"... I couldn’t help but think of how many people had helped me along the way. One of those people I wanted to personally thank for opening doors was Jimmy Raye. This book tells how some of those doors got pushed open. I’m sure you will enjoy reading about the journey!" - Tony DungyArchived
Polynesian watch list sees what recruiters missed
Mo Fifita is a 6-foot-1, 320-pounder who gets down in the trenches and slugs it out, brawn on brawn. If that means tying up two 300-pound offensive linemen to free up linebackers, so be it.In other words, he was born to play nose tackle. And it doesn’t hurt he has Polynesian...
Blue Devils measuring up this time around
It wasn’t that long ago that Duke football fit the profile Alabama seeks to pad its schedule. Sprinkle in cupcakes to inflate scoring margins and the wins. The overwhelming numbers help poll voters forget an upset here and there.It works, too. In 2017, Alabama finished...
Daniel Jones not one to bite at cheap shot
Anyone following Daniel Jones wasn’t surprised he dismissed Baker Mayfield’s cheap shot with a classy response. Jones learned more than football under the tutelage of Duke coach and quarterback guru David Cutcliffe.“He’s not going to be distracted,” said Cutcliffe after a recent...
Navy taps a special prep school in Tennessee
They call it NAPS. The stated mission of the Naval Academy Preparatory School is to “enhance midshipman candidates’ moral, mental and physical foundations to prepare them for success at the U.S. Naval Academy” at Annapolis.The path has benefited Jackson Pittman, Navy’s 6-foot-1,...
Pirates want to bring back McNeill for honor
East Carolina's new head coach, Mike Houston, asked offensive coordinator Donnie Kirkpatrick to reach out to Oklahoma assistant coach Ruffin McNeill about returning to Greenville in the future so the school can honor its former a head coach, a fan favorite. McNeill is an...
Blue Devils have better frosh but tougher lineup
DURHAM, N.C. – A dozen years ago David Cutcliffe took over a woeful Duke football program that was 2-33 the previous three seasons, including 0-12 in 2006. He needed fresh talent and he found some with three true freshmen.Jay Hollingsworth led the team in rushing, albeit with...
Alvarez would have loved recruiting coup
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – N.C. State coach Dave Doeren is nine seasons removed from his Wisconsin assistant days, but the influence of two legendary Badgers coaches is more apparent each day Payton Wilson is closer to the playing field.Look at Doeren’s recruiting classes. He doesn’t just...
ACC kickoff updates from Charlotte
* * *I invite you to follow me on Twitter @shanny4055Tom Shanahan, Author: Raye of Light http://tinyurl.com/knsqtqu-- Book on Michigan State's leading role in the integration of college football. It explains Duffy Daugherty's untold pioneering role and debunks myths that...
In a twist transfer portal validates Wake Forest
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Wake Forest coach Dave Clawson initially feared the NCAA’s transfer portal’s impact on his rebuilding project, robbing him of fifth-year seniors. Turns out the new rule may have validated his progress.“We are still a developmental program,” Clawson said at the...
Taking a new approach to a familiar job
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Mack Brown, North Carolina’s new/old coach, showed up at the Westin Hotel last week for the ACC Kickoff media days with the look of a CEO. The Not surprising since the CEO coach approach has become a bit of a trend in college football.Let the head coach with a...