Duke fires football coach

JoseA · 11-26-2007, 01:34 PM

Quote:

DURHAM, N.C. (AP) -- Duke fired Ted Roof on Monday, two days after the Blue Devils ended a 1-11 season with their ninth straight loss.

A news conference was scheduled for Monday afternoon to discuss the program. A person close to the Duke program, speaking on condition of anonymity because an announcement had not been made, said athletic director Joe Alleva would announce Roof's dismissal.

The coach's career record dipped to 6-45 after a 20-14 overtime loss to North Carolina, the Blue Devils' fourth straight to their main rival. Duke has lost at least 10 games in three straight seasons, including a winless 2006.

After snapping a 22-game losing streak with a victory at Northwestern, the Blue Devils lost nine straight to end this season -- a slide that ranks second only to Minnesota (10) among active losing streaks for teams from the six Bowl Championship Series conferences.

Article

I'm sort of surprised Duke was never really good at football considering they dominate at college basketball. It makes sense to fire the coach, but this program just needs to get better in general.

Thaddeous Lewis appears to be a pretty talented QB....Maybe 2 wins next season?

Habsfan84 · 11-26-2007, 03:44 PM

This does not come at too much of a surprise.

dlb · 11-26-2007, 05:46 PM

Actually, as an NC resident, I am surprised. Duke does not take football seriously and makes no real effort to create a competitive program. They don't make the same academic exceptions for top football prospects that they do for basketball stars. Their stadium is small, old and rundown. With a capacity of a mere 32k or so, I can't remember the last time it sold out. On any given Saturday, you're as likely to find as many fans of the visitor on hand as there are for the home team.

I live less than 30 miles from the Duke campus. The area is rotten with Duke basketball fans, but during football season, Blue Devil fans are as rare as hen's teeth.

Whoever takes this job gets nothing more than a thankless invitation to fail. It is highly unlikely that any promising young coach will come anywhere near this job.

Given all of this, firing their coach was an incredibly stupid thing to do, unless they just want to be on the bottom of everyone's "places I'd like to work" list. If they actually wanted to improve this program, they should have let Roof work out his contract and resign with dignity. Then, they would at least have demonstrated that they have more class than to blame the coach for the university's unwillingness to compete.

JoseA · 11-27-2007, 12:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dlb

Actually, as an NC resident, I am surprised. Duke does not take football seriously and makes no real effort to create a competitive program. They don't make the same academic exceptions for top football prospects that they do for basketball stars. Their stadium is small, old and rundown. With a capacity of a mere 32k or so, I can't remember the last time it sold out. On any given Saturday, you're as likely to find as many fans of the visitor on hand as there are for the home team.

I live less than 30 miles from the Duke campus. The area is rotten with Duke basketball fans, but during football season, Blue Devil fans are as rare as hen's teeth.

Whoever takes this job gets nothing more than a thankless invitation to fail. It is highly unlikely that any promising young coach will come anywhere near this job.

Given all of this, firing their coach was an incredibly stupid thing to do, unless they just want to be on the bottom of everyone's "places I'd like to work" list. If they actually wanted to improve this program, they should have let Roof work out his contract and resign with dignity. Then, they would at least have demonstrated that they have more class than to blame the coach for the university's unwillingness to compete.

You make some good points dlb. Yet, I think this program could be saved. They should be building off the success of the basketball program. They need a coach with a lot of spirit, and whom is committed to turning Duke into a contender in the ACC. I know that isn't going to be easy to find, but look at a team like South Florida's recent success after having nothing. In my opinion Duke has a good chance to do good (you could say they have the genes), at least be better if they bring the right people in.

dlb · 11-27-2007, 06:16 AM

Duke could be competitive. Wake Forest, an even smaller school just down the road in Winston-Salem has done a great job of putting together a football program.

It all starts, though, with the university wanting to have a competitive program. Duke hasn't shown an interest in football since the 1960s. The one time they did land on a coach who could have turned them into a national powerhouse (Steve Spurrier), they let him go with barely a wave goodbye.

11-26-2007, 03:44 PM	#2 (permalink)
Habsfan84 Senior Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Canada Posts: 3,582	This does not come at too much of a surprise. __________________ FanHome Members Remember to Keep Posting on FanHome [where fans connect]. Guests Please RegisterFor Access to a Great Forum

11-26-2007, 05:46 PM	#3 (permalink)
dlb Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 4,293	Actually, as an NC resident, I am surprised. Duke does not take football seriously and makes no real effort to create a competitive program. They don't make the same academic exceptions for top football prospects that they do for basketball stars. Their stadium is small, old and rundown. With a capacity of a mere 32k or so, I can't remember the last time it sold out. On any given Saturday, you're as likely to find as many fans of the visitor on hand as there are for the home team. I live less than 30 miles from the Duke campus. The area is rotten with Duke basketball fans, but during football season, Blue Devil fans are as rare as hen's teeth. Whoever takes this job gets nothing more than a thankless invitation to fail. It is highly unlikely that any promising young coach will come anywhere near this job. Given all of this, firing their coach was an incredibly stupid thing to do, unless they just want to be on the bottom of everyone's "places I'd like to work" list. If they actually wanted to improve this program, they should have let Roof work out his contract and resign with dignity. Then, they would at least have demonstrated that they have more class than to blame the coach for the university's unwillingness to compete.

11-27-2007, 06:16 AM	#5 (permalink)
dlb Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 4,293	Duke could be competitive. Wake Forest, an even smaller school just down the road in Winston-Salem has done a great job of putting together a football program. It all starts, though, with the university wanting to have a competitive program. Duke hasn't shown an interest in football since the 1960s. The one time they did land on a coach who could have turned them into a national powerhouse (Steve Spurrier), they let him go with barely a wave goodbye.