DALLAS (FWAA) Sean Renfree went from quarterback to cheerleader in a matter of minutes, guiding the Duke Blue Devils (6-2) to a thrilling 33-30 win over rival North Carolina with a final-minute touchdown pass, then leading the fans in the celebration after the game.
Duke's win, which makes it bowl-eligible for the first time since 1994, earned the Blue Devils the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl National Team of the Week honor for games of the weekend of Oct. 20. The announcement came exclusively on SiriusXM Radio's "College Sports Today," hosted by Mark Packer and Eddie George.
"I can't even describe it," said Renfree, who was seen right after the game in front of the stands conducting a "Bowl baby, bowl!" chant with Duke's elated fans to the cadence of the Victory Bell that was quickly painted royal blue. "It's unbelievable."
The final drive was, too. Renfree completed a 14-play, 87-yard drive inside of the three minutes, capping it with a 5-yard touchdown pass to Jamison Crowder on fourth down with 13 seconds left.
Duke now leads the ACC's Coastal Division with a 3-1 record. The win also snapped UNC's eight-game winning streak in the series. Duke led 20-6 at the half and 23-9 going into the fourth quarter, but still had to rally after UNC came back to take a 30-26 lead with 3:12 left.
Other Tostitos Fiesta Bowl National Team of the Week nominees for the weekend of Oct. 20 included:
The Football Writers Association of America has named a national team of the week since the 2002 season. This is the eighth season that the award has been sponsored by the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl.
Members of the FWAA All-America Committee decide the weekly honor. Each remaining Monday during the 2012 college football regular season, the FWAA will name the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl National Team of the Week. The winner will be announced through Nov. 26 at 9:30 a.m. ET on the SiriusXM College Sports Nation channel.
Founded in 1971, the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl has hosted seven games that have decided the college football national championship, including four Bowl Championship Series title games. This season, the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl will be played on Jan. 3, 2013, at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Ariz., and the Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl will be played on Dec. 29, 2012, at Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe, Ariz.
The Football Writers Association of America, a non-profit organization
founded in 1941, consists of more than 1,200 men and women who cover college football
for a living. The membership includes journalists, broadcasters and publicists,
as well as key executives in all the areas that involve the game. The FWAA works
to govern areas that include gameday operations, major awards and its annual All-America
team. For more information about the FWAA and its award programs, contact Steve
Richardson at tiger@fwaa.com or 972-713-6198.
For more information on the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl National Team of the Week, go to
footballwriters.com or fiestabowl.org.