Before last week, I gave us no chance to beat VT. Then VT laid an egg and I thought maybe we had a shot. But, realistically, we never did. When teams like VT, Miami, Clemson, and FSU are competently coached, Duke has no real chance to beat any of them. I'd love to see FSU, within the next 2-3 weeks, but not the other three.
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Those teams simply have the superior talent on the field that no amount of preparation, effort, hustle, or execution can overcome. Assuming Duke plays near mistake free FB, those other guys can simply make too many plays for us to overcome.
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And that is OK. I really think Duke has a chance to finish 3rd in our division. That will result in a late December Bowl Game, one that airs on a chilly grey night, during winter vacation, when nearly every potential recruit has nothing better to do than watch whatever bowl is on TV. Heck, those "unimportant" litany of bowls this year will be more compelling than watching 3 teams jockey for the right to get obliterated by Alabama in the title game. A lot of kids that otherwise might not consider Duke will do just that, consider Duke. All it takes is for a few kids to decide that playing, and starting, early at Duke might be preferable to waiting and maybe not starting at some larger FB factory.
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The team is on the right trajectory. We simply don't, won't, and probably can't have/attract the kind of talent necessary to beat a competently coached FB "power."
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Compared to where we were B.C. (before Cut), I'm thrilled. We are well coached, and we played hard. Tonight's game was over by the mid-to-late third, but our guys never quit. I'm disappointed, but in the outcome of the game. I'm not disappointed in the state of the program.