Mike Elko

NSJ 2024 Coach of the Year

January 16, 2025 Shawn Krest

When Duke hired Manny Diaz to replace Mike Elko, the decision was questioned in some circles. Most notably, the sports staff at a North Carolina newspaper, who like to think they know something about football, […]

Hot seat report for NC coaches

August 31, 2024 Shawn Krest

After a brief taste of college football this past weekend, we get a full schedule of games this weekend. That includes all seven FBS teams in North Carolina, who kicked off their respective seasons starting […]

Duke FB hopes to keep rolling

August 30, 2024 Shawn Krest

DURHAM – Way back in 1989, Steve Spurrier coached Duke to an 8-4 record, including a trip to the All-American Bowl in Birmingham. It was the second straight winning season in Durham for the Ole’ […]

2023 NSJ Play of the Year: Sam Hartman converts 4th-and-16 to break Duke’s heart

December 27, 2023 Shawn Krest

The saddest words are “What might have been.” They’re also the toughest to forget, as Mike Elko has now learned twice. “People say, ‘Ah, you’ll get over it,’” Elko said. “Sure. Just like the Bowling […]

Duke holds off Troy in Birmingham Bowl

December 23, 2023 The Associated Press

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — A day before the Birmingham Bowl, Duke interim coach Trooper Taylor loaded his team on buses for a crack-of-dawn trip to Selma, Alabama. While most coaches ensure their team gets rest the […]

Comings, goings in football transfer portal

December 21, 2023 Shawn Krest

The transfer portal is still active with many uncommitted players from around the country, but the initial rush seems to have passed, giving us a chance to look around the state and see how college […]

He’s our Manny: Duke hires former Miami coach Diaz

December 8, 2023 The Associated Press

Duke hired Penn State defensive coordinator Manny Diaz as its head coach on Thursday night. The school announced Diaz’s hiring in a news release and is finalizing plans for a news conference Saturday to introduce […]

Unsettled QB situations abound in NC

December 6, 2023 Shawn Krest

Football fans in the state of North Carolina may not put much weight on what Matt Rhule thinks about football, but the former Panthers head coach made waves last week. Now at Nebraska, Rhule complained […]

Top candidates to replace Mike Elko at Duke

December 6, 2023 Shawn Krest

The seats are starting to fill in the annual game of coaching musical chairs, and Duke’s seat is still vacant. A week after Mike Elko left the Blue Devils for Texas A&M, Duke’s search for […]

NC teams staying in Southeast for bowls

December 6, 2023 Ryan Henkel

Four of North Carolina’s FBS teams found out where they will play their bowl games over the weekend, and NC State, UNC, Duke and Appalachian State will all stay in the Southeast for their postseason […]