Upcoming Event: Football versus Arizona State on December 31, 2025 at 2 p.m.
Football
vs Arizona State
David Cutcliffe Press Conference Quotes: Pittsburgh
10/1/2019 4:19:00 PM | Football
DURHAM, N.C. - Duke football head coach David Cutcliffe met with members of the local media on Tuesday afternoon for his weekly press conference inside Blue Devil Tower.
The Blue Devils come home for their ACC home opener against Pittsburgh. The game will be broadcast on ACC Network with Dave O'Brien, Tim Hasselbeck and Katie George on the call. Kickoff is slated for 8:05 p.m.
David Cutcliffe Duke Football Head Coach
(Ref.: Opening Statement)
"Good afternoon. Durham Day, I want to start with that this Saturday night. Really looking forward to it. We've had Chris Alston and his marketing group do a great amount of work in Durham. We feel very much a part of Durham. Duke football has been there and embraced that since we've been here and that has grown. I mean, we know that we're Bull City proud. And that's important to us. It's also Cure Kids' Cancer this week. And that's another thing that's near and dear to our hearts where we have our own Children's Hospital if you want to take a walk that'll put your mind in the right place, which I occasionally need to do by walking over to Children's Hospital. And you'll immediately understand what the meaning of life is. So I wanted to mention those two things because they are important.
Â
"Pitt is a really good football team. I'll tell you what, I shouldn't even say team, it's a really good football program. Pat Narduzzi has developed a program. The Pitt team year in, year out, looks pretty much the same. They're physical. Pat does a great job coaching defense. They always have weapons on offense and they can run it. They've got an outstanding quarterback, receiving crew and tight end. They're very successful throwing the football. They're probably a little more balance than what they've been in the past. There's a reason they were Coastal Division champions a year ago. And this team is much like the team they had a year ago. I can't say enough about their program. We haven't been as successful as we'd like to be against them. But this is this year, a new opportunity and we're happy to be back home. It feels like forever ago since we've played a game on Brooks Field at Wallace Wade Stadium. We're really looking forward to this opportunity to be back home with our friends from Durham."
(Ref.: On the Duke-Pitt series the past couple years)
"You don't even have to tell our players, they're very aware. But you can't just talk about something and get it done. How are you going to prepare? What are you going to do during the week differently than what you've done? How much more tape are you going to watch? How much more focused is your practice? How much more rest are you going to try to get to where you're at your best on Saturday night? Those are all things we talked about Sunday and I talked briefly about it after the game in Blacksburg. A bigger challenge this week. Each week it's going to be a new and sometimes bigger challenge. This one is definitely new and bigger."
Â
(Ref.: On the matchup between the Duke offensive line and the Pitt defensive line)
"Well, I think that if you'll look at the game, you have to look at that. I mean, they're terrific. 24 sacks, second in the country. We've done a good job to this point but it's always just to this point. That's a huge matchup. We've emphasized trying to get to the quarterback and finish sacks. We still missed a few too many. So I think the winner of that game is the winner of the sack game. The only thing maybe more devastating than a sack in a game is a turnover. So I think the turnover ratio and the sack ratio are going to be a big part of this football game.
Â
"They do a great job there. They're different on third down than they are in first and second down. They rotate and play a lot of people. It's not just that they've got a lot of ability, you can tell how well coached they are. They're fierce competitors. If you ever watch Pat Narduzzi on the sideline you'll see a fierce competitor, that's just how he is built. He's a defensive minded coach and when I'm not playing him, I like to watch him coach. But I don't like watching him necessarily when we play them. He's a heck of a football coach. Their personality shows up in their defensive front, linebackers and down people."
Â
(Ref.: On Quentin Harris waiting his turn to start for Duke)
"It takes a unique person. He is that and it's very admirable. You choose a program for the right reasons. And he did. Sometimes young people are pushed or they think they got immediate access to success. He chose Duke football, Duke University, his friends and the locker room for all the right reasons. He and Daniel (Jones) were best friends. College is still part of growing up. It would be like leaving all your best friends from grade school, middle school and high school. Quentin Harris is that kind of loyal person. He saw a bigger picture. We haven't had anybody undergraduate transfer since we've been here. That's a pretty important tribute to their teammates. When you have that kind of feeling and connection into a group of people, it's hard to leave. It was hard for him to consider. He and I had a conversation about it one time but that's not really the path he wanted to go on."
Â
(Ref.: On the new transfer rules)
"Personally, I think we would be better if young people stayed the course. There are reasons at times for transfers. I get that. But to jump ship immediately, I'm not a fan of it. I don't know whether it's right or wrong. I'm just not a fan. But I would recommend everybody deeply investigate the recruiting process and choose for all the right reasons, not for instant gratification. Recruiting has become such a sport and they make people feel like they've already succeeded. Then when you get there, it's almost embarrassing. I find it distasteful to see young people have to go through that. I don't fault them. I just feel sad for them."
Â
(Ref.: On Koby Quansah waiting his turn to be on the field)
"Yeah, he's a terrific player and Koby played a lot, but he's a lot like Quentin's situation. You watch young people and you watch how they prepare. You'll learn a lot when a player's young and if he's not a starter in most of it is a first or second year player and you watch how they prepare you know whether you've got a winner or not. And that's one of my jobs as I watch all of them. I watch all the practice tape. I watch the scout team. I can tell what we're going to get. Daniel Jones, the best scout team quarterback in history. You know without a doubt what's getting ready to happen in his game. He was the best. And he had a tight end named Daniel Helm who was having to sit out. So wow. You know I knew every day."
Â
(Ref.: On Noah Gray)
"He has exceptional quickness to be his size. Whether he was playing quarterback, which he did and could, whether he was running with the football, whether he played a little defense, his fierce competitiveness, his focus stood out. Then we had him in camp and you're like, wow, I mean, what are people missing. To me, it was a no brainer. And you go up to the school and in the community. I mean, everybody there knew that Noah Gray was special. He has not surprised me one bit, not one bit. He's a guy that I love to watch work. We do a lot of measurables with technology. He's always through the roof. You know I don't share all of that information. The medical people get it. Coach (Nole) Durfey gets it. And I get it. Since he's been here you're just like, 'What.' I mean, look how much he put into this show. He's a great lesson for young people, don't expect something for nothing. Noah's worked to earn being a star player at this level."
Â
(Ref.: On the need of playing through all four quarters)
"Again, I'll go back to the program they've got and hope the one we have works. It's a matchup that if we match up physically with them, it'll be a war for four quarters. Having to play for four quarters was a big emphasis in our practice today. Finishing, conditioning, mental conditioning and physicality all come into play. That's the beauty of the conference matchups and when you stay in a conference you kind of learn what to expect. I hear our older players telling the younger players, what to expect from Pitt. They have great respect for the Pittsburgh program and the Pittsburgh team."
Â
(Ref.: On how Mataeo Durant has stepped up in Brittain Brown's absence)
"Yeah, he's playing really well. He's playing maybe secretly better than people realize. Keep your eye on him. Keep your eye on him. He's going to be something special."
Â
The Blue Devils come home for their ACC home opener against Pittsburgh. The game will be broadcast on ACC Network with Dave O'Brien, Tim Hasselbeck and Katie George on the call. Kickoff is slated for 8:05 p.m.
David Cutcliffe Duke Football Head Coach
(Ref.: Opening Statement)
"Good afternoon. Durham Day, I want to start with that this Saturday night. Really looking forward to it. We've had Chris Alston and his marketing group do a great amount of work in Durham. We feel very much a part of Durham. Duke football has been there and embraced that since we've been here and that has grown. I mean, we know that we're Bull City proud. And that's important to us. It's also Cure Kids' Cancer this week. And that's another thing that's near and dear to our hearts where we have our own Children's Hospital if you want to take a walk that'll put your mind in the right place, which I occasionally need to do by walking over to Children's Hospital. And you'll immediately understand what the meaning of life is. So I wanted to mention those two things because they are important.
Â
"Pitt is a really good football team. I'll tell you what, I shouldn't even say team, it's a really good football program. Pat Narduzzi has developed a program. The Pitt team year in, year out, looks pretty much the same. They're physical. Pat does a great job coaching defense. They always have weapons on offense and they can run it. They've got an outstanding quarterback, receiving crew and tight end. They're very successful throwing the football. They're probably a little more balance than what they've been in the past. There's a reason they were Coastal Division champions a year ago. And this team is much like the team they had a year ago. I can't say enough about their program. We haven't been as successful as we'd like to be against them. But this is this year, a new opportunity and we're happy to be back home. It feels like forever ago since we've played a game on Brooks Field at Wallace Wade Stadium. We're really looking forward to this opportunity to be back home with our friends from Durham."
(Ref.: On the Duke-Pitt series the past couple years)
"You don't even have to tell our players, they're very aware. But you can't just talk about something and get it done. How are you going to prepare? What are you going to do during the week differently than what you've done? How much more tape are you going to watch? How much more focused is your practice? How much more rest are you going to try to get to where you're at your best on Saturday night? Those are all things we talked about Sunday and I talked briefly about it after the game in Blacksburg. A bigger challenge this week. Each week it's going to be a new and sometimes bigger challenge. This one is definitely new and bigger."
Â
(Ref.: On the matchup between the Duke offensive line and the Pitt defensive line)
"Well, I think that if you'll look at the game, you have to look at that. I mean, they're terrific. 24 sacks, second in the country. We've done a good job to this point but it's always just to this point. That's a huge matchup. We've emphasized trying to get to the quarterback and finish sacks. We still missed a few too many. So I think the winner of that game is the winner of the sack game. The only thing maybe more devastating than a sack in a game is a turnover. So I think the turnover ratio and the sack ratio are going to be a big part of this football game.
Â
"They do a great job there. They're different on third down than they are in first and second down. They rotate and play a lot of people. It's not just that they've got a lot of ability, you can tell how well coached they are. They're fierce competitors. If you ever watch Pat Narduzzi on the sideline you'll see a fierce competitor, that's just how he is built. He's a defensive minded coach and when I'm not playing him, I like to watch him coach. But I don't like watching him necessarily when we play them. He's a heck of a football coach. Their personality shows up in their defensive front, linebackers and down people."
Â
(Ref.: On Quentin Harris waiting his turn to start for Duke)
"It takes a unique person. He is that and it's very admirable. You choose a program for the right reasons. And he did. Sometimes young people are pushed or they think they got immediate access to success. He chose Duke football, Duke University, his friends and the locker room for all the right reasons. He and Daniel (Jones) were best friends. College is still part of growing up. It would be like leaving all your best friends from grade school, middle school and high school. Quentin Harris is that kind of loyal person. He saw a bigger picture. We haven't had anybody undergraduate transfer since we've been here. That's a pretty important tribute to their teammates. When you have that kind of feeling and connection into a group of people, it's hard to leave. It was hard for him to consider. He and I had a conversation about it one time but that's not really the path he wanted to go on."
Â
(Ref.: On the new transfer rules)
"Personally, I think we would be better if young people stayed the course. There are reasons at times for transfers. I get that. But to jump ship immediately, I'm not a fan of it. I don't know whether it's right or wrong. I'm just not a fan. But I would recommend everybody deeply investigate the recruiting process and choose for all the right reasons, not for instant gratification. Recruiting has become such a sport and they make people feel like they've already succeeded. Then when you get there, it's almost embarrassing. I find it distasteful to see young people have to go through that. I don't fault them. I just feel sad for them."
Â
(Ref.: On Koby Quansah waiting his turn to be on the field)
"Yeah, he's a terrific player and Koby played a lot, but he's a lot like Quentin's situation. You watch young people and you watch how they prepare. You'll learn a lot when a player's young and if he's not a starter in most of it is a first or second year player and you watch how they prepare you know whether you've got a winner or not. And that's one of my jobs as I watch all of them. I watch all the practice tape. I watch the scout team. I can tell what we're going to get. Daniel Jones, the best scout team quarterback in history. You know without a doubt what's getting ready to happen in his game. He was the best. And he had a tight end named Daniel Helm who was having to sit out. So wow. You know I knew every day."
Â
(Ref.: On Noah Gray)
"He has exceptional quickness to be his size. Whether he was playing quarterback, which he did and could, whether he was running with the football, whether he played a little defense, his fierce competitiveness, his focus stood out. Then we had him in camp and you're like, wow, I mean, what are people missing. To me, it was a no brainer. And you go up to the school and in the community. I mean, everybody there knew that Noah Gray was special. He has not surprised me one bit, not one bit. He's a guy that I love to watch work. We do a lot of measurables with technology. He's always through the roof. You know I don't share all of that information. The medical people get it. Coach (Nole) Durfey gets it. And I get it. Since he's been here you're just like, 'What.' I mean, look how much he put into this show. He's a great lesson for young people, don't expect something for nothing. Noah's worked to earn being a star player at this level."
Â
(Ref.: On the need of playing through all four quarters)
"Again, I'll go back to the program they've got and hope the one we have works. It's a matchup that if we match up physically with them, it'll be a war for four quarters. Having to play for four quarters was a big emphasis in our practice today. Finishing, conditioning, mental conditioning and physicality all come into play. That's the beauty of the conference matchups and when you stay in a conference you kind of learn what to expect. I hear our older players telling the younger players, what to expect from Pitt. They have great respect for the Pittsburgh program and the Pittsburgh team."
Â
(Ref.: On how Mataeo Durant has stepped up in Brittain Brown's absence)
"Yeah, he's playing really well. He's playing maybe secretly better than people realize. Keep your eye on him. Keep your eye on him. He's going to be something special."
Â
Players Mentioned
RB
/ Football
RB
/ Football
QB
/ Football
TE
/ Football
QB
/ Football
LB
/ FootballJustin Pickett Media Availability: Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl
Friday, December 19
Aaron Hall Media Availability: Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl
Friday, December 19
Coach Diaz Media Availability: Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl
Thursday, December 18
Cinematic Highlights: ACC Championship Game
Tuesday, December 16
