Duke was not the more mature ACC team at Virginia Tech

PHOTO (Duke Athletics): Jeremy Roach drives on Virginia Tech's Wabissa Bede. By TOM SHANAHAN Duke demonstrated it can overcome a double-digit first half deficit, rallying from 16 points down a week ago to beat Boston College at Cameron Indoor Stadium. But Boston College isn’t Virginia Tech. And the road in the ACC is different. Duke managed to close an 18-point first-half deficit to 11 by intermission and trailed by only one one point on Matthew Hurt’s three-pointer with…

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Duke’s season slipping away with inconsistency and turnovers

PHOTO: Duke's Jontavis Robertson is gang-tackled after a 4-yard reception. By TOM SHANAHAN Duke’s promising season-opening loss to Notre Dame now seems like it was played in an alternative universe. In a COVID-19 Twilight Zone college football season, that’s not unusual, but it is cause for alarm for a lost season. Duke dropping to 0-3 in three ACC games with Saturday’s 38-20 loss at Virginia has the Blue Devils almost a third of the way through their pandemic-revised…

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Cutcliffe takes blame, adds to his schedule to face Virginia

Photo: Chase Brice sacked as he fumbled. By TOM SHANAHAN When Duke coach David Cutcliffe retires and writes his book on his football life, he needs to include a chapter for people in their mid-60s with advice on workout and diet routines to maintain energy and work ethic. Cutcliffe, who turned 66 last week, pointed his finger at himself when explaining how the Blue Devils (0-2, 0-2 ACC) took a step backward with a 26-6 loss to Boston…

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