DURHAM — Alabama will make an appearance at Wallace Wade Stadium in 2010 to play the Duke Blue Devils, Duke Athletics Director Kevin White confirmed on Wednesday.

“It’s pretty straight forward,” White said. “The 2010 Duke-Alabama game is our home game. We simply decided to play it at Wallace Wade.”

Duke's previous plan was to stage its home game of the home-and-home series with the Crimson Tide at another site. Duke's athletics department, under former AD Joe Alleva, had considered other cities, most seriously Atlanta, while looking for a larger venue.

DURHAM — Jabari Marshall caught an earful while riding the David Cutcliffe straight-talk express on Saturday. Marshall's mistake? Taking a swan dive into the end zone to celebrate his 42-yard interception return for a touchdown in Duke's blowout of Virginia.

After a surprising two weeks, what's next for the ACC? Tudor says Duke will provide the ultimate surprise. (Staff video)

DURHAM — Duke (3-1) got a vote in this week's USA Today Top 25 Coaches' Poll.

Normally, we'd point straight at South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier, former Duke coach with a lot of affection for the program, as the culprit. But before the season began, Spurrier was told not to give his annual preseason nod to his former team.

DURHAM — Duke coach David Cutcliffe definitively proclamied his profound distate for yellow jackets during his weekly press conference on Tuesday. But it's personal, not professional.  He wasn't talking about Duke's Saturday opponent in Georgia Tech.

Just listen to the retelling of the story about getting stung by a nest of nasty yellow jackets as a young boy growing up in Birmingham, Ala.

DURHAM — Duke went 3-1 in four home dates to start the season. It's leaving home for its first road game, at Georgia Tech, with more good news. Season ticket sales are up 58 percent at this point compared to 2007, Duke coach David Cutcliffe said on Tuesday.

The Blue Devils (3-1, 1-0 ACC), who received a vote in the Coaches' Top 25 Poll this week, have home dates remaining with Miami (Oct. 18), N.C. State (Nov. 8) and North Carolina (Nov. 29).

"I couldn't help but think about what can be," Cutcliffe said. "It's another opportunity for the Duke faithful to step up and buy tickets and be a part of a great happening in Wallace Wade Stadium."

At least according to Kenneth Massey's computer, which claims Duke is the seventh-best team in the country.

Here's the scary part: Massey's rankings are one of six computer polls used in the Bowl Championship Series formula.

According to Massey's web site:

The Meineke Car Care Bowl is holding its first team selection committee meeting tonight (Monday).

One of the teams likely to get mentioned is Duke. The Blue Devils (3-1) haven't played in a bowl since the Hall of Fame Bowl on Jan. 2, 1995, but are halfway to the number of wins they need to get bowl eligible.

"I think Duke would be intriguing," said bowl executive director Will Webb. "I think their fans would show up. They're on our radar."

• Late Hits archive

Maryland: Faithful Late Hits readers (both of 'em) demanded an up arrow for Maryland after its big win over Cal on Sept. 13. Given Maryland's propensity to win one, lose one, the arrow judiciary board preached patience.

The wait is over.

DURHAM — It's unclear if Duke is deeper this season in the defensive secondary or if Duke coach David Cutcliffe is just more willing to put his fastest players on the field come what way.

Either way Cutcliffe is letting fresehmen defensive backs Matt Daniels, who made his first career start at safety in the win over Virginia on Saturday, and Lee Butler learn on the field.