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Duke Football Notebook: Back Home
11/7/2019 3:03:00 PM | Football
DURHAM, N.C. – Duke football returns to Wallace Wade Stadium on Saturday after a month hiatus when it hosts No. 15 Notre Dame at 7:30 p.m.
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The Blue Devils are coming off an open weekend, while their opponent, the Fighting Irish, squeaked by Virginia Tech, 21-20, last Saturday.
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The Duke-Notre Dame game Saturday will be broadcast live on the ACC Network with Dave O'Brian, Tim Hasselbeck and Katie George on the call. The contest can also be heard on the Blue Devils IMG Sports Network through the TuneIn app or goduke.com.
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BOUNCING BACK
The Blue Devils hope to bounce back from a heartbreaking loss at rival North Carolina, 17-20, during their last outing.
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"I think we're excited to play every week," redshirt senior quarterback Quentin Harris said of looking ahead. "We obviously didn't have a great outcome last time we played which was a tough, tough loss. But, every week guys are eager and chomping at the bit to get back on the field and just correct everything that went wrong the week before."
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"You really don't have any choice," Duke head coach David Cutcliffe said. "You know it's the toughest time in probably anything we do, but certainly in sport is when you have to become your best. And you use it as fuel. You don't let it eat you up under any circumstances. So, we put it to rest during the open date."
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An open date came at the right time for Duke, giving the Blue Devils a chance to rest and heal before four consecutive games, three of which are at home, to finish the regular season.
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"We have mandatory treatment during the bye week, so if you have any bumps and bruises you have to come in," redshirt sophomore cornerback Leonard Johnson commented. "But it's more relaxed. Friday, we had off. Just relaxed all day after coming in for treatment early in the morning."
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Despite the bye weekend, sights were set on Nov. 9 and the challenges that a nationally ranked Notre Dame team presents.
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"We have to maintain our edge," Johnson said of having an open week. "We can't just settle down just cause it's a bye week."
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A HISTORIC OPPONENT
Duke meets the Fighting Irish for the sixth time in program history. Notre Dame leads the overall series, 3-2, but the Blue Devils were victorious in the teams' last meeting back in 2016 in South Bend, 38-35.
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"They're a team that was in the College Football Playoffs a year ago for a reason," Cutcliffe said. "I don't think you have to put them on a pedestal, but I do think that you have to face a reality. The Notre Dame football tradition is as rich and deep, if not deeper than any in all of college football."
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Although Cutcliffe's men may not remember exactly what he remembers about the history of Notre Dame, they do have a healthy respect for head coach Brian Kelly's Fighting Irish program.
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"It's a very storied program with a lot of history behind it," Harris said. "We have to respect them – they're a great opponent and they've had a great season so far."
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Notre Dame is ranked 15th in the latest AP Poll, presenting a chance for a substantial upset for the Blue Devils. Duke is 28-142-6 all-time against ranked opponents but are hoping to add a tally to the win column Saturday. The last time Duke won over a ranked non-conference opponent was when 19th-ranked Duke topped 10th-ranked Stanford, 9-3, in 1971.
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"This is a great opportunity," Johnson added. "With it being a primetime game, and with their offense – they've got some pretty good receivers. It'll be a great match up for us."
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DON'T FORGET CANNED FOOD
On Saturday night Duke football is partnering with Duke Religious Life and running a canned food drive before the game.
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"It's going to be a great atmosphere Saturday," Cutcliffe said." We've got a lot going on around the game. I'm going to go ahead and mention this because I've been a little bit a part of it, but Duke Religious Life is running a canned food drive before the game that will serve the local community. So, I hope people do support that."
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All canned food items will be accepted as well as cash and PayPal donations. All donations benefit Urban Ministries and the Durham Food Pantry.
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The collection points are: Tribull Plaza, next to the K-Ville sign in the Fan Zone, the ticket booth by Powers Gate, the ticket booth by Wilson Gate and concourse Section 19 (cash only).
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DEFENSIVE WORK
Notre Dame's season has been highlighted by the play of a few of their taller receivers. The Fighting Irish offense will present some challenges for the Duke defense.
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"First of all, you have to find some way to generate pass rush," Cutcliffe said of attacking the Notre Dame offense. "You got to make the quarterback uncomfortable about holding the ball. Secondly, we've got to mix coverages. We've got to put ourselves in good positions to avoid giving up explosive plays."
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Duke is the only team in the ACC with four players that have amassed 16.0+ tackles for loss throughout their careers. Junior defensive end Victor Dimukeje (24.0), senior defensive end Tre Hornbuckle (20.0), redshirt sophomore defensive end Chris Rumph II (16.5) and senior linebacker Koby Quansah (16.0) make up the foursome.
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"One of the best ways to stop them is for our offense to stay on the field and make a few explosives of their own," Cutcliffe continued. "We've got to take care of the football. But again, it's a team sport. When we're at our best – our offense, kicking and defensive units work really well together."
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The Blue Devils have rattled off 30 touchdowns through the previous seven games -- 15 through the air, 14 on the ground and one on special teams. Harris has paced the Duke offense during that stretch with 1,403 yards on 138-of-224 (.616) passing and 395 yards on 94 carries. The Wilton, Conn., native has tallied 13 passing touchdowns and six rushing scores.
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SHOT IN A BARREL
The ACC Coastal Division has provided a lot of exciting games throughout the year, along with many unpredictable outcomes.
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"Everybody in it is good," Cutcliffe said. "If you look and ask any of us what's been some form of the problem, the answer may be different across the board. But, I think it's consistency. I think when you take a football team at its highest level and keep it there, then you have a chance to be an undefeated team or a 6-2 team or a 7-1 team, whatever it may be. But all of us seem to have faced that as a challenge. And it's a unique challenge."
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"It's really a shot in a barrel every week," Harris said of the division. "Everybody's a talented team and any outcome can happen. You have to bring your best week in and week out because every opponent has the ability to beat you every week, regardless of their record."
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Five of the seven teams in the Coastal Division are a game within a .500 ACC record this season.
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"I would argue that it is just showing the competitive balance within the Coastal," Harris added. "You have so many talented teams that it is kind of a dogfight each and every week."
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The Blue Devils are coming off an open weekend, while their opponent, the Fighting Irish, squeaked by Virginia Tech, 21-20, last Saturday.
Â
The Duke-Notre Dame game Saturday will be broadcast live on the ACC Network with Dave O'Brian, Tim Hasselbeck and Katie George on the call. The contest can also be heard on the Blue Devils IMG Sports Network through the TuneIn app or goduke.com.
Â
BOUNCING BACK
The Blue Devils hope to bounce back from a heartbreaking loss at rival North Carolina, 17-20, during their last outing.
Â
"I think we're excited to play every week," redshirt senior quarterback Quentin Harris said of looking ahead. "We obviously didn't have a great outcome last time we played which was a tough, tough loss. But, every week guys are eager and chomping at the bit to get back on the field and just correct everything that went wrong the week before."
Â
"You really don't have any choice," Duke head coach David Cutcliffe said. "You know it's the toughest time in probably anything we do, but certainly in sport is when you have to become your best. And you use it as fuel. You don't let it eat you up under any circumstances. So, we put it to rest during the open date."
Â
An open date came at the right time for Duke, giving the Blue Devils a chance to rest and heal before four consecutive games, three of which are at home, to finish the regular season.
Â
"We have mandatory treatment during the bye week, so if you have any bumps and bruises you have to come in," redshirt sophomore cornerback Leonard Johnson commented. "But it's more relaxed. Friday, we had off. Just relaxed all day after coming in for treatment early in the morning."
Â
Despite the bye weekend, sights were set on Nov. 9 and the challenges that a nationally ranked Notre Dame team presents.
Â
"We have to maintain our edge," Johnson said of having an open week. "We can't just settle down just cause it's a bye week."
Â
A HISTORIC OPPONENT
Duke meets the Fighting Irish for the sixth time in program history. Notre Dame leads the overall series, 3-2, but the Blue Devils were victorious in the teams' last meeting back in 2016 in South Bend, 38-35.
Â
"They're a team that was in the College Football Playoffs a year ago for a reason," Cutcliffe said. "I don't think you have to put them on a pedestal, but I do think that you have to face a reality. The Notre Dame football tradition is as rich and deep, if not deeper than any in all of college football."
Â
Although Cutcliffe's men may not remember exactly what he remembers about the history of Notre Dame, they do have a healthy respect for head coach Brian Kelly's Fighting Irish program.
Â
"It's a very storied program with a lot of history behind it," Harris said. "We have to respect them – they're a great opponent and they've had a great season so far."
Â
Notre Dame is ranked 15th in the latest AP Poll, presenting a chance for a substantial upset for the Blue Devils. Duke is 28-142-6 all-time against ranked opponents but are hoping to add a tally to the win column Saturday. The last time Duke won over a ranked non-conference opponent was when 19th-ranked Duke topped 10th-ranked Stanford, 9-3, in 1971.
Â
"This is a great opportunity," Johnson added. "With it being a primetime game, and with their offense – they've got some pretty good receivers. It'll be a great match up for us."
Â
DON'T FORGET CANNED FOOD
On Saturday night Duke football is partnering with Duke Religious Life and running a canned food drive before the game.
Â
"It's going to be a great atmosphere Saturday," Cutcliffe said." We've got a lot going on around the game. I'm going to go ahead and mention this because I've been a little bit a part of it, but Duke Religious Life is running a canned food drive before the game that will serve the local community. So, I hope people do support that."
Â
All canned food items will be accepted as well as cash and PayPal donations. All donations benefit Urban Ministries and the Durham Food Pantry.
Â
The collection points are: Tribull Plaza, next to the K-Ville sign in the Fan Zone, the ticket booth by Powers Gate, the ticket booth by Wilson Gate and concourse Section 19 (cash only).
Â
DEFENSIVE WORK
Notre Dame's season has been highlighted by the play of a few of their taller receivers. The Fighting Irish offense will present some challenges for the Duke defense.
Â
"First of all, you have to find some way to generate pass rush," Cutcliffe said of attacking the Notre Dame offense. "You got to make the quarterback uncomfortable about holding the ball. Secondly, we've got to mix coverages. We've got to put ourselves in good positions to avoid giving up explosive plays."
Â
Duke is the only team in the ACC with four players that have amassed 16.0+ tackles for loss throughout their careers. Junior defensive end Victor Dimukeje (24.0), senior defensive end Tre Hornbuckle (20.0), redshirt sophomore defensive end Chris Rumph II (16.5) and senior linebacker Koby Quansah (16.0) make up the foursome.
Â
"One of the best ways to stop them is for our offense to stay on the field and make a few explosives of their own," Cutcliffe continued. "We've got to take care of the football. But again, it's a team sport. When we're at our best – our offense, kicking and defensive units work really well together."
Â
The Blue Devils have rattled off 30 touchdowns through the previous seven games -- 15 through the air, 14 on the ground and one on special teams. Harris has paced the Duke offense during that stretch with 1,403 yards on 138-of-224 (.616) passing and 395 yards on 94 carries. The Wilton, Conn., native has tallied 13 passing touchdowns and six rushing scores.
Â
SHOT IN A BARREL
The ACC Coastal Division has provided a lot of exciting games throughout the year, along with many unpredictable outcomes.
Â
"Everybody in it is good," Cutcliffe said. "If you look and ask any of us what's been some form of the problem, the answer may be different across the board. But, I think it's consistency. I think when you take a football team at its highest level and keep it there, then you have a chance to be an undefeated team or a 6-2 team or a 7-1 team, whatever it may be. But all of us seem to have faced that as a challenge. And it's a unique challenge."
Â
"It's really a shot in a barrel every week," Harris said of the division. "Everybody's a talented team and any outcome can happen. You have to bring your best week in and week out because every opponent has the ability to beat you every week, regardless of their record."
Â
Five of the seven teams in the Coastal Division are a game within a .500 ACC record this season.
Â
"I would argue that it is just showing the competitive balance within the Coastal," Harris added. "You have so many talented teams that it is kind of a dogfight each and every week."
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Players Mentioned
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