Confession from an OF

[Willcampbell]

I became a Duke fan in high school, watching the twin towers of Buckley and Tison and, of course, the real stars. Then I went to Duke and never missed a game at the "Indoor Stadium." Saw maybe fifteen to twenty games since graduation, including five trips to Cameron. Have like twenty Duke T-shirts and sweats and watched every televised Duke game.

Sadly, not so much anymore. And it's all because of OAD. You could post a photo array of Parker, Jackson, Reddish, Tatum, Giles, Barrett, Ingram, Bagley, Trent, and other OADs and I wouldn't even be able to match them with names. Irving I could, only because he turned into one of the bigger a-holes on the planet.

I still want Duke to win every game and more Natty's, but somehow it just isn't the same.

Keep keepin' on,
OFC

 

[Liftee]

That's sad. You are a great contributor. While I know what you mean, it's still our Blue Devils and I get as much entertainment following them and watching them as I always did, even though I miss the Good Ones who move on after one year. I try to keep tabs on them and enjoy seeing how they progress at the next level. But I understand your frustration.

 

[topps coach]

I became a Duke fan in high school, watching the twin towers of Buckley and Tison and, of course, the real stars. Then I went to Duke and never missed a game at the "Indoor Stadium." Saw maybe fifteen to twenty games since graduation, including five trips to Cameron. Have like twenty Duke T-shirts and sweats and watched every televised Duke game.

Sadly, not so much anymore. And it's all because of OAD. You could post a photo array of Parker, Jackson, Reddish, Tatum, Giles, Barrett, Ingram, Bagley, Trent, and other OADs and I wouldn't even be able to match them with names. Irving I could, only because he turned into one of the bigger a-holes on the planet.

I still want Duke to win every game and more Natty's, but somehow it just isn't the same.

Keep keepin' on,
OFC

By the stars assume you are talking about Heyman and Mullins?Watched them play but don’t really remember them.Liked Duke then but Bobby Verga sealed the deal for me

 

[Willcampbell]

Verga was awesome. (second fave: Mike Lewis). Actually saw Verga in high school in Sea Girt, NJ. He dropped 38 on a friend of mine. Had a great maroon Corvette at Duke, too. Might raise a few eyebrows these days.
OFC

 

[topps coach]

Verga was awesome. (second fave: Mike Lewis). Actually saw Verga in high school in Sea Girt, NJ. He dropped 38 on a friend of mine. Had a great maroon Corvette at Duke, too. Might raise a few eyebrows these days.
OFC

The coach who recruited Lewis had to take some puddle jumper plane to get to Montana to see him and had some bad weather and was air sick when he got there.His first word to him was I sure as hell hope u can play kid.The 66 team is probably my favorite team.No one will ever convince me we do not beat Ky and Texas Western if Bobby was healthy

 

[Quavarius]

I became a Duke fan in high school, watching the twin towers of Buckley and Tison and, of course, the real stars. Then I went to Duke and never missed a game at the "Indoor Stadium." Saw maybe fifteen to twenty games since graduation, including five trips to Cameron. Have like twenty Duke T-shirts and sweats and watched every televised Duke game.

Sadly, not so much anymore. And it's all because of OAD. You could post a photo array of Parker, Jackson, Reddish, Tatum, Giles, Barrett, Ingram, Bagley, Trent, and other OADs and I wouldn't even be able to match them with names. Irving I could, only because he turned into one of the bigger a-holes on the planet.

I still want Duke to win every game and more Natty's, but somehow it just isn't the same.

Keep keepin' on,
OFC

That’s interesting. I’m not letting an NBA rule affect my relationship with the college basketball team I love. If it wasn’t for OAD, some of those players wouldn’t have even come to Duke either because they would have went to the NBA out of HS or they would have gone to other schools since we wouldn’t have room for them. Look, I get it. When some of you began cheering for Duke, college athletics looked very different than it does today. But guess what, the only constant IS change. You don’t have to embrace it, but it’s not going to wait around for you either.

Those players you mentioned have represented this University well and they will have ripple effects when it comes to landing future recruits. All of our OAD players in the NBA wear Duke gear with pride. They don’t have to; they want to.

All of them make me proud!

 

[TheDude1]

I'm not as into the season this year, but part of that is just having SO much going on, with the kids and work and the wife's job... I'm just constantly overwhelmed and exhausted, and finding time to invest in watching three or four hours of basketball a week is a lot.

 

[denverexpat]

I share the growing disconnection for want of a better word. If you asked me to name the team from 2 years ago I would struggle to name the starting 5! While its great to get these star HS players, for me it definitely comes at the cost of developing a connection with them since they come and go so quickly. I dont follow the NBA so pay no heed to the OAD once they leave but do notice players like Redick etc who were at Duke for longer periods. Zion may be the exception as he was a special talent and a great kid. Still root avidly for us to win but it has lost some of its fanaticism for sure.

 

[Willcampbell]

Verga was awesome. (second fave: Mike Lewis). Actually saw Verga in high school in Sea Girt, NJ. He dropped 38 on a friend of mine. Had a great maroon Corvette at Duke, too. Might raise a few eyebrows these days.
OFC

PS: Verga should be in the rafters. Start a movement!
OFC

 

[topps coach]

PS: Verga should be in the rafters. Start a movement!
OFC

Been saying that for years

 

[Willcampbell]

That’s interesting. I’m not letting an NBA rule affect my relationship with the college basketball team I love. If it wasn’t for OAD, some of those players wouldn’t have even come to Duke either because they would have went to the NBA out of HS or they would have gone to other schools since we wouldn’t have room for them. Look, I get it. When some of you began cheering for Duke, college athletics looked very different than it does today. But guess what, the only constant IS change. You don’t have to embrace it, but it’s not going to wait around for you either.

Those players you mentioned have represented this University well and they will have ripple effects when it comes to landing future recruits. All of our OAD players in the NBA wear Duke gear with pride. They don’t have to; they want to.

All of them make me proud!

Well stated Quavarius. I do realize that times have changed, and at 72 I'm not likely to catch up. Nothing is going to wait around for me.
OFC

 

[SwatX1]

I am just as big of a fan as I was in the late 80’s and early 90’s, and it’s not these players faults that it is the way it is now, but I do really miss having kids come in and watching them for 3 or 4 years. To have watched Zion here for 3 or 4 years would have been SO awesome.

 

[pisgah101]

Well just don’t leave us ok?

 

[Willcampbell]

The coach who recruited Lewis had to take some puddle jumper plane to get to Montana to see him and had some bad weather and was air sick when he got there.His first word to him was I sure as hell hope u can play kid.The 66 team is probably my favorite team.No one will ever convince me we do not beat Ky and Texas Western if Bobby was healthy

I'm not certain about this, but I speculate that Duke went back to the mine in Montana, and recruited Glen Smiley from Bozeman, who was my classmate and dormmate freshman year. He was a big guy, 6'6", and had a handshake that would crush an Oldsmobile, but he did not turn out to be the next Mike Lewis. He was the roommate of John Posen from Cicero Ill, who did play a bit and was the third baseman on our baseball team. Ah, memories.
OFC

 

[Willcampbell]

Well just don’t leave us ok?

OK

 

[JC CATS]

That’s interesting. I’m not letting an NBA rule affect my relationship with the college basketball team I love. If it wasn’t for OAD, some of those players wouldn’t have even come to Duke either because they would have went to the NBA out of HS or they would have gone to other schools since we wouldn’t have room for them. Look, I get it. When some of you began cheering for Duke, college athletics looked very different than it does today. But guess what, the only constant IS change. You don’t have to embrace it, but it’s not going to wait around for you either.

Those players you mentioned have represented this University well and they will have ripple effects when it comes to landing future recruits. All of our OAD players in the NBA wear Duke gear with pride. They don’t have to; they want to.

All of them make me proud!

Well said. I have no problem with OAD, I do think it has watered down the college game, but I still love it. I have wondered if this year is any effect of OAD, no really great teams and more head scratching games than I have ever witnessed in 1 season.

 

[dukiejay]

I totally understand someone who might feel this way, WillCampbell. The game has changed. What hasn’t changed is Duke still recruiting the best quality kids and the best athletes.

It’s not the same and it’s even a little frustrating feeling like every season we start over, but it still gives me a high like nothing else in sports. Two weeks ago I brought my nine-year-old daughter to her first game in Cameron. That weekend will stick with me for as long as I live.

 

[Shatterthesky22]

I am just as big of a fan as I was in the late 80’s and early 90’s, and it’s not these players faults that it is the way it is now, but I do really miss having kids come in and watching them for 3 or 4 years. To have watched Zion here for 3 or 4 years would have been SO awesome.

Zion was gonna stay, wanted to stay, but Coach K all but said no.

 

[SwatX1]

Zion was gonna stay, wanted to stay, but Coach K all but said no.

Would have been sweet!!

 

[dbav]

Zion was gonna stay, wanted to stay, but Coach K all but said no.

Do you believe that?

 

[DukeDenver]

I like all the winning with the blue chip revolving door. Every year is very interesting figuring out what we have.

I agree that it’s second only to all the winning we did with 4 year guys. The Duke way pre 2011 was better, but that’s not going to win quite as often these days. Maybe when the NBA starts taking 18 yo again...

 

[kwyjibos13]

Do you believe that?

Not in a negative way, but he seemed like a big kid. There was something different about him. It seemed as if he was not about money or getting rich. I believe in his heart of hearts he wanted to stay. I think he held out hoping someone would tell him to stay.

 

[dukesince91]

As someone stated above, you don’t have that same connection you did with the 4 year players. I feel like the crazies aren’t as vocal because of that as well. Heck, the students don’t even really get to develop that friendship with the players that they were able to have in the past.

 

[Mac9192]

I understand the game has changed, and know our kids in the nba help us in recruiting, and we are the cool school. I get it, and it is neat to be the school so many kids want to come to.
My main issue is, I feel some of the one and dones don’t know how to be good teammates. I think some look at the scoreboard to see where they’re at.

The greatest Duke team ever, the 92 team, had issues. Laettner upset everyone, K included, and Hurley was a whiner. But they put everything aside when they hit the court. They wanted the win, and didn’t care who scored the most.
For however long a kid is here, give it all you got, then go make your millions.

 

[HuffyJB]

I get the sentiment, but Coach is aware that you just have to function in the current environment. You can lament what is gone, but that doesn't help you in the present. You can recruit Zion, Ingram, Tatum, Okafor, etc., or you can play against them - I would take the former. If you look at the profiles of the national championship teams over the course of the OAD era, it is clear that there is no one way that creates a champion. Those teams run the gamut. I think K realizes that getting those types of guys is the best way to ensure you are in the conversation and have a chance on the most consistent basis. Because of course we miss watching the development of guys of three or four years, but more specifically we are referencing McDonald's All-Americans and the like being here for that long, and that just is not the reality anymore.

The thing that is more bothersome to me for some reason is the grad transfer stuff. It is probably ridiculous on my part, but with them I often feel like another school and staff puts in years with them, and then when what is supposed to be the primary fruits of those labors - their upperclassmen year(s) - arrives, they bolt for somewhere else. I know it is often because they want to play at a high major, but even so I would much prefer OADs to that route. Again, I'm aware I'm being silly, it's just a thought.

 

[nets on nets on nets]

I get the sentiment, but Coach is aware that you just have to function in the current environment. You can lament what is gone, but that doesn't help you in the present. You can recruit Zion, Ingram, Tatum, Okafor, etc., or you can play against them - I would take the former. If you look at the profiles of the national championship teams over the course of the OAD era, it is clear that there is no one way that creates a champion. Those teams run the gamut. I think K realizes that getting those types of guys is the best way to ensure you are in the conversation and have a chance on the most consistent basis. Because of course we miss watching the development of guys of three or four years, but more specifically we are referencing McDonald's All-Americans and the like being here for that long, and that just is not the reality anymore.

The thing that is more bothersome to me for some reason is the grad transfer stuff. It is probably ridiculous on my part, but with them I often feel like another school and staff puts in years with them, and then when what is supposed to be the primary fruits of those labors - their upperclassmen year(s) - arrives, they bolt for somewhere else. I know it is often because they want to play at a high major, but even so I would much prefer OADs to that route. Again, I'm aware I'm being silly, it's just a thought.

Couldn't agree more. If we didn't start recruiting the best recruits every single year, and more importantly landing the best recruits every year, Kentucky would probably have multiple championships within the past 5 or so years. Just my opinion, and I know we have came up short since 2015, but give a school like Kentucky or Kansas the ability to get whoever they want (because were out of the game) and forget it, its' a wrap.

I would love for guys to stay multiple years, but at the same time, I would hate to never have been able to see Zion play college basketball for Duke. I'm fine with the way things are, and I'd be fine if things change within the next 5 years. Regardless, I feel like K has adapted with the times as good as any coach and has put Duke in a position to compete for a title every single year, which is damn near impossible given the revolving door of the good players leaving for the NBA.

 

[Showenuff]

I know everybody worships Zion, but I wouldn’t trade a year of Laettner/Hurley for any year.

 

[germantondevil]

Unfortunately I am with you Willcampbell in the fact that I don’t remember the OADs like we did the 3 and 4 year players. I even have a hard time remembering who was on the 2015 championship team except for Quinn, Matt, and Amile and Grayson only because they hung around at Duke for a while. I have to stop and think for a minute for the others. But it is what it is. I might could sit down and remember about 35% of the other OADs

 

[retiredsoldier]

I'm not going to get to in-depth with this post because everybody is entitled to their own opinion and I try to respect that as much as possible. Born and raised in the great state of North Carolina, being a Die-hard Duke fan, nothing, and I mean nothing would ever change my outlook of my blue devils. As a die-hard Duke fan, you can't put a photo of any major player, especially the ones who have primarily helped the GOAT become just that, and me not recognize who they are. I'm that dang invested in my boys, even when I didn't have access to watch them due to deployment commitments.

All this one and done talk (in my opinion), is a bunch of nonsense. Times have changed and we either adapt to them or get left behind. I would love to see how many people who talk about one and done in a bad way, show me their flip phone, bag phone, Atari game system they still use, floor model television with the external antenna, and I could go on and on. My point is if anybody here honestly believes that the likes of Grant Hil, Laettner, Hurley, Battier, Reddick, Williams, and so many others would have stuck around in these times today, well good luck with that. I look at one and done as a change in time like everything else.

As long as they wear that Duke jersey across their cheats and play for my beloved coach and university, not bring embarrassment to either, it's not about how much time you spent in that uniform, but what you did in that time and how you carried yourself. I can go on and on, but I'm going to stop.

 

[skysdad]

I know everybody worships Zion, but I wouldn’t trade a year of Laettner/Hurley for any year.

We will never see the likes of those 90-91/91-92 teams again. Never. OFC

 

[HuffyJB]

I'm not going to get to in-depth with this post because everybody is entitled to their own opinion and I try to respect that as much as possible. Born and raised in the great state of North Carolina, being a Die-hard Duke fan, nothing, and I mean nothing would ever change my outlook of my blue devils. As a die-hard Duke fan, you can't put a photo of any major player, especially the ones who have primarily helped the GOAT become just that, and me not recognize who they are. I'm that dang invested in my boys, even when I didn't have access to watch them due to deployment commitments.

All this one and done talk (in my opinion), is a bunch of nonsense. Times have changed and we either adapt to them or get left behind. I would love to see how many people who talk about one and done in a bad way, show me their flip phone, bag phone, Atari game system they still use, floor model television with the external antenna, and I could go on and on. My point is if anybody here honestly believes that the likes of Grant Hil, Laettner, Hurley, Battier, Reddick, Williams, and so many others would have stuck around in these times today, well good luck with that. I look at one and done as a change in time like everything else.

As long as they wear that Duke jersey across their cheats and play for my beloved coach and university, not bring embarrassment to either, it's not about how much time you spent in that uniform, but what you did in that time and how you carried yourself. I can go on and on, but I'm going to stop.

Great post.

I don't think anyone would contend they prefer the way things are to they way they used to be when guys stuck around. Three or four years with good players is better - scorching hot take alert. No one would argue otherwise. That is just not the way things are anymore, so you try to make the best of the current situation, which K is doing.

 

[Quavarius]

I totally understand someone who might feel this way, WillCampbell. The game has changed. What hasn’t changed is Duke still recruiting the best quality kids and the best athletes.

It’s not the same and it’s even a little frustrating feeling like every season we start over, but it still gives me a high like nothing else in sports. Two weeks ago I brought my nine-year-old daughter to her first game in Cameron. That weekend will stick with me for as long as I live.

That’s the best way to describe it. I get a high as well because of the newness, freshness of a new season where you don’t know what to expect. Before we started landing OAD players, yeah we knew the players, knew we’d have a great season with a gaudy regular season record because we would be so far ahead of other teams in November but by March, other teams would have surpassed us and gotten better and we would peak in December. Remember that stretch between ‘04 and ‘10 when we couldn’t get past the Sweet 16? I’ve enjoyed watching our team stumble early on and put it together going into the post season. I mean the OAD decade (2010-2019) was the second best decade under Coach K in the NCAA Tournament (2 titles, 2 FF’s and 5 Elight Eights, 7 Sweet 16’s).

Also, having a coach that’s willing to adapt has certainly kept him around a lot longer than imagined and he’ll probably coach even longer!

 

[Quavarius]

I get the sentiment, but Coach is aware that you just have to function in the current environment. You can lament what is gone, but that doesn't help you in the present. You can recruit Zion, Ingram, Tatum, Okafor, etc., or you can play against them - I would take the former. If you look at the profiles of the national championship teams over the course of the OAD era, it is clear that there is no one way that creates a champion. Those teams run the gamut. I think K realizes that getting those types of guys is the best way to ensure you are in the conversation and have a chance on the most consistent basis. Because of course we miss watching the development of guys of three or four years, but more specifically we are referencing McDonald's All-Americans and the like being here for that long, and that just is not the reality anymore.

The thing that is more bothersome to me for some reason is the grad transfer stuff. It is probably ridiculous on my part, but with them I often feel like another school and staff puts in years with them, and then when what is supposed to be the primary fruits of those labors - their upperclassmen year(s) - arrives, they bolt for somewhere else. I know it is often because they want to play at a high major, but even so I would much prefer OADs to that route. Again, I'm aware I'm being silly, it's just a thought.

THIS THIS THIS THIS THIS THIS THIS THIS THIS THIS THIS THIS THIS THIS THIS THIS

 

[Quavarius]

It’s funny: we returned a lot of players this year from last season and brought in a class that isn’t as highly regarded as previous classes and I would have thought the mood would have changed.

Sure some of our freshmen will probably be OAD but it’s not because of performance but because of the weakness of the draft. But we still don’t know. I certainly think Vern and Cash are gone and Hurt/Moore may be on the fence.

We didn’t expect this team to be elite and we’re 23-4 through 27 games. The freshness of the unknown, in my opinion, is a high I can’t describe. Out of all of the teams that had a chance to win the regular season since 2010, it’s this one. Who would have thought that?

 

[500HP_Devil]

I agree with everything that has been said. I struggle to recall starting lineups from just a few years back and I don’t know if that is due to age (49 lol) or the lack of tenure with these players. I also miss the days when we had three and four year players all the time it was magnificent but those days are gone at least for the time being… It’s not something Duke has done or can control so it’s best just to maintain the most passionate fan base in the sport as best we can.

The OAD rule is so very dumb. Just let the kids go pro if they want to.

I had never previously really been an NBA fan… I did enjoy watching the finals from time to time but I can honestly say Zion changed that for me… Once in a generation type player, skill set, personality etc.… We now have the NBA TV package, multiple NBA jerseys and buy tickets to certain games.

Will thanks for your support for so very long!!

500HP

 

[Willcampbell]

I'm not going to get to in-depth with this post because everybody is entitled to their own opinion and I try to respect that as much as possible. Born and raised in the great state of North Carolina, being a Die-hard Duke fan, nothing, and I mean nothing would ever change my outlook of my blue devils. As a die-hard Duke fan, you can't put a photo of any major player, especially the ones who have primarily helped the GOAT become just that, and me not recognize who they are. I'm that dang invested in my boys, even when I didn't have access to watch them due to deployment commitments.

All this one and done talk (in my opinion), is a bunch of nonsense. Times have changed and we either adapt to them or get left behind. I would love to see how many people who talk about one and done in a bad way, show me their flip phone, bag phone, Atari game system they still use, floor model television with the external antenna, and I could go on and on. My point is if anybody here honestly believes that the likes of Grant Hil, Laettner, Hurley, Battier, Reddick, Williams, and so many others would have stuck around in these times today, well good luck with that. I look at one and done as a change in time like everything else.

As long as they wear that Duke jersey across their cheats and play for my beloved coach and university, not bring embarrassment to either, it's not about how much time you spent in that uniform, but what you did in that time and how you carried yourself. I can go on and on, but I'm going to stop.

You are right, r.t. I have a flip phone!
OFC

 

[retiredsoldier]

You are right, r.t. I have a flip phone!
OFC

I can imagine that, especially if your thought process is still stuck in the past lol. I have some 8 track tapes I can send you if you like and I'll even throw in a super Nintendo(1991 model).

 

[Willcampbell]

I can imagine that, especially if your thought process is still stuck in the past lol. I have some 8 track tapes I can send you if you like and I'll even throw in a super Nintendo(1991 model).

The only thing I really want is my '49 Chevy Deluxe. Hand painted, with a brush. Eight ball gearshift knob.
OFC

 

[retiredsoldier]

The only thing I really want is my '49 Chevy Deluxe. Hand painted, with a brush. Eight ball gearshift knob.
OFC

Now if you had one of those beauties and let it go, then I'm going to recommend you be seen by somebody professional lol.

 

[Willcampbell]

Now if you had one of those beauties and let it go, then I'm going to recommend you be seen by somebody professional lol.

I didn't exactly "let it go." I had some help from a certain drunk female in another car.
OFC