[Virginia Tech Athletics \ Dave Knachel]
On this week's podcast, Brian and Pierson analyze the Hokies' upcoming game against Duke and try to talk people off the ledge after Jalen Dalton's decision to commit to North Carolina. Brian also talks Blue Devils with Duke beat writer Laura Keeley of The News & Observer.
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A couple of very interesting slices to take from this...
The perspective by Brian that Duke is currently something of a version of VT circa '95-'04 is something I'd not considered at all previously. When you take the emotion away from the discussion, it actually is pretty accurate.
The second is the comment by Ms Keeley that Duke is trying to become 'Stanford East' in football actually makes a lot of sense as well. As she accurately stated, there is no reason they can't field a team that competes at the top level of the ACC Coastal, and occasionally wins the ACCCG. For those who think they'll be hampered by recruiting, that is proven false by the recruiting talent that UVa & UNC annually secure. UVa & UNC have both underperformed on the field, but it has never been due to lack of talent.
So, Duke can also get into a similar groove of pulling in that level of talent. As long as the athletic department is willing to admit football players under the same guidelines that they admit basketball players, it can be done. Cutcliffe is 60 yrs old, hardly the age for someone to jump ship and go to a higher profile job elsewhere, right when he has gotten his Duke program running effectively. He can stay at Duke for another 6-10 years, and if they're going to bowl games (winning 6+ reg season games annually), he'll be a football legend for them. They dedicated significant money to improving their stadium, with the rational concept of keeping it at the proper size.
Finally, you balance their recent success with the impending clouds in Chapel Hill, where it seems obvious their program will get pinged by some kind of NCAA sanctions, even if minimal. Suddenly, Duke is on a level field with UNC in football, if not in somewhat better position. I don't think anyone expects UNC to be a top level ACC team for the next handful of seasons. Thus, it will be even more possible for Duke to remain a leg up on the Heels in football, while selling the same recruits that they can go to Duke where there will be no stink on their diplomas afterwards. Duke really is positioned pretty solidly for the next few years. It's actually quite the interesting story, even if it is about an ACC rival.