Duke football: You suck, and we love you for it

Our beloved Duke football team was in the spotlight last week like never before. As the press coverage prepared to peak on Saturday with the big game, an ESPN article and interview titled, “How Duke football embraces the doubters with unlikely mantra” was released. The article told the story of how when Riley Leonard was in high school and gaining fame, he asked his parents to help him stay humble by lovingly saying to him, “You suck.” The mantra has clearly worked wonders and it has even been made into a wristband that Riley wears. The following article is written in light of this mantra.

Riley Leonard, during your interviews last week, you deflected praise by paying homage to the litany of successful sports teams at Duke when you were asked about Duke not being “just a basketball school.” Furthermore, on Saturday night you embodied your interview with Pat McAfee as you laid your body on the line for every play of every game, caring more about the team’s success and well-being than your own. Riley, you suck.

Duke defense, you held Audric Estime to 81 yards, 30 of which he gained on the final run. You also held Sam Hartman to 15 completions on 30 attempts for 222 yards and 0 touchdowns. Duke defense, you suck.

Todd Pelino, you have helped us win games all year, especially when you kept us alive in the first half against Clemson. We are excited for the ways you are going to bounce back and show out for the rest of the season. We love you and we believe in you. Todd, you suck.

Coach Elko, you came in and have not just transformed the culture but created a new one. You won ACC Coach of the Year in your first year. You started out your career here at 13-4 (.765) which is the best 17-game start to a head coaching stint in school history. You are instilling values in players that extend far beyond the gridiron but are still yielding incredible results on it. Coach Elko, you suck.

Duke football, you nearly beat the team that is ranked 10th in the nation this year and 4th in the history of college football for most wins in program history. You have united our campus at a time when our nation is doused with division. You have given us something to look forward to when we are at the point in the semester when we are drowning in deadlines and can’t see beyond our next assignment. You are giving us hope when it seems like hope is out of stock in so many places. You have earned the highest AP ranking for a Duke football team since 1994 (before any current player was born)! You are representing our beloved University in the classroom, on the field and far beyond. You are not just amazing athletes, but you are great guys. Duke football, you suck.

Last week I did little else besides read, write, and study. I did this so that I could be fully present for the game day festivities. Despite the outcome of the game, I would not change a thing. Well, actually, if I could, I would change one thing — I would have gotten to the tailgate five minutes earlier so that I could have been on the front row to high-five you all as you followed the marching band into the stadium. As someone who attended Florida State for part of my undergrad (during the Jameis Winston era and National Championship win), I know what REAL college football is. Thanks to y’all, REAL college football is no longer a distant memory in the back of my mind but a present pleasure right before my eyes.

So Duke Football, remember this: You suck, and we love and appreciate you for it.