North Carolina isn't a state that's traditionally known for its football talent. So why focus on recruiting North Carolina when you could turn your attention to Georgia, Florida or Texas?
Recruiting is kind of like fishing. I like catching rather than fishing; I like signing more than I do recruiting. Geography is always the No. 1 factor in recruiting, so you start your recruiting close to home and then you branch yourself out. I certainly do realize that the state of North Carolina's population is exploding, and as that occurs, we are seeing a very good football state in the state of North Carolina.
Duke is unique in that you're competing against three other ACC schools within a 90-mile radius. How have you learned to deal with that?
You're always behind enemy lines. At the University of Mississippi, you're the daddy. At Tennessee, you're the in-state daddy. At Alabama, even though there's Auburn, in my era, you still were Alabama. We have a heck of a fight on our hands here, with all four calling this their in-state area.
Is it important to beat UNC, N.C. State and Wake Forest for recruiting's sake, then?
Absolutely. When you look at those three games, they were all good football games, but unfortunately, we lost all three of them. Close is not going to count, as they say, other than horseshoes and hand grenades—we've got to win.
Is it possible to build a program without trapping in-state talent?
I think it's very difficult. There's lots more reasons why in-state recruiting is critical. Our fan base would grow, as you might think, with local players. This Triangle region has tremendous football, and we signed five guys, as you know, from the Triangle area, and they'll have a little fan base next year.
Even at a private school surrounded by state schools, it's important?
I think it is. Everybody in this state knows where Duke is. Wake Forest is the same way, and we're obviously going against state schools in Carolina and N.C. State, but this is No. 1: I've got a Duke education in my suitcase. That's pretty solid. I know we're not going to attract every kid, but if an education is not important to a kid, then that kid's not important to me. So I'm targeting the right kids in-state.
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