“Monday I’ll have Friday on my mind.”
Yes, I just quoted the 1966 classic Friday on My Mind, by the Easybeats.
Yes, I’m old.
But Mike Elko met with the media Monday and Friday was on his mind, specifically Duke’s game Friday with Temple, the first game of Duke’s 2022 season and the first game of what we hope will become the Mike Elko Era, because that implies some sustained success.
Nobody refers to the Carl Franks era.
Of course, there was a time when Friday night lights were reserved for high school games, at least until Thanksgiving or so.
After all, the children are our future and high-school football is college football’s primary feeder system and there really isn’t a secondary system.
But then the TV networks started waving the checkbooks and we all know how that ends. Inventory is inventory.
In fact, the ACC sent out a press release today boasting the “ACC will be featured throughout Labor Day Weekend with 12 games over a five-day span, Sept. 1-5. No other league will play across all five days in Week One.”
Take that SEC.
I know, I know. Old man shaking his fist at the sky.
But this isn’t just any Friday. It’s the Friday before Labor Day, the unofficial end of summer, when a sizeable chunk of the U.S. population gets in their cars and hits the road.
Elko said that he hopes Duke can capture some of those beach-goers before they leave town.
“I like the openers this way. I think it brings it a little bit earlier for our guys. You get to this point and guys are chomping at the bit to play a football game. It’s Labor Day weekend, so usually you get a lot of people to come out and support and watch. I think there are really no negatives to it.”
Duke doesn’t know much about Temple, Temple doesn’t know much about Duke. Two new coaches; Temple’s is Stan Drayton. Like Elko, Drayton is a coaching lifer getting his first head-coaching gig.
Drayton is one of the few Black head coaches in FBS football, Drayton comes from the offensive side of the football, the exact opposite of Elko.
Today also was the day Duke finally released its depth chart.
And guess what. There weren’t many surprises.
We all knew that Riley Leonard won the starting quarterback job and Elko made it clear that Leonard won the job. Nobody lost it.
“He stepped up and had a really good camp.”
Elko added that “we’re going to use [Jordan Moore] in a lot of different ways.”
There are seven transfers listed on the two deep, suggesting that Elko and his staff did a pretty good job of reloading in a hurry. Tackle Andre Harris and guard Chance Lytle are on the first-team offensive line, with Jack Burns as second-team center.
On the other side of the ball safety Darius Joiner and cornerback Datrone Young are on the first team. Linebacker Cam Dillon and defensive end Anthony Nelson are on second team.
There are two true freshmen on the two deep. Defensive Vince Anthony, Jr. is listed at first team, defensive back Chandler Rivers on the second team.
“They’re both really talented players,” Elko said. “V.J.’s really a kid who’s made tremendous strides since he’s been here and Chandler is a kid who is just extremely consistent and extremely competitive.”
Elko suggested the bulk of this class might be redshirted.
“We have a group that we feel can use a some more time in the weight room and are going to be more developmental this year.”
He did mention wide receiver Mehki Wall, quarterback Henry Belin IV and running back Terry Moore as other true freshmen who still might crack the rotation.
Moore is listed as fourth team but Elko said he was getting better every day.
Speaking of running back, Jaylen Coleman is listed as first team, Jaquez Moore as second team and Jordan Waters as third team.
‘ Elko said not to make too much of that.
“It’s going to be a rotation. I think it’s going to be that way by design. I think all three of them are capable of helping us. They bring different things to the game and our ability to use them all, to keep them fresh, let them all run 100 percent at what they do, that’s been our plan.”
Elko said he’s excited about where his team is and nobody is backing down from the challenge.
“We’re not ever going to sell our goals short. Our goal is to go to a bowl game. Our goal is to beat our in-state rivals. Our goal is to play in the ACC championship. We’re not going to change them. That’s not to mean that they’re going to debilitate us if we don’t reach them. But we’re not going to shoot for anything less. What I’m looking for intangibly? I’d just like to see us go out and value the opportunity to be Duke football players. If we do that, there will be a level of competitiveness and fire that I think our fans and alumni base will really appreciate.”
Just stop. Please just stop
It seems Coach Elko and staff did a great job bringing in transfers.