One year later, Roof still looking for success at Duke

DURHAM, N.C. - Ted Roof walked into a difficult situation last season and gave Duke fans reason to hope.<br> <br> But one year later, the Blue Devils coach is still looking for wins that can change the culture at a school where losing football games is as routine as winning basketball games.<br> <br> Still losses aside the coach seems comfortable at the helm. He&#39;ll mark one year as coach Tuesday, and he had a special celebration planned for his staff.<br> <br> ``I think we&#39;ll be watching (game) film right here,&#39;&#39; Roof joked Monday, as Duke began preparations for this weekend&#39;s game against No. 14 Virginia.<br> <br> The Blue Devils (1-5, 0-3 Atlantic Coast Conference) have had a frustrating season so far, with injuries creating additional obstacles for a team already fighting to climb out of the league basement.<br> <br> In its opener, Duke trailed by one point heading into the fourth quarter at Navy, but surrendered two touchdowns in a 27-12 loss. The Blue Devils followed that with a 22-20 loss at Connecticut when Matt Brooks missed a 36-yard field goal in the final seconds.<br> <br> And the Blue Devils led Maryland in the first half, only to surrender 38 straight points on the way to a 55-21 loss.<br> <br> Duke&#39;s only win came against Division I-AA The Citadel two weeks ago.<br> <br> Running back Cedric Dargan has missed four games with a leg injury and defensive end Philip Alexander is out for the season with a broken leg.<br> <br> Other key players, like punt returner Senterrio Landrum and cornerback Kenny Stanford, have also missed time.<br> <br> Roof said the past year which included the death of defensive lineman Micah Harris in an offseason car accident had been more challenging than he expected.<br> <br> ``It always is, isn&#39;t it? I think that&#39;s true with anything,&#39;&#39; he said. ``The lack of a challenge certainly hasn&#39;t been a problem.&#39;&#39;<br> <br> Roof became the Blue Devils&#39; interim coach when Carl Franks was fired the day after an embarrassing home loss to Wake Forest. He earned the job permanently after Duke won two games in November, beating Georgia Tech to end a record 30-game ACC losing streak, and ending a 13-game losing streak to rival North Carolina.<br> <br> Enthusiasm over the strong finish led athletics director Joe Alleva to keep Roof on, and player say he has the program headed in the right direction.<br> <br> ``I just feel like we&#39;re right there sometimes, just right there about to grasp (victory),&#39;&#39; defensive end Justin Kitchen said. ``It just slips away sometimes. I think that&#39;s what Coach Roof is starting to hone in on the most, is that we&#39;ve just got to hold on.&#39;&#39;<br> <br> Players remain convinced Roof is the man to turn the program around, offensive lineman Jim Moravchik said. He said the team is a closer-knit group, partly because it had to come together during the abrupt coaching change.<br> <br> ``There was a chance that we could just fall apart,&#39;&#39; Moravchik said.<br> <br> ``We work so hard now. That&#39;s not to say that we didn&#39;t work hard before, but now it&#39;s a whole new level. Coach Roof demands so much, and I think that&#39;s going to put us on the right track eventually.&#39;&#39;