CNNSI.com - 2000 College Football Preview - CNNSI.com's Duke preview

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Duke Blue Devils

Airborne express temporarily grounded

College Football: The New Century

'99: 3-8, 3-5 in ACC

Coach

Carl Franks (second year, 3-8)

Key offensive players

Spencer Romine, QB, Sr.
For most of his career, Romine has been slowed by injuries. He had off-season shoulder surgery that is supposed to make him completely healthy this season.

Troy Andrew, C, Sr.
Franks has four returning starters on the offensive line, with Andrew serving as the anchor. Maybe this experienced crew can keep Romine healthy.

Kyle Moore, WR, Jr.
One of only two scholarship receivers who participated in spring drills, Moore hopes to show some production for his superb ability. The converted quarterback caught only 13 passes last year.

Key defensive players

Todd DeLamielleure, LB, Jr.
Son of NFL All-Pro Joe DeLamielleure, Todd is Duke's top returning tacklers after notching 103 stops last year.

Ivan Maisel's Player of the Century: Clarkston Hines, WR, 1986-89
"The Blue Devils' only consensus All-America as a senior, thanks to then-coach Steve Spurrier."
Brightest Moment: In the final game of the 1938 season, the Blue Devils beat defending national champion Pittsburgh 7-0 to complete an unbeaten, untied, unscored-upon regular season.
Lowest Moment: In 1996, two years after Fred Goldsmith took his team to the Hall of Fame Bowl and won national coach of the year honors, the Blue Devils became the first team in ACC history to go 0-11.

Nate Krill, DL, Sr.
Moved back to the defensive line after spending a year at linebacker, Krill is an experienced starter who might be able to fill some of the massive holes in Duke's defensive interior.

B.J. Hill, S, Jr.
He spent two years filling in at tailback, but the coaches want to move him to the secondary, where he was originally recruited to play, provided his surgically repaired knee can handle it.

Key newcomers

Reggie Love, and Jeremy Battier, WRs, Fr.
Franks can thank the basketball team for these two talented receivers: Love wants to play football and basketball for the Blue Devils, while Battier is the younger brother of Duke All-American forward Shane.

Throwback player

You expect the son of an NFL All-Pro offensive lineman to embrace something new-fangled? Todd DeLamielleure is a hard-nosed, hard-hitter from the old school.

21st century player

Carl Franks wants to establish a passing game like the one Steve Spurrier had at Florida. To do it, he will need a quarterback like D. Bryant, with a strong arm, quick mind and distinctive first name.

Fast fact

Romine's 404 passing yards against Maryland was the ACC's only 400-plus passing game of last season.

Outlook

Last year, the Blue Devils couldn't play defense with the most experienced and best collection of defensive players in recent memory. Why should anyone believe things will be different this year, when the Blue Devils return the fewest lettermen of any team in the ACC? Franks, the second-year coach who learned under Spurrier at Florida, must replace eight starters on defense and find someone to catch the ball in his "Airborne" offense, which stayed grounded most of last year. With two of the team's most dangerous offensive weapons gone (Benjamin Watson and Richmond Flowers both transferred), the Blue Devils will have a difficult time finding their way into the end zone, just like last year when they were eighth in both total offense and scoring offense.

-- Tim Peeler