Duke player Maalik Murphy faces internal discipline for lewd gestures, coach says

Duke Blue Devils Quarterback Maalik Murphy caused some controversy this weekend when he raised his middle fingers to the sky after throwing a touchdown pass against Virginia Tech.

Murphy threw for 332 yards and three touchdowns in the 31-28 victory the Hokies. Every touchdown was thrown to Eli Pancol.

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Duke Blue Devils quarterback Maalik Murphy, #6, smiles during the second half of the game against Virginia Tech Hokies at Wallace Wade Stadium in Durham, North Carolina, on November 23, 2024. (Jaylynn Nash-Imagn Images)

However, the middle finger incident was enough to provoke a response from Duke head coach Manny Diaz, who said Monday that the quarterback must face internal discipline for it.

Diaz explained that Murphy’s gesture was directed at offensive coordinator Jonathan Brewer, following “banter” between them before the game.

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Duke Blue Devils head coach Manny Diaz watches from the sidelines against the Miami Hurricanes during the second quarter at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida, on November 2, 2024. (Sam Navarro-Imagn Images)

“There was a drill in the middle of last week when we threw post after post after post, and we didn’t finish them,” Diaz said. “And it was again and again and again and again. And at the end of it a joking comment was made: ‘If you throw a pole for a touchdown in the game, you can tap me off,’ by Coach Brouwer.”

The middle fingers were captured during the ACC Network broadcast. Brewer said he saw Murphy make the gesture during a replay.

“Some of the things you say on the field when you’re coaching are obviously not meant to be taken literally when you’re trying to get after someone in that world,” he said.

Duke quarterback Maalik Murphy, No. 6, appears to throw during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Virginia Tech in Durham, North Carolina, on Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024. (AP Photo/Karl B DeBlaker)

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Duke ends the season on Saturday against Wake up forest.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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