In the season debut of Blue Devil 360 Duke Vice President and Director of Athletics Nina King joins David Shumate for a look at the fall sports season as she begins her 14th year on campus. Featured in this episode are conversations with Head Women’s Soccer Coach Robbie Church, whose team is ranked 4th nationally as they gear up for the stretch run of ACC play, and a sit down with Duke starting quarterback Gunnar Holmberg as the Blue Devils prepare to face Georgia Tech this weekend at Wallace Wade Stadium. You’ll also hear from Allison Miazga-Bedrick, the first field hockey All-American for the Blue Devils and a three-time All-ACC Player, as we continue to celebrate the 50th anniversary of varsity women’s athletics at Duke.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Blue Devil 360

Robbie Church, Gunnar Holmberg, and Allison Miazga-Bedrick

Duke Athletics hosted a virtual unity rally on Monday, January 18 for Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Hosted by Troy Austin, Senior Associate Director of Athletics/Internal Affairs, guest speakers for the event included President Vincent E. Price, Chandra Guinn from the Mary Lou Williams Center for Black Culture, C.G. Newsome, a triple Duke University alumnus and a former letterman as a member of the Blue Devil football team, Nolan Smith, the Director of Operations and Player Development for Duke Men’s Basketball, along with three current Duke student-athletes – Darcy Bourne from field hockey, DeWayne Carter on the football team and Felise Collins from the softball program. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

MLK Jr. Unity Rally Speeches

The Crazies are to Cameron as peanut butter is to jelly. They just go together. But this year as we know, has been unlike any other and due to the covid-19 pandemic, winter sports at Duke will begin with no fans in attendance. So as Coach K and his staff are preparing for this upcoming season and the product on the court, there’s a girl gang behind the scenes also preparing, but for the product off the court. What will Cameron Indoor Stadium look and sound like without the Crazies? See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Cameron Without Crazies

It’s almost impossible to have a championship-caliber football team without an excellent offensive line, and Duke’s run of bowl seasons under Coach Cut proves that point. For instance, three of the starting lineman in the 2013 Chick-fil-A Bowl game are now starting on Sundays in the NFL. We’re talking about first round draft pick Laken Tomlinson, now with the 49ers, Lucas Patrick with the Packers and Matt Skura with the Baltimore Ravens. And another one of those starters in that era, Duke Football Radio Analyst and Executive Director of Blue Devil Network, Dave Harding. This week on the show, he had a chance to catch up with his old teammate to chat rehab, the best part about being the center for Lamar Jackson and how he’s also tackling fatherhood. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Matt Skura

In a year of turbulent political and social events, having genuine and open conversations has become more important now than ever. A junior defender from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Lexi Joseph is passionate about changing the narrative of black student-athletes and particularly in the sport of women’s lacrosse. With lacrosse being a predominantly white sport, Lexi opens up about teams creating safe spaces and committing to be inclusive and open. We unpack a lot this week, but a great educational conversation no matter who you are or what you look like.  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Changing the Narrative & Women’s Lacrosse

Student-athletes use their voice in the NCAA through student-athlete advisory committees or SAAC, on the campus, conference and national level. At Duke, SAAC is made up of representatives from each sport to provide insight on their experience and offer input on rules, regulations and policies that affect their lives on campus. Recently, a few hot topics consistent of name, image and likeness, voting, Covid protocols and diversity and inclusion. We chat with Kincey Smith of volleyball and Terry Lindsay from the men’s lacrosse team who serve on the leadership board, to get their thoughts and opinions on these initiatives. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

SAAC: NIL, Voting, Diversity & Inclusion

Each sport and each individual has had a unique perspective on the return to fall sports. We decided to get one person from each fall sport in the same space (and when we say space we mean zoom) to have an open conversation and share experiences on what the past few months has been like from them and their respective teams. Jake Marwede from football, Mia Gyau from women’s soccer, Will Pulisic from men’s soccer, Alex Springate from volleyball, Olivia Sahaydak from field hockey and CJ Ambrosio from cross country join Rebecca Fiorentino on this week’s episode.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Return of Fall Sports - From the Student-Athlete Perspective

A two-time All-Ivy League selection at Cornell, Brian McAfee had already completed a stellar college baseball career but wanted more out of his college baseball experience. He enrolled at Duke in the fall of 2016 hoping for one more great season in a college baseball uniform. He quickly emerged as one of the top arms for Chris Pollard’s club, securing 7 victories which tied him for most on the team. McAfee also helped lead Duke to its first NCAA tournament in more than 50 years. Today our national pastime still drive Brian every day, even after he finished his professional baseball career. McAfee partnered with his dad, of all people, in a continuing effort to improve the game he loves, college baseball. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Brian McAfee & Baseball Analytics

Elizabeth Williams is one of the most accomplished players in Duke women’s basketball history. The 2015 National Defensive Player of the year, Duke’s first four time All-American and a four time All-ACC member plus not to mention her jersey is hung in the rafters of Cameron Indoor Stadium for future generations to see, including her brother Mark who is a freshmen on the men’s basketball team. Now Elizabeth is making an impact both on and off the court in the WNBA. Breaking franchise records for the Atlanta Dream while also serving on the WNBA Players Association leadership board. Today on the show she gives us an inside scoop on life inside the WNBA Bubble, how she’s using her voice to push for change and social justice, why the league united to cancel games for an importance cause and how proud she is of her brother to be playing under Coach K.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Elizabeth Williams - Life in the WNBA Bubble, Social Justice & Her Brother Mark

Following an impressive collegiate career at Duke and graduating in 2011, Ashley Twichell has excelled in professional open water swimming, garnering five World Championship medals and nine National Titles. After attempting to qualify for the Olympics in 2008, 2012 and 2016, Ashley became one of the first Americans in any sport to qualify for the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games as she earned her spot on the US Open Water team in 2019. It would have been her first Olympic games appearance but her road to Tokyo took a turn when the coronavirus pandemic hit. There’s a good chance in 2021 that she will be Team USA’s oldest rookie Olympic swimmer since 1908. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Ashley Twichell

A new era of Duke women’s basketball is underway. You might have seen it on social media. It’s called #KaraEra. This week on the show we are honored to have new head coach Kara Lawson. The former Boston Celtics assistant coach chats with Chris Edwards about why Duke was the perfect fit for her, the whirlwind of a few weeks she’s had from the NBA Bubble to Durham and what it’s like taking over a program during a pandemic. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Kara Lawson

As Duke student-athletes are returning to campus how do we keep them safe while also getting them ready to play and give them an opportunity to play this season? What are the logistics of bringing our student-athletes back to campus? What’s the testing process? What will practices look like? This week on the show we chat with Senior Associate Director of Athletics/Athletic Facilities, Game Operations and Championships, Bob Weiseman on how he and his staff have been preparing the past few months to ensure safety measures are being put into place. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Bob Weiseman – The Return of Student-Athletes at Duke

After four decades of service as both a coach and administrator at Duke University, Jacki Silar will retire from her position as Senior Associate Director of Athletics at the end of June. Since her arrival at Duke in 1979, Silar has served as an assistant women’s basketball coach, spent 15 seasons as the head field hockey coach then later went on to have an administrative role with 24 head coaches. Silar is also the lone Senior Woman Administrator in Duke Athletics history, holding the post since its inception in the 90s. Silar and host, Rebecca Fiorentino talk about her transition from coaching to administration, how the athletic department has evolved in the 41 years she’s been at Duke, plus advice she has for future student-athletes, coaches and administrators. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Jacki Silar

This week on the show Chris Edwards interviews 6 guys who prepared for the MLB Draft together after their baseball season came to an abrupt end due to Covid-19 concerns. Thomas Girard, Matt Mervis, Michael Rothenberg, Wil Hoyle, Joey Loperfido and Bryce Jarvis worked out, played ping-ping, Fortnite, came up with trick shots, and yes finished their class work assignments all under the same roof - for 12 weeks. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Preparing for the MLB Draft During a Pandemic

This week on the show - her transition to college was an unusual one and now her transition into the professional world is no different. With the sudden end of the 2020 season, senior golfer Ana Belac was unable to close out her Duke career the way she wanted and head back to the NCAA Championship to vie for a second straight title. Ana, who hails from Slovenia, has decided to make a dream come true and announced she is turning professional. No woman from Slovenia has ever gotten an LPGA Tour card, what would it mean to Ana to become the first? See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Ana Belac

A complete view of campus from the Official Podcast of Duke Athletics!

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Blue Devil 360

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