I've been to most of the home games of the football team during the era of Carl Franks and before. All of us wish that there had been more wins, but your editorial and gleeful commentary about Franks' dismissal was too harsh. Relative to other universities, the football coach at Duke has to accept higher academic standards for recruits and higher personal standards for players, poorer facilities prior to the opening of the Yoh building and a budget plan for football that spends much of the income of the athletic department on non-revenue sports. Yes, Duke gains substantial benefits from each of these choices, yet records show how substantial these limitations are.
Moreover, the concept that our athletic finances are best served by fielding the lowest cost football team that qualifies Duke for a share of ACC revenue is rational and will not disappear with a change in staffing. It is to Coach Franks' great credit that he took on a virtually impossible task with steadfast optimism and hard work. Even as we hope for happier times, I think we can be proud of a person who has represented the school in a graceful, upbeat way and we can recognize Coach Franks' outstanding qualities with an even-handed, fair-minded and equally positive spirit.
Roger Barr
Professor, Biomedical Engineering
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