Nike Pro Combat concept Duke football helmets
Looks like Nike has plans for some alternate Duke Football helmets for the future. We’ve already seen the Duke Basketball team rocking some alternate Nike Hyper Elite Grays, but the football team is not treated like the golden goose that the basketball program is, for obvious reasons. I like the 1st, 2nd, and 4th ones the most personally. The 3rd one isn’t too much of a difference.
There is a lot of excitement around the program after a solid 2012 recruiting class and getting some alternate looks on the field in the way of different offensive combinations is something that Coach Cutcliffe hinted to in his presser before Spring Practice. Getting some different looks on the jerseys of the players would be good for the players and be attractive to recruits. Tell me what you think about these below.
Peyton Manning Rehabbing At Duke
“Got to stretch next to Peyton Manning today and say hello #OnlyAtDuke” - @MattSkura412
According to Duke Blue Devils’ offensive lineman Matt Skura, Peyton Manning is working out in Durham on Duke’s campus. Duke head coach David Cutcliffe was Manning’s offensive coordinator at the University of Tennessee.
He has remained close to the Manning family for nearly 20 years, also coaching two-time Super Bowl MVP Eli at Ole Miss.
Eli spent time during the lockout working out with Cutcliffe and his staff and earlier in the year credited Cutcliffe with helping him refocus after a subpar 2010 season.
Duke vs UNC Football Game Film From 1941
Duke Football’s losing records over the last 15-20 years has hidden what was once a power program that participated in two Rose Bowls in the 1930s and 1940s and won 6 of the first 10 ACC Football Championships in the 1950s and 1960s. While Duke had success in the 1980s under Steve Spurrier, the glory days of the Iron Dukes were in the 40s, 50s, and 60s.
In 1942, Duke was invited to their second Rose Bowl in Pasadena, but because of security concerns due to World War II, the game was moved to what was known at the time as Durham Stadium. That team, coached by Wallace Wade, secured their place in this game by defeating the Tar Heels 20-0 on November 15th, 1941. The Duke Library Digital Collection has video of that game on their YouTube channel and claims that it was the first game to be shot in color. Really cool video below.
(h/t to @TarheelMonthly)
The Duck Shop Football Pick ‘Em Contest — Last Week
Well, the Duke Football season certainly hasn’t gone like anyone had planned when the year began. The gridiron Blue Devils have one game left to prove something and leave 2011 in the rearview mirror with a god taste in their mouths.
Sadly, it will be seniors Donovan Varner, Kyle Hill, Matt Daniels and others’ last games in a Duke uniform so hopefully they can get the Victory Bell back from the Tar Heels and finish their last moments in Duke Blue on a high note.
As Duke’s season winds to a close, I’d like to thank The Duck Shop for sponsoring the first ever Pick ‘Em contest here at Duke Hoop Blog. It’s been fun watching as you all pick games to win some really cool Duke prizes provided by Darren, Kelly, and the rest of the crew over on 9th Street. Congrats to all of our weekly winners so far (Wander won three times and Quizzy won twice, Darren and Silky J both won and the others I’m forgetting.) Read more
Donovan Varner Is Duke’s All-Time Leader In Receptions
While the rest of the world including myself have been busy falling all over ourselves to congratulate Coach K on winning the most games in Division 1 Men’s College Basketball, another Duke Athletics representative deserves some adulation and praise as well.
In Duke’s game this past Saturday against the Virginia Cavaliers, senior wide receiver Donovan Varner grabbed seven catches to move him ahead of Clarkston Hines into first place on Duke’s career receptions record.
All-time receptions (Career):
1. Donovan Varner – 194
2. Clarkston Hines – 189
3. Connor Vernon – 187
4. Scottie Montgomery – 171
While Conner Vernon, a year younger than Donovan, is right there with him and will eventually pass him, this is Donovan’s time to receive some congratulations.
I’ll miss watching the 5’9″ 175 pound Varner be the toughest guy on a field full of large human beings and putting his body on the line for his team every single Saturday. There can definitely be a place in the NFL for a guy like Varner and I hope like hell he gets his chance to prove himself.
Congratulations Donovan.
Coach Cut Press Conference 11.15.11
Coach Cutcliffe discusses his team being out of bowl contention and their 5th loss in a row. The Blue Devils come home for Senior Day against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets this Saturday in Wallace Wade at 12:30 on the ACC Network. Duke Football has 20 seniors graduating including
K Paul Asack, S Matt Daniels, S Jeffrey Faris, WR Guillermo Freile, TE Ryan Hall, NG Charlie Hatcher, TECooper Helfet, OT Kyle Hill, RB Jay Hollingsworth, K Jeffrey Ijjas, P Alex King, OT Jon Needham, TE Danny Parker, TEGeorge Pearkes, LB Kevin Rojas, WR Preston Scott, K Will Snyderwine, S Josh Trezvant, WR Donovan Varner and CBJohnny Williams.
Duke has been practicing for the Georgia Tech offense since their bye week and will need to contain the high powered Yellow Jackets in order to get their 4th win and 2nd ACC win.
Duke vs. Virginia: How to Watch and Listen
The Duke Football program needs a win in the worst way after losing four in a row and especially the way that the Miami Hurricanes man-handled Duke’s lines on both sides of the ball this past Saturday. To try and get back to their winning ways, the Blue Devils head up to Charlottesville, Virginia to take on a team that they have beaten three times in a row.
There will be some overlap with this game and the basketball game that starts at 4:30 and for more information on that and some broadcast changes that you need to know, look at this post from Thursday.
The football game will be shown on Fox Sports South or Fox Sports Carolinas depending on where you are. Check the link for information on where to find the game in your area.
RSN Football Package – 2011 ACC Football Read more
Duke Football Injury Report vs. Virginia
OUT
- Lee Butler
- Brandon Connette
- Brian Moore
DOUBTFUL
- Jamison Crowder
QUESTIONABLE
- Kelby Brown
PROBABLE
- Justin Foxx
- Zach Greene
- Johnny Williams
Coach Cut Press Conferences 11/8 and 11/9
Coach David Cutcliffe talks about the team’s performance in a lopsided loss to the Miami Hurricanes, the upcoming game against Virginia, and how practices have been tough since returning to Durham this weekend. Some important points:
- Cut says they have not “reinjured” anybody
- Went back to a Spring practice atmosphere to try and get the technique back
- Disregards the three-game winning streak against UVA. “I’m not a big believer in one season to the next”
- On Brandon Connette being out for the year: “He had a major shoulder separation”
Duke WR Duo Varner and Vernon On Verge of Records
Image Courtesy of GoDuke.com
The Duke wide receiving duo of senior Donovan Varner and junior Conner Vernon have been prolific throughout their football playing careers. Coming out of Miami’s Gulliver Prep School, both were highly recruited and put up solid numbers together. But, nobody could have predicted just how potent the receivers would be once they arrived at Duke.
Going into a homecoming game of sorts as Duke travels to face the Miami Hurricanes tomorrow on Fox Sports South, both are single digits away from surpassing Clarkston Hines’ career catch record of 189.
All-time receptions (Career):
1. Clarkston Hines – 189
2. Donovan Varner – 183
3. Connor Vernon – 179
4. Scottie Montgomery – 171
