Part VI: Duke Stories of the Decade (10-6)

This is the sixth in a series of Duke’s All-Decade teams, as named by various Chronicle writers, past and present. At the end of the series, you will be able to vote for your own All-Decade team, and your votes will determine The Sports Blog’s final choice. Stay tuned over the next two weeks for more All-Decade choices.

The next two entries are going to be a little bit different from the other All-Decade teams we're running on the Sports Blog. There won't be a vote on any of these stories-- the list is final and all mine. Oh, the godlike power! Feel free to disagree with my choices in the comments, but hold off your most bitter vituperation for Monday, when we run the top five choices.

So, here's entries 10 through 6 of the most important sports stories to occur with Duke during the Aughts. But first, some honorable mentions:

-- Becca Ward winning the bronze medal win in fencing during the 2008 Olympics.

-- Men's basketball playing only one game as a lower seed in the NCAA Tournament (2008, as a 3 seed against a 2, Kansas. Duke lost).

-- The building explosion-- Yoh Football Center in 2002, Schwartz-Butters Athletic Center and Sheffield Tennis Center in 2000 and renovations to Wallace-Wade over the past two years.

It’s easy to forget this now, but Jason Williams (I’m sorry, I still can’t call him Jay) was one of the most amazing point guards in college basketball history. Co-ACC Rookie of the Year as a freshman. NABC Player of the Year, ACC scoring leader (21.6 ppg) and a national title as a sophomore. Naismith, Wooden and Robertson awards, plus averages of 21.3 points, 5.3 assists and 2.2 steals a game as a senior. And, let's not forget: Two of the five best seasons on our prestigious Top Individual Seasons list (surely, his highest honor).

He was drafted as the second pick in the 2002 NBA Draft behind a tall Chinese gent named Yao Ming. He had a solid, if unspectacular rookie season, averaging 9.5 points and 4.7 assists a game. Most of his season was spent behind experienced guards like Jalen Rose, though, limiting his playing time. The future still looked bright for one of Duke's all-time greats.

Then, the unthinkable happened. Williams wrecked his Yamaha YZF-R6 into a pole in Chicago, almost killing him, while destroying his left knee and guaranteeing that he'd never play in the NBA again. The incredible talent had become a cautionary tale for youthful hubris. It was a legacy that no one could have seen coming or wanted.

9. The Hire, Part One

The hiring of Kevin White meant a new age for Duke Football. Coming from Notre Dame, as big a football school as there ever has been one, White represented a total reversal from the apathy for the program cultivated by Joe Alleva. His support for the football team, along with the hiring of a certain coach which will be discussed later on this list, meant Duke Football would never be the same. Time will tell if he can fundraise as well as Alleva could, but he's already shown to be a much more competent AD on every other front.

8. The Allegations

In 2005, two former Duke baseball players told The Chronicle that they had used steroids while playing for the Blue Devils. They added that others on the team also juiced. Worse than the fact that the players used PEDs (at this point what more can we expect from baseball players, especially those who had never played on a team with a winning record?) were the allegations that head coach Bill Hillier encouraged his players to use.

The scandal caused the university to take a harder look at PEDs, increasing the suspension for testing positive to one year. A second offense now means a lifetime ban.

7. The "Undefeated" Season

Duke women's basketball became a powerhouse in the 00's. Under head coach Gail Goestenkors, the Blue Devils went on an NCAA record seven straight seasons of 30-wins or more. Not even Coach K could boast numbers like that.

Coach G's finest year would also be her last: 2006-07. The team-- led by Lindsay Harding, 2007 National Player of the Year and all-time Duke assist leader-- went 30-0 during the regular season, entering the NCAA Tournament as the undisputed best team in the nation. The time seemed to be right for Duke to win its first national title, while erasing the demons of the previous year's heartbreaking loss.

Instead, the Blue Devils went out with a whimper, losing their Sweet Sixteen matchup to Rutgers, 53-52. The only time Duke has ever gone undefeated during its regular season (that includes the men), was all for nothing. Coach G resigned after the season and took a job at Texas. Some on campus felt enough wasn't done to make her stay.

6. The Streak

During most of the 00's, Duke Football was known for one thing, and one thing only--historic, jaw-dropping futility. From 2005 to 2007, the Blue Devils embarked on a 22-game losing streak. It was the longest recorded in NCAA Division I football at the time. Think of all the terrible teams that have played in the FCS recently. Duke, from 2005 to 2007, was worse than all of them.

Because of the streak, the Blue Devils were considered legally—yes, legally—the worst team in college football. According to Wikipedia, “in 2008, a judge ruled in favor of Duke after they pulled out of a four-game contract with the University of Louisville; the judge stated that it was up to Louisville to find a suitable replacement as, he wrote in the ruling, any Division I team would be equivalent or better.” Even the United States legal system knew how bad Duke was.

So, David Cutcliffe may be giving Blue Devil fans hope for the future now, but let’s not forget that, for most of the decade, Duke Football wasn’t about the “Pursuit of Excellence.” It was about the pursuit of putridity.

The streak did have a positive aspect though. That will be revealed Monday.