Duke players not surprised to be undefeated, in primetime spotlight
Posted September 26, 2023 5:22 p.m. EDT
Updated September 26, 2023 5:26 p.m. EDT
Durham, N.C. — Duke senior linebacker Dorian Mausi and his teammates have been preparing for the primetime spotlight all season.
Mausi said Tuesday that he’s not surprised the team is 4-0 and hosting ESPN’s “College GameDay” on Saturday for the first time in program history. He cited the cultural and mindset change that came with second-year head coach Mike Elko.
“It’s good to see the hard work paying off,” Mausi said.
“Six weeks ago, we could have told you this was going to happen … We were kind of expecting to go into this game 4-0.”
The Devils will host the ESPN crew ahead of a 7:30 p.m. kickoff against 3-1 Notre Dame. The game airs on ABC.
“We’re definitely excited, for sure,” said senior wide receiver Jalon Calhoun. “[It’s a] big moment. It’s going to be a big game.
Mausi and his defensive teammates are tasked with stopping Notre Dame quarterback Sam Hartman, who transferred after playing from 2018-2022 at Wake Forest.
“He’s a good quarterback,” Mausi said of Hartman. “He’s used in a different style of offense now, obviously.”
Hartman and Wake Forest lost to Duke 34-31 on Nov. 26, 2022. However, the Demon Deacons beat the Blue Devils 45-7 on Oct. 30, 2021.
“Wake Forest has a unique offense [compared to] a more pro-style offense that Notre Dame has,” Mausi said.
Based on watching tape, Mausi said he thinks Notre Dame is coached well and plays hard.
“It’s really all about us,” Mausi said. “I understand on the outside, this new crowd, ‘College GameDay’ is coming, everything like that, but I mean, at the end of the day, you’re playing a child’s game.
“And, to win this child’s game, we need to lock in and just, like, focus on ourselves really so we can have the best outcome and produce the best thing.”
Offensively, Duke will look to move the ball and score points against a strong Notre Dame defense. Through five games, Notre Dame has allowed 12.2 points per game.
“We know the passing attack is going to be a big part of the game,” Calhoun said.
Calhoun has 20 catches for 258 yards and a touchdown entering Saturday. At times Saturday, Calhoun will likely be matched up against Notre Dame sophomore cornerback Benjamin Morrison.
Morrison is coming off a freshman season where he had six interceptions. So far this season, Morrison has had an interception and four pass deflections. Morrison is considered among the top cornerback prospects if he decides to enter the 2025 NFL Draft.
Calhoun said he knows Notre Dame will likely use man-to-man coverage on Saturday.
Mausi spoke about the culture of Duke football, mentioning the players recruited by former head coach David Cutcliffe and Elko’s mentality.
“It wasn’t surprising at all that, that was going to happen because we’re already one,” Mausi said. “We’re all one.
“We’re all friends. It’s a great culture in the locker room. And so, [Elko] coming in to say, ‘We’re going to win now,’ we’re like, ‘Ok, let’s do it. Let’s see what happens.’”
Elko went 9-4 in the 2022 season, his first at Duke. He helped Duke snap a 13-game losing streak against ACC teams.
Calhoun said this season he’s noticed a difference in the attention he receives on campus and on social media compared to last year.
“We talk about just listening to the voices around us and who to listen to,” Calhoun said. “So, we just all keep it all internal and not worry about all the outside, external factors.”
