DURHAM -- Everywhere he looks in the Bull City, Duke football coach David Cutcliffe said North Carolina light blue outnumbers Duke blue.
The Blue Devils' second-year coach, who lives in Durham, has found himself surrounded by North Carolina fans and Tar Heel blue. When he arrived he was amazed at the proximity of the two schools.
With North Carolina (5-3, 1-3) and Duke (5-3, 3-1) set to play for the 95th time on Saturday in Chapel Hill, Cutcliffe spoke earlier in the week about the rivalry between the schools and the re-energized competition between the football programs.
"My little places I go into in the off season are Target or Harris Teeter," he said. "It's nothing but North Carolina fans, everywhere. I think I realized quickly that I was reconnaissance, not coach. I was behind enemy lines sending out reports. It's amazing you're surrounded by so many fans of North Carolina."
He said everywhere he looks there's more North Carolina products than Duke, but added the Tar Heels had earned that distinction.
"It's a constant reminder," said Cutcliffe of the Heels' dominance in the football series, having won the past 18 out of 19 games since 1990. The Blue Devils last beat UNC in 2003.
With such a recent one-sided rivalry, it's expected that UNC fans would gloat a little bit. Duke's coach is often reminded of his team's standing in the series when he's out at the store.
"Yes I do get a lot of comments," Cutcliffe said. "I've never really had anybody be negative at all. My wife tells me next time I don't get to go."
Edward joined the News & Observer staff in 2004. He is a graduate of American University and Johns Hopkins University. He covers Wake Forest football and women's college basketball for the N&O. Edward is a native of Washington, D.C. He can be reached at 829-4781 or
Comments
scratching my head
Fri, 11/06/2009 - 16:05 — gvillegatr"It's amazing you're surrounded by so many fans of North Carolina." -David Cutcliffe
he did assist in coaching at a school called TENNESSEE, didn't he!?
I guess this is his subtle way at trying to tell DUIke fans to wear more DUIke gear when they leave their dorms. <------ZINGER! (get it! they don't live around here!!)
Cutcliffe is an entertaining fellow.
Fri, 11/06/2009 - 14:47 — UNC1998I bet his players love playing for him. He's just found out what we all know. Relatively speaking Duke fans are few and far between. North Carolina, in general, is Tar Heel territory. Durham, in particular, is Tar Heel through and through. I grew up there, and I know. There's always exceptions, but generally speaking it's true. During basketball season Duke fans come out of the woodwork. I dare say they are still outnumbered by UNC fans in Durham. That's just the way it is.