Duke
100 year Anniversary 1969
(Authentic Reproduction)
|
|
.jpg) |
|
|
.JPG) |
|
|
There was a time when Duke University
football was relevant and juxtaposing the words “Duke” and “football” did not
bring smirks to the faces of even the casual football fan. The balance between
academic excellence and the ability to play competitive football has been a
decades long exercise at the hallowed university and as recently as the early
1960’s, they did it quite well. Head Coach Bill Murray’s 93-51-9 record that was
achieved from 1951 through 1965 included major bowl games against major
opponents, many All American selections, and established the Blue Devils as a
tough stop on anyone’s annual schedule. Even towards the end of Murray’s reign
when the severe academic requirements of Duke dropped them to a break-even team
mired in the middle of the Atlantic Coast Conference pack, expectations for
success remained. Tom Harp was the man who took over for Murray, no easy task
but he had a reputation for teaching and coaching that was exemplary and a
resume to match. He was successful at the fabled Massillon Washington High
School in Ohio and as the offensive coordinator at Army under Earl “Red” Blaik.
He produced Gary Wood and Pete Gogolak as the head coach at Cornell and proved
that an institute of higher education could emphasize the latter part of that
description and still play rugged football. Duke remained a tough opponent and
was usually respectable on any given Saturday. After Harp’s squad went 4-6 in
1968 with a serviceable defense led by All ACC middle linebacker Dick Biddle,
hope was high for the 1969 season with exceptional quarterback Leo Hart and
receivers Wes Chesson and Marcel Courtillet returning. The expectations of
terrific offense were met as the 1969 Blue Devils played well, with Hart, who
doubled as a pitcher on the baseball team, the centerpiece. He led the ACC in
passing with 1642 yards even though his touchdown pass production dropped from
1968’s eleven to only five in ’69. He set five ACC records and eleven school
marks and when his eligibility was over after the 1970 season, he had a boatload
of Duke records. Chesson and Courtillet had the opportunity to catch Hart’s
passes, putting them in the limelight, more so than ball carriers Bob Swirko and
Phil Asack.
Unfortunately,
the rock of the defense, Biddle, was injured in the opening game against South
Carolina and lost for the season. This effectively scuttled any defensive effort
and opponents averaged over 400 yards of offense per game despite the efforts of
All ACC cornerback Ernie Jackson. The Blue Devils finished in the middle of the
ACC jumble, 3-3-1 with an overall record of 3-6-1. Hart lasted a few seasons
with the Falcons and Bills as well as spending time with the Chicago Fire of the
WFL. Before utilizing their superb Duke education in the real world Hart’s
favorite receivers had a chance to enjoy a bit more football. Courtillet played
for Roanoke of the Atlantic Coast Football League and Chesson lasted in the NFL
for four seasons, sharing time with Hart at Atlanta and then moving to the
Eagles for two seasons. Coach Harp left Duke after the 1970 season and became
the head man at Indiana State University. His stepson, Cam Cameron, was one of
the state’s best athletes and played football and basketball for Indiana
University before becoming one of the most respected offensive minds in the
game, a long time NFL coordinator and the head coach for both the Indiana
University Hoosiers and the Miami Dophins. Duke football since the 1960’s, has
suffered a disastrous downward trend and except for two winning seasons in the
late 1980’s under Steve Spurrier, there has been little good news. However, if
one looks at the beautiful helmets the Blue Devils wore in 1969, not only will
it bring back memories of brighter football days but they will also observe one
of the more attractive helmets of the era. The white shell was adorned with an
outlined Blue Devil head on the right side and the anniversary decal celebrating
the 100th year of college football on the left side. Blue award stars
were placed on the front of the helmet and a small devil’s pitchfork completed a
simple, yet elegant and unique head piece from the last days when Duke could
brag a bit about its football team as well as its basketball squad.
.jpg)
.JPG)