Let's Check In on Life at the Bottom

Who, in their wildest imagination, would sign up for this? Losses in 72 of the past 81 games. A national-best (worst?) 20-game losing streak. A 23-game losing streak that was stopped in 2002. A coach with a 5-34 record. Seven wins in the past five seasons.

Yes, we're talking Duke football.

"Last year was bad for us," Miami offensive lineman Derrick Morse told Wendell Barnhouse of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. "We only won seven games and I almost feel embarrassed. If I didn't care about winning, I would have went to Duke."

But Blue Devil players are talking like they might be preparing for something this season, even if it's not big.

"You have to be on the inside of the program to know that things are going in the right direction," safety Chris Davis said. "It's hard to explain that to people, to get everybody to understand because it all comes down to wins. We just have to win to prove to everybody we can."

It doesn't help that Duke and coach Ted Roof, pictured above, are facing one of the nation's toughest schedules. The Blue Devils play only five home games and among the road games are trips to Miami, Florida State and Notre Dame.