1978 Duke Blue Devils football team

{{Infobox college sports team season

| year = 1978

| team = Duke Blue Devils

| sport = football

| image =

| image_size =

| conference = Atlantic Coast Conference

| short_conf = ACC

| record = 4–7

| conf_record = 2–4

| head_coach = Mike McGee

| hc_year = 8th

| off_coach = Dick Kemp

| oc_year = 1st

| off_scheme =

| def_coach = John Gutekunst

| dc_year = 3rd

| def_scheme =

| mvp = Carl McGee

| captain = Dan Brooks

| captain2 = Mike Dunn

| captain3 = Carl McGee

| stadium = Wallace Wade Stadium

}}

The 1978 Duke Blue Devils football team was an American football team that represented Duke University as a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) during the 1978 NCAA Division I-A football season. In their eighth year under head coach Mike McGee, the Blue Devils complied an overall record of 4–7, with a conference record of 2–4, and finished fifth in the ACC.

Schedule

{{CFB schedule

| rankyear = 1978

| poll = AP

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = September 9

| w/l = w

| nonconf = y

| opponent = Georgia Tech

| site_stadium = Wallace Wade Stadium

| site_cityst = Durham, NC

| score = 28–10

| attend = 27,865

| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/tallahassee-democrat-duke-tops-ga-tech/139705592/|work=Tallahassee Democrat|title=Duke tops Ga. Tech in opener|date=September 10, 1978|accessdate=January 27, 2024|via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = September 23

| w/l = w

| nonconf = y

| opponent = South Carolina

| site_stadium = Wallace Wade Stadium

| site_cityst = Durham, NC

| score = 16–12

| attend = 33,895

| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/daily-press-dunn-triggers-big-drive-duk/139663758/|work=Daily Press|title=Dunn triggers big drive, Duke checks Gamecocks|date=September 24, 1978|accessdate=January 27, 2024|via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = September 30

| w/l = l

| nonconf = y

| away = y

| opponent = Michigan

| opprank = 4

| site_stadium = Michigan Stadium

| site_cityst = Ann Arbor, MI

| score = 0–52

| attend = 104,832

| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/detroit-free-press-what-letdown-u-m-rol/139705746/|work=Detroit Free Press|title=What letdown? U-M rolls, 52–0|date=October 1, 1978|accessdate=January 27, 2024|via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = October 7

| w/l = w

| opponent = Virginia

| site_stadium = Wallace Wade Stadium

| site_cityst = Durham, NC

| score = 20–13

| attend = 20,375

| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/rocky-mount-telegram-duke-sneaks-by-cavs/139705832/|work=The Rocky Mount Telegram|title=Duke sneaks by Cavs|date=October 8, 1978|accessdate=January 27, 2024|via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = October 14

| w/l = l

| nonconf = y

| away = y

| opponent = Navy

| site_stadium = Navy–Marine Corps Memorial Stadium

| site_cityst = Annapolis, MD

| score = 8–31

| attend = 21,431

| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/asheville-citizen-times-unbeaten-navy-dr/139705925/|work=Asheville Citizen-Times|title=Unbeaten Navy drops Duke, 31–8|date=October 15, 1978|accessdate=January 27, 2024|via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = October 21

| w/l = l

| away = y

| opponent = Clemson

| site_stadium = Memorial Stadium

| site_cityst = Clemson, SC

| score = 8–28

| attend = 51,109

| source = {{cite web |author= |title=Clemson Football Media Guide - 1979 |url=https://tigerprints.clemson.edu/fball_media/55/ |publisher=Clemson University |date=1979 |page=88 |access-date=November 10, 2023 }}{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/florence-morning-news-clemson-defense-fo/139700505/|work=Florence Morning News|title=Clemson defense forced turnovers; Offense took advantage of them|date=October 22, 1978|accessdate=January 27, 2024|via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = October 28

| w/l = l

| homecoming = y

| opponent = Maryland

| opprank = 5

| site_stadium = Wallace Wade Stadium

| site_cityst = Durham, NC

| score = 0–27

| attend = 23,600

| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-news-and-advance-atkins-scores-three/139702261/|work=The Lynchburg News|title=Atkins scores three TDs as Maryland down Duke|date=October 29, 1978|accessdate=January 27, 2024|via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = November 4

| w/l = l

| nonconf = y

| away = y

| opponent = Tennessee

| site_stadium = Neyland Stadium

| site_cityst = Knoxville, TN

| score = 0–34

| attend = 83,098

| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/101450028/big-play-offense-lifts-vols/|work=The Charlotte Observer|title=Big play offense lifts Vols|date=November 5, 1978|accessdate=May 8, 2022|via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = November 11

| w/l = w

| opponent = Wake Forest

| site_stadium = Wallace Wade Stadium

| site_cityst = Durham, NC

| gamename = rivalry

| score = 3–0

| attend = 19,825

| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/danville-register-and-bee-duke-dumps-wak/139706046/|work=The Danville Register|title=Duke dumps Wake 3–0 on second frame kick|date=November 12, 1978|accessdate=January 27, 2024|via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = November 18

| w/l = l

| away = y

| opponent = NC State

| site_stadium = Carter Stadium

| site_cityst = Raleigh, NC

| gamename = rivalry

| score = 10–24

| attend = 43,300

| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-news-and-observer-tangerines-rain-as/139703624/|work=The News and Observer|title=Tangerines rain as Pack crates Devils|date=November 19, 1978|accessdate=January 27, 2024|via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = November 25

| w/l = l

| away = y

| opponent = North Carolina

| site_stadium = Kenan Stadium

| site_cityst = Chapel Hill, NC

| gamename = Victory Bell

| score = 15–16

| attend = 45,000

| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/winston-salem-journal-unc-comeback-tops/139705069/|work=Winston-Salem Journal|title=UNC comeback tops Duke 16–15|date=November 26, 1978|accessdate=January 27, 2024|via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

}}{{cite web|title=1978 Duke Blue Devils Schedule and Results|publisher=Sports Reference LLC|access-date=January 27, 2024|url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/duke/1978-schedule.html}}

Roster

{{American football roster/Header

| year = 1978

| team = Duke Blue Devils

| teamcolors = f

| offensive_players=

{{American football roster/Player|num=10|class=Sr|first=Jeff|last=Comer|pos=WR}}

{{American football roster/Player|num=8|class=Sr|first=Mike|last=Dunn|pos=QB}}

{{American football roster/Player|num=48|class=Jr|first=Ned|last=Gonet|pos=FB}}

{{American football roster/Player|num=73|class=Jr|first=Scott|last=Hamilton|pos=T}}

{{American football roster/Player|num=59|class=Jr|first=Kevin|last=Kelly|pos=C}}

{{American football roster/Player|num=84|class=Jr|first=Derrick|last=Lewis|pos=WR}}

{{American football roster/Player|num=60|class=Sr|first=Tom|last=Luongo|pos=T}}

{{American football roster/Player|num=87|class=Jr|first=Joel|last=Patten|pos=TE|link=y}}

{{American football roster/Player|num=66|class=So|first=Jay|last=Pelosky|pos=G}}

{{American football roster/Player|num=47|class=Jr|first=Greg|last=Rhett|pos=RB}}

{{American football roster/Player|num=69|class=Jr|first=Bob|last=Riordan|pos=G}}

{{American football roster/Player|num=82|class=Sr|first=Glen|last=Small|pos=TE}}

{{American football roster/Player|num=79|class=Sr|first=Ken|last=Staudinger|pos=T}}

| defensive_players=

{{American football roster/Player|num=42|class=Sr|first=Dan|last=Brooks|pos=DB}}

{{American football roster/Player|num=94|class=Jr|first=Tim|last=Cadigan|pos=DT}}

{{American football roster/Player|num=99|class=Jr|first=Grant|last=Cunningham|pos=DT}}

{{American football roster/Player|num=80|class=Jr|first=Greg|last=Dallas|pos=DE}}

{{American football roster/Player|num=50|class=Jr|first=Eric|last=Drescher|pos=DT}}

{{American football roster/Player|num=17|class=So|first=Gary|last=Garstkiewicz|pos=LB}}

{{American football roster/Player|num=31|class=Sr|first=Bill|last=King|pos=LB}}

{{American football roster/Player|num=44|class=Sr|first=Derrick|last=Mashore|pos=DE}}

{{American football roster/Player|num=58|class=Sr|first=Carl|last=McGee|pos=LB}}

{{American football roster/Player|num=14|class=Sr|first=Rick|last=Sommers|pos=DB}}

| special_teams_players=

}}

{{American football roster/Footer

| head_coach = *Mike McGee

| asst_coach =

John Gutekunst
(Defensive coordinator & defensive backs coach)

| accessdate=

}}

References

Duke

Category:Duke Blue Devils football seasons

Duke Blue Devils football