Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: TUESDAY, August 24, 1993                   TAG: 9308240076
SECTION: SPORTS                    PAGE: B1   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Frank Vehorn Landmark News Service
DATELINE: DURHAM, N. C.                                 LENGTH: Medium

DUKE DETERMINED TO EARN RESPECT

Duke plays Florida State in the season opener on Sept. 4. The only thing big about that game will be the number of points scored by the Seminoles.

You want to tell Alderfer the big game for the Blue Devils doesn't arrive until Oct. 23, when they play Wake Forest to decide which team wins a league game and avoids the ACC cellar.

But, for obvious reasons, you resist the urge to set straight this hulking young man who fills considerable space along the Duke offensive line.

Alderfer is 6 feet 4 inches and weighs 280 pounds.

He doesn't smile much, and none at all when it is mentioned that Duke is picked to finish last in the ACC for a second straight season.

"It is hard to read that kind of stuff," Alderfer says. "I guarantee you, we won't finish last in this league. I won't let that happen. We are going to surprise a lot of people, the way we did in 1989."

The Blue Devils did surprise that season. They tied Virginia for the league championship and made their only bowl trip in the past 32 years.

Duke has experienced hard times and few victories since that season of splendor, winning only two conference games the past three years.

A 2-9 record, 0-8 in the league, last year was so terrible it almost cost coach Barry Wilson his job. Wilson knows he has to win some conference games this time around.

"There is a sense of urgency to win," says Alderfer, "but it has nothing to do with wanting to save the coach's job. "I hope Coach Wilson is here forever. He is a great coach, but the players, especially the seniors, want to win for ourselves."

This is the deepest and most experienced Duke team since 1989.

Still, the Blue Devils are battling an image problem and most people believe 1989 was more of a fluke than anything else.

The only thing that excites Duke students about the football season is that it means basketball is only three months away.

"It is frustrating to see how much attention the basketball program gets, and how little respect football gets around here," Alderfer nods.

"I hear students saying the only reason they go to football games is to get a sun tan, or because it is a social event."

"We can win in football at this level, too," he says.