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Duke football bowl history: Every bowl game the Blue Devils have played in

By Josh Yourish

Nov 10, 2018; Durham, NC, USA; Duke Blue Devils quarterback Daniel Jones passes the football in the second half against the North Carolina Tar Heels at Wallace Wade Stadium. The Duke Blue Devils won 42-35. Mandatory Credit: Nell Redmond-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 10, 2018; Durham, NC, USA; Duke Blue Devils quarterback Daniel Jones passes the football in the second half against the North Carolina Tar Heels at Wallace Wade Stadium. The Duke Blue Devils won 42-35. Mandatory Credit: Nell Redmond-USA TODAY Sports /
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COLLEGE PARK, MD – OCTOBER 21: Billy Ray #14 of the Duke Blue Devils (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)
COLLEGE PARK, MD – OCTOBER 21: Billy Ray #14 of the Duke Blue Devils (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) /

1989 All-American Bowl: 28 years later

It was just a brief 28 years between bowl game appearances for the Duke Blue Devils. Finally, in 1987 Steve Spurrier began his head coaching career by taking over the Duke program and quickly led the team from a 4-7 record in 1986 to an 8-4 campaign in 1989 capped off by an appearance in the All-American Bowl.

Sadly for Blue Devils fans, the 49-21 All-American Bowl loss to Texas Tech was the final game that Spurrier ever coached in Durham. He was poached by Florida and between his time at Florida and eventually South Carolina, went on to win 11 bowl games between 1990-2015. Meanwhile, Duke appeared in just five over that span with only one win.

Spurrier was replaced by Barry Wilson, who immediately sank the program back to 4-7 in 1990.

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