100th Duke-UNC Meeting Should Be Memorable

CHAPEL HILL–The 6-5 Tar Heels will be looking to spoil 9-2 Duke’s hopes of playing in the ACC Championship Game when they take to the field at Kenan Stadium Saturday for a noon kickoff.

Head Coach Larry Fedora says he’s not surprised at all the success the Blue Devils have been enjoying this season.

“From my experience from last year, yes, because they’re a good football team. The way the league has gone, it’s come done to the wire. It did last year, and it’s doing it this year. Anybody can beat anybody on any given Saturday, and if your team keeps believing and keeps playing well, you can put yourself in that position, and that’s what they’ve done,” Coach Fedora says.

Coach Fedora says he is impressed with the Duke defense. He says they are very disciplined, opportunistic and good at taking care of what’s in front of them.

“They got kids that are playing hard. They’re playing some young kids, and they’re in the right position. […] They have a philosophy. They’re very sound in what they do. Their kids are in position. They’re where they’re supposed to be, and they’re making the plays they’re supposed to make,” Coach Fedora says.

Ryan Switzer has tied the ACC regular season punt return record with four returns in the past three games. He has suddenly put it all together. Coach Fedora says he thinks Switzer’s success can be traced to not worrying about all the little things and instead, just letting things happen.

“Now the confidence is there. He’s not worried about catching the football. He’s not thinking about everything that I’ve given to him to think about. He thought when you come out of high school you go back there, and you just catch the ball and run. That’s not the way we do things. He is so comfortable now that he is at that point where he doesn’t have to think now,” Coach Fedora says.

Sophomore signal caller Marquise Williams says he is looking forward to the tough test Duke will provide to Carolina. He says the team will do whatever it takes to walk off with the ‘W’,

“That’s the main focus. It’s a big game for us. It’s going to be a hard thing. That’s a good football team over there, not taking anything from them. […] We just got to do it all to win this football game. I don’t care if it’s 3-0 or 6-3, as long as we win this football game. That’s all that matters to me,” Williams says.

The 100th meeting between the two institutions is sure to be one not to miss.

100th Duke-UNC Meeting Should Be Memorable

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