WRAL Sports Fan

WRALSportsFan

Krzyzewski Says Duke Needs More of a Commitment to Football

By Ken Medlin

Nov 25, 2007

Mike Krzyzewski knows a thing or two about winning games at Duke, and he says the school's football program does have a chance to be successful.

With Duke football coach Ted Roof’s job is in jeopardy, Krzyzewski stressed the need for Duke to act swiftly and decisively in deciding Roof’s fate.

“If Ted’s given the opportunity to stay, we should support him in that way… and I‘m not sure he‘s had all that.” Krzyzewski said.

Speaking after his team’s 78-43 win over Eastern Kentucky, the winningest basketball coach in Duke’s history questioned the university’s commitment to football.

“Whether you do or not, the attitude to win (championships) has to be there in everything that you do,” Krzyzewski said. “That to me is the missing ingredient, not one person.”

Krzyzewski, who has won three national championships, says simply expressing the desire to win - and not simply “compete” - in football should be among Duke’s first objectives.

“If I’m recruiting your son, and I say, 'We want you to come here because we’re going to be competitive,' and the next guy comes in (saying) 'We want to win a championship,'" Krzyzewski said. "You only play once, right? I’m going to go with the person that wants to win a championship.”

Duke has only one ACC football championship in its last 45 seasons, and the Devils are currently mired in a 25-game ACC losing streak.