Duke hoping hard work helps snap nation's longest losing streak

DURHAM, N.C. - Duke football coach Ted Roof continues to tell his team that winning every day in practice is the only way to win on Saturday, but the Blue Devils have become frustrated with their lackluster results on game days.<br> <br> ``It&#39;s real hard to get up at six o&#39;clock in the morning to come in for practice knowing at the end of the week we could have the same result we had at the end of the last week,&#39;&#39; wide receiver Jomar Wright said. ``But that&#39;s life. It&#39;s not easy sometimes.&#39;&#39;<br> <br> Duke (0-9, 0-5 Atlantic Coast Conference) has lost 17 consecutive games dating back to last season, the longest losing streak in the nation.<br> <br> Things won&#39;t get any easier Saturday, when the Blue Devils go on the road to face No. 22 Boston College (7-2, 3-2).<br> <br> ``We&#39;re desperate for a win,&#39;&#39; Roof said.<br> <br> All season, Duke&#39;s players have spoken about making progress each week despite watching the losses pile up.<br> <br> They couldn&#39;t make that claim after last week&#39;s 38-13 home loss to Navy.<br> <br> ``It was definitely a stalemate in our progress,&#39;&#39; linebacker Jeramy Edwards said. ``There were a couple of points in the game where we didn&#39;t execute well in all three phases of the game. There were definitely opportunities where we could have shined but didn&#39;t.&#39;&#39;<br> <br> The players say they don&#39;t have problems executing plays at practice during the week and can&#39;t pinpoint a reason why that success doesn&#39;t carry over to Saturdays. But if that trend continues, Duke&#39;s matchup with Boston College will end another long week in what has already been a long season.<br> <br> ``They&#39;re a very efficient, solid football team that doesn&#39;t beat themselves,&#39;&#39; Roof said. ``They make the other team beat them.&#39;&#39;<br> <br> The Blue Devils still believe they are capable of winning their three remaining games.<br> <br> ``What&#39;s the point in even having the rest of the season if you&#39;re not going to compete?&#39;&#39; Wright said. ``We go out every morning and work hard, so we feel like we have a chance against anybody in the country.&#39;&#39;