Franks in crucial stretch of coaching career

DURHAM, NORTH CAROLINA - This needs to be a September to remember for Duke and head coach Carl Franks. <br> <br> With 20 starters back, the Blue Devils were expected to be a vastly improved team in 2003. But a 27-0 loss at Virginia in the season opener has put even more pressure on Franks and the team to come up with a good month heading into the heart of ACC play. <br> <br> Duke, 5-41 under Franks, will host Division I-AA Western Carolina, Rice, Northwestern all winnable games and No. 11 Florida State in September. <br> <br> The team&#39;s previous four-game starts under Franks have been 0-4, 0-4, 0-4 and 1-3. <br> <br> ``We are kind of looking at this as the Season of September,&#39;&#39; running back Chris Douglas said. ``We really want to come out of September with a winning record and we know we&#39;re very capable of doing it. <br> <br> ``A lot of focus will be put on these next few home games. I really hope people don&#39;t judge us on last week and they come out and support us and fill up the stadium. That just helps fuel the fire.&#39;&#39; <br> <br> The Catamounts (0-1) will be making their second trip to the Triangle area in as many weeks. Western Carolina lost to No. 14 North Carolina State 59-20 last weekend to fall to 0-32 all-time against Division I-A schools. <br> <br> Duke beat Western Carolina 24-10 in 1998 under former coach Fred Goldsmith. <br> <br> Franks said his team must adjust to the Catamounts&#39; no-huddle offense. Western Carolina also didn&#39;t allow a sack or throw an interception against the talented Wolfpack. <br> <br> ``They played extremely hard the entire game and they weren&#39;t intimidated by State at all,&#39;&#39; Franks said. ``They looked like they enjoyed playing. <br> <br> ``I worry about Western Carolina, but I am more worried about making sure we&#39;re playing the way we played last year, playing with intensity, being able to stop the run and making the right decisions on offense.&#39;&#39; <br> <br> It was a rough week of practice following the shutout loss to the Cavaliers as a number of players battled for starting jobs or playing time. <br> <br> ``We don&#39;t feel like this was something we had to go through, it&#39;s something we needed to go through,&#39;&#39; Douglas said. ``I told the guys, `Don&#39;t be sad, do not be depressed, do not feel sorry for yourself.&#39; <br> <br> ``We were the ones who were out there playing. We only let ourselves down. We know we can&#39;t have a successful season playing the way we did last Saturday.&#39;&#39;