Duke

David Cutcliffe wants to make sure everyone takes the right approach to restarting college football

Posted May 27, 2020 6:00 p.m. EDT
Updated May 27, 2020 6:36 p.m. EDT

Duke head coach David Cutcliffe is one of college football's most respected voices. He's been in a lot of meetings about the future of college football in 2020. And when he joined The OG on Wednesday, he wasn't joining the chorus of those who say the earlier, the better.

And as evidenced with geographical differences in terms of policy and rules, it's far from a certainty that everyone will play.

"I've been in a lot of meetings that were national meetings that involved NCAA medical people. I'm a board member with the American Football Coaches Association, the Football Oversight Committee," Cutcliffe said. "One of the things that's very obvious throughout all of this, every time you think you know something, that changes — to some level anyway, sometimes completely. States, universities — there's going to be a difference. I think that you could see potentially if there's enough of a majority, if all of that happens, that we will play.

"I think if we're reckless and we get in too big a hurry, we sometimes probably do more damage to having a season than if we're just a little bit patient. Hopefully then we are ready to move forward. But we've got all the plans in place."

Cutcliffe is coaching his team from afar still, and Duke is all virtual. He says that his coaches have their schemes ready. He's not yet sure what Duke University is going to do — Duke will be open in the fall, it announced, but it won't announce specific plans as to what that will look like or even how many students will be allowed back until later in June.

The NCAA voted to allow college football workouts to resume on campus as of June 1.

He's planning as if there will be a season because he has to be ready for all possibilities, though. And he wants to reinforce with his team that they need to do the right things when everything resumes too, because COVID-19 will still be here.

"I still think — this is just my opinion — the best chance for us to have a season is to bring them in July when we absolutely know a little bit more about what to do and what the circumstances are. I've spent three days doing nothing but preparation of protocol and how we're going to operate and what we're going to do to the facility and how we're managing that. We're going to probably use two different locker rooms. So what we're going to do is try to be seamless when we do start," Cutcliffe said.

"I'm just praying over this, to be honest with you. I don't know what's going to happen to high school football around the country. I tell our players all the time — the NBA stopped at one positive test. Remember, it was after warmups. One positive test shut that league down. So if our people aren't disciplined and we don't do the things we should do, who knows what's going to happen?"

Listen & Watch
Teams Score Time
NCAA MBB
Alabama 89 F
North Carolina 87
North Carolina State   7:09pm
Marquette  
Duke   9:39pm
Houston  
NHL
Red Wings 0 F
Hurricanes 4
Teams Score Time
Clemson 77 F
Arizona 72
San Diego State 52 F
Connecticut 82
Alabama 89 F
North Carolina 87
Illinois 72 F
Iowa State 69
North Carolina State   7:09pm
Marquette  
Gonzaga   7:39pm
Purdue  
Duke   9:39pm
Houston  
Creighton   10:09pm
Tennessee  
Teams Score Time
Interleague
Cubs 3 F
Rangers 4
American League
Angels 3 F
Orioles 11
Tigers 1 F
White Sox 0
Twins 4 F
Royals 1
Yankees 5 F
Astros 4
Blue Jays 8 F
Rays 2
Guardians 8 F
Athletics 0
Red Sox 6 F
Mariners 4
Blue Jays   6:50pm
Rays  
Yankees   8:10pm
Astros  
Red Sox   9:40pm
Mariners  
Guardians   9:40pm
Athletics  
National League
Brewers   Postponed
Mets  
Braves   Postponed
Phillies  
Pirates 6 F
Marlins 5
Giants 4 F
Padres 6
Cardinals 1 F
Dodgers 7
Nationals 2 F
Reds 8
Rockies 1 F
Diamondbacks 16
Brewers   1:40pm
Mets  
Braves   3:05pm
Phillies  
Pirates   7:10pm
Marlins  
Rockies   9:40pm
Diamondbacks  
Giants   9:40pm
Padres  
Cardinals   10:10pm
Dodgers  
Teams Score Time
Celtics 122 F/OT
Hawks 123
Bucks 100 F
Pelicans 107
Pistons   7:00pm
Wizards  
Warriors   7:00pm
Hornets  
Clippers   7:00pm
Magic  
Lakers   7:00pm
Pacers  
Bulls   7:30pm
Nets  
76ers   7:30pm
Cavaliers  
Knicks   8:00pm
Spurs  
Suns   8:00pm
Thunder  
Trail Blazers   8:00pm
Heat  
Timberwolves   9:00pm
Nuggets  
Rockets   9:30pm
Jazz  
Mavericks   10:00pm
Kings  
Teams Score Time
Blackhawks 0 F
Senators 2
Blue Jackets 2 F
Penguins 3
Islanders 3 F
Panthers 2
Flyers 1 F
Canadiens 4
Capitals 1 F
Maple Leafs 5
Red Wings 0 F
Hurricanes 4
Flames 3 F
Blues 5
Sharks 1 F
Wild 3
Golden Knights 4 F
Jets 1
Kings 1 F
Oilers 4
Rangers 3 F/SO
Avalanche 2
Ducks 2 F
Kraken 4
Stars 3 F
Canucks 1
Predators 4 F
Coyotes 8
Devils   7:00pm
Sabres  
Texas Children's Houston Open
Pos Name Score Thru
1 Wilson Furr -6 F
1 Taylor Moore -6 F
3 Joe Highsmith -5 F
3 Davis Riley -5 F
3 Scottie Scheffler -5 F
6 Beau Hossler -4 F
6 Mackenzie Hughes -4 F
6 Aaron Rai -4 F
6 Adam Svensson -4 F
EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix
Pos # Name Start Pos
1 24 William Byron 1
2 20 Christopher Bell 4
3 54 Ty Gibbs 2
4 48 Alex Bowman 17
5 45 Tyler Reddick 3
6 13 AJ Allmendinger 14
7 1 Ross Chastain 6
8 17 Chris Buescher 20
9 8 Kyle Busch 16
Focused Health 250
Pos # Name Start Pos
1 17 Kyle Larson 1
2 21 Austin Hill 11
3 20 John Hunter Nemechek 20
4 00 Cole Custer 8
5 48 Parker Kligerman 12
6 2 Jesse Love 14
7 32 Austin Green 25
8 81 Chandler Smith 4
9 1 Sam Mayer 10
XPEL 225
Pos # Name Start Pos
1 11 Corey Heim 2
2 17 Taylor Gray 3
3 98 Ty Majeski 9
4 7 Connor Zilisch 1
5 45 Ross Chastain 5
6 1 Jack Hawksworth 6
7 99 Ben Rhodes 34
8 19 Christian Eckes 10
9 5 Dean Thompson 17