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Coach Cutcliffe Approves of Early ACC Football Scheduling for Duke

By Chris Brown

Jul 21, 2016; Charlotte, NC, USA; Duke Blue Devils head coach David Cutcliffe speaks to the media during the ACC Football Kickoff at Westin Charlotte. Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 21, 2016; Charlotte, NC, USA; Duke Blue Devils head coach David Cutcliffe speaks to the media during the ACC Football Kickoff at Westin Charlotte. Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports /
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ACC Football competition begins early this year for the Blue Devils, with their first conference match-up against Wake Forest in Week 2.

The Blue Devils will begin the ACC football season early this year with match-up against conference foe Wake Forest this weekend. Duke Football head coach David Cutcliffe is a huge fan of the early conference games to provide an early test for his team.

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    • Last season, Duke did not play their first conference game until the end of September. The Blue Devils hosted Georgia Tech in their fourth game of the season on September 26th. This season the team will start ACC competition early hosting Wake Forest this weekend. Duke and Wake Forest have a strong rivalry and compete every year, normally near the end of the regular season. Coach Cutcliffe is ready to see his team compete in an important game early in the season. When asked about the early conference game, he said “I love it – big games early help you in August…I’m anxious to see that we practice and play with an ACC intensity.” Duke currently has a four-game winning streak against Wake Forest, most recently beating the Demon Deacons 27-21 for the final game of the 2015 regular season.

    It will be interesting to see how the players adjust to the early ACC Football competition and how it impacts the rest of the season. Another interesting twist to the schedule is that the Blue Devils won’t play either of their rivals at the end of November, but play at Pitt and at Miami to end the regular season after UNC on Nov. 10th.

    Duke got off to a great start with a 49-6 victory over NCCU in their season opener, but Coach Cutcliffe is hoping the team becomes more consistent after “a tale of two halves” scoring all of their points before halftime. An early rivalry game against the Demon Deacons could help the team improve and gain momentum going forward in one of the most difficult schedules in program history.

    Next: Duke Routs NCCU After Historic First Half

    After hosting Wake Forest on Saturday, the Blue Devils will travel for two huge non-conference games at Northwestern and then at #18 Notre Dame. Duke will resume ACC play on October 1st when they return to Wallace Wade to host Virginia for Homecoming weekend.

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