Duke Football Introduces The Devils Deck

This sounds like fun

People who have been around Duke football for a while will remember two things: the Trench and the hole in the fence.

The Trench was an old, depression era bathroom that was exactly what it sounds like: a long, rusty trench that ran down the middle of an outdoor bathroom. It was probably acceptable during the 1930’s but by the time they finally replaced it, it had become an embarrassment.

The hole was in the fence as you walk down the hill from Wallace Wade and the university was fully aware of it. When Duke was racking up 0-11 seasons, getting anyone in was an accomplishment whether they paid or not. So the hole was not fixed.

A lot has changed. The toilets are improved, the hole is patched and Duke is competitive again, thanks to David Cutcliffe who turned the program around and proved that you could win in Durham.

Now there’s another big change: Duke is introducing the Devils Deck, an open area that will accommodate tailgating, rotating yard games and will also feature a DJ. Not sure about the DJ, but the rest sounds fun (DJs can add to an experience but the volume can be overwhelming and distracting as it has become in Cameron at times).

There was a time when people in the athletic department essentially ignored football. Obviously that’s long gone and Duke has committed resources, time and creativity to the program. The Devils Deck is just one more cool feature they’ve added that should pay off nicely.