Upcoming Event: Football versus Georgia Tech on October 18, 2025 at 12:00 p.m.
Football
vs Georgia Tech
Quotes: Duke 17, Maryland 13
10/24/2009 6:00:00 PM | Football
Duke Head Coach David Cutcliffe
Opening statement on the game:
“It's a step for our team. I don't know what it means just yet. We did win ugly. I'm disappointed, thrilled to win, don't get me wrong, but upset about 12 penalties and three turnovers. We can't play that way. We did so many things well. Our kids knew they were going to win that game. That is the first time since I've been here that they knew it when in a difficult circumstance. We had the lead by four points and they knew we were going to win. Vinny Rey stepped up and made a great play. That's a change. I don't know what it means long term, but now, we go back to work. I'm enjoying the heck out of this, but I feel like I have to do a better job.”
On culture change, putting bad plays behind them and moving forward:
“It's the way you practice. We try to put them in as much of an adverse position in practice as possible. We demand effort on a consistent basis even when they don't really feel like it. You remember as a player not always doing that. Great coaches, it's not the scheme, it's what they can get out of their players, and that is what our staff is doing so well.”
On success receivers had in the middle of the field:
“They are a big two-deep team, whether it's a zone blitz or a Tampa two and their alternative is to play man coverage. Crossing routes are effective in those situations and you have to trust your quarterback. There are tight lanes there vertically and with the digs. Thaddeus [Lewis] wasn't perfect today and that's ok. It's not supposed to be easy each week. Hats off to Maryland, they played well today. They didn't make the mistakes early in the game that they have been making. Thad went out on his own, but the back shoulder throw bit him. I think I got his attention on that one.”
On Virginia next weekend:
“It doesn't change anything. Virginia is an extremely talented team, they are a great looking physically team, one of the better looking teams that I've seen. If we play as well as we can play and play with high energy, then we are in the game. When you are in the game in the fourth quarter, you can find ways to win. We have to do the little things to put ourselves in a good position.”
Duke Senior Linebacker Vincent Rey
On the win:
“It's a big win. We didn't play our best, but the most important thing is that we got the win. I feel like we got better during the off week and we're going to continue to get better and that's our winning edge. We have to continue to get better every practice.”
On his interception at the end of the game:
“We've been going over the kind of route that happened all week. I wasn't exactly thinking it at the time, but I've been doing it so much all week that my body kind of took me into that window and I was fortunate enough to have him throw it right to me and I was able to catch it.”
On the game's final six minutes:
“We had a couple penalties and that's definitely not the way we play defense. We don't get penalties and that kind of gave them a few first downs and yardage and ended up stopping them.”
On the team being focused and resilient:
“Coach Cutcliffe talks all about focusing and playing start to finish. They talk about it all the time and we want to continue to be consistent in playing start to finish. At some point, hopefully sooner than later, it's just going to be how we play and what we do.”
Duke Senior Quarterback Thaddeus Lewis
On the wet conditions:
“We just wanted to come out and play Duke football. The receivers didn't complain about the weather at all. That is one of the things I love about them; they don't complain about the weather and they don't complain about who catches the football.”
Reaction to the win:
“We made some mistakes, but in the end we were fortunate enough to come out on top. Maryland has a good football team. Our coaches did a great job putting us in a position to be successful. We made some plays, and sometimes that is what it comes down to. Our defense came through when we needed them. They were huge.”
Maryland Head Coach Ralph Friedgen
On the performance of his team:
“Defensively, I thought we played hard. They're good on offense. We had opportunities to get interceptions – there were balls in the air hanging around, but we just didn't come down with them. I can't fault our kids' effort. They fought as hard as they possibly could. I told the kids the only thing we can do is keep working. It's disheartening.”
On the big 67-yard pass play from Chris Turner to Davin Meggett that cut the deficit to 17-13:
“I thought it was a big-time answer. My concern is that I would like to have had that before the other touchdown, and then we would have been ahead.”
On the play of quarterback Chris Turner:
“I think he played OK. Obviously, the interception, I think he would want that back. I think he put us in the place that we want to be put in. I thought he made a couple of real good throws, but I have to look at the film before I get into a big evaluation.”
On what he told his team after the loss:
“I appreciate their effort, how hard they work day in and day out. I feel sorry that I can't get them a win, because I think it would really help them. I'm fighting every down with them. It just seems like no matter how hard we try, we can't seem to break through.”
On how Duke played and the gameplan the Blue Devils used:
“They do a good job. They used screens a lot more today than they have been, which I knew they would try to do. What did we have, two or three sacks today? They've only given up 12 all year, and they're throwing it 50 times a game so that's really good.”
On the play of Duke quarterback Thaddeus Lewis:
“He's good, he might be the best guy we've seen so far. Thaddeus Lewis is definitely an NFL prospect. He's big, he's strong and he's physical. He made some throws under pressure today. I've been impressed with him for a long time, and he impressed me again today.”
Opening statement on the game:
“It's a step for our team. I don't know what it means just yet. We did win ugly. I'm disappointed, thrilled to win, don't get me wrong, but upset about 12 penalties and three turnovers. We can't play that way. We did so many things well. Our kids knew they were going to win that game. That is the first time since I've been here that they knew it when in a difficult circumstance. We had the lead by four points and they knew we were going to win. Vinny Rey stepped up and made a great play. That's a change. I don't know what it means long term, but now, we go back to work. I'm enjoying the heck out of this, but I feel like I have to do a better job.”
On culture change, putting bad plays behind them and moving forward:
“It's the way you practice. We try to put them in as much of an adverse position in practice as possible. We demand effort on a consistent basis even when they don't really feel like it. You remember as a player not always doing that. Great coaches, it's not the scheme, it's what they can get out of their players, and that is what our staff is doing so well.”
On success receivers had in the middle of the field:
“They are a big two-deep team, whether it's a zone blitz or a Tampa two and their alternative is to play man coverage. Crossing routes are effective in those situations and you have to trust your quarterback. There are tight lanes there vertically and with the digs. Thaddeus [Lewis] wasn't perfect today and that's ok. It's not supposed to be easy each week. Hats off to Maryland, they played well today. They didn't make the mistakes early in the game that they have been making. Thad went out on his own, but the back shoulder throw bit him. I think I got his attention on that one.”
On Virginia next weekend:
“It doesn't change anything. Virginia is an extremely talented team, they are a great looking physically team, one of the better looking teams that I've seen. If we play as well as we can play and play with high energy, then we are in the game. When you are in the game in the fourth quarter, you can find ways to win. We have to do the little things to put ourselves in a good position.”
Duke Senior Linebacker Vincent Rey
On the win:
“It's a big win. We didn't play our best, but the most important thing is that we got the win. I feel like we got better during the off week and we're going to continue to get better and that's our winning edge. We have to continue to get better every practice.”
On his interception at the end of the game:
“We've been going over the kind of route that happened all week. I wasn't exactly thinking it at the time, but I've been doing it so much all week that my body kind of took me into that window and I was fortunate enough to have him throw it right to me and I was able to catch it.”
On the game's final six minutes:
“We had a couple penalties and that's definitely not the way we play defense. We don't get penalties and that kind of gave them a few first downs and yardage and ended up stopping them.”
On the team being focused and resilient:
“Coach Cutcliffe talks all about focusing and playing start to finish. They talk about it all the time and we want to continue to be consistent in playing start to finish. At some point, hopefully sooner than later, it's just going to be how we play and what we do.”
Duke Senior Quarterback Thaddeus Lewis
On the wet conditions:
“We just wanted to come out and play Duke football. The receivers didn't complain about the weather at all. That is one of the things I love about them; they don't complain about the weather and they don't complain about who catches the football.”
Reaction to the win:
“We made some mistakes, but in the end we were fortunate enough to come out on top. Maryland has a good football team. Our coaches did a great job putting us in a position to be successful. We made some plays, and sometimes that is what it comes down to. Our defense came through when we needed them. They were huge.”
Maryland Head Coach Ralph Friedgen
On the performance of his team:
“Defensively, I thought we played hard. They're good on offense. We had opportunities to get interceptions – there were balls in the air hanging around, but we just didn't come down with them. I can't fault our kids' effort. They fought as hard as they possibly could. I told the kids the only thing we can do is keep working. It's disheartening.”
On the big 67-yard pass play from Chris Turner to Davin Meggett that cut the deficit to 17-13:
“I thought it was a big-time answer. My concern is that I would like to have had that before the other touchdown, and then we would have been ahead.”
On the play of quarterback Chris Turner:
“I think he played OK. Obviously, the interception, I think he would want that back. I think he put us in the place that we want to be put in. I thought he made a couple of real good throws, but I have to look at the film before I get into a big evaluation.”
On what he told his team after the loss:
“I appreciate their effort, how hard they work day in and day out. I feel sorry that I can't get them a win, because I think it would really help them. I'm fighting every down with them. It just seems like no matter how hard we try, we can't seem to break through.”
On how Duke played and the gameplan the Blue Devils used:
“They do a good job. They used screens a lot more today than they have been, which I knew they would try to do. What did we have, two or three sacks today? They've only given up 12 all year, and they're throwing it 50 times a game so that's really good.”
On the play of Duke quarterback Thaddeus Lewis:
“He's good, he might be the best guy we've seen so far. Thaddeus Lewis is definitely an NFL prospect. He's big, he's strong and he's physical. He made some throws under pressure today. I've been impressed with him for a long time, and he impressed me again today.”
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