duke football news

[Devilinside]

Sick about it Lift. I knew our chemistry could be altered for the bowl, but honestly Grayson has pined (no pun intended), for an opportunity like this.

I knew Loftis was probably headed out when he posted the Mensah kid from Tulane's visit to Duke on his X account today. That was the last straw. Loftis still follows Elko and last year's OC Kevin Johns. He no longer follows Manny. Belin gets keys Jan.2nd now I guess.

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Lift and Hart, I disagree with you both. Loftis was NEVER starter material. If he were to be our first string QB, a 500 season would have been the best we could hope for. We saw enough of Loftis against Troy to know that. A game we barely won against a minor conference team. Diaz needs to find more than one QB, and, if he does, my bet is that both would be better than Loftis. As to Mutphy, I am glad he is gone. He Elmo'd us to get $. His ass was saved by our defense and offensive line. We have a great kid coming in. So, I am far from giving up hope for next year. The Gator Bowl is a different issue. Go, Manny!! We got your back.

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[kingbluedevil]

I'm interested to see where Murphy ends up hope they have a good defense.

 

[Liftee]

Devilinside, you know I disagree with you but it doesn't matter now does it! Hah!

The Tulane kid sat with the Crazies for a while last night. Hope our collective has some real $$$ to throw his way. But I'm sure there are others out there that Manny can grab. Unfortunately they won't play at the Gator bowl. It's all Belin's game, with Jordan Moore maybe ending his career in the same position he started it.

Nobody told Manny the job would be easy.

 

[hart2chesson]

Lift and Hart, I disagree with you both. Loftis was NEVER starter material. If he were to be our first string QB, a 500 season would have been the best we could hope for. We saw enough of Loftis against Troy to know that. A game we barely won against a minor conference team. Diaz needs to find more than one QB, and, if he does, my bet is that both would be better than Loftis. As to Mutphy, I am glad he is gone. He Elmo'd us to get $. His ass was saved by our defense and offensive line. We have a great kid coming in. So, I am far from giving up hope for next year. The Gator Bowl is a different issue. Go, Manny!! We got your back.

OFC

Feel better DI??? If we beat UNC LAST YEAR/Drake Maye, at Chapel Hill (striped shirts made sure we didnt), perhaps you strike a different tone. Loftis was excellent. His only mistake was hitting Jordan Moore with a perfect TD strike just a tad too early.

It gave Maye a whisker too much time for UNC to hit a FG to force OT. Ultimately the Cheaters won, and their fanbase stormed the field. They were celebrating a win they were favored to take over a crippled-up Duke team led by the 3rd string, true freshman Grayson Loftis. He hung tight in a duel with the media darling and Uber talented Maye.

No, he didn't have a performance to write home about vs. Troy. I do submit however, that was at the height of coaching upheaval. Trooper Taylor would lead Duke coaching, his first game ever as HC.

"Loftis was NEVER starter material." Ha, I find it difficult to believe you even watched last year's Duke-UNC game, an offensive slugfest. We lost a solid "starter material" qb yesterday to the portal in the Gaffney, SC product.

BTW, I have "Manny's back" every bit as much as anyone here. I know @Liftee does as well. I can't argue with 9-3, and still feel very good about the future of Duke football. I am still holding out hope we get win #10 in the Gator Bowl, but certainly the turmoil this week cannot help. Rant over.

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[hart2chesson]

Lift and Hart, I disagree with you both. Loftis was NEVER starter material.

OFC

"presumptive starter as he and Texas transfer Maalik Murphy are jostling for position as the Duke starter in Manny Diaz’s first season at the helm."

From on3.com earlier this season, noting the battle for Duke "STARTING" qb between Grayson Loftis and Murphy.

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[kingbluedevil]

The way things are now if Loftis had started all year he may have transferred anyway. They are all trying to get paid

 

[LetsGoDuke83]

Visit musta went well

 

[ConorONeill]

Quick story already up on Darian Mensah committing.

 

[Liftee]

Quick story already up on Darian Mensah committing.

Thank you as always Conor. However, you say Mensah is not a running QB. Well, everything's relative, right?

 

[ConorONeill]

Thank you as always Conor. However, you say Mensah is not a running QB. Well, everything's relative, right?

What I get for procrastinating and being distracted and not having more of the story written before the announcement.

 

[hart2chesson]

Today's gloomy NC weather just brightened up!!!

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[jeffrey236]

I’m anxious to learn the backstory of why Murphy and Loftis transferred. Is it possible that Diaz had made it clear that he was going to the portal to upgrade the position? As agitated as some of us were about Murphy’s shortcomings, Manny had to have been even more keenly aware of them. But he clearly did not want to put Loftis (or Belin) in.

Two questions now are (1) who is Mensah going to throw to, and (2) will Henry transfer as well?

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[surfdevil]

so couple if things.
i hate to jump in on this but Grayson was not excellent vs unc. he was 16-28 for 189. thats it. yes he had 3 short td passes but they were set up by our running game which rushed for 179 yds. Pitt was his best game. also per an inside source they offered Grayson good money to stay and play in the bowl game but he said no.
Belin is healthy so hopefully he has a good bowl game. i think he stays.
we have some good WR talent returning. Que'sean Brown, Sahmir Hagans, Spencer Jones and Chase Tyler all have talent. i think a WR1 and a pair of TE'S are the next big need.
seems that the staff was planning things early. MM thought he was coming back and had actually signed a new lease on his apt. the staff told him they were looking for an upgrade at QB1 and he was welcome back as a back up for less money.
this the new way of college sports and this is part of wanting to be a player on the field these days

 

[Liftee]

Wow, Surf, amazing information. I don't know where you get it from and I don't want to know because I don't want you to burn your source(s).

I take it that if Manny was ready to replace Maalik, but yet wouldn't play his backups more than a down or two, Manny did not think much of the back ups.

Mensah isn't what you would call a running QB but he isn't afraid to take off so the threat will be there.

I think the young tight end Taylor made a lot of progress so at least we have one guy coming back at that position.

Let's get the O line up to speed so we can have a decent running game next year.

 

[Devilinside]

Feel better DI??? If we beat UNC LAST YEAR/Drake Maye, at Chapel Hill (striped shirts made sure we didnt), perhaps you strike a different tone. Loftis was excellent. His only mistake was hitting Jordan Moore with a perfect TD strike just a tad too early.

It gave Maye a whisker too much time for UNC to hit a FG to force OT. Ultimately the Cheaters won, and their fanbase stormed the field. They were celebrating a win they were favored to take over a crippled-up Duke team led by the 3rd string, true freshman Grayson Loftis. He hung tight in a duel with the media darling and Uber talented Maye.

No, he didn't have a performance to write home about vs. Troy. I do submit however, that was at the height of coaching upheaval. Trooper Taylor would lead Duke coaching, his first game ever as HC.

"Loftis was NEVER starter material." Ha, I find it difficult to believe you even watched last year's Duke-UNC game, an offensive slugfest. We lost a solid "starter material" qb yesterday to the portal in the Gaffney, SC product.

BTW, I have "Manny's back" every bit as much as anyone here. I know @Liftee does as well. I can't argue with 9-3, and still feel very good about the future of Duke football. I am still holding out hope we get win #10 in the Gator Bowl, but certainly the turmoil this week cannot help. Rant over.

OFC

Rant accepted, Hart. Hell, at our age, we are entitled to disagree about anything and everything. OFC

 

[Devilinside]

so couple if things.
i hate to jump in on this but Grayson was not excellent vs unc. he was 16-28 for 189. thats it. yes he had 3 short td passes but they were set up by our running game which rushed for 179 yds. Pitt was his best game. also per an inside source they offered Grayson good money to stay and play in the bowl game but he said no.
Belin is healthy so hopefully he has a good bowl game. i think he stays.
we have some good WR talent returning. Que'sean Brown, Sahmir Hagans, Spencer Jones and Chase Tyler all have talent. i think a WR1 and a pair of TE'S are the next big need.
seems that the staff was planning things early. MM thought he was coming back and had actually signed a new lease on his apt. the staff told him they were looking for an upgrade at QB1 and he was welcome back as a back up for less money.
this the new way of college sports and this is part of wanting to be a player on the field these days

In an earlier post I erroneously stated that Murphy had "Elmo'd" us for money. If he was told he would no longer be the starter and had to take less money, his departure is understandable. It also does not surprise me that the staff knew that we needed an upgrade at QB. MM was just too limited in what he could do. I wish him luck and thank him for his time here.

OFC

 

[surfdevil]

welp we might be looking for another QB in the portal. per sources Loftis turned down 50 grand to stay and play in the bowl game. okay he didnt want to drop to QB2 next year so he left. HB graduates in the spring so there is a good chance that if he feels he wont be QB1 he will leave also. the new QB was a redshirt frosh this year so if it goes well he could be here for a few years. the timing works for Mahan because he can take over as a redshirt soph. need to find a good grad kid to come in.

 

[jeffrey236]

Mensah isn't what you would call a running QB but he isn't afraid to take off so the threat will be there.

I can live with him not running much, but he does appear willing to take off, if only to extend a play. MM looked like the pocket was an island surrounded by sharks - no way he was leaving it. Which led to forced passes, sacks and the occasional fumble.

OFC

 

[jeffrey236]

Just in case anyone thinks I’m a MM hater, I wish him nothing but good luck - he represented us well, and seemed like a good guy and teammate. But trying to be objective, I didn’t think he was as good as his stats suggested and his weaknesses were fairly apparent. Glad to see Manny recognized that.

OFC

 

[hart2chesson]

so couple if things.
i hate to jump in on this but Grayson was not excellent vs unc. he was 16-28 for 189. thats it. yes he had 3 short td passes but they were set up by our running game which rushed for 179 yds.

1/Surf, you're like me- you DO NOT "hate to jump in." You love to talk and debate Duke football. You know your subject quite well, and much admiration and respect to you sir(Same salute also much directed at pal @Devilinside ). All of you guys are good people, DUKE FOOTBALL DIEHARDS like me!!

2/ Performance is sometimes more than just PURE NUMBERS. The fact is, Grayson's game and/or game management vs UNC was good enough to outduel the Tar Heels, had the DEFENSE played better. At the end of the day, Loftis convinced myself(and some ex-Duke players I know), he was a capable replacement for Riley Leonard. The promise was displayed for a successful sophomore campaign.

3/Ultimately #InMannyITrust, and 9-3 is successful at most schools, especially Dear Old Duke.

 

[Another#1Dukie]

welp we might be looking for another QB in the portal. per sources Loftis turned down 50 grand to stay and play in the bowl game. okay he didnt want to drop to QB2 next year so he left. HB graduates in the spring so there is a good chance that if he feels he wont be QB1 he will leave also. the new QB was a redshirt frosh this year so if it goes well he could be here for a few years. the timing works for Mahan because he can take over as a redshirt soph. need to find a good grad kid to come in.

Honestly, I like Manny being proactive out what he feels Duke needs. I thought Duke/Manny was caught flat footed with MM leaving, obviously it may have been MM that was caught off guard. He'll be fine, I saw where it was Miami and Auburn that was in the running for his services.

I also understand GL leaving too. If HB does leave who will be the QB in the bowl game?

 

[surfdevil]

Don't think HB leaves before the bowl game. He has been good for the team. He graduates in the spring so maybe then. Why give up your scholly for your last semester? That would be a chunk of money to pony up to graduate. Also he can use the bowl game as an audition tape for other schools if he wants. I kinda thought when his younger brother picked ga tech this year that was a sign he was leaving. We really do need one more QB out of the portal but maybe a grad kid with only one year left.

 

[Liftee]

Any comments on the Cheaters choosing a geezer as their new football coach? Kind of related to Duke football in that we get to see Belichek on the opposing sideline next year.

Personally, I think it is a desperation move and very short sighted.

 

[jeffrey236]

It’s to set his son up to be the heir-apparent. And that usually does not work out well at this level.

 

[hart2chesson]

It’s to set his son up to be the heir-apparent. And that usually does not work out well at this level.

Major sell-out! OFC

 

[bleediteveryday30]

Bill's on a five year plan

 

[LetsGoDuke83]

Picked up a crystal for the wake forest wr in the portal. Believe was with Mensah at the bball game

https://247sports.com/player/horatio-fields-46111961/

 

[ConorONeill]

Emergency podcast from yesterday:

 

[ConorONeill]

Doubled-up podcast postings -- recorded with JJ this morning:

 

[hart2chesson]

"Out with the OLD, in with the NEW." Best of luck always Grayson. You deserved a better fate in Durham.




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[Liftee]

Every sideline shot I saw showed Grayson Loftis encouraging Murphy, or listening attentively. Never saw him with a disinterested look on his face or exhibiting a bad attitude.

In other words, he handled being demoted after winning a bowl a lot better than I would have.

I wish the young man all the best of luck and hope to see him on TV sometime next year.

 

[hart2chesson]

Every sideline shot I saw showed Grayson Loftis encouraging Murphy, or listening attentively. Never saw him with a disinterested look on his face or exhibiting a bad attitude.

In other words, he handled being demoted after winning a bowl a lot better than I would have.

I wish the young man all the best of luck and hope to see him on TV sometime next year.

We will be pulling for him Lift!!!

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[smashmouth5]

Would love for Duke to go after him. He's a warrior.

 

[jeffrey236]

On Coach K’s podcast, Manny said that this year he would be selectively filling the holes, a luxury he had because he has fewer holes to fill this year. If he is as successful filling those holes as he was last year (and he’s gotten off to a great start with Mensah), we should be really excited about next year and, hopefully, beyond.

OFC