Costly or not putting blame on Duke for ANY loss is absolutely retarded. The fault squarely and solely lies with the coaches. Duke DID NOT come up with the game plane for the game, he DID NOT call the plays and he is NOT responsible for in game adjustments.
GROWN MEN (making serious money by the way) "planned" and "prepared" a strategy for the game. Duke is a tool, an instrument used by these grown men to implement said "strategy". You dont plan for fumbles, true but you also DO NOT put your players in a situation to fail. 8+ in the box all game and single coverage with the faster player on the field (Dorset) as well as coley and no adjustment made. That fumble rests solely on Coach Coley or Golden (whomever is responsible for play calling)
As a coach and leader of the team you DO NOT put Duke out there and risk his future in a meaningless bowl game. Mike Davis had 13 Carries that Game!!! The shelf life of a RB isnt long and one hit can change your future (McGahee's last game). When he fumbled, i could care less about the fumble. my heart sunk fearing another serious injury for the kid. I dont know how many felt the same but that was all i cared and was thinking about.
If the coaching staff, the supposed leaders of this team, were more responsible and placed the players in better situations the fumbles he's had would be negligible and never brought up. The fact that it is even used as a reason magnifies the failures of this staff. I mean seriously think about it, Golden makes a couple of millions a year and his sole job is to coach up young men and prepare game plans but we lose and you have the gall to lay blame to a 20y/o kid!!!
Seriously!? "hold on to the ball"!? really!!? thats where your anger lies!? Just......**sigh**