How can you keep them down on the farm after they’ve seen Paree?
I’m not really equating Duke’s 28-7 win over Clemson with the Doughboys seeing Paris after defeating Kaiser Wilhelm’s best.
But it does speak to human nature.
Duke running back Jordan Waters spoke with the media today. Here’s how he described the aftermath of that win.
“I went back to my brother’s hotel, with him, my dad and my nephew and we sat until three o’clock in the morning, just talking, chillin’. I got back to my room and I didn’t get to sleep until about five.”
Waters used expressions like “cloud nine” and “something I’ve dreamed about.”
I’m sure most of his teammates could tell similar tales.”
But Waters says he and his teammates are doing their best to move on, with a quick turnaround to Saturday and LaFayette.
“I think we did a good job this week of staying level. That was a big win and then a quick turnaround. By Tuesday we were focusing on LaFayette. I woke up Tuesday, went in and watched film of Lafayette the same night.”
Mike Elko said Duke is still playing catch up.
“I think it’s going to be all the way up to kick off, to be honest with you. Obviously tomorrow (Friday) is a great day to for us. We won’t bring them over here until about 2 o’clock and most of them don’t have class. So, tomorrow will be a good day for them to get some rest, to get some sleep and obviously playing a night game is a lot better than playing an early game Saturday.
“We’ll try to let them sleep in the hotel a little bit Saturday morning. But when you only have five days it’s kind of all the way up until kickoff thing to get your body right, so we’ll probably do a little more treatment in the hotel than we usually do. The hydration is good, it’s just getting your body to fill ready to go out there and play another football game.”
Elko added that he felt especially pleased for the players who endured the COVID year (2021).
No major injuries from Monday. Jeremiah Lewis injured a thumb early on but played with a cast. Jaylen Coleman is day-to-day.
Not a lot of film on LaFayette. But some of their coaches have overlapped with Elko over the years.
Tuesday is a big class day for the team and Elko said Duke couldn't get the whole team in for film sessions.
“It would have been nice to be able to create a block [of time] to get them in.”
But players still found time to squeeze it in on their own.
Lots of recruits in the house, lots of good feedback.
Elko wasn’t happy with the rash of five-yard penalties.
“It’s not like us. Hopefully, it’s something you chalk up to being the first game. It’s a daily focus in our program to not have those mistakes.”
The word “validation” keeps cropping up for Elko. It’s a basic concept but a key one. Put in the hard work in the right way and it will pay off. Then it does pay off, which leads to more hard work in the right way.
“Proud we came out there and believed in who we were and what we’re all about and were able to get the job done.”
“We talk a lot about mental focus and how to achieve performance and chasing greatness and a lot of conversations that we have internally that are beyond Xs and Os that I think just shape us in how we should wake up and attack the day.”
The college football universe expects Duke to come out flat and entitled Saturday.
“Human response says you can’t do it again,” Elko said “and we’ve challenged them to prove that wrong.”
Wheels up a 6 P.M.
I do not expect to see a flat performance. The team will get the job done.
There is no way that this team comes out flat Saturday. It's not in their DNA. Their player leaders, most of the players themselves, and their coaches just don't tolerate any kind of complacency or lack of focus. One hard practice, one totally demanding, intense fitness/lifting session, and they are back to reality, which is, Duke football buys in and goes all out. The coaches and players have created a very special culture: Prepare mentally, physically and socially to the max...and the game will then take care of itself.