Cutcliffe remains committed to Duke

Duke

Cutcliffe remains committed to Duke

Duke coach David Cutcliffe during the Blue Devils' 54-48 loss at Wake Forest on Saturday, September 11, 2010 in Winston-Salem, NC. (Photo by Jack Morton)

By Jeff Gravley

Nov 20, 2012

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Tennessee was interested in Duke football coach David Cutcliffe back in 2010. They wound up with Derrick Dooley instead. Tennessee is once again searching for a coach and again Cutcliffe's name has surfaced.

"It's exciting for me," junior Ross Cockrell said about the interest in his coach. "At least I know we have a good coach because other people want him."

To calm the waters, Cutcliffe met with his team on Sunday to directly relay his commitment to Duke.

"I'm Duke's coach, going to be Duke's coach and 100% telling you that I have no intentions or will not go anywhere, period," Cutcliffe told his team. "It's put to rest."

Cockrell felt the sincerity of the message.

"He assured us that he is staying here," said Cockrell. "He enjoys the program and is proud of what we are doing."

There's something to be said about finding the right fit and it seems that both Cutcliffe and Duke have done that.

"I feel strongly about this program and about the people," Cutcliffe said in his message to the team. "I feel very strongly about the future of this program. I feel strongly about the players, the administrators, the staff, the coaches. I wanted that very clear in that room at that moment."

To punctuate his answer about staying at Duke, Cutcliffe spoke to his team about being committed to something. "In this era of the word decommit just really means you've never been committed. I don't care much for that word."

He used Sunday's team meeting as a teaching point. "I had a great opportunity to make a point to a bunch of young people that need to learn more and more in their lives what commitment means because they don't see enough of that."

Point well made.

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RE: Cutcliffe remains committed to Duke

I MET COACH CUT WHEN HE CAME TO WILSON ONCE, AFTER TALKING TO HIM I TAKE HIM TO BE A NO NOSENSE DOWN TO EARTH MAN. HE HAS DUKE DOING THINGS THAT THEY DIDN'T DO BEFORE HE CAME. THEY DON'T GIVE UP, THEY HOLD THEY HEADS HIGH. HE IS BUILDING A PROGRAM THAT CAN COMPETE. GO DUKE++++++++++++

RE: Cutcliffe remains committed to Duke

I am trying to remember. Did the Dookies go all ugly on their previous coaches like they do at state.
- Posted by rushbot

Duke fans don't go "all ugly" on their coaches because the expectations for Duke football are lower than at State and UNC. Just making a bowl game is like winning a national championship at Duke.

Coach Cutliffe is changing those expectations.

Coach Cut is the complete opposite of the likes of Urban Liar, Lame Kiffen, or Nick Satan who have all sworn allegiance to a school... right before walking out the door.

RE: Cutcliffe remains committed to Duke

Coach Cut is a man with tremendous integrity and someone who will live up to his word. I'm a Heels fan, but I think the world of Coach Cut, if only there were more coaches like him. He's a father figure and a role model who demands - and lives - excellence on and off the field.

RE: Cutcliffe remains committed to Duke

Sometimes it's NOT all about the money.

I admire David Cutcliffe as a coach but more importantly as a leader with integrity and strong moral character.
- Posted by FE

I agree. He seems like a good man. He's done a good job and he's got it made where he is. Four to five wins a year will get you lifetime security at dook. He seems happy in Durham and since he doesn't actually have to live there (I hear), he has no need to jump into that rat's nest in Knoxville.
- Posted by still heelman1973

Good points. Duke's program has been in such a moribund state for 20 years, 5 wins per might get Cut's statue erected outside WW Stadium. I believe we now have three football coaches with high degrees of integrity in the Triangle, wins and losses aside.

RE: Cutcliffe remains committed to Duke

One has to be committed before coaching at Duke.

As much as I like Cut and like to root for my alma mater, to paraphrase Fox "news", June Cleaver's ACC is a thing of the past and I ain't so sure I care about what's left.
- Posted by asjdiw

...Is that Ward's wife Eddie?

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