A close-up of Duke's new, grim reaper-style helmet stickers. Courtesy of Duke Sports Information.

Earlier this week, I wrote a story about Duke's transformation on defense. The unit that ranked either second-to-last or last in every meaningful ACC category last season currently ranks fourth in total defense, third in sacks and second in caused turnovers. Not a bad about-face in less than a year's time.

Speaking of faces, here is a close-up look at the new helmet stickers. Defensive coordinator Jim Knowles introduced them to the players the Sunday after Duke's first game along with their accompanying slogan: the decision is mine.

Walt Canty (4) recorded a season-high 14 tackles in Duke's 42-17 win over Virginia. Credit: CHRIS SEWARD

In case you missed it yesterday and don't hang on my every tweet, Duke S Walt Canty was named the ACC's defensive back of the week. It's the second week in a row that a Duke DB has won the honor. In fact, the Blue Devils have won three of last four conference DB of the week awards (Ross Cockrell after NC Central, Jordon Byas after Wake Forest and now Canty after Virginia).

Canty recorded a season-high 14 tackles in the victory, including a career-high three tackles for loss. All three tackles for loss came on key downs late in the game, including a 4th-and-1 in the third quarter with Duke leading 21-17 and a 3rd-and-2 in the fourth quarter with Duke ahead 35-17.

Canty, one of Duke's four captains, is the only starting safety who has not missed time with an injury this year.

Sean Renfree did not play last week against Virginia due to his elbow injury. Credit: CHRIS SEWARD

DURHAM—Injured quarterback Sean Renfree was an active participant in Duke’s practice Tuesday, head coach David Cutcliffe announced at his weekly press conference. Renfree suffered an elbow injury in the third quarter of Duke’s win over Wake Forest and did not play last week against Virginia.

Cutcliffe said a decision on whether Renfree or Anthony Boone will start will come later in the week.

Jamison Crowder opened the scoring for Duke in the first quarter. Credit: CHRIS SEWARD

The bowl watch has officially started. I said before the Wake Forest game that I thought the winner of that matchup would make a bowl. I still feel that way.  Last week, I ranked the remainder of Duke’s schedule in terms of difficulty. I still like that order.

Now for an even bigger dose of what I think, a look back at Duke’s 42-17 win over Virginia:

The epigraph:

“Without great field position in the kicking game, it could have been a lot worse in the first half. It was 17-14, and I told the squad that. We’ve got some people that you can challenge on both sides of the ball. Up front, started there. I really didn’t have to do much, they challenged each other. They went out and took control of the game.” —Duke head coach David Cutcliffe

What we learned:

Juwan Thompson and the high-flying Blue Devils are starting to gather national attention. Credit: CHRIS SEWARD

Earlier today, Duke received its first AP poll votes since the end of the 1994 season when John Silver of the Journal (Conn.) Inquirer ranked them No. 23. I had a chance to catch up with John via email and phone, and he explained his reasoning. 

Conner Vernon set up Duke's go-ahead touchdown with this punt return. Credit: CHRIS SEWARD

I still have quite a number of recordings to go through, so, for the second week in a row, here is an abbreviated look back at Duke's 42-17 win against Virginia. Check back later tonight for the full rewind.

*Click here for the game story from Duke's win

*Click here for more on Conner Vernon breaking the all-time ACC record for career receptions

*Click here for four quick postgame observations

What worked: Duke’s defense continued its trend of strong second halves, shutting out Virginia in the final two quarters. The Blue Devils have not surrendered a second-half point at home since Sept. 15, when NC Central scored a fourth-quarter touchdown in a lopsided game. In this game, it was quite the turnaround, as, by head coach David Cutcliffe’s own admission, the Cavaliers had dominated the line of scrimmage in the first half.

Like a mythical Phoenix, Duke has risen up from the ashes and is well on its way back to respectability. Credit: CHRIS SEWARD

For the first time since January 2, 1995, Duke has received votes in the AP poll.

All three votes come courtesy of one man, John Silver, who ranked the Blue Devils No. 23. Silver covers Connecticut for the Journal Inquirer, which has a circulation of about 35,000 and publishes six days a week. 

Updated 8:33 p.m.

DURHAM -- Facing fourth-and-1 on the Virginia 47-yard line halfway through the third quarter, the Duke defense needed a stop. The Blue Devils had just taken a 21-17 lead. The Cavaliers had rushed for 184 first-half yards and now just needed one.

We'll see how many fans, young and old, make their way to Wallace Wade stadium to see Duke take on Virginia. Credit: CHUCK LIDDY

Update: Anthony Boone was announced at Duke's starting QB. Renfree warmed up with starting center Brian Moore and should be available if necessary. 

DURHAM—It's a beautiful day for football here in Durham. About an hour and a half before game time the stadium is still empty, but in due time we shall see what kind of crowd turns up for this meaningful ACC Coastal Division game.

As always, check out the game preview for the bulk of my pregame thoughts. The depth charts up here in the press box don't offer much in terms of injury updates: QB Sean Renfree is still listed as the starter for Duke (Cutcliffe called him a game-time decision), as is CB Lee Butler. CJ France is starter at linebacker over David Helton, who also left last week's game with an injury.

For Virginia, the quarterback starter reads, "Michael Rocco or Phillip Sims." London said earlier this week that he's going with Sims, the Alabama transfer.

Duke has come out of the tunnel to smaller home crowds than head coach David Cutcliffe would like. Credit: CHUCK LIDDY

DURHAM—When David Cutcliffe first came to Duke in Dec. 2007, the football team had many glaring issues, most notably that the players were out of shape and the practice facilities were in disarray. The toughest problem to solve, though, has been low attendance.

“I’m going to be brutally honest, I didn’t realize that attendance was as big of problem as what it would be,” Cutcliffe said. “When our buses came on campus for that James Madison game (Aug. 2008), there just wasn’t a lot of activity outside of the employee picnic that we had. It was like people didn’t know it was a football gameday. And I wasn’t quite ready for that initially.”