Its Official: Cutcliffe To Be Introduced Tommorow Afternoon

It's official. This just came into my mailbox...

** MEDIA ADVISORY **

Duke University will hold a press conference on Saturday, December 15 at 5 p.m. to announce the hiring of its new football coach.

Check back tomorrow as the day progresses, and after the conference for audio clips from Cutcliffe's introduction.

Alleva: "I'll probably have something for you tommorow"

That's what Duke's AD told reporters with the News & Observer as he was leaving his office at Cameron Indoor Stadium.

And according to the Herald-Sun, that something will come at 5:00 tomorrow, when David Cutcliffe will be announced as Duke's next football coach.

As soon as any press conference is confirmed, we'll let you know here, and check back after it happens for streaming audio from the event.

ESPN Reporting Cutcliffe is "Done Deal"

ESPN.com's Chris Low is reporting that Cutcliffe to Duke is a lock and that an introductory press conference will occur on Monday. The above report was revised from an earlier report on SportsCenter that described the hiring as a "Done Deal" and said that an announcement could come as early as Tonight.

However, we called Duke Sports Information Director Art Chase, who said that the reports were "not true." Additionally, Duke President Richard Brodhead told the News & Observer this afternoon that the job is still open as of today.

It remains to be seen how this will turn out, but the preponderance of reports makes us think that the odds are pretty large that Cutcliffe is the man.

Our friends over at The Blue Zone have just posted some interesting commentary about a Cutcliffe hire.

Cutcliffe says no offer has been made

Cutcliffe is on the record now, saying that he hasn't been offered the job and that it would be "arrogant" for him to have assumed that he will get it.

Earlier, this AP wire report said that Cutcliffe said he hasn't been offered the Duke job yet. As it stands now, it seems that Cutcliffe will be meeting with Duke AD Alleva sometime today, and an offer is possible, but as it stands it seems that the Knoxville paper's report from yesterday may have been a bit premature.

WRAL's website is reporting that the search committee will convene this afternoon, so this could be another sign that the wheels are starting to roll on finalizing a hire.

Not so fast...Friday Morning Update

Bill Cole in this morning's Winston-Salem Journal says that no offer has yet been made, and that Duke has narrowed the search down to Cutcliffe and former UCLA HC Karl Dorrell. The Herald-Sun says much the same thing.

Also, this morning's News and Observer update has some interesting comments from Cutcliffe on his health. Cutcliffe had to take two years off from coaching after undergoing a triple bypass procedure.

Here's a good read from Frank Dascenzo with an interview of Archie Manning, who gives a ringing endorsement for Cutcliffe and his offensive philosophy.

Continue to check back as the day progresses, as I'll be monitoring the situation and posting the latest as soon as I see it.