SOUTH BEND, Ind. (AP) – Duke coach David Cutcliffe need not have worried about AJ Reed’s confidence.
After the freshman missed his first three college field goal attempts, Cutcliffe talked this week about being concerned about Reed’s body language after his miss against Northwestern last week. He opted against trying for a field goal with the score tied at 28 early in the fourth quarter, explaining afterward he didn’t think a field goal would be enough.
But fourth-and-goal with the ball on the 1-yard line, Notre Dame (1-3) with no timeouts and 1:27 on the clock, he said he didn’t hesitate to turn to Reed.
“That unit there, they believe in him and he’s got a lot of talent. I know when it came down there at the end – the field goal – there was no doubt in my mind he was going to make it,” he said.
Reed said he knew his teammates were behind him.