Category: Game Recaps

Interview – Conor O’Neill Previews Duke-Wake

Friend of the pod Conor O’Neill stopped to talk about Duke, Wake Forest and a big matchup for the Blue Devils on Saturday. Before getting into Duke’s chance to get to nine wins and deliver on Richlandia’s pre-season W-L prediction, we cover the important story of the 70-80 pound Golden Retriever that knocked me down on my Monday morning run and injured my right leg. I’m still not back to normal, but given that I managed two-plus slightly painful miles this morning, I feel confident in saying I’ll be ready for the game on Saturday.

During our talk, Conor breaks down Maalik Murphy’s “salute” to Jonathan Brewer, the chaotic nature of Blue Devil wins this year, where Wake Forest is as a program and the problems inherent with strength of schedule discussions. Perhaps getting ahead of ourselves a bit, Conor and I discuss what losing Jordan Moore and Eli Pancol will do to the Duke receiving corps next season. In doing so, we learn what it feels like when doves cry (that’s a Simpsons reference, people).

Now, one other thing we discuss is the two historic things that could happen with a Blue Devil win on Saturday. If Duke beats Wake, Manny Diaz would hold the record for the most wins by a Blue Devil head coach in his first season. If that weren’t enough, Dad’s preseason win prediction would (finally) be right. Dad thinks that would warrant a special podcast episode with him. Conor agrees. I’m not so sure. What do you all think about this?

Please call the pod (540-632-0160), leave a message and you’ll get in an episode.

Let me know what you think about what we think in the comments, on Mastodon, on Reddit, on Instagram, Spoutible, Bluesky or on Twitter.

As always, Go Duke!

Interview – Steve Wiseman Recaps Duke After 10 Games

Our old friend Steve Wiseman stopped by the podcast to recap Duke’s big win over NC State and assess how the Blue Devils have done through ten games. We discuss that while it’s defense first in Durham, the offense is starting to click. On top of that, Coach Diaz and his staff have spent time shoring up the kicking teams after Duke lost a tough one against SMU. As you’d expect, we talk about Coach Feeley taking teams into the sewer. With two games to go and a chance to get to nine wins, you best believe that the Blue Devils will do all they can to drag Virginia Tech and Wake Forest there.

Now, before the interview portion of the episode starts, I give my thoughts about NC State fans talking smack about how State shouldn’t lose to Duke and how embarrassing it is for Doeren to be 1-3 against the Blue Devils. Let me be clear, NC State fans should get their facts straight. I hope you enjoy my take.

Please call the pod (540-632-0160), leave a message and you’ll get in an episode.

Let me know what you think about what we think in the comments, on Mastodon, on Reddit, on Instagram, Spoutible, Bluesky or on Twitter.

As always, Go Duke!

Duke-NC State (Abbreviated) Preview

After losing two straight, Duke looks to get right against NC State on Saturday. It’s a big game for the Blue Devils which I discuss briefly. Why a brief discussion? Well, just like Duke hopes to turn a page after two straight losses, I have to turn a page on weekly podcasts. I’m a little slammed at the moment and will cut back on the frequency of the episodes. I do plan on a few more episodes this season, but you won’t get one each week. Regardless of my schedule, I’m taking the Blue Devils to win on Saturday. Let’s speak win number seven into existence, folks!

Please call the pod (540-632-0160), leave a message and you’ll get in an episode.

Let me know what you think about what we think in the comments, on Mastodon, on Reddit, on Instagram, Spoutible, Bluesky or on Twitter.

As always, Go Duke!

Interview – Miami Nights Previews the Hurricanes

After a heartbreaking loss against SMU, Duke has to turn its head and get ready for a Miami team that is on a roll right now. Aided by Cam Ward, the Hurricanes are having a great season. Fellow College Huddle member Curt of Miami Nights: A Canes Podcast stopped by to educate us about what the Blue Devils should expect on Saturday.

As a heads up, I will be at a wedding on Saturday and will have to watch the game later. Please, please do not DM me, tweet at me or otherwise contact me until I am able to watch the game. Unless Duke wins. Then please tell me all about how the Blue Devils got the win!

Please call the pod (540-632-0160), leave a message and you’ll get in an episode.

Let me know what you think about what we think in the comments, on Mastodon, on Reddit, on Instagram, Spoutible, Bluesky or on Twitter.

As always, Go Duke!

Interview – Richlandia on Duke and SMU

While Duke is bowl eligible in Year One of the Diaz Era, the Blue Devils are far from perfect. With SMU’s high-powered offense coming to Wallace Wade on Saturday, Duke Nation needs a dose of hope, optimism and balls if we want to see our team get its seventh win. And there’s no better place for that than the wonderful land that is Richlandia. That’s right folks, our Richlandia correspondent stops by to give us his thoughts on this Blue Devil team and what we can expect when the Mustangs take the field.

Before we get to the episode, we listen to another very, very close to perfect prediction from Jason and I give my thoughts on the reaction to Tony Bennett’s retirement. Things change, folks. Get used to it.

Please call the pod (540-632-0160), leave a message and you’ll get in an episode.

Let me know what you think about what we think in the comments, on Mastodon, on Reddit, on Instagram, Spoutible, Bluesky or on Twitter.

As always, Go Duke!

Interview – College Huddle Collab for Rivalry Week

Because nothing says Rivalry Week like the last full week of September, it’s time to preview Duke-UNC! To get you all ready for what to expect on Saturday, I put together another collaboration with the folks over at Heel Brothers who you remember from an episode earlier this year. This episode starts with me previewing the Blue Devils’ season so far and discussing what Coach Diaz and the staff have been able to do. After that part wraps up, the episode transitions into a discussion about the Tar Heels and the aftermath of the loss to James Madison. It’s a strange time at Chapel Hill.

We also get in a few voicemails including a surprise call that was made at halftime from Keenan Memorial Stadium. I wonder what that’s all about. What does Richlandia think about this game? Stay tuned and you’ll find out.

Now, folks, I’m sure a lot of you don’t really like hearing so much from UNC podcasters, and I get that. But, if you stick around for the entire episode, you’ll find that there’s some common ground between our two fanbases when it comes to what most of us think about a certain team from Raleigh. Trust, as the kids say, trust.

Please call the pod (540-632-0160), leave a message and you’ll get in an episode.

Let me know what you think about what we think in the comments, on Mastodon, on Reddit, on Instagram, Spoutible, Bluesky or on Twitter.

As always, Go Duke!

Interview – A Duke-UCONN Crossover Preview Episode

Last year, we had Graham Chamberlain come on to update us on UCONN and preview the game. This year, we decided to do a joint episode for both our podcasts, so the setup is a little different from what you’re used to. That said, it’s a pretty darned good episode with a lot of information.

Graham brings us up to speed on a UCONN team dealing with some injuries and a lot of unknowns after playing an FCS team and then Maryland. I do my best to give fair and honest takes about the struggles we’ve seen offensively from Duke and how the recent injuries may affect the team on Saturday. While the defense is solid, the kicking teams have had some issues and the offense hasn’t run the ball consistently yet. Oh, and I also learn that the kickoff time wasn’t at 1pm like I thought. Glad I learned that before the game. Overall, I like what we’ve seen from the Blue Devils, but I remained concerned about the struggles in the running game. It’s just too hard to win by just passing.

As far as a score prediction, while we both think Duke will win, I am not predicting a blowout. Until the Blue Devils kick the offense up a notch and get more balanced, I’m expecting close, or relatively close, games. We also have to see what the team can do when it’s shorthanded at RB and at TE.

Please call the pod (540-632-0160), leave a message and you’ll get in an episode.

Let me know what you think about what we think in the comments, on Mastodon, on Reddit, on Instagram, Spoutible, Bluesky or on Twitter.

As always, Go Duke!

Interview – Get to Know the Northwestern Wildcats with Louie Vaccher

Our old friend Louie Vaccher returned to the podcast to bring us up to speed on the Wildcats. Both Duke and Northwestern are coming off slow starts in Week One. What will this mean for the Blue Devils on the road? Can they steal one on the road in Chicago? We’ll have to wait and see. If Duke can get a win, this will be a big, big victory for Manny Diaz. Getting to 2-0 after the all the turnover and transfers would be a statement that Coach Diaz has the Blue Devils moving in the right direction.

We also spend a few minutes talking about Chris Collins and the great things he’s been doing with the Wildcats.

Before the interview starts, we listen to a few voicemails and a text message. Please call the pod (540-632-0160), leave a message and you’ll get in an episode.

Let me know what you think about what we think in the comments, on Mastodon, on Reddit, on Instagram, Spoutible, Bluesky or on Twitter.

As always, Go Duke!

Interview – Get to Know the Wake Forest Demon Deacons with Conor O’Neill

Listen here.

Conor O’Neill, co-host of the Big J & Little J Show and publisher for Deacons and Devils Illustrated, stopped by to preview Duke’s upcoming Thursday night game. During our interview, we discuss Wake’s struggles on offense, the chances it has left to get bowl eligible and we do a deep dive on the Blue Devils. During the Duke portion of the discussion, we recap the loss at Louisville, cover the struggles at the WR position, discuss the uncertainty surrounding the health of our quarterbacks and try to comprehend the slew of injuries that have struck the Blue Devils of late. My conclusion is that we’re fortunate to have a great coaching staff and we have to hope their tactical expertise will get the Blue Devils a victory on Thursday night. We’re lucky to have the staff that we have and we have to hope those guys will right the ship.

Oh, and it turns out we landed a big, big guest for the UNC preview. We didn’t drop the name in the episode, but this is a guy with significant coaching experience at CHC. You’re going to enjoy this one, I promise.

Please call the pod (540-632-0160), leave a message and you’ll get in an episode.

Let me know what you think about what we think in the comments, on Mastodon, on Reddit, on Post, on Instagram, Spoutible, Bluesky or on Twitter.

As always, Go Duke!

Interview – Richlandia

Listen here.

Thanks to a scheduling conflict on the part of someone who will remain nameless who may also run this blog, I wasn’t able to schedule an interview with my friends over at From The Pink Seats. As a result, we filled the gap by checking in with our Richlandia correspondent, Dad.

During the interview, we talk about the potential shortcomings of analytics in specific situations, recap the FSU game and preview what to expect on Saturday when Duke travels to Louisville. In addition, we get into the remaining teams on the Blue Devils’ schedule, I trash the B1G and we both agree that North Carolina has benefited from an easy schedule. Sorry, not sorry. And, because I’m a younger brother, I take a few moments to throw some shade at my older brother and demand an explanation from Dad as to a parenting choice he made when me and my brother were both teenagers.

We also make a reference to one all-time classic TV show episode, “Space, Geeks, And Johnny Unitas“, and Dad avoids going full Abe Simpson during the open mic.

Please call the pod (540-632-0160), leave a message and you’ll get in an episode.

Let me know what you think about what we think in the comments, on Mastodon, on Reddit, on Post, on Instagram, Spoutible, or on Twitter.

As always, Go Duke!