Cutcliffe says he'll remain at Duke

He says some recruits had been told he was headed to Tennessee

Credit: AP File Photo

Coach David Cutcliffe came to Duke from Tennessee, where he was offensive coordinator in 2006 and 2007.

By: By Bill Cole | JOURNAL REPORTER
Published: November 05, 2008

DURHAM --

Coach David Cutcliffe of Duke said yesterday that he will not be a candidate to become Tennessee's next football coach.

"I want to put to end any speculation," Cutcliffe said. "I'm at Duke, staying at Duke, and that's not even in my thought process."

Tennessee is looking for a new coach after Phil Fulmer agreed with university officials on Monday to step down after the season. Cutcliffe came to Duke from Tennessee, where he was Fulmer's offensive coordinator in 2006 and 2007.

Cutcliffe, 54, had two coaching stints at Tennessee that totaled 19 seasons. He met with the Duke players yesterday morning and told them that he wasn't leaving, despite any speculation they might hear.

Cutcliffe also wanted to affirm to his 26 recruits that he is staying at Duke, where he is 4-4 in his first season.

"I addressed it real quickly," Cutcliffe said. "Certain prospects were being hit by people we're recruiting against. I tried to call as many of them as I could call.

"Those guys got our kids on the phone and were telling them that it was a done deal (that Cutcliffe was going to Tennessee). Yeah, right. Shoot, if I'm recruiting against us I'm going to use it, too."

At least two Blue Devils, Fred Roland and Greg Akinbiyi, said the early-morning meeting assured the players that Cutcliffe is going to stay at Duke.

"There's no concern," Akinbiyi said. "Coach Cutcliffe is a man of his word. I believe him when he says it's not a concern."

n Bill Cole can be reached at bcole@

wsjournal.com.