Despite the football team's genuine optimism for the 2003 season and its opening game against No. 18 Virginia, there are two facts that it cannot deny: Duke has the longest ACC losing streak in the league's history and Cavalier fans feel their team is germinating into one of its greatest eras under third-year head coach Al Groh.
But in comparing Virginia's Continental Tire Bowl winning season to Duke's 2-10 year, chance and clutch plays are bigger variables than strength and talent. Last season Virginia won four games by five points or less , and defeated eighth place North Carolina by only 10 points despite starting Tar Heel quarterback Darian Durant's absence in the fourth quarter. Duke, on the other, less desirable hand, lost five games by five points or less, including a 27-22 loss to the Cavaliers at Wallace Wade last season.
"We need to get in a close game sometime this year, early preferably, and win it," Franks said about the 2003 season. "Getting in a close game and winning will give us a lot of confidence and probably will be worth a bunch more wins."
Duke and Virginia's similarities do not stop with last year. The Blue Devils and the Cavalier's are first and second in the nation, respectively, in returning starters. The major distinction between the returning players of Virginia and the veterans at Duke, however, is that many of the Cavaliers are blossoming into sophomores, while a great deal of Blue Devil contributors are now juniors and seniors.
Duke also has a bit of history on its side. Virginia has lost three consecutive openers, and has not won a home opener since 1996. And though the Cavaliers have won 16 of the last 20 against the Blue Devils, Duke has been relatively successful against the Wahoos in the Carl Franks era. Franks won only the second game of his head coaching career with a shocking 24-17 overtime upset win in 1999, and last season's game was surprisingly competitive.
"I don't know why [Duke has played well against Virginia]," Franks said.
Virginia has also played much better against Duke in Durham than on David A. Harrison, III field. Its last four wins over the Blue Devils in Wallace Wade have been by an average of 17.3 points compared to 12.7 in Charlottesville.
Although team values are stressed at both programs, Saturday's game will feature several major stars. Virginia starting quarterback Matt Schaub was last season's ACC player of the year, and is a Heisman candidate for 2003.
"It's not every day you get to play against a Heisman trophy candidate," senior safety Terrell Smith said. "I'm excited."
Schaub, however, is without wide receivers Billy McMullen and Michael McGrew. McMullen, who is the second most prolific receiver in ACC history, now plays for the NFL's Philadelphia Eagles while McGrew, who expected to be McMullen's replacement, is out for the season with a broken leg.
"We've got pretty good speed at wideout," Groh said. "We just don't know if some of them can catch."
Virginia's vaunted recruiting freshman class of last year returns the ACC's leading tight end receiver Heath Miller, versatile kick returner and running back Wali Lundy, intimidating left tackle D'Brickashaw Ferguson, and national freshman defensive player-of-the-year Darryl Blackstock.
Duke should have several stars as well, with the Chris Douglas-Alex Wade-Cedric Dargan juggernaut expected to be the best three-some of runners in the ACC. In addition, Duke's defensive line, which was statistically the best in the ACC in 2002, has no excuse not to do it again with All-American candidates Ryan Fowler and Matt Zielinski returning.
But all the Duke players are tired of the analysis and the comparisons to Virginia, and are ready to finally get on the field nearly nine months after their last game.
"All that really matters is what goes on on the field," Senior Blue Devil wide receiver Reggie Love said.
Get The Chronicle straight to your inbox
Signup for our weekly newsletter. Cancel at any time.