As a general rule I try to stay away from absolutes.
General rule. See what I did there?
Anyway. With that qualifier I think a reasonable case can be made that the last few weeks have been the most chaotic period in Duke football since the United States entered the Second World War. Duke was prepared to go to Pasadena to play Southern Cal in the Rose Bowl but ended up hosting, while head coach Wallace Wade was preparing to go back into the military.
So, we’re not dealing with that level of crisis.
As an aside, contrary to popular belief no one in control actually thought the Japanese were going to attack the Rose Bowl. But the country was transitioning into a war economy, while trying to sign up and organize the forces necessary to defeat the Axis powers. The military in charge of the west cost thought that hosting events like the Rose Bowl was an inappropriate allocation of resources.
Back to December 2023.
This is the first time since 1989 that Duke has had to replace a head coach and prepare for a bowl game at the same time. But Steve Spurrier had a relatively easy transition into former-Duke-coach-status. The transfer portal and NIL were a generation or two away and signing day for prep recruits was in February. Spurrier continued to coach Duke through its bowl game, even conducting a practice or two.
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