Duke notes: Blue Devils battle injuries in Week 5

DURHAM – At the conclusion of its 48-27 victory over Tulane, the Duke football team reported injuries to 13 scholarship players, many of them starters or key reserves.

Headed to Miami to face Florida International on Saturday, the Blue Devils (2-2, 1-0 ACC) are planning for life without players such as Kenny Anunike, the redshirt junior defensive end who injured his left knee last week and will miss the remainder of the season.

Duke coach David Cutcliffe congratulated his staff and team during Tuesday’s news conference for securing a win despite those type of setbacks. He said this week’s challenge – possibly the rest of the season – is to plan for the unknown as players such as junior running back Desmond Scott, sophomore cornerback Ross Cockrell, sophomore quarterback Brandon Connette, senior safety Lee Butler, among others, continue to receive treatment for injuries. 

“It’s been the most unusually high number that I’ve personally had to deal with,” Cutcliffe said. “We’ve got a lot of planning to do as a staff on [Wednesday] based on who we have available. Kicking game, I have to get two-deep there. It’s not just offense and defense.”
Backups such as redshirt freshmen defensive ends Jordan DeWalt-Ondijo and Dezmond Johnson can expect more snaps.

Backup kicker Jeffrey Ijjas remains on standby as All-America Will Snyderwine recovers from a right ankle injury suffered during fall camp. His status remains day-to-day and coaches have him on a strict kick count.

To build Ijjas’ confidence, Cutcliffe had him try a 26-yard field against Tulane. He nailed it.

Duke players say they are deeper than in the past and are prepared to move on without injured teammates.

“College football is a business,” Duke sophomore linebacker Kelby Brown said. “Obviously we love those guys, we love all our teammates. We hate to see them hurt, but we can’t dwell on it and say, ‘Oh, if only, I wish he was still in here.’ The next guy gets a chance to step up. That’s how you really have to approach it.”

Are the backups ready?

“If you’re on that roster, you have to prepare the same way that starters do,” said Brown, who injured his knee last season and missed one game. “Because when you get your shot, you have to take it.”  

'Just come on and try it'

During Saturday’s homecoming game, Cutcliffe called for his team to go for it twice on fourth-and-1 during a second quarter 18-play drive. He used those bold calls as an example of the brand of football fans might see at Duke games this season.

The Devils played before an announced attendance of 20,138 – a season-low. Fans braved downpours one hour before kickoff and humid conditions throughout.

“I would love for people to see how good our football team is,” Cutcliffe said. “Even if we get beat, we play good football. Some people are missing the boat. I would challenge them to come and come early.”

Duke announced crowds of 32,741 for its home-opener against Richmond and 35,812 for its non-conference game against No.6-ranked Stanford. 

“Yeah, I’d love 35,000 there,” Cutcliffe said. “I guarantee you if they come, we’ll have a good time. I’ll go for it on fourth down two or three times – the crowd loves that. Just come on and try it.”

Players say they lineup with or without a crowd.

“I haven’t been paying a whole lot of attention to it,” Duke redshirt junior quarterback Sean Renfree said. “It makes a difference. You certainly have to win games to get people to come to games. ... As we continue to win more, more people will show up to games. I’m not too worried about attendance.” 

Moving on

Duke players enjoyed back-to-back wins over Boston College and Tulane over the weekend, having started the season with losses to Richmond and Stanford.

But by Tuesday morning their smiles were gone.

“It’s important that we don’t get content,” Renfree said. “Say, ‘Oh, we won two games, everything is great.’ We have to keep working.”