Duke To Open Season Under The Lights Again

For the second straight season, Duke will open its home slate under the lights.

The Blue Devils will kick off David Cutcliffe's second season with 7 p.m. games against Richmond and N.C. Central in Wallace Wade Stadium, the program announced Wednesday.

Because neither game is likely to be televised and the Blue Devils are the home team, they're able to determine the game time—that is to say, they're not at the mercy of television timing. Cutcliffe said last year that he prefers night games, especially early in the season, because of the September temperatures in Durham.

"I love night games early in the year. I like the atmosphere," Cutcliffe said in September. "They're a little difficult for players and coaches to wait all day.... Certainly later in the year, the weather is much better for afternoon football. I know most fans aren't great fans of the noon kickoffs, but as long as there's TV, there's going to be noon kickoffs."

Duke opens against Richmond Sept. 5, and after road games against Army and Kansas, returns home to play N.C. Central on Homecoming Sept. 26. Part of the reason Duke didn't hesitate to schedule more night games was the response from students and the crowd for last year's dusk kickoffs. Students packed Wallace Wade–despite lousy weather, in some cases—to watch Duke kick off the Cutcliffe era with a win over James Madison Aug. 30, and barely lose a thriller to Northwestern the next week.

"We had terrific responses to our night games a year ago," Cutcliffe said in a statement. "The support from our alumni, fans and students has been great, and we are very appreciative, but it can grow to another level."