After Duke’s 28-7 upset win over Clemson on Labor Day, Blue Devils quarterback Riley Leonard had one request for his professor: An extension on his homework assignment.
“Professor Taylor, if you’re seeing this, please, let me turn in my homework late. It’s due tonight, I think at 12” Williams pleaded.
Sorry, Professor Taylor says no special treatment for quarterbacks 🤷♂️ pic.twitter.com/49pHh8KPZY
— Duke University (@DukeU) September 5, 2023
Unfortunately for Leonard, rules are rules, even if you upset a top-10 team.
Professor Taylor responded Tuesday, saying, “Hey Riley, great game last night. It was so exciting, congratulations to you and all your teammates. But you know, Wesley Williams and the other linemen who are in the class said they prepared ahead and did it ahead of time, so why didn’t the quarterback? No way, man. No extension.”
Obviously, it’s all in good fun. Leonard finished Monday’s game 17-of-33 with 175 passing yards and an additional 98 rushing yards in the big season-opening win. He also scored one of Duke’s three rushing touchdowns as the Blue Devils managed a robust 6.6 yards per carry.
The win also got Duke back into the AP Poll for the first time since 2018, as the Blue Devils surged to No. 21 after becoming the first unranked team to beat a top-10 opponent by double-digits in their season opener since at least 2000.
Leonard will have plenty of time to get his assignments done next week, as Duke plays on Saturday against Lafayette.
