© Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports
Duke Basketball Receives Special Visit From Dallas Celebrity
Longtime Duke basketball enthusiast Tony Romo offered some words of wisdom and encouragement to the Blue Devils.
Duke basketball has a long list of celebrity fans that features people such as actor Ken Jeong or former NFL running back Todd Gurley III. But the No. 4 seed Blue Devils got a surprise visit from another famous fan following their 54-51 victory over No. 1 seed Houston on Friday night in Dallas' American Airlines Center.
RELATED: Duke Breaks Tie With Rival for One NCAA Tournament Record
After the postgame celebrations, the team was treated to a visit from former Dallas Cowboys quarterback and current CBS broadcaster Tony Romo, a well-documented Duke basketball fan who attended Friday’s game with his sons.
While head coach Jon Scheyer spoke to the team, Romo hung around the doorway to the locker room before Scheyer turned to the four-time Pro Bowler and gave him a chance to speak with the team. With everyone in the room full of high spirits, Romo immediately poked fun at both his old age and Scheyer as he addressed the team.
"I don’t know if you guys know, but I’m a Duke fan just to give you a head’s up," the 43-year-old said. "While you guys were in diapers, I was teaching Scheyer how to play basketball."
The former Cowboy stayed in the locker room and posed for pictures with the players, including a shot with Jeremy Roach, Tyrese Proctor, and Kyle Filipowski that was shared on the Duke basketball social media accounts late Friday night.
With Sunday’s Elite Eight matchup with No. 11 seed NC State at 5:05 p.m. ET also being played in Dallas, Scheyer made sure that Romo would be returning to watch the Blue Devils try and punch their ticket to the Final Four.
After assuring them that he "wouldn’t miss it for anything," the 14-year NFL veteran then gave the Blue Devils one bit of coaching advice:
"If you play defense like that and box out like that, you ain’t losing."
Duke looks to reach the program's 18th Final Four.
Stay tuned to Blue Devil Country on SI for more Duke basketball news.
