Duke Gameday

At long last, the Devils and Pack meet in the post-expansion era. Even though the teams have combined for just one ACC win, entertainment potential is high, and the TV folks will likely regret passing on it. Yours truly will be inside Wallace Wade, semi-live blogging as blackberry reception allows.

Local media have some good preview material. WRAL’s Jason Jennings walks you throw a video of the five best Duke/State games of the last 20 years. I especially remember #1 and #3. #1 was the only non-break home game I missed as a State student. It was the only game that I wasn’t in charge of tickets for our regular group, and – surprise, surprise – we were all packed up and ready to leave, but the tickets were nowhere to be found. It turned out to be the only field rushing of my undergraduate years, and I missed it. I listened to game #3 on the radio in my freshman dorm (while playing Tecmo Bowl with some hallmates). Like this year’s contest, there was no TV coverage. It was a fantastic game, with State taking a lead in the last seconds on a 2-point conversion. Duke had a speedy return man, and he did indeed break into the clear. Our kicker (Damon Hartman, maybe?) took a great angle and forced him out of bounds at around the 20 just as the clock expired. Had the tackle been made a second sooner – or if the Devil ran out of bounds instead of going for 6 – Duke would have lined up to kick the winning FG.

The News & Observer also has a nice write-up. Did you know State had won 10 straight in this always competitive series? I didn’t. The hard copy N&O also had betting lines. Duke opened as a 5.5 point favorite, but the spread is down to 3.5 now. Smart money is still on the Devils, IMHO.

On the plus side, Irving and Williams are supposed to play today. As I told work colleagues on Friday, my hope is for the Pack to force two Duke punts before Irving gets hurt again. That’s reasonable, don’t you think? Anyway, the key to the game is offense – State needs to score on 3/4 of its offensive possessions, and score TDs much more often than FGs. It’s a tall order, but if Russell Wilson plays like he did in College Park, it’s doable. Hopefully, RW looks for emerging star George Bryan more than butter-fingered Anthony Hill. I really like Bryan’s combination of hands and footwork.

About BJD95

1995 NC State graduate, sufferer of Les and MOC during my entire student tenure. An equal-opportunity objective critic and analyst of Wolfpack sports.

'08 Football Flashback General

84 Responses to Duke Gameday

  1. phillypacker 11/08/2008 at 5:03 PM #

    what did O’brien say? Anybody know?

  2. BJD95 11/08/2008 at 5:15 PM #

    Duke past midfield. We never shld have punted on 4th and 2.

  3. McLovin 11/08/2008 at 5:21 PM #

    Our D looks awful.

    Well my foot is in my mouth now…

    Great goal line stand D. Sorry for doubting you

  4. BJD95 11/08/2008 at 5:28 PM #

    D has held on 4th and 1 from the 10 and the 1. Duke also dropped sure TD (tipped ball INT). All breaks going our way so far.

  5. VaWolf82 11/08/2008 at 5:37 PM #

    Who said that we need better WRs? The ones we have look pretty good today.

  6. BJD95 11/08/2008 at 5:39 PM #

    Wow, we even made a FG from the far hash! 27-10, Pack. Quarter almost over.

  7. BJD95 11/08/2008 at 5:42 PM #

    Our WRs are making plays, and bend don’t break is working. Apocalypse near?

  8. Texpack 11/08/2008 at 5:44 PM #

    My wife saw the Geaux Wolfpack sign. My Mom got her masters at LSU and my Dad is a State grad, but it wasn’t them.

  9. SEAT.5.F.2 11/08/2008 at 5:45 PM #

    1 Qtr to go. Finish strong. I hope Pack fans at WW are getting louder as the night goes on/

  10. BJD95 11/08/2008 at 5:48 PM #

    We hold on 4th and 6. Duke fans leaving.

  11. SEAT.5.F.2 11/08/2008 at 5:50 PM #

    Way to GO D!!!!!!!

  12. SEAT.5.F.2 11/08/2008 at 5:50 PM #

    Loving this one.

  13. Texpack 11/08/2008 at 5:50 PM #

    This D looks a lot like the ’85 Bears.

  14. Jamie 11/08/2008 at 5:54 PM #

    SaccoV – congrats. It is good to hear at least 1 young man in this generation will be raised right!

  15. SEAT.5.F.2 11/08/2008 at 5:57 PM #

    net 13 yard punt, ouch. It looks like they ought to practice the punt from the the 30 since TOB likes it alot.

  16. SaccoV 11/08/2008 at 6:00 PM #

    Thanks Jamie!! I’ve had to resort to watch scoreboard updates of our game on foxsports.com. What a life, eh?

  17. Jamie 11/08/2008 at 6:03 PM #

    Funny, I’m suffering the same sad existence. How much time is left anyway?

  18. buttPACKer 11/08/2008 at 6:07 PM #

    jamie,

    you can use “get Jacked” on theacc.com

    it is rather like gametracker. . .

  19. Texpack 11/08/2008 at 6:08 PM #

    5:52 left in the game

  20. Jamie 11/08/2008 at 6:10 PM #

    Thanks, um, Butt.

  21. buttPACKer 11/08/2008 at 6:15 PM #

    your welcome.

    You like my name, eh?–don’t fear me

  22. BJD95 11/08/2008 at 6:18 PM #

    Cutcliffe makes strange decisions. Down 17, he shld have kicked FG on 4th and 8.

    When “bend don’t break” works, it’s pretty damned satisfying.

  23. redfred2 11/08/2008 at 6:26 PM #

    I was getting ready to say that we are in the “bend” mode right now, but we just “break”ed.

  24. redfred2 11/08/2008 at 6:33 PM #

    I was starting to get worried when they converted that third and seven in the first half.

    Good to have that win under our belts.

  25. EverettBeez 11/08/2008 at 6:40 PM #

    Good job Pack!

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