There was a lot of excitement and hope after Duke defeated North Carolina to become bowl eligible but then the Blue Devils laid an egg at Florida State, losing 48-7. With Clemson coming to town as a two touchdown favorite, one has to wonder if Duke’s bubble has burst already.
“We didn’t play well,” Duke coach David Cutcliffe said. “Reverting back to why did we not play well, I do not think it was a case of flat. I know it wasn’t a case of not preparing, it was a game where every portion of our team did not play well: kicking, offense, defense, and the players there within, nobody really had their game, so yes what people saw wasn’t very impressive.”
He said the Devils aren’t discouraged or embarrassed. “It is just a fact, we didn’t play well,” he said. “Disappointed, you better believe we are disappointed that we didn’t perform well on a big stage, but the most important part about it is not the big stage, the most important part is us not performing well.”
Cutcliffe said the Duke has narrowed the talent gap with the elite teams like Florida State.
“There is no question we have narrowed the gap,” he said. “Florida State would tell you the same thing as well. Not where we want to be, not where we are going to be, but much closer. That is the disappointment. Our players would be the first to tell you, they didn’t feel like they were on the wrong field. I have been there before as a player where you feel like ‘Oh, this isn’t going to be much fun’. That wasn’t the case, our performance wasn’t good, it wasn’t a total mismatch.”
Playing at home, where the Devils have done well, should provide a lift. This will be the first time Clemson and Duke have played a night game against each other.
“November football at night means television,” Cutcliffe said. “Television means meaningful football games, and that is a very positive thing. When you are playing meaningful football games, it means you are playing good teams. I’ve said that before. Big challenge; Clemson is an ACC championship team. They have players who have performed at that level and who continue to perform at that level, but with all of those challenges are huge opportunities. We are going to prepare well, and it is good to be back in Wallace Wade (Stadium). I am anxious to see another great night crowd; I urge our students to come have a great time. It should be a tremendous atmosphere with two really good football teams. We are really looking forward to this challenge.”