Duke hoping for fast start helps turn the corner

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Posted 5:01PM on Saturday, August 20, 2005

DURHAM, N.C. (AP) Duke's struggles are well documented, but that doesn't make them any less staggering. Over the past 10 seasons, the Blue Devils are 20-92 and have posted a pair of long losing streaks. There was a 23-game run of losses from 1999-2002, and another that lasted 30 games in the Atlantic Coast Conference. And Duke hasn't beaten NCAA Division I-A opponents in successive weeks since 1997. The only way to change this history, of course, is to start winning. The first chance comes with the season opener, a game Duke has won only three times since 1989. The most recent came in 2002. The opponent that week was East Carolina, which hosts Duke on Sept. 3 in the first game for each team. ``We need to get off to a good start, there's no secret,'' coach Ted Roof said. ``It's not a make-or-break-our-season game. There's no game on our schedule like that. It's definitely a game that we feel is critical, sure.'' Roof took over after Carl Franks was fired during the season in 2003, so he's entering his second full season. Already, the Blue Devils have made strides toward competitiveness during his tenure. During last year's 2-9 season, Duke led in nine games, including the first five. It wasn't always pretty against Maryland, they scored a touchdown on special teams, offense and defense for the first time since 1977, only to lose 55-21 but the players slowly began believing in themselves. ``Part of winning is confidence and believing that you can,'' Roof said. ``But to get true confidence, we need to put them in situations where it's competitive, and they're successful, to set some goals, and then once we get there, then set the next goal.'' It helps to have talent, and the Blue Devils appear to improving there as well. Among the freshmen signed for this season was 6-foot-6, 335-pound defensive tackle Vince Oghobaase, a highly touted recruit who chose Duke over perennial national title contenders Miami and Oklahoma, among others. He joined a group of about five newcomers on the defensive line. So far, each has impressed former defensive tackle Demetrius Warrick, a senior who is penciled in as a starter on the offensive line. ``That is the biggest, most athletic group of kids I have seen come in at one time,'' Warrick said. ``They have a lot of potential. They are physical and are learning the defense. I can't say anything bad about them.'' More help on defense should come from defensive end Phillip Alexander. He broke his leg in the second game of 2004 and missed the remaining nine, so he will provide talent and leadership to an otherwise young group. ``It's getting to the point now where our older players are taking a more active role, not only just telling them the way it's supposed to be but then showing them,'' Roof said. ``That's what not only Phillip, but a lot of our older players are starting to do, which, to me, that's what successful programs have.'' The search for improvement on offense will start with quarterback Mike Schneider. A starter last season, Schneider completed 57 percent of his passes for 1,527 yards and eight touchdowns, while throwing seven interceptions. ``We definitely had some heart-to-hearts, and he's responded,'' Roof said. ``He's done what we've asked him to do and then some. We've still got a lot of work left to do, but I've been pleased with how he has developed thus far.'' One hindrance to Schneider's progress has been working with three different offensive coordinators in his first three seasons. This year, Bill O'Brien replaces Marty Galbraith, who was fired after one season when the Blue Devils finished last among the 117 NCAA Division I-A teams in total offense. They were 112th in scoring with 16.6 points a game. ``I thought it would be a lot more frustrating coming in, probably because at the end of last year, I really started to understand the offense more,'' Schneider said. ``When coach O'Brien came in and I talked to him for the first time, I knew that it was going to be OK. ``We just sat down and talked football, and he is the best teacher I have ever been around.'' (Copyright 2005 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)