DURHAM -- As excited as he was about the first day of practice, Duke football coach David Cutcliffe managed to top that as he surveyed his surroundings Monday. With the new indoor facility nearly finished alongside the practice field, the Blue Devils' practice set-up rivals those of their ACC brethren.
That's not the only asset Cutcliffe has for his peers to envy. In a year when just about every school in the league is breaking in a new starting quarterback, Duke already has one: junior Sean Renfree, a veteran of many practices as the starter.
"The throwing and catching was far beyond anything we've seen, which is what I expected that to be," Cutcliffe said, in assessing Monday's practice.
Only Maryland, with last year's ACC Rookie of the Year Danny O'Brien, can make an equivalent claim, but O'Brien is learning an entirely new offense with the coaching change from Ralph Friedgen to Randy Edsall.
As for pure ability, Florida State's E.J. Manuel might be the most talented quarterback in the league, and he got his share of starts when Christian Ponder was hurt last season, but this is the first time Manuel will be an everyday starter.
No, when it comes to solidity at quarterback, Duke leads the way. Of course, that doesn't mean Renfree is a finished product. Those 14 touchdown passes a year ago were nice, but those 17 interceptions weren't. For Duke to get to a bowl game for the first time since 1994, those numbers have to go the other direction.
The expectation on Duke's campus is that Renfree is ready to make a big step forward, the inevitable result of playing time, practice time, talent and maturity.
For Cutcliffe, one of the more tangible benefits of Renfree's experience is the way his relationship has developed with his receivers. A talented group returns, including wide receivers Donovan Varner and Conner Vernon and tight end Cooper Helfet.
Renfree took time to work with them during the offseason, running routes and honing timing. Even on the first day of practice, Cutcliffe could see that work pay off.
"Sean would take just a position at a time out here, and just over and over and over work routes," Cutcliffe said. "He'd take the tight ends, Cooper and (Braxton) Deaver and Danny Parker, and just keep working, working, working. You saw the benefits of that today. ... That kind of work has really paid off for us. They knew what they were doing."
Renfree said he felt the sharpness he expected with his receivers, and it made the work worthwhile. As for himself, personally, he didn't feel any different.
"I was just ready to get back to work after so long," Renfree said. "Certainly, I was excited, but I felt a lot more comfortable. I didn't have any of the jitters a freshman might have. Just felt cool, calm and relaxed out here for the first day."
He'd be even cooler if he could duck inside the air-conditioned comfort of the new indoor facility, particularly on a hot, humid day like this one.
"I know," Renfree said. "That's nice, isn't it?"
Looking ahead, Cutcliffe said he has planned out the entire spring practice schedule, knowing that with his new indoor palace, weather won't be an issue.
He can say the same thing about the quarterback position: It won't be an issue. Not many ACC teams can say the same thing on the first day of practice.
