When one reflects on the first half of Duke's Football season most feel that at 3-3 overall, they are right where they are supposed to be.  Some might feel that the Richmond loss was balanced off with the NCSU win where they were 15.5 point underdogs.  But a further look shows that Cutcliffe's second team is definitely starting to turn the corner to respectability.  Some would say they've already earned that with a solid win over N.C. State this past weekend, but there are still some in the media which take regular shots at Duke no matter what they do.

Thankfully for Duke fans, Cutcliffe and his staff refuse to let this get them down and they are in no way accepting of anything less than a complete change in culture surrounding the program.  Saturday's win went a long ways towards accomplishing said goal, but Cutliffe is well aware of the pitfalls, meaning he knows Duke has to play their best game to win until the talent level improves through recruiting.

When Cutcliffe arrived in Durham, the lack of team speed was down right disturbing, so he immediately hit the road with his staff and turned up more speed and saved the great majority of players Roof already had in the fold.  It's no secret that the talent level in recruiting has increased significantly and one needs to look no further than the field this season where kids like Conner Vernon are shining.

No longer is Duke completely outmatched in the speed department but there is still a ways to go and Cutcliffe has been forthcoming in saying his team still has some growing pains in store. What he means there, is that Duke needs to be two deep at almost every position and that means red-shirting more kids.

On the surface, Duke seems to have burned more red shirts than they would have liked, but when one looks at the play of Desmond Scott, Conner Vernon and others, it is easy to see why.  Still, Duke has several lineman which will get that extra year of preparation.

Okay, I got a little off track there, so let's turn our attention to upcoming games  and what Duke can accomplish in the here and now.  Cutcliffe's legitimate worry is finding a way to keep his team to compete consistently play off new found confidence.  However, confidence is a funny thing and it can sometimes become a hindrance if players stop working or rest on their laurels.

Duke will have to go into the Maryland, Virginia and UNC games respecting their opponent as if each were Virginia Tech, the fourth rated team in the country they played toe to toe with just two weeks ago.  Many will say that all three of these games are winnable and they are, but a realist attitude should be in play here as well.

Duke handled Virginia handily last season, but that in no way means this will happen again on the road this season.  As Cutcliffe has often told the media, it's a game of match ups, but he puts just as much emphasis in telling those who listen that the ball can bounce many different ways on a given day.

Already the same media which regularly beats down the program on talk radio shows are playing the split personality game.  They're doing their best to set Duke up by now saying, could they now be the best team in the state.  Don't get me wrong, it's possible, but the Devils can ill afford to listen to such rhetoric which is designed to incite responses and draw the ire of other local teams and fan bases.

Duke must now  deal with sudden expectations and the fact is that Duke will likely be favored in their next game against Maryland.  This is uncharted territory for the Duke program of late .  The same holds true for the players, who have now won more games in two years than Duke has in a cluster of years before Cutcliffe's arrival.

Expectations are a welcomed thing around Durham, but they must be tempered and fans need to know that Duke is taking some big steps, but that the small ones that often go unseen are just as important.  Cutcliffe simply wants his team to compete at the highest level they can in each game and win or lose and with that kind of effort, that is progress.

Duke is also trying to find a way to get their fan base back into the stands.  It's no secret in years past Duke fans have come out of the woodwork after a couple of wins over teams they were not expected to beat.  With Duke's victory over cross town rival one would hope this happens again against Maryland, a game that would give the Devils their first two game ACC win streak in a long time.

But the one thing which Devils fans can take joy in is that this is a young football team, but a spattering of key seniors gives this team a chance to win now.  In order to do so they'll need some support and I guarantee you if some of you who are on the fence and make excuses on Saturday's turn out, you'll be a part of the process for the team will respond.

The time is ripe for Duke fans to do their part, for Cutcliffe and his team are certainly moving along towards the goals they have set .  And don't look now, but Duke suddenly looks as if they will indeed compete with in state rivals UNC and Wake Forest and Maryland and Virginia as well.   If the ball bounces right they can come away with some much needed wins thanks to their persistence and something that has been missing, that being great coaching.

This past Saturday was a win for the coaches, players and fans.  Those who had remained faitful and true were rewarded and smiles are contageous.  Duke fans are ready for some more smiles and the 2009 Blue Devils have an opportunity to bring them out.