July 28, 2004

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2004 Duke Football Preview

Ted Roof, a former All-ACC linebacker at Georgia Tech and Duke's interim head coach for the final five weeks of the 2003 season, was named Duke University's 20th head football coach on December 6, 2003. Under Roof's guidance, Duke snapped a 30-game losing streak in ACC play with a 41-17 victory over Georgia Tech on November 8, and then closed out the season by defeating North Carolina, 30-22, for the Blue Devils' first win over the Tar Heels since 1989.

The Blue Devils won two of their last three games to finish 4-8 overall and eighth in the ACC with a 2-6 league mark. The four victories doubled the win total of the previous three seasons combined. Duke lost two first-team All-ACC players -- RB Chris Douglas and DT Matt Zielinski -- to graduation but has 12 returning starters on offense and defense combined.

ACC Football Preview Schedule | More Duke Info From ACC Media Guide

QUOTES FROM 2004 ACC FOOTBALL KICKOFF

Ted Roof, Head Coach, 1st Full Season

"We've taken some of that momentum that we gained at the end of the year and it's translated into the offseason. Any time you win your last game, especially like a big win we had (over North Carolina), it carries over to the offseason."

"We're going to have to be very aggressive on defense and try to gain some takeways ... We're going to have to do some different things (offensively) out of different formations and make people adjust and control the football. We don't have to run the football 40 times a game to control the football. We'll can try to have a controlled passing game and then take our shots when we feel like they're there."

(The death of Micah Harris) was a huge loss, a tragic loss -- devastating. In the whole grieving process, you never forget, but it's gotten a little bit better each and every day. Hopefully it's something we can use to make our team grow even stronger because it's great to do all the things these guys have an opportunity to do but you're not guaranteed another chance. You have to put everything you have into the moment and not live for what comes down the road."

2004 Duke Football Schedule
Sept. 4	at Navy
Sept. 11	at Connecticut
Sept. 18	at Virginia Tech
Sept. 25	Maryland
Oct. 2	The Citadel
Oct. 16	at Georgia Tech
Oct. 23	Virginia
Oct. 30	at Wake Forest
Nov. 6	at Florida State
Nov. 13	Clemson
Nov. 20	North Carolina

Cedric Dargan, Tailback, Junior

"I feel like I've been here for a while and it's finally my time, so I'm looking forward to the challenge (of filling Chris Douglas' shoes). I'm ready to step up. Watching Chris last year, I learned that you can be a successful running back at Duke ... I just want to try to keep the Duke running game as good as it has been the last few years."

"We go into every game as the underdog. I've been looking at preseason polls, and they still have us dead last. We go into every game with no pressure and we just go out there and play with wreckless abandon. All of the pressure is on the other team, so we just go out there and play."

"(Coach Roof) is a great man with the makings of a great coach. He demands a lot of respect and toughness that we didn't have before, and we give it to him. We're willing to do anything for him."

Phillip Alexander, Defensive End, Senior

Phillip Alexander

"There's a good nucleus of players here. There's a lot of talent -- the most talent at the school since I've been here. If we can get hot early (in the season) and catch some breaks, I think we'll be OK."

"I'm trying to go out with a bang. I've been here through the low times -- we've had some tough seasons. If we can come back to prominence this year, that would be great. My class, we've left our stamp on the university and after our four years we'll look back on it and smile."

"I just want to be a more consistent performer. I had a lot of peaks and plateaus last year, so I want to be more consistent with my techniques."

OFFENSE - Returning Starters
QB Mike Schneider, So.
WR Lance Johnson, Sr.
WR Senterrio Landrum, Sr.
TE Andy Roland, Jr.
OT Christian Mitchell, Sr.

OFFENSE - Starters Lost

Cedric Dargan

RB Chris Douglas (1st-team All-ACC)
WR Reggie Love (team-high 27 catches)
OT Drew Strojny (4-year starter)
OG Daryl Lewis (3-year starter)
OG Rusty Wilson (3-year starter)
C Luke Bayer (3-year starter)

DEFENSE - Returning Starters
DE Phillip Alexander, Sr.
DT Orrin Thompson, Sr.
LB Brendan Dewan, Jr.
LB Giuseppe Aguanno, Sr.
CB Brian Greene, Jr.
CB Kenneth Sanford, Sr.
S Alex Green, Sr.

DEFENSE - Starters Lost
DT Matt Zielinski (1st-team All-ACC)
LB Ryan Fowler (4-year starter, 495 tackles)
S Terrell Smith (2nd-team All-ACC)
DT Micah Harris (22 career starts)