Duke Blue Devil Nation

08/27/2026

John Blackwell, McCain and Caleb Foster

In this episode, John Blackwell returns home to inspire the next ge...

08/25/2026

Manny Diaz has named Walker Eget as Duke's starting QB for their opener vs. Tulane. Diaz, who meets with the media shortly, will likely make this official, so stay tuned for his comments. The incoming transfer offers experience at the position.

08/24/2026

Happy 39th Birthday to Duke head coach Jon Scheyer. He's come a long way to where he is now, running the elite college basketball program. This pic is from a scrum interview session in 2009! Yeah, I have covered Duke since his playing days in person.

08/22/2026

1982 Duke Football Poster was 2.99 back in the day. Does anybody have one? Or any other rare football posters, etc.

08/14/2026

Duke Basketball Faces a Different Challenge

I have been thinking a good bit about this season's Duke basketball team. This year's team will be different in that, for the last two seasons, Duke has had cover-boy superstars in Cooper Flagg and Cameron Boozer. Go-to guys.

This team, while deep, doesn't have that one proven commodity, but it does have depth, making this Jon Scheyer's deepest team in his tenure in Durham.

Another thing I have noticed is people penciling in projected starters. I will go on record now, saying nine players will see starts, in my opinion, before and if there is separation.

The Blue Devils' strength is depth, where eleven or twelve guys can ball. Scheyer and his staff will find some core guys by season's end, but the 2025-26 team will be only as good as its chemistry, with a team-wide hunger for playing time.

That may or may not be a challenge.

Duke has a bevy of talented guys to work with against a schedule that will surely prepare them and allow for quick growth.

The Blue Devils have bigs to work with, some old, some young. They have wings, sleepers, and a stacked backcourt, not to mention a stellar coaching staff.

They have guys I think will play roles, and they should stay fresh as a team through a long season, provided their health stays in check.

Anyhow, there are plenty of challenges lined up, and I got through this blurb without mentioning a single player by name.

I have a feel for how some guys will be used, but I am waiting to see them in action to make sure that take is accurate.

So, yeah, I heard you; it is time to start talking basketball with Countdown to Craziness five werks away. Don't worry, I expect to get a glimpse of this bunch before.

BTW, recruiting and future team structuring are going well. Jon has things clicking.

08/11/2026

Duke Football Pre-Season Notebook #2

Duke TE Jeremiah Halsey tries to use his voice in the locker room, but said Nate Sheppard is doing the same thing. The two are trying to show others what Duke Football is about.

Nate Sheppard is leading by example and being vocal. He says he cheers them on and through mistakes as they learn. The Duke RB has put on some muscle in the offseason during today's play-by-play interviews.

Duke RB Nate Sheppard praised his offensive front, saying they're coming along great so far. He said the tackles that are being replaced are coming along.

Duke DB DaShawn Stone said the secondary is competing but not necessarily with one another, with a team-first approach. He mentioned several guys who are showing up with leadership or learning the system quickly. He said they need to be more urgent this season. Mentioned coaches are scheming for the players they have.

(Copyrighted)

08/10/2026

The 2007 Duke vs. Michigan GameDay program, featuring head coach Jon Scheyer, is a classic collectible. (redo, remove previous post)

08/10/2026

The 2007 Duke vs. Michigan GameDay program, featuring head coach Jon Scheyer, is a classic collectible.

08/10/2026

We were discussing position battles at the end of the week. Here are some I'm watching.

The QB Room - Manny Diaz perfectly stated that one guy has experience but not in our system, while the other has potential. He is speaking of Walker Eget and Dan Mahan. Eget is coming off an injury, while Mahan has taken a few actual snaps. Will a freshman push them? The battle has started.

Who is the RB 2? Is there a blocker? - A season ago, Nate Sheppard shined as a true freshman. I am looking at who will baclk him up. Is there a blocking back? A season ago, Sheppard benefitted from change of pace and a blocking back.

Wideouts are wide-open. This will be a getting to know you party in the preseason. So much so, rather than mentioning them all, lets see who stands up and puts his name on his lips as we progress.

The Tight ends seem solid, and my guess is they will be used a lot more this season, with some blocking and more targets.

OL - There are bodies there, but the scheme turned on a dime when a certain QB departed as Duke built around him. Who wins the tackle spot or edge, and what kind of depth can you build?

I will address the defense later.

08/07/2026

OFFICIAL DUKE NON-CONFERENCE SCHEDULE
11/2 Army
11/5 Coastal Carolina
11/10 Michigan State (Champions Classic)
11/13 SIUE
11/17 Illinois
11/21 Wash. St.
11/25 UConn (Vegas)
12/1 @ Florida
12/4 Harvard
12/8 Georgia (MSG)
12/15 Campbell
12/18 Grambling St.
12/21 Texas Tech (MSG)
2/20 Gonzaga (Detroit)