Associated pressDURHAM ó Vince Oghobaase sat out as a freshman three years ago when his Duke teammates were once again blown out by Miami. Once he made it onto the field, he helped the Blue Devils find ways to make things more competitive.
Now, midway through a season in which Duke already has taken several steps forward, the redshirt junior defensive tackle is looking to take the next one by finally knocking off the Hurricanes.
“It’s been a good ball game the past two years, but that coulda-woulda-shoulda, we can’t look back,” Oghobaase said. “This year is a new day, a new Duke and a new Miami football team. We’re very confident on this ball club … and we’re looking to win this ball game right here.”
That’s not as preposterous an idea as it may have sounded a few years ago, when Miami drubbed Duke 52-7 in 2005. The next year, a suspension-ravaged bunch of Hurricanes needed a last-second interception to hold off the Blue Devils 20-15.
But Miami (3-3, 0-2) has won just three of its 15 ACC games since, a total that includes last year’s 24-14 victory in which Duke rallied within three points in the fourth quarter.
And in a sign of just how much the conference has changed, Miami needs a win just to pull even in the league standings with the Blue Devils (3-2, 1-1).
“We can’t get lulled to sleep thinking it’s Duke,” Hurricanes coach Randy Shannon said. “Well, Duke’s won three games, if I’m not mistaken.”