Quentin Harris: Coastal Chaos Is Because Everybody’s So Talented

Duke quarterback says it's like a "shot in the barrel" every week

Duke had one of its best performances of the season after its first bye week, winning at Virginia Tech, 45-10. Quarterback Quentin Harris hopes the team’s second week off produces similar results.

“The extra week helped lot of guys, just with some ailing bumps and bruises,” he said. “You see guys have a little bit more pep in their step. I think everybody healed up a little bit.”

Just like the trip to Blacksburg, Duke faces a difficult post-bye challenge, hosting Notre Dame, who played in the College Football Playoff last season and has been ranked all year long. It’s the second Playoff team from last season that Duke will play this year, after opening against Alabama.

“Playing teams of that caliber helps us to elevate our own game,” he said. “Offensively, we didn’t execute well in the Alabama game. But we learned how to operate. I think the defense played really good. They kept us in the game. It’s valuable for us to go up against guys of that caliber. It gives the whole group a lot of confidence heading in, knowing we can play at their level. We have talented guys ourselves.”

Harris also had some praise for the Coastal Division that might raise eyebrows.

“I think we know, in the Coastal, it’s really a shot in the barrel every week,” he said. “Kind of everybody’s talented, so any outcome can happen. We know Virginia Tech went on a good winning streak themselves after they played us. They’re a different team than when we played them. I just know you have to be on your best every week.”