The Duke football team enters the 2010 season following a landmark year. They will have to work to remain consistent after losing some key players to graduation.
The Blue Devils finished the 2009 campaign with a 5-7 overall record and went 3-5 in the ACC, finishing fifth in the Coastal Division. The five total wins, three within conference, were the most by a Duke team since 1994.
A lot of the credit can be given to coach David Cutcliffe, who enters his third year at the helm. Through his leadership, the Blue Devils have won nine games in the last two years after winning just 10 in the previous eight.
“There’s a lot of mystery involved in the 2010 team but also, I think, a lot of great anticipation,” Cutcliffe said at ACC Media Day. “I can’t remember, and this is an honest statement, being more excited about starting a season than I am with this group.”
One of the leaders of the group is senior center Bryan Morgan. He expressed how tough it is to continue to improve every year.
“You win more, and you get more respect,” Morgan said. “People have to prepare more for you mentally and physically. We’re not just a little practice game; we mean business.”
While the Blue Devils do return nine offensive starters and six defensive starters from last year’s team, they did lose two-time All-ACC and four-year starting quarterback Thaddeus Lewis.
Lewis set or tied 56 school records in his time as a signal caller at Duke. The Blue Devils’ passing offense finished first in the ACC and ninth in the nation last year with 305 yards per game.
“We’re going to miss Thad,” Morgan said. “Thad was a fantastic quarterback and a fantastic guy in the huddle.”
