I had looked forward to this day for several weeks. As I walked to Wallace Wade Stadium to watch my first sporting event as a college student three years ago, I was overflowing with enthusiasm.
I had seen the stadium ahead of time, so I knew what to expect: It wasn't Notre Dame. But that didn't curb my excitement.
My friends and I waited to cross Towerview to make the final portion of the walk through Krzyzewskiville and into the stadium. The security guard waved us across.
"Enjoy the game," he said. "They might actually win today."
I knew about Duke's struggles in football, but the hesitation in his voice struck me. The Blue Devils were, after all, about to play a Division I-AA team in their home opener. Surely, I thought, they were good enough to dispose of Richmond. It shouldn't even be close.
After an early Duke fumble and Richmond field goal, I began to reevaluate my position. Three hours later, with the Blue Devils on the wrong end of a 13-0 shutout that felt like a 40-point blowout, I realized how wrong I had been. Duke had managed just 210 yards against the Spiders, including a measly 51 rushing yards on 30 attempts.
In a way, I had been right: It wasn't close. At all.
Two years later, the Blue Devils won their first home game since 2005, running over James Madison on the opening night of the David Cutcliffe era. Students waited through a rain delay, Duke jumped in front early and Wally Wade was full, which might have been the most impressive feat of all.
To cap off the night, the Blue Devils came over to the student section to celebrate, where they were serenaded with chants of "BCS! BCS!"
Duke didn't make the BCS, but the Blue Devils went on to match their win total from the previous four years combined with three more victories in 2008. But for all the success Duke had last year, especially compared to that winless 2006 campaign, the backfield issues that were so apparent against Richmond continued to plague the Blue Devils throughout the season.
After the first two weeks, when they excelled on the ground against James Madison and Northwestern, the Blue Devils managed just two 100-yard rushing efforts. They averaged more than 3.5 yards per carry a mere four times, and in six of the remaining eight games, they failed to break three yards per carry.
The running game's struggles were partially outside of Duke's control. When Re'quan Boyette went down with a knee injury before the season, Cutcliffe was forced to rely on a running back committee consisting of a true freshman, a converted cornerback and an inexperienced senior.
In fact, at 3.0 yards per carry for the season, the Blue Devils actually averaged a full yard more than in 2007. And in mustering 28 yards on 36 carries in a 10-7 win over Vanderbilt, Duke defied all conventional wisdom and proved that you don't have to be able to run to win.
But it sure helps.
And this season, the Blue Devils might be able to do it.
Boyette returns as a fifth-year senior, and promising sophomore Jay Hollingsworth now has a full season under his belt. Add in four-star freshman Desmond Scott and suddenly the running back situation looks significantly better.
Unfortunately for Duke, those backs will be running behind a relatively inexperienced offensive line. The Blue Devils have lost three three-year starters on the line in Cameron Goldberg, Fred Roland and Rob Schirmann.
That could create some obstacles for the Blue Devils' stable of running backs, who may not see holes as big or that stay open as long. If they can hit the gaps while they remain available, however, one of Duke's biggest weaknesses could become one of its greatest strengths.
And it might make the difference in whether the Blue Devils take the next step toward respectability.
Everyone knows Cutcliffe's reputation with quarterbacks (have you heard that he coached the Mannings?) and Lewis will once again be the team's leader on offense. If the Blue Devils can develop a reliable running game, though-at least against teams with reasonably-sized defensive linemen-then a bowl game isn't out of the question.
Yes, there are the offensive line questions. Yes, it will be difficult to replace Eron Riley and Mike Tauiliili. But a dual-threat offense led by a senior quarterback could keep Duke in most games.
The Blue Devils would have a chance against all of their nonconference opponents, as well as several ACC teams. Seven wins is conceivable, even if it's not probable.
At the very least, you can be sure Richmond won't post another shutout to start the season Sept. 5. There's no way the Spiders will hold Duke below two yards per carry again.
Right?
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