really use a strong running game.

[OldPhiKap]

The sloppy mental stuff has been concerning the last two games. We can’t make that many mistakes and expect to win.