DURHAM, N.C. – Duke football head coach Manny Diaz, offensive coordinator Jonathan Brewer and defensive coordinator Jonathan Patke met with members of the media on Monday afternoon for the program’s weekly press conference.
Duke opens the 2024 season against Elon on Friday, Aug. 30. The two teams square off on Brooks Field at Wallace Wade Stadium at 7:30 p.m., with the game broadcast on ACC Network.
Opening Statement
“It’s good to see everybody here. It means it’s actually game week. It’s finally here, and none too soon. We’re really excited to begin to open up our season. Had a really good training camp, but ultimately, you just reach that point where you’ve got to go play somebody. You’ve got to go find out what you’re all about. In our world, today is a Tuesday, even though it’s a Monday on the calendar, with the game on Friday. So this morning, we had our second Tuesday practice for Elon. Got a lot of respect for those guys. I think Tony [Trisciani] and his staff do a great job. Certainly, Dovonte Edwards, their defense coordinator, does a really nice job. Dovonte was at NC State when I was there many moons ago. So, familiar faces. A team that has our full respect. I was actually surprised when the FCS top-25 came out that they were not ranked. I feel like they should be ranked, two top-five victories a year ago, and then bring a lot of experience back. When you have a quarterback who’s playing in his seventh year, and if you look at his numbers the last five games, I think 1,200 yards with 12 touchdowns against no interceptions. I mean, that’s as good as anybody anywhere. Four out of five starters back on an offensive line, a receiver that could play anywhere in our league. Same thing at safety – an All-American safety. So, they’ve got really good players. They’ve got familiarity in their scheme, which we don’t. This will be our first time. Like all first games, from those that taught me, it’s more about the basics that you do well. Season openers normally come down to conditioning, which our guys have great confidence in David Feeley that we’ll be in shape to play a game. They come down to tackling, because we all have very limited tackling opportunities during the month of August. And then, tackling goes hand-in-hand with turnovers. Ball security comes at a premium. And nobody, I’m sure on either…
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