09-24-2002, 01:19 PM
Tue, September 24, 2002
DISSED: Duke is popular homecoming float
By Bill Cole
JOURNAL REPORTER
DURHAM
Duke will see yet another homecoming queen crowned this weekend when it steps out of the ACC for the last time this season for a game at Navy.
Homecoming games have become a regular feature on Duke's schedule in the past 10 seasons, since the program battled to post winning records. The players have come to expect the games but nothing will ever lessen the insult of Duke being the homecoming team for Drew Strojny, the starting left tackle.
"Of course they scheduled us because they think it's a game they can win," Strojny said. "It'll make it that much more special to go in there and beat them, especially if we beat them good."
Duke is 1-3 and is fighting another losing streak, this one at three games. Navy is 1-2 and has lost consecutive home games. Duke's season will grow tougher after the trip to Annapolis, Md., with seven consecutive ACC games to close play.
"It's huge (in importance)," Strojny said. "We're not dwelling on the losses by any means. We definitely realize how big this weekend is and how hard we have to prepare for it. This is the turning point in our season. It's big."
Duke should be near full strength with the return of Chris Douglas, a junior tailback who did not play at Florida State because of an injured ankle.
Coach Carl Franks decided early last week that Douglas would not play so the ankle could be rested, although Douglas flew with the team to Tallahassee and was in uniform. Franks did not want to risk losing Douglas, Duke's most experienced back, for the season.
Douglas will likely practice this week, but Franks will watch closely to see if he is favoring the ankle again. If so, Douglas might be held out of some drills for additional rest so he can play at Navy.
Duke turned to Alex Wade, a junior fullback, at Florida State. He carried 25 times for 114 yards, his third 100-yard game of the season.
Franks is hopeful that a healthy Douglas and Wade can provide an unpredictable rushing attack.
"It would give us an inside runner and an outside runner," Franks said. "Very few of our runs have been to the outside. Alex is a good runner, but running him to the outside doesn't play to his strength. It's Chris' strength. We need to get him back to give us another dimension to our offense."
Another key for Duke on offense will be the play of quarterbacks Adam Smith and Chris Dapolito. Navy is allowing an average of 244 yards passing and has surrendered seven touchdown passes.
Smith and Dapolito are progressing, Franks said, but still need improvement to make a difference.
"We've been trying to throw it more and more every week," Franks said. "Our quarterbacks have got to be a little bit sharper.
"(Dapolito) throws the ball so much better when he moves than when he's standing still. We've got to find a way (to correct the problem). We know what we think it is mechanically that he does when he's standing in the pocket and he throws that low ball. He feels a lot more comfortable and he's more accurate when he's moving with the ball."
DISSED: Duke is popular homecoming float
By Bill Cole
JOURNAL REPORTER
DURHAM
Duke will see yet another homecoming queen crowned this weekend when it steps out of the ACC for the last time this season for a game at Navy.
Homecoming games have become a regular feature on Duke's schedule in the past 10 seasons, since the program battled to post winning records. The players have come to expect the games but nothing will ever lessen the insult of Duke being the homecoming team for Drew Strojny, the starting left tackle.
"Of course they scheduled us because they think it's a game they can win," Strojny said. "It'll make it that much more special to go in there and beat them, especially if we beat them good."
Duke is 1-3 and is fighting another losing streak, this one at three games. Navy is 1-2 and has lost consecutive home games. Duke's season will grow tougher after the trip to Annapolis, Md., with seven consecutive ACC games to close play.
"It's huge (in importance)," Strojny said. "We're not dwelling on the losses by any means. We definitely realize how big this weekend is and how hard we have to prepare for it. This is the turning point in our season. It's big."
Duke should be near full strength with the return of Chris Douglas, a junior tailback who did not play at Florida State because of an injured ankle.
Coach Carl Franks decided early last week that Douglas would not play so the ankle could be rested, although Douglas flew with the team to Tallahassee and was in uniform. Franks did not want to risk losing Douglas, Duke's most experienced back, for the season.
Douglas will likely practice this week, but Franks will watch closely to see if he is favoring the ankle again. If so, Douglas might be held out of some drills for additional rest so he can play at Navy.
Duke turned to Alex Wade, a junior fullback, at Florida State. He carried 25 times for 114 yards, his third 100-yard game of the season.
Franks is hopeful that a healthy Douglas and Wade can provide an unpredictable rushing attack.
"It would give us an inside runner and an outside runner," Franks said. "Very few of our runs have been to the outside. Alex is a good runner, but running him to the outside doesn't play to his strength. It's Chris' strength. We need to get him back to give us another dimension to our offense."
Another key for Duke on offense will be the play of quarterbacks Adam Smith and Chris Dapolito. Navy is allowing an average of 244 yards passing and has surrendered seven touchdown passes.
Smith and Dapolito are progressing, Franks said, but still need improvement to make a difference.
"We've been trying to throw it more and more every week," Franks said. "Our quarterbacks have got to be a little bit sharper.
"(Dapolito) throws the ball so much better when he moves than when he's standing still. We've got to find a way (to correct the problem). We know what we think it is mechanically that he does when he's standing in the pocket and he throws that low ball. He feels a lot more comfortable and he's more accurate when he's moving with the ball."