An Employee Captain's Account
Keith Lawrence shares his take on an evening as employee captain of Duke football
Duke’s honorary employee captain, Keith Lawrence, exchanges handshakes with Duke team captains Matt Skura (62) and Jeremy Cash (16) before the Blue Devils’ home game against North Carolina Central University.
As the honorary employee captain, you get to do a lot of cool things. The crowning moment comes when you join the actual captains of Duke’s football team at midfield prior to the game for the traditional coin toss.
As this year’s employee captain, I nearly botched my assignment.
After trailing the team out of the tunnel and onto the field for the home opener against North Carolina Central, I did as instructed and cut across the north end zone, only to be blocked by the Duke marching band, which was exiting the field after its pre-game performance.
In the distance, I could see Duke’s captains – Jeremy Cash and Matt Skura – already shaking hands with their NCCU counterparts at the 50-yard line. Panic set in as I eyed a possible gap in the percussion section. A slight variation of Don McLean’s “American Pie” popped into my head – “The captain tried to take the field, the marching band refused to yield.” I was about to let down all the Duke employees I was here to represent.
After what seemed an eternity, I managed to force myself through and made a beeline for the group at midfield.
When I arrived, I was relieved to learn the coin had not yet been flipped. The “real” Duke captains eyed me warily – who’s the old dude in the shorts – but I was in full extrovert mode this day, so I stuck out my hand and said, “Honorary Employee Captain.” Cash smiled and shook my hand.
After the toss – which, for the record, Duke won – I started to trot off the field, only to be stopped by the referee. “Congratulations,” he said. “This is for you.” And with that, he handed me the bright silver coin used in the toss. We shook hands, and I then shook the hands of the other officials, before jogging off the field and heading to my regular seat in Section 6.
It was the culmination of a great week, one that started with Coach David Cutcliffe and me filming a promotional video urging employees to attend the game. By the way, one of my responsibilities in Duke’s Office of News & Communications is teaching people how to be comfortable in front of the camera. Yet in my cameo, I was uncertain whether to look at the camera or at Coach as he delivered his lines, so I ended up looking shifty as my eyes darted back and forth between Coach and the camera. One person who saw the video later said, “And you train people to do this?”
Before we did the filming, though, Coach Cut called me over during lunch and we talked football for a few minutes. Folks, it’s hard to top talking Duke football with the head man, especially when you’re a die-hard Duke football fan who has attended all but two or three home games during the past 21 seasons. Coach Cut even asked if I had a play to suggest he run. I said I did, but I told him he may want to save it for the right moment in the season, much like he didn't try a fake punt last season until the fourth quarter of the final game -- vs. Arizona State in the Sun Bowl.
As it turned out, Coach did not use my play in Saturday’s game – after all, Duke won 55-0 -- but I will be looking for it. (I think it’s best not say what the play is, in case some ACC opponent is reading this -- yeah, right.)
I have so many people to thank for making this opportunity possible. The list includes Duke Athletics, including my three marketing “handlers” – Chris, Neil and Xavier. I am also thankful for all the friends and co-workers who genuinely shared in my enthusiasm.
I also appreciate getting a chance to know Duke defensive end Michael Mann. I met Michael and some of his teammates during the Blue Devil Walk – where the football team (and an honorary coach) march to the stadium a couple hours before the game and we high-five a lot of fans (I did say I was in full extrovert mode). Michael, who is out with a shoulder injury, located me on the sideline during warmups and we talked for a good 10 minutes. Michael is a senior and his many accomplishments include being the co-inventor of a leash that allows you to walk two dogs at once without the dogs tangling up. I have no doubt Michael will be successful in life.
Finally, I’d like to thank Duke Human Resources, which sponsors the captaincy event, and my good friend and colleague Karl Bates, who nominated me for this honor and then called in all kinds of chits to get others to endorse my captaincy.
When I first learned I would be captain, I frankly was a little embarrassed – a 57-year-old with an artificial knee running out on to a field with top-conditioned athletes. But I am glad that feeling quickly faded. What a great night. I didn’t coach a down in Duke’s dominating win, but I didn’t botch my role either. And my record as honorary employee captain now stands at 1-0.