Two campuses and two programs arguably at the top of men’s college sports understand each other. Alabama football and Duke men’s basketball are made from the same cloth. In Tuscaloosa and in Durham, every season is measured by winning or failing to win a national championship.
There is just so much similarity. Alabama football head coach, Nick Saban and Mike Krzyzewski of Duke are the top coaches in their respective sports. Alabama men’s basketball aspires to achieve Duke’s success. Duke football dreams of becoming a perennial national championship contender like the Alabama Crimson Tide.
Knowing the Wallace Wade history at both schools, the exciting explosion made by Steve Spurrier as Duke’s head coach many years ago – and, of course, understanding David Cutcliffe first learned about championship programs being a student worker for Alabama football, it is hard to have any ill will for the Blue Devils.