The Blue Devils of Duke University

Fans of college basketball are well aware that the Blue Devils of Duke are coming off yet another spectacular season of basketball. Given the fact that Duke seems to continually be in title contention, there is no doubt that the team has found the right formula for success over the last several decades. It's hard to even think about the NCAA "March Madness" tournament without envisioning Duke playing, and even contending for a slot in the fable Final Four, and often the tournament title itself. One has to wonder what coaching secrets are engendering such continual and sustained success. To date, Coach K's methodology remains a riddle unsolved. Unfortunately, that success remains entirely focused on the basketball program.

They play football at Duke?

In contrast, the football squad at Duke is definitely an afterthought. When they win, it is big news - since they do it so seldom. The only thing that is pretty much a given about the Blue Devil football team is that it is unlikely to ever be a serious contender for a slot in a BCS game - much less the national title. Playing in a conference that gets little respect from the BCS selection committee and losing in that conference on a consistent basis is just a good formula for breakout success.

Recruitment is tough

Unlike the basketball program, the coach of the football team always seems to have an uphill battle in his efforts to improve the team's base of talent. They try to bring in blue chip players, but schools like Michigan, Ohio State, and Alabama somehow seem more attractive. Even students who transfer from one program to another never seem to end up on the Blue Devils roster! Some have even suggested that the football and basketball coaches might want to change jobs - just to see if Coach K's approach to winning can translate onto the gridiron. If nothing else, it would provide an interesting subject for study!

Prospects are dim

Regardless, there is very little doubt that this season will once again prove to be another grim state of affairs for the football program. As usual, the school's fan base will have to just endure a quarter year of football blues until they can officially get their basketball season underway. That is, after all, the next chance those fans will have to hear the name Duke referred to in any manner other than a punch line.

Somehow, the school needs to find some way to duplicate its basketball success in other areas of athletic competition. The football program has long been in dire need of assistance, and the baseball team is hardly any better. The odd thing is that there is no logical explanation for the disparity between the success of the basketball team and the abysmal failure of these other sports team. After all, Duke is Duke, no matter which sport is being played, isn't it? And if it's not, one would certainly think that it should be.