Duke HC Mike Elko speaks out about massive upset win over Clemson

Most fans of college sports likely think about the Duke Blue Devils and imagine the basketball team. Duke basketball has earned that, with five championships to its name.

Don't forget about the Blue Devils on the gridiron, though. David Cutcliffe had a 77-97 overall record at Duke, but he did put together a few strong seasons for a "basketball school," and the Blue Devils were usually always at least competitive.

Now that Mike Elko is the head man in Durham, though, just being competitive isn't enough. He went 9-4 in his first season with a win in the Military Bowl, and he started year two off in monumental fashion, upsetting No. 9 Clemson on Labor Day, 28-7.

While it was a massive upset, Elko said after the game that at least within the program, the win was expected.

"It's important on the outside, because I think it makes people believe a little bit more what we've been saying since the day I got here," Elko said, per the Associated Press (h/t ESPN). "What we've been saying internally is this is what Duke football is capable of. We've never ever wavered from that at all."

If Monday night's game is what Duke is capable of, then look out for the Blue Devils moving forward.

Quarterback Riley Leonard broke Clemson's back early in the third quarter when he took it 44 yards to the house with his feet. Clemson actually had him wrapped up in the backfield, but he broke free and displayed great toughness to extend Duke's lead to 13-7.  Junior running back Jaquez Moore scored with 10:33 in the fourth, and fifth-year running back Jordan Waters iced the game with a 36-yard touchdown run with minutes remaining.

Duke held Clemson to just 7-of-15 on third down and turned the Tigers over three times. They also blocked two field goals.

"We work out in the summer and train too," defensive tackle DeWayne Carter said. "We condition too."

The Blue Devils also win on the gridiron. Now ranked No. 21 in the AP Top 25, they'll try to make it 2-0 as Lafayette comes to town.