Duke's Franks FIRED

You had to know this was coming....

Carl Franks Dismissed As Duke Football Coach; Roof To Take Over
From GoDuke.com
October 19, 2003

DURHAM, N.C. - Duke Director of Athletics Joe Alleva announced Sunday that Carl Franks was dismissed as the Blue Devils football coach. Franks, who was seven games into his fifth season as head coach at Duke, had a 7-45 record. Ted Roof, Duke's defensive coordinator the past two seasons, will coach the team for the remainder of the season.

"We appreciate everything that Carl has done for Duke football as a player, assistant coach and head coach," said Alleva. "We've made some strides in our program under his guidance the past five years. He has continued our excellent track record of graduating our student-athletes and carefully guided us through the program's needs as we moved into our new football facility, the Yoh Center. However, I have not seen significant improvement on the field, which prompted this decision."

"Joe Alleva and I are in full agreement that this decision is in the best interests of our football program and the university," said Duke President Nannerl O. Keohane. "We appreciate the many contributions Coach Franks has made and wish him well."

A 1983 Duke graduate, Franks returned to his alma mater in 1999 following nine seasons at the University of Florida as an assistant coach under former Duke head coach Steve Spurrier. He was one of three former Duke players who eventually went on to become head coach of the Blue Devils (Mike McGee and Bill Murray were the others).

Following a 3-8 record in his initial season at Duke in 1999, the Blue Devils had back-to-back 0-11 campaigns in 2000 and 2001. The Blue Devils snapped a 23-game losing streak with a 23-16 victory over East Carolina to open the 2002 season. Duke managed one more win in a 2-10 year. This season, following its 2-1 start, Duke has dropped four consecutive games for a 2-5 record (0-4 ACC). The Blue Devils are winless in their last 29 ACC games.

A former All-ACC linebacker at Georgia Tech, Roof began his second stint as an assistant coach at Duke in 2002. That year, he guided the Blue Devil defense to marked improvements from the previous season as Duke led the ACC in rushing defense and moved from 113th to 65th nationally in total defense. The 1987 Georgia Tech graduate also served on the Duke staff from 1990-93 and had other stints at Alabama (1987-88), West Georgia (1989), Massachusetts (1994-96), Western Carolina (1997), Georgia Tech (1998-01).

Alleva said that a national search for a head coach will begin immediately.

 

poor Ted Roof

 

Like he had a lot to work with. just be glad any coach would want to come to Duke for a job.

 

Dumb, dumb, dumb. How is firing him going to make it any better?

 

Ya gee how was he supposed to know wake would get good and destroy home comming.

 

I guess ECU or Army weren't available that week.

 

Unless they had already settled on Roof as the next coach, then firing Franks at this point makes absolutely no sense to me.

 

I'm bitter. I'd rather have a coach like that stay. Usually leaving that lame duck coach in makes the team go into the tank for the rest of the season. That way I get to bet against them.

Although I have to admit Sherill's announcement sure didn't help Miss State any.

 

Hopefully John Bunting is next.

 

werd