bstrickland@heraldsun.com; 419-6671
DURHAM -- After noticing the threat of inclement weather Monday, Duke coach David Cutcliffe decided to move the Blue Devils' already early start to spring football practice to today.
"It's appropriately now called the 'Valentine's Day Massacre,' " Cutcliffe said. "Be prepared for a work day."
Cutcliffe said he opted for the early start -- the earliest start in the nation among Football Bowl Subdivision teams -- in part because of what he considers a too early finish to the past season.
A team that Cutcliffe forecast as one that should be bowl-bound instead finished 5-7.
"If they want to go a little bit later when it's warm, then play in a bowl game," Cutcliffe said. "It's been too long since we've played football. We need to get out there.
"We went through that last year, waiting forever. By the time we got out there, we were so rusty."
The Blue Devils won't have Sean Renfree, the leading candidate to replace record-setting quarterback Thad Lewis, for spring practice. Renfree's recovery from a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee is going well, according to Cutcliffe, but the coach said that Renfree wouldn't have been ready even with a later starting date.
Duke will have two quarterbacks for the spring -- redshirt freshman Sean Schroeder and true freshman Brandon Connette, one of three freshmen set to participate in spring practice after graduating early.
Duke also will be without left guard Mitchell Lederman, still recovering from foot surgery.
While North Carolina will kick off spring practice March 15, the Blue Devils will wrap it up with their spring game March 27 at Wallace Wade Stadium.
"It isn't last year's team we need to be studying. I'd rather put ourselves in gear to throw ourselves into the 2010 season," Cutcliffe said. "After spring ball, we'll have an extended period of time to evaluate the 2010 team.
"We're going to know our team well and get a lot of our preparation done for the summer."
