duke qb asks for homework extension

Duke QB Riley Leonard denied homework extension after Clemson upset

After leading the then-unranked Duke Blue Devils to a 28-7 upset over the then-ranked No. 9 Clemson Tigers on Monday night, quarterback Riley Leonard had one thing on his mind: asking for a homework extension.

Leonard threw for 175 yards, paired with 98 yards and one touchdown on the ground. His 44-yard touchdown run on the first drive of the second half put No. 21 Duke in front for good.

Fans flooded the field from the stands to celebrate the program's first top-10 college football win since 1989. Leonard served as the star, leading the Blue Devils in rushing yards.

But after the junior quarterback reflected on his performance, he turned his attention to an assignment due that night. Leonard had a simple message to his professor that went viral: "Please let me turn in my homework late because it's due tonight," he said.

After offering his congratulations, Donald Taylor, Leonard's professor, pointed out that "Wesley Williams and the other linemen" planned ahead and did the assignment ahead of time. Taylor stuck to his deadline.

"So why didn't the quarterback [prepare ahead]?" Taylor said. "So no way, man. No extension."

Sorry @rileyleonard13_ , We tried! 😞 However, you are STILL A LEGEND! 😈 Now go study! 📚 pic.twitter.com/CpEdTmhQjX — ACC Digital Network (@theACCDN) September 5, 2023

Leonard, majoring in public policy, hasn't responded to the video yet.

A missed deadline doesn't seem to be a regular occurrence for Leonard -- he was an Academic All-ACC and CSC Academic All-District honoree last school year.

Last season, Leonard threw for 2,967 yards and 20 touchdowns while starting 13 games, all career highs. Duke defeated UCF in the Military Bowl for its first bowl win since 2018.

The Blue Devils next face the Lafayette Leopards on Saturday.

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WATCH: Duke professor denies QB Riley Leonard's request for homework extension after upset over Clemson

Leonard led the blue devils to their biggest win in decades, but he won't get any special treatment in the classroom.

Duke quarterback Riley Leonard may have led his team to its biggest win in modern program history on Monday night, but that didn't get him any special treatment from one of his professors. Following a 28-7 victory over then-No. 9 Clemson , Leonard made a plea to Duke professor Donald Taylor for an extension on a homework assignment. 

"Please let me turn in my homework late because it's due tonight," he in a television interview following the win.

On Tuesday, Taylor responded in a video picked up by the ACC Network's Twitter account.

" Wesley Williams and the other linemen that are in the class, they said they prepared and did it ahead of time," Duke Sanford School of Public Policy professor Donald H. Taylor said on Tuesday. "So why didn't the quarterback (prepare ahead)? So no way, man. No extension." 

Sorry @rileyleonard13_ , We tried! 😞 However, you are STILL A LEGEND! 😈 Now go study! 📚 pic.twitter.com/CpEdTmhQjX — ACC Digital Network (@theACCDN) September 5, 2023

The win was the Blue Devils' first over Clemson since 2004 and first over a top-10 opponent since 1989 when legendary coach Steve Spurrier knocked off the same Clemson program that was ranked No. 7 at the time. Leonard threw for 175 yards and rushed for 98 in the victory. His 44-yard scoring run on the first drive of the second half put his team up for good. 

As for Leonard's academic career, it's doubtful one missed homework assignment will derail the public policy major's impressive transcript. He was an Academic All-ACC and CSC Academic All-District honoree a year ago in addition to throwing for 2,967 yards and 20 touchdowns. 

The Blue Devils are currently ranked No. 21 in  the AP Top 25 and No. 24 in the  Coaches Poll . They host Lafayette on Saturday. 

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Duke quarterback Riley Leonard just won the biggest game of his career, and all he could think about was a late homework assignment.

Following Duke’s first win against the Tigers since 2004, Leonard was giving a post-game interview on the field when he turned to the camera and said,

“Professor Taylor, if you’re seeing this, please let me turn in my homework late because it was due tonight. I think at 12,” the Blue Devils signal caller pleaded after a stunning 28-7 upset of No. 9 Clemson.

Leonard was well-deserving of an extension on his homework assignment after schooling Clemson and helping Duke snap a 28-game losing streak against top-10 opponents.

The highlight for the junior from Fairhope, Ala. came early in the third quarter when he broke loose for a 44-yard touchdown run.

But make no mistake, plenty of credit also goes to Duke’s defense.

Three times the Blue Devils stood their ground after Clemson had pushed inside the 10-yard line — even to the one on two of those possessions — to hold the Tigers scoreless.

Duke blocked two field goals and twice recovered fumbles in those critical near-the-goal-line moments and didn’t surrender massive chunks of big-play yardage in Clemson’s first game with new offensive coordinator Garrett Riley.

While not taking anything away from Duke, Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney pinned the blame on the Tigers’ self-inflicted wounds.

“We’re not entitled to win,” Swinney said. “We’ve got to go earn it. And we had plenty of opportunity to get control of that game on multiple occasions and we just didn’t. And that’s how you get beat.”

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After beating Clemson, Duke’s QB couldn’t escape his public policy professor

Duke quarterback Riley Leonard’s escape antics helped the Blue Devils pull off a stunning upset over Clemson on Monday night. In a highlight-reel play, the junior twisted out of the grasp of a Clemson linebacker in the backfield to score a long rushing touchdown that gave Duke the lead.

But while Leonard handily shed Clemson tackles en route to the win, he discovered the next day that he couldn’t escape the clutches of an even more powerful force: his public policy professor.

During postgame interviews, Leonard appeared to realize he had unfinished business in the classroom. He turned to a camera and made a last-minute request to one of his professors, Don Taylor.

“Professor Taylor, if you’re seeing this, please let me turn in my homework late, because it’s due tonight,” Leonard said.

Taylor responded the next day in a lighthearted video shared on social media by Duke. He congratulated Leonard on the win but said that other football players in the class had pledged to work ahead to turn in the week’s assignment on time.

“So, no way, man — no extension,” Taylor said.

Sorry, Professor Taylor says no special treatment for quarterbacks 🤷‍♂️ pic.twitter.com/49pHh8KPZY — Duke University (@DukeU) September 5, 2023

Taylor, who teaches in Duke University’s Sanford School of Public Policy, told The Washington Post that he wasn’t sure at first whether he’d respond. But Leonard’s plea, which was shared online by the ACC’s social media accounts, soon had friends and family texting Taylor to ask whether he’d honor the request.

Taylor said his answer was nothing more than postgame banter, though some fans on social media appeared to miss the joke. Taylor said he received angry replies, some of which speculated that Taylor carried a vendetta from his own alma mater, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Duke’s archrival. Not so, he insisted.

“Wherever you go in undergrad, your loyalties kind of tilt that way,” Taylor said. “But I’m a huge Duke football fan and a huge fan of Riley.”

Law student files ‘motion’ for homework extension to see UNC-Duke game

Taylor watched excitedly Monday night as the Blue Devils stifled a favored Clemson team and paid close attention to his students who played in the game, he said. He cheered on Leonard’s plays and was especially excited when another one of his students blocked two Clemson field goal attempts.

“I was very proud of the guys,” Taylor said.

The assignment Leonard asked about was a brief response in a class called “Policy Choice as Value Conflict” that asked students to discuss examples of moral nihilism, Taylor said, and had little bearing on Leonard’s grade.

“He’s quite a good student,” Taylor said. “His college career is not in jeopardy, let’s just say.”

Taylor will continue cheering on his students when Duke’s football team hosts Lafayette College this week. He declined to comment when asked who he’d support during basketball season.

Duke QB Riley Leonard wanted homework extension after win over Clemson, professor responds

Duke quarterback Riley Leonard learned a valuable lesson Tuesday: even if you lead your football team to their biggest win in decades, you still got to do your homework.

After Leonard and the Blue Devils upset No. 9 Clemson on Monday night for its first win over a top-10 opponent since 1989 , Duke students and fans rushed the field at Wallace-Wade Stadium to celebrate the major victory. Leonard played a big part in the win, going 17-for-33 with 175 yards and 98 rushing yards on eight carries, which included scoring the go-ahead touchdown in the third quarter.

But it appeared Leonard forgot to do his homework before the win, and postgame, asked his professor if he could turn his homework in late. If Leonard thought he would be able to get off easy, he thought wrong.

'No extension'

On Tuesday, Donald H. Taylor − Leonard's professor − responded to the request in a video uploaded by the university. Taylor congratulated the quarterback on the great win, but noted the lineman in the class made sure to prepare for the assignment ahead of the game, "so why didn't the quarterback."

"So no way man. No extension," Taylor said.

Such is life for a student at Duke.

Leonard might not get a passing grade on this assignment, but hopefully he'll be able to get his next assignment done before the Blue Devils host Lafayette Saturday night.

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Duke QB Riley Leonard denied homework extension after Clemson upset

After leading the then-unranked Duke Blue Devils to a 28-7 upset over the then-ranked No. 9 Clemson Tigers on Monday night, quarterback Riley Leonard had one thing on his mind: asking for a homework extension.

Leonard threw for 175 yards, paired with 98 yards and one touchdown on the ground. His 44-yard touchdown run on the first drive of the second half put No. 21 Duke in front for good.

Fans flooded the field from the stands to celebrate the program's first top-10 college football win since 1989. Leonard served as the star, leading the Blue Devils in rushing yards.

But after the junior quarterback reflected on his performance, he turned his attention to an assignment due that night. Leonard had a simple message to his professor that went viral: "Please let me turn in my homework late because it's due tonight," he said.

After offering his congratulations, Donald Taylor, Leonard's professor, pointed out that "Wesley Williams and the other linemen" planned ahead and did the assignment ahead of time. Taylor stuck to his deadline.

"So why didn't the quarterback [prepare ahead]?" Taylor said. "So no way, man. No extension."

Sorry @rileyleonard13_ , We tried! 😞 However, you are STILL A LEGEND! 😈 Now go study! 📚 pic.twitter.com/CpEdTmhQjX — ACC Digital Network (@theACCDN) September 5, 2023

Leonard, majoring in public policy, hasn't responded to the video yet.

A missed deadline doesn't seem to be a regular occurrence for Leonard -- he was an Academic All-ACC and CSC Academic All-District honoree last school year.

Last season, Leonard threw for 2,967 yards and 20 touchdowns while starting 13 games, all career highs. Duke defeated UCF in the Military Bowl for its first bowl win since 2018.

The Blue Devils next face the Lafayette Leopards on Saturday.

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Duke Quarterback Denied Homework Extension After Team Upsets Clemson: ‘No Way Man’

One day after his impassioned plea to Professor Donald H. Taylor, Riley Leonard learned a real-life lesson

Charles Brock/Icon Sportswire via Getty; Duke/Instagram

Duke quarterback Riley Leonard may have led his team to an upset victory against Clemson on Monday night, but he dropped the ball when it came to his homework!

Upon clinching the historic win and after a sea of Blue Devils stormed the field, reality set in for the 20-year-old junior from Alabama, who issued a plea to his teacher, Donald H. Taylor of Duke’s Sanford School of Public Policy, for an extension.

But on Tuesday, the professor intercepted his student’s request and ran it back for a put-down. 

“Hey Riley, great game last night, man that was so exciting,” Taylor said in a video posted to the university’s X (formerly known as Twitter) account. “Congratulations to you and all your teammates. But you know, [defensive end] Wesley Williams and the other linemen who are in the class? They said they prepared ahead and did it ahead of time, so why didn’t the quarterback?”

He added with an incredulous near-smile, “So no way man, no extension.”

Taylor’s denial came less than a day after Duke dismantled the former No. 9 team in the country, 28-7. It was the university's first win against a top 10 school since 1989, when they coincidentally also defeated Clemson, according to The Athletic .

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories .

Leonard completed 17 of 33 passes for 175 yards (and added 98 yards and one touchdown on the ground), but he realized he hadn’t finished an off-the-field assignment.

“Professor Taylor, if you’re seeing this, please let me turn in my homework late because it's due tonight, I think at 12,” he asked his professor on Monday.

Now, Leonard is left to catch up on his studies — and prepare for the next game against the Lafayette Leopards this Saturday in Durham.

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Duke's Riley Leonard pleads for extension on homework after upset win over Clemson

Leonard had a 44-yard rushing touchdown in duke's 28-7 win.

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Riley Leonard helped Duke pull off one of the biggest upsets in the football program’s history on Monday night as the Blue Devils topped No. 9 Clemson 28-7 .

Leonard was 17-for-33 with 175 passing yards. He also had 98 yards on the ground and a 44-yard rushing touchdown to give Duke the lead in the third quarter. However, he was facing more pressure than just the Clemson defense coming after him all game long. He also had homework due.

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Duke's Riley Leonard, #13, looks to pass the ball during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Clemson in Durham, North Carolina, Monday, Sept. 4, 2023. (AP Photo/Ben McKeown)

In a clip posted on to X by the ACC Digital Network, Leonard had to ask the professor for an extension.

"Professor Taylor, if you’re seeing this, please let me turn in my homework late because it’s due tonight I think at 12," Leonard said.

Jaquez Moore had a 9-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter. It gave the Blue Devils a two-touchdown lead late in the game in what was a mistake-filled evening on both sides.

COLORADO'S DEION SANDERS SAYS SON, SHEDEUR, HAD EXTRA MOTIVATION TO BEAT TCU AFTER COACH'S PAST DISRESPECT

Duke head coach Mike Elko runs onto the field before an NCAA college football game against Clemson in Durham, North Carolina, Monday, Sept. 4, 2023. (AP Photo/Ben McKeown)

Duke fumbled twice and lost the ball each time. Clemson fumbled three times and lost two of them. Tigers quarterback Cade Klubnik also had an interception.

"It’s important on the outside, because I think it makes people believe a little bit more what we’ve been saying since the day I got here," Duke head coach Mike Elko said. "What we’ve been saying internally is this is what Duke football is capable of. We’ve never ever wavered from that at all."

Clemson is likely to drop in the next Associated Press Top 25 poll. The Tigers play Charles Southern next.

Riley Leonard, #13 of the Duke Blue Devils, gets rid of the ball just before he takes a hit by T.J. Parker, #12 of the Clemson Tigers, during a football game at Wallace Wade Stadium in Durham, North Carolina, on Sept. 4, 2023. (David Jensen/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

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Duke will take on Lafayette in their next matchup. The Blue Devils won’t have another ACC opponent until Oct. 14 against N.C. State.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Ryan Gaydos is a senior editor for Fox News Digital.

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Duke QB Riley Leonard needs homework extension after upset

Mike Roberts - BVM Sports Journalist

Updated: September 05, 2023

DURHAM, N.C. (BVM) – Duke quarterback Riley Leonard was riding high after his team’s upset win over Clemson, but it wouldn’t take long for the Blue Devils student-athlete to remember he had some other obligations that night. 

With a shoutout to “Professor Taylor” in a post-game interview, the junior quarterback pleaded for an extension on his homework that was due at midnight.

“Professor Taylor, if you’re seeing this, please let me turn in my homework late because it’s due tonight, I think at 12,” Leonard said.

Duke QB Riley Leonard had to ask "professor Taylor" for an extension on an assignment after upsetting No. 9 Clemson 😂 (via @theACCDN ) pic.twitter.com/KhyzsiKUn1 — Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) September 5, 2023

While Leonard will have to deal with his school work at another time, many would say he finished Monday’s game with a perfect grade. The Duke quarterback was 17-for-33 with 175 passing yards against the No. 9-ranked Tigers, and added an extra 98 yards on the ground. Leonard’s 44-yard rushing touchdown in the third quarter would give Duke the lead, which eventually ended in the team’s 28-7 win.

The impressive victory was just what Leonard and the Blue Devils needed to start their 2023 campaign after a 9-4 finish last year had them trending in the right direction. The junior quarterback put himself on the map in 2022, passing for nearly 3,000 yards and 20 touchdowns. While Leonard’s opening post-game moment found its way across social media, it wasn’t the only clip of his that took the internet by storm. 

During the first quarter of the matchup, the ESPN broadcast highlighted an unusual pregame ritual that Leonard has with his mom. Before every one of his games, Leonard’s mother makes sure to send him a text that reads “You suck.” The message has also turned into a wristband that Leonard wears to “keep his ego in check.”

This is pretty unusual, Duke QB Riley Leonard's mom sends him texts telling him 'You Suck' before every game in order to help "keep his ego in check." pic.twitter.com/00uVxWMAtP — Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) September 5, 2023

The two words have resonated with the junior signal caller who wasn’t heavily recruited coming out of high school. With his time in the spotlight now coming to fruition after his team’s Week 1 win, that message could certainly become a focal point for the budding star.

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