Duke’s Downwad Spiral Beginning to Approach Some of Game’s ‘Elite’

Take heart Duke, at least you have some good company and inspiration from which to draw.

The Blue Devils fell deeper into despair Saturday, becoming the 13th team in NCAA Division I-A history to lose at least 20 consecutive games.

Duke’s dubious distinction came about after a 42-28 loss to Vanderbilt at Durham, N.C., a game that seemed to mark the best chance in 2000 to put an end to a streak. Vanderbilt had won only once this season before Saturday, was ranked among the bottom 25 teams in the country and hadn’t held a lead in more than a month.

Duke actually led for the first time since 7-6 in the second quarter against Rice on Sept. 22. Alex Wade scored on a one-yard run late in the first quarter to give the Blue Devils their third lead this season.

Although Duke won’t challenge Northwestern’s Division I-A record of 34 until the 2003 season--if things get that far--the Blue Devils don’t figure to end their run of losses in 2001 because they close their schedule with North Carolina State and road games at North Carolina and Clemson.

Duke is closer to the Atlantic Coast Conference mark of 28, set by Virginia, and could challenge that next year.

But it should make the Blue Devils feel better that joining them as one of the 13 teams to lose 20 or more is Florida State.

Yes, that Florida State.

The same Florida State that hasn’t lost an ACC game at home and is 74-3 since joining the conference in 1992.

And then there’s South Carolina.

The Gamecocks, under Coach Lou Holtz, ended a 21-game losing streak at the beginning of the 2000 season on their way to a 7-4 finish and a respectability that has kept them ranked in the top 25 most of last season and all of this season.

Talk about a turnaround.

Then again, try doing that with Mike Krzyzewski breathing down your neck.