Duke football moving ahead following feel-good ACC Kickoff

Peter Koutroumpis, Triangle Sports Network
Peter Koutroumpis, Triangle Sports Network

DURHAM, N.C. – A week following the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) Kickoff, the Duke Blue Devils football team will settle into preparing for the upcoming season – one in which they have received numerous preseason recognitions for.

That’s what happens when you’re the defending Coastal Division champion.

Though not selected to repeat as division champion in 2014, the Blue Devils received the most first place votes (33) amongst media members in attendance at the event held at the Grandover Resort in Greensboro.

It was the Miami Hurricanes who were selected to sit in the Coastal’s preseason top spot with 614 total points to Duke’s 597, setting them in second place.

It wasn’t a snub, but a strong vote of confidence considering that Duke had outperformed its predicted order of finish in back-to-back seasons.

Selected to finish in last place in 2012, the Blue Devils ended up in fifth and earned a bowl berth while another last-place prediction in 2013 was entirely discarded as Duke claimed the division crown, a spot in the ACC Championship Game, and a trip to the Chick-fil-A Bowl.

Many expect Duke to maintain its standard of achievement considering 43 letterwinners return, including eight offensive starters and six defensive starters from the squad that finished the year ranked No. 24 in the Associated Press Top 25 Poll as led by Coach of the Year David Cutcliffe.

The Blue Devils also face the challenge of exceeding their own standard as their first-ever division title was accompanied by records set in posting an eight-game win streak and a double-digit overall record of 10-4, including a 6-2 finish in the ACC.

As for the rest of the Coastal Division in 2014, Virginia Tech was picked to finish third in the division with 23 first-place votes and 571 points followed by North Carolina (27 first-place votes, 570 points), Georgia Tech (one first-place vote, 322 points), Pitt (two first-place votes, 319 points) and Virginia (142 points).

Reigning national champion, the Florida State Seminoles were the overwhelming favorite to repeat as ACC Champions, grabbing 104 championship votes, 109 first-place votes in the Atlantic Division and 670 total points.

Clemson, with three first-place votes and 660 points, was picked to finish second in the Atlantic followed by Louisville (564 points), Syracuse (368), NC State (326), Boston College (301) and Wake Forest (136).

The Blue Devils also received individual player recognitions as senior wide receiver Jamison Crowder received one vote as the favorite to win ACC Player of the Year (POY), as Florida State quarterback and reigning Heisman Trophy winner Jameis Winston received 99 of a possible 112 preseason POY votes.

Along with Crowder, linebacker Kelby Brown, safety Jeremy Cash, and offensive guard Laken Tomlinson were named to the 2014 Preseason All-ACC Team.

Duke’s four selections to the All-ACC Team were the second most in the league, trailing only Florida State’s nine.

Much to feel good about, but now the real work begins as the Blue Devils will start with a clean slate and the goal of constructing another winning and championship season.

Compared to past seasons, Duke must now work to match, let alone exceed, the preseason expectations placed upon them that now sit at a much higher level than ever before.

The Blue Devils kick off the 2014 season when they host the Elon Phoenix on Aug. 30th at Wallace Wade Stadium.

ACC Championship Votes

1.      Florida State – 104
2.      Clemson – 2
3.      Virginia Tech – 2

(4 voters made no selection)

Atlantic Division

(First place votes in parenthesis)

1.      Florida State (109) – 780
2.      Clemson (3) – 660
3.      Louisville – 564
4.      Syracuse – 368
5.      NC State – 326
6.      Boston College  – 301
7.      Wake Forest – 136

Coastal Division

(First place votes in parenthesis)

1.      Miami (26) – 614
2.      Duke (33) – 597
3.      Virginia Tech (23) – 571
4.      North Carolina (27) – 570
5.      Georgia Tech (1) – 322
6.      Pitt (2) -319
7.      Virginia -142

ACC Player of the Year

1.      Jameis Winston, QB, Florida State – 99
2.      Vic Beasley, DE, Clemson – 6
3.      Duke Johnson, RB, Miami – 1
4.      Jamison Crowder, WR, Duke
5.      Brenden Motley, QB, Virginia Tech -1

(4 voters made no selection)