DURHAM — Despite the slow start from the offense during Saturday's 65-play scrimmage, the Duke football team show some signs of improvements, particularly in the passing game where senior quarterback Thaddeus Lewis returned to top speed.
Duke second year coach David Cutcliffe, who prefers to critique scrimmages after viewing film, remained mostly positive about the scrimmage at Wallace Wade Stadium.
DURHAM — Duke coach David Cutcliffe said on Friday morning nearly 50 percent of his team had suffered from symptoms believed to be related to the H1N1 virus since the start of training camp on Aug. 5.
While some affected players had already returned to practice, Cutcliffe said there were other still battling the flu-like symptoms. Citing HIPAA laws, he would not name players who had been impacted, though he said typical bouts have lasted two to three days, with some players needing quarantine.
See photos from Duke's first football practice of the 2009 season from their practice facility on Thursday, Aug. 6, 2009.
Charlotte Christian linebacker Kelby Brown has committed to Duke, choosing the Blue Devils over UCLA.
"It was a tough decision for him," Charlotte Christian coach
Jason Estep said a few minutes ago. "He spent three days out at UCLA last week. But it finally came down to the fact that he was really comfortable at Duke, and with the direction of the program and the coaching staff."
Duke safety Zack Asack, a former starting quarterback, has been dismissed from the program for violating team policy, coach David Cutcliffe announced Friday.
Asack had moved from quarterback to safety before spring practice this season. He started six games in 2005 as a freshman but was on academic suspension for plagiarism in 2006 and lost his job to Thaddeus Lewis.
Smithfield-Selma football safety and running back Josh Snead committed to Duke on Monday morning.
Duke has dismissed freshman linebacker Trent Mackey from its football team for violating team standards, coach David Cutcliffe announced Thursday.
Dave Schuman, who conducts football combines throughout the country
for underclassmen, believes Duke recruit John Drew is a gem.
Defensive back Zach Greene of Raleigh Leesville Road; defensive back
Kevin Rojas of Raleigh Wakefield, tight end Ryan Hall of Orlando, Fla.,
and defensive end Sydney Sarmiento already are enrolled at Duke.
Duke has secured a high-profile commitment from wide receiver Tyree Watkins of Camden (N.J.) High, who had committed to Virginia last summer.
Watkins, who’s ranked as the 15th-best player overall in New Jersey by rivals.com, had been recruited at Virginia by Mike Groh, the former offensive coordinator who’s no longer with the Cavaliers after a shakeup on the staff led by his father, head coach Al Groh.
