One Winter 2007 morning, David Cutcliffe saw the potential in Duke football. Saturday, everyone saw it, too. Credit: CHUCK LIDDY

While the Blue Devils (and this blog) have already turned their attention to next Saturday's game at Florida State, here's one more post on Duke's bowl-clinching win over North Carolina.

First, if you haven't read Luke DeCock's two columns, one from Saturday night and one today on what the win means to recent Duke football alumni, check those out.

I wrote a story for today's paper detailing the beginning of Duke's trek to six wins. The origins date back to the wee hours of one 2007 winter morning, when David Cutcliffe sat alone in an empty Wallace Wade Stadium. After his peaceful moment, he went through his scheduled interviews and was eventually offered the Duke head coaching job. The rest is history.

Emotions were obviously running high in the aftermath of the 33-30 win over UNC. But which emotions? After the game, Cutcliffe was asked if finally earning win No. 6 took a burden off the team.

"It’s only natural that that’s what everybody around them was talking to them about because of the length of time we have not been in a bowl game," Cutcliffe said about his players. "I would be naïve to not think they weren’t hearing that everywhere they go. That’s a great thing. I saw it in the senior’s faces particularly, to have it behind you. What I expect is that there is a burden gone, but there’s a hunger that needs to be created that’s greater." 

If you have access to a replay of the game, look closely at Sean Renfree's face on the sideline after he throws the game-winning touchdown pass. You'll see tears. 

Devonta Freeman is part of what is now a two-headed running attack for Florida State. Credit: CHUCK LIDDY

Every week, I do a little bit on Duke's upcoming opponent for the Tuesday paper. Why has it taken me until week nine to post one here? Good question. 

No. 11 Florida State (7-1, 4-1 in the ACC)

Last time out: beat Miami 33-20

Name to know: James Wilder Jr. will likely receive the majority of carries at running back on Saturday. The sophomore will take over for Chris Thompson, the Seminoles’ leading rusher who was lost for the season with a torn ACL last week against Miami.

Wilder was the top-rated recruit as a senior at Tampa Plant in 2010. After struggling with the playbook last season, he has rebounded this year and has collected 369 yards on 61 carries (an average of six yards per touch) along with a team-high seven rushing touchdowns.

Wilder is complemented by fellow sophomore Devonta Freeman. Last week against Miami, the dup combined for 119 yards and three touchdowns on 18 carries.

5 p.m. update: The ACC announced that North Carolina LB Shakeel Rashad would be suspended for one game "for his dangerous collision against an unsuspecting Duke player during a substitution in the second quarter." Additionally, head linesman Tyrone Davis and side judge Angie Bartis have were given one-game suspensions "for failure to adhere to correct mechanics of the game and rules related to player safety."

Also, The N&O's UNC beat writer, Andrew Carter, wrote about Larry Fedora's response to the incident earlier today. In short, he felt Rashad's hit was unintentional.

In a game full of twists and turns, a pre-snap collision in the second quarter may have been the most eyebrow-raising of all. At the very least, it has caught the attention of the ACC league office. 

Take a look at the above video, which, for the record, was titled by the individual that posted it, not me. What it shows is UNC LB Shakeel Rashad, a true freshman, running into Duke WR Conner Vernon from behind. Vernon went down to the ground, rolled around and the trainers came out. He went off the field and was back on the next snap. 

Duke head coach David Cutcliffe said he was told by an official that Rashad had been running backwards and bumped into Vernon. Now, that's clearly not true, and Cutcliffe saw as much when he reviewed the game tape Sunday morning. 

Duke head coach David Cutcliffe receieved a bowl-clinching Gatorade bath 17 years in the making. Credit: CHUCK LIDDY

Duke (6-2, 3-1 in the ACC, first in the Coastal Division)

Duke's Kenny Anunike (84) and Brandon Connette (18) brought the victory bell into the Blue Devils' locker room. Credit: CHUCK LIDDY 

DURHAM—Duke turned in its most impressive rushing performance of the David Cutcliffe era, running for 234 yards on a season-high 53 carries. And it came against one of the best run defenses in the country.

North Carolina, ranked 14th in the nation with an average of just 99.7 rushing yards allowed per game. Before Duke rushed for its 232 yards, the previous high for a North Carolina opponent was 183 yards to Louisville. Duke’s total was also well above the Blue Devils average of 111.1 yards per game.

Jamison Crowder pulls in the go-ahead touchdown with :13 seconds remaining. Credit: CHUCK LIDDY

By Andrew Carter

DURHAM—Duke went into the tunnel at halftime with a 20-6 lead over North Carolina. And that lead came courtesy of a suddenly potent rushing attack.

The Tar Heels entered the game with the nation’s 14-ranked run defense, but Duke put up 119 yards on 38 carries in the first half. That figure is higher than the Blue Devils 111.1 average rushing yards over the course of a full game.

Juwan Thompson leads Duke with 46 rushing yards on nine attempts, followed by Jela Duncan (42) and Josh Snead (39).

The Blue Devils are hopefull that fans will come out for the earliest meeting between Duke and UNC since 1943. Credit: CHUCK LIDDY

DURHAM—It's a beautiful mid-October night for football in Durham, as Duke and UNC will kick off for the 99th time in about an hour and a half's time. In case you missed any of these this week, a bit of pregame reading:

Conner Vernon is the real deal, ESPN's Kirk Herbstreit said. Credit: CHRIS SEWARD

Earlier this week, I caught up with ESPN Gameday host Kirk Kerbstreit and asked for his thoughts on Duke's season so far, the upcoming game against UNC, and, of course, whether he ultimately thinks the Blue Devils will earn a bowl bid. Check out the Q-and-A below: 

When you look at Duke sitting at 5-2, what are your initial thoughts?

Kirk Herbstreit: My initial thoughts are it’s great to see them being able to get things done and try and get bowl eligible. I thought last week after Duke had that big lead on Virginia Tech, boy, this would be a huge win for them, and they clearly weren’t able to hold onto it there in the second half. I’m impressed I love Coach Cut, I love what he’s trying to do, and it’s exciting to be able to see them get some momentum created in the program.

What do you think about their chances to get win No. 6?

Brandon Connette, who injured his shoulder last week, could play against UNC. Credit: CHRIS SEWARD

DURHAM—With each passing week, the Duke injury report becomes less newsworthy. For a team besieged by injuries at the beginning of the year, that's a positive development.

The 7 p.m. start time for the game against UNC gives the Blue Devils a bit more time than normal to ready people to play. 

"Upper extremity, lower extremity, everything has a chance to heal," Duke head coach David Cutcliffe said. "I'm not ruling anybody new out.