bstrickland@heraldsun.com; 419-6671
Moments after his Duke Blue Devils dropped their season finale to Wake Forest on Saturday, Coach David Cutcliffe talked about his vision for the future, referencing where he can imagine the program being three, even five years from now.
Duke fans have to be happy to hear that kind of forward thinking.
"I really believe that this is home," Cutcliffe said Sunday. "I'm very passionate about what we're doing and who we're doing it with. I deeply believe in my heart that we will get it done here.
"I couldn't ask to be in a better place. That's how I feel. I think we've got the best job in America. We're thrilled to be here."
By "we," Cutcliffe meant his immediate family -- referencing how much his wife, Karen, enjoys the local climate -- and also his football family.
Cutcliffe landed every assistant coach he targeted upon his arrival two years ago and kept them all after a successful first season. He's hoping for a repeat this offseason.
"I'd like to keep them all," Cutcliffe said, pointing out that some of them got offers this time last year and likely will again. "Our guys are treated well, they're paid well enough, and they're encouraged to be family men. That doesn't happen everywhere.
"We've got a lot of new daddies on this staff, so I don't anticipate an issue."
As Cutcliffe was leading his first Duke team to four victories -- as many as the program had managed over the previous four seasons combined -- Duke fans worried that Tennessee would come calling on its longtime offensive coordinator when the Volunteers parted ways with Phillip Fulmer.
Cutcliffe, however, moved quickly to halt the rumors barely before they started. This season, Duke won five games for the first time in 15 years.
Nothing's a sure thing on the coaching carousel, but Cutcliffe appears determined to see things through. And despite a tough finish for the second consecutive season, Cutcliffe likes what he sees.
"I was pumped when I took the job, and I'm much more encouraged today than I was when I took the job," he said. "A lot of people look at Duke and say, 'Wow, you can't do it,' but I'm so far from that now.
"I'm encouraged because I know where we're headed."
