This just in: The Victory Bell is missing.
“It’s gone missing,” said Duke coach Manny Diaz. “Since Saturday. I don’t know where.”
The prize that goes to the annual winner of the Duke-UNC football game has resided in Durham since last year’s game, won at Wallace Wade Stadium when the Blue Devils mounted the biggest comeback in school history.
Since then, it’s resided in the Duke football building.
“There’s only so many chances you have to win a trophy,” Diaz said. “It’s way more fun when you have it. It’s a constant reminder. Every day, you see it when you walk by. It’s there. And it’s a constant reminder when you walk by, and it’s not.”
As of last Saturday, it’s not.
Could it be the work of vandals? A heist on the level of the jewelry thieves at the Louvre? A pregame prank by brave UNC students?
“As far as the Bell,” Diaz said, “we don’t have it.”
Perhaps, just maybe, the Bell’s absence could be a motivational ploy from the Blue Devil coaching staff.
“No one has it,” Diaz continued. “This team hasn’t won it. No one has won it. We’re not retaining anything. We have to go get it—the same way they have to go get it. These two teams have never played each other.”
In addition to the Victory Bell—assuming it’s found before game time—the two teams are playing to save their respective seasons. Both had much higher hopes but have seen reality set in as time has gone by.
Duke is on a two-game losing streak. The Blue Devils were upset at UConn in what many expected to be a non-conference tune-up game before the stretch run. They then fell at home to UVA in a game that essentially took them out of the running for the ACC Championship Game. While there may still be scenarios that could land Duke in Charlotte, the Blue Devils don’t control their own destiny and would need a great deal of help.
Duke’s offense, which has been explosive under quarterback Darian Mensah (3,007 yards, 25 TDs, 4 Interceptions) and freshman running back Nate Sheppard (700 yards, 7 TDs) was shut down in the Virginia game. Mensah managed just 212 yards, Sheppard 43.
Duke needs at least one win in the final two games—at UNC and home against Wake Forest—to become bowl eligible with six wins.
“(Sunday) was an important day in our program,” Diaz said. “We had to have the maturity and accountability to own our performance Saturday, and also the focus and fortitude to put it behind us.”
UNC expected to enter college football’s big time after hiring legendary NFL coach Bill Belichick. The Tar Heels were blown out in the season opener and suffered a four-game losing streak. UNC appeared to right the ship in recent weeks, with wins at Syracuse and home against Stanford, but the Heels were handled in Winston-Salem last week, mustering only field goals in a 28-12 loss. Belichick, who has had several PR nightmares this season, was criticized for doing a blow-by handshake with Wake’s coaching staff following the game. A story also surfaced early this week that nearly one in five UNC players have received speeding or reckless driving tickets, far exceeding other area programs.
UNC needs to sweep its season-ending rivalry games, against Duke and at NC State, to become bowl eligible.
The two rivals are opposites. While Duke has been led by its offense, UNC has leaned on an aggressive defense as it began winning games.
“They’re a tough nut to crack,” Diaz said. “They’re hard to run the ball on. They challenge everything in the passing game. They know how to attack protection and harass the quarterback.”
Meanwhile, the UNC offense has sputtered, and Duke’s defense has sprung leaks at inopportune times as the year has gone on.
“If you’re going to get us on defense, this is the year to get us,” Diaz said. “Our young guys are learning and getting better. They can play. It’s been a baptism by fire with a run of good quarterbacks.”
Both teams will be desperate for a win on Saturday, for their seasons as well as bragging rights.
“Desperation is not always a great motivation in sports,” Diaz said. “When you get to November, motivation flies out the window. In a rivalry game, motivation flies out the window.”
Unless, of course, your prized Victory Bell goes missing without warning.
“I’ve been here, what? 20 months?” Diaz said. “For the first eight or nine months, there was no bell. Since then, there’s been a bell.”
Until this week.
