DURHAM - Duke coach David Cutcliffe said earlier this week that his team's performance in the kicking game may factor significantly in Saturday's game against N.C. State.
"That may be the key element," he said. "North Carolina State is such as great return team - both kickoff and punt return - we're going to have to be at our very best in the kicking game."
DURHAM — The Duke football team hosts No. 6 Virginia Tech in its first ACC contest of the season at Wallace Wade Stadium on Saturday.
The Blue Devils (2-2) expect a tough afternoon game against the Hokies, a team picked by the media to capture the ACC championship and one that looked very capable of doing so in their lopsided victory over Miami.
Injuries have plagued the Devils early this season and coach David Cutcliffe announced on Tuesday that freshman running back Desmond Scott "tweaked" a hamstring in practice.
DURHAM — The Duke football program has to go back 38 years to recall a road victory over a ranked team.
That victory came on Oct. 2, 1971 when the Blue Devils defeated No. 19 Stanford 9-3 before 61,000 Cardinal fans.
The Devils try to end that drought on Saturday when they face No. 22-ranked Kansas at Memorial Stadium in Lawrence, Kansas.
Duke coach David Cutcliffe wants to be clear: There is no quarterback controversy stemming from his decision to pull starting quarterback Thaddeus Lewis and replace him with backup Sean Renfree on Saturday in the Blue Devils’ 35-19 victory over Army.
"This is not that kind of team [to have a quarterback controversy]," Cutcliffe said. "We just have so much improving to do."
DURHAM — Duke coach David Cutcliffe said he would not back off earlier statements that his team should be a bowl team this season.
He said the Blue Devils (0-1) have the talent to win enough games to become eligible, but they must give a better effort than they did on Saturday in losing to Richmond.
Duke football coach David Cutcliffe gained his second high-profile offensive line commitment in the Class of 2010 when Laken Tomlinson of Lane Technical High School chose the Blue Devils.
Lane Tech coach Rich Rio confirmed Wednesday night in an e-mail that Tomlinson committed to Duke. Rio said Tomlinson had 16 other scholarship offers. Ohio State, Wisconsin, Nebraska and Tennessee were among the other schools that offered.
Duke already has a second-team All-ACC quarterback returning in senior Thaddeus Lewis.
Coach David Cutcliffe is hoping a better rushing game will complement Lewis' proficiency with the passing attack.
"We can run better on offense," Cutcliffe said Thursday night at the Duke football tour's stop in Raleigh.
Duke football coach David Cutcliffe will be at the Tobacco Road Sports Cafe (222 Glenwood Ave.) later today to take fans' questions on the upcoming season.
The Duke Athletics Tour event starts at 5:30 p.m. at the Raleigh restaurant, with Cutcliffe serving as the keynote speaker. Tickets are $15 a person.
Editor's note: Stephen Allan will provide updates from the ACC Kickoff in Greensboro today. The head coaches from each team met with the media this afternoon.
Duke reserve defensive tackle Kinney Rucker is out indefinitely because of an injured foot, the school announced Friday.
Rucker had surgery last month to repir a torn plantar plate in his right foot.
