Stanford
Blue Devils join Stanford and Northwestern
Tom Shanahan Sep 5 2018DURHAM, N.C. – Duke football’s upward mobility from the 2-33 train wreck that David Cutcliffe inherited has allowed the school to join an exclusive club with Stanford and Northwestern as academically elite institutions consistently competing among Power 5 schools.Cutcliffe,...
NC State ponders wrongly to foul or not to foul
Tom Shanahan Feb 3 2017North Carolina State basketball coach Mark Gottfried apparently missed the Arizona-Stanford game on ESPN with Bill Walton aired on Jan. 29, 2014. That’s understandable since his own team made the NCAA Tournament that year.Had Gottfried been watching, he would have learned a...
Calipari fighting tried and true method at Duke and Stanford
Tom Shanahan May 14 2016Kentucky fans nod their heads, agreeing with their basketball coach over controversial words that appear aimed at Duke’s Mike Krzyzewski.Duke fans are upset at the thinly veiled shot. Coach K and his staff are above the fray — for now, anyway — but no doubt had some mocking if...
McCaffrey for Heisman rings coast to coast
Tom Shanahan Oct 31 2015DURHAM, N.C. — A reporter asked Max McCaffrey if he had heard about the “McCaffrey for Heisman” campaign.The Duke senior wide receiver, seated casually at the Blue Devils’ practice facility for a media session, sat up proudly. He understood the question that otherwise could have...
Renovation is welcome to football and farewell to track
Tom Shanahan Sep 11 2015DURHAM, N.C. — A drumbeat simultaneously celebrating King Football and mourning track and field marches past another historic American sports venue Saturday night.Duke football’s home opener against North Carolina Central christens Brooks Field at Wallace Wade Stadium. Renovation...
McCaffrey surname adds to Duke chasing Stanford reputation
Tom Shanahan Aug 12 2015Duke football’s upswing continues climbing toward the Stanford bar of national respect for elite academics and winning football. What the Blue Devils need next is a longer run that translates into preseason national rankings they failed to attract in 2015.“Internally, I think...
Walters accepts West Point challenge
Tom Shanahan Jun 24 2015Blake Walters’ busy high school career established broad options for a promising college future. He graduated at the top of his class and earned eight varsity letters as a quarterback and pitcher at Wake Forest (N.C.) Heritage. The destination he chose is the U.S. Military...
They will Love him at Stanford for talent and attitude
Tom Shanahan Apr 13 2015My News and Observer story on Wake Forest Stanford-commit Bryce Love running a season best of 10.61 seconds in the 100 meters. Wake Forest's Stanford running back commit wants two high school state titles.
Todd Peat Sr parental advice has been to step back
Tom Shanahan Feb 13 2015I first spoke to Todd Peat Sr. five years ago, introducing myself and asking for his son Todd Jr., a Rivals 4-star recruit planning to visit San Diego State. He handed the phone to his namesake.That may sound natural to you, but trust me: it’s not always so. Not in a college...
Harbaugh demonstrated his good guy side with McNeill
Tom Shanahan Dec 21 2014One of the hottest stories in college and pro football is speculation on where Jim Harbaugh will land next with his coaching whistle. The narrative is he’s again worn out his welcome, and the San Francisco 49ers are about to fire him after three years of success – including one...