David Cutcliffe (center) has done a remarkable job with the Duke program. (Ellen Ozier-USA TODAY Sports)
Some might liken the arrival of David Cutcliffe as the head football coach at Duke in 2008 to the arrival of legendary Mike Krzyzewski as the school’s basketball coach in 1980. Krzyzewski had a 38-47 record over his first three years before he nailed a 24-win season in 1983, which included his first NCAA Tournament appearance.
The football program at Duke was in a much more dire shape when Cutcliffe arrived seven years ago. However, things came together in Year Five, when he led the Blue Devils to their first bowl bid since 1995, a 48-34 loss to Cincinnati in the Belk Bowl.
Last season was the breakout year for the Blue Devils. They won the ACC Coastal division although they lost 45-7 too eventual national champion Florida State in the ACC Championship Game in Charlotte. Then, they outplayed Texas A&M for most of the Chick-fil-a Bowl before Johnny Manziel put on a fierce second half rally and willed the Aggies to victory.
There are no moral victories in any game at this level, but as Duke dropped a game that it certainly felt like it should’ve won, the prevailing feeling is that Duke is now relevant and it can compete, year-in, year-out in the ACC. As the preseason ACC predictions came out earlier this week, Duke was picked second behind Miami in the ACC Coastal Division. It was the first time in 14 years that the Blue Devils had not been predicted to finish at the bottom of the league.
“I know in my heart how proud those guys are of the fact that they move this to the point where we could be picked second,” said Cutcliffe, “The only difference, last year, I told people being in a 12-team league as in a 14-team league is we were picked sixth instead of seventh.”
Part of the love shown to the Blue Devils is due to the return of quarterback Anthony Boone. He missed six games due to injuries last season as a broken collar bone toyed with his regular season. He came back for the Chick-fil-A Bowl against Texas A&M and the totality of his game against A&M was amazing. He threw for 427 yards on 29-of-45 passing, but the late-game interception by Toney Hurd put a damper on his otherwise brilliant performance.
“I have had good conversations with Anthony over the second half and the fourth quarter (of the school year),” said Cutcliffe, “He gets it because he is really bright.”
Cutcliffe noted that his body language and his meticulousness after that loss was nothing short of professional. The Aggies had just drawn to within three at 48-45 on Manziel’s fourth touchdown pass with 5:44 remaining. The prevailing idea for Duke’s offense was to make a play considering its defense was on its heels because Manziel had a hot hand.
“You have to put yourself in his (Boone’s) shoes,” commented Cutcliffe, “He was trying to turn back momentum. He was competing. It was personal for him. I didn’t have to live with it as much as he did. He didn’t feel sorry for himself. He just went back to work.”
Boone’s personal mantra is exemplary of the philosophy that Cutcliffe has instilled in the Duke football program. It is the reason the Blue Devils are now afforded respect nationally, as well as in the league.
“I told them to be true to yourself; focus on achieving more than success,” said Cutcliffe, “Success is somebody else’s opinion. It’s not about being named this or that or written about. When you are achieving at a high level its being the best you can be.”
Depth is something that Cutcliffe has built, but it has taken time. Jamison Crowder will headline a deep wide receiver corps at Duke. Cutcliffe, another disciple of a diverse passing scheme, is ready to unleash this group of wide receivers with a myriad of dynamics on the ACC.
“I am excited about Johnell Barnes and his ability for doing different things,” said Cutcliffe. “I am excited about Ryan Smith’s quickness and explosiveness; he and Johnell have big-play abilities. What you guys don’t get the benefit of seeing is Jameis is better in practice than on game day. He goes to work every day with incredible intensity.”
That’s what Cutcliffe has installed in Durham — incredible intensity and belief. No one pencils in a ‘W’ anymore when it’s Duke week on the schedule.
“We’re not with them preparing in the summer, but they’re doing everything within their power to have the best season they have ever had,” explained Cutcliffe, “The big challenge every year is for the seniors to help the young people handle adversity because you are going to get that in football. I thought our 2013 team maybe handled adversity better than any I have been around because of pure leadership. So that’s the challenge to the 2014 seniors. Let’s see what you’ve got.”
