Hopefully all are well! I can't wait to see how the Dukes fare this year. I am really looking forward to, and pipe dream to go but I know Wife would fuss more than I can take anymore , to the YSU game. I think they could finally take them this year. YSU I believe have the most experience at LB maybe D-line but I think next year for them will still be a relatively young team. I held out hope a few years ago but the Penguins jumped all over the Dukes early. But again I don't think they are at their "beat FBS Pitt" level, maybe a notch lower year while they gain experience. The Dukes may be able to hang but they probably need to go through the air...

Can they ever get a YSU to come to the Burgh? Still wonder why The Dukes most famous alums the Rooney's could not make a provision for a Duquesne Home Game at Heinz, or even a game at Highmark with a little more difference "ambiance" than Rooney Field...

How many seats would they add to the bluff?...

How does it work the 2 Rival Universities will have UPMC Centers? Great Pitt advertisement, but that name at other competing institutions is weird...

When is the next FBS opponent? is it WVU in 2023? Last year wetted my appetite for FBS, Maybe they can get UConn on board since they are independent?....

Last, not sure I am feeling the "blade" lettering D. I love the classic D, that is Them plain and simple and recognizable imho. The blade D is just weird looking, Its not that I "fear change" but just plain and simple it does not look good. Maybe it will slightly grow on me but I still say they should have stayed with the classic. It reminds me of how the Pitt Dinosaur-Cat Head from late nineties sort of grew on me, the blocky head was interesting but Pitt should have never went to the gold and blue everyone uses and the new age symbol. Through thick or thin all recognize the Mustard Yellow and light royal blue and the script Pitt. The old English D is classic!
 

Again definitely the stadium issue. But again I do see them working out something with highmark and/or enticing some visitors with an occasional off week at Heinz. Realistically who would they move up to?

Pioneer: Same conference strength maybe an inch higher in play. But more spread out travel.  Marist and lots of Dayton games over the years. Again too much travel and not a high enough jump to me for a move.

the "Valley" conferences: Missouri valley home of a "burb of the Burgh" YSU. Definate step up but realistically on football field doable. Again a league that would demand a stadium upgrade. Could sneak up every couple of years for a run, sandwiched in between top team beatdowns (YSU already has) and mid tier wins here and there (I.E. Sycamores). A little far travel to the west but a bus league, on verge of needing to fly to these places.

Ohio Valley about the same but more southwest travels. Probably overall would be more competitive right away in this league. I do not think any "huge" powerhouse in this group. Solid teams that share the spotlight a little more. Again though most if not all have much better stadiums. not WPIAL single A facility. :/ 

Patriot League: Like the Pioneer just a few notches above, better than pioneer but not by too much. Honestly this would be a Good Fit. Travel is nice. Dukes could be competitive right away. BUT I think the hold up may be the Dukes are perceived to be academically inferior enough not to be invited. Much like ACC I guess did not add WVU. IDK, it little silly/pompous to me. But that also said in reality they offer a few more schollies I think but are relatively a 1 bid league. Is that really moving up? 

CAA- If Albany is there the Dukes could be. I assume, while about equal on the field, they offer more schollies than the NEC they left. I look at their competitiveness there and the Dukes probably are on Par. Again however, the Danes have a nice 10,000 Seat facility. I know this is offset more by 10,000 more

Just random thoughts...

1. Was expecting Alex Smith to be in the QB fray this year. I guess the Juco route was too enticing. Good or bad it seems Duquesne is starting to be a program enticing the old school drop back passers that have been neglected for the "roll out athlete" type for programs in transition from one coach to another. The Duquesne QB is a niche market.

2. I was very disappointed in the Umass score. The Dukes never gave themselves a chance to keep it close like Buffalo. Umass is improved with experience but not convinced that they are wholesale better than that Buffalo team of a few years ago. Just meaning this game should have been much closer to that game. A 28 to 35/42 Umass victory. Umass with an athlete or 2 to burn a "less" athletic nickel/3rd string Duquesne D back.  I think the Duquesne vs. Lock Haven was more indicative of what the Dukes will be...

3. That said do the Dukes beat a higher level PSAC school now? IDK, a decade ago  they had some rough scrimmages vs. better PSAC comp than Lock Haven. I do think the Dukes beat that level by a touchdown in a shootout, but still will avoid scheduling them. The Dukes win or lose are up to getting on the "big boys" schedule which at 1 time was the FCS Powerhouses, YSU & Liberty (now FBS). They have reached the money games of FBS on a consistent basis. It is win/win now they have to focus on. They make money from these schools, it is higher profile, If they get blown out? Oh well they should have lost, If they win they are the mightly Underdog story. Although I would love to see where my IUP stands now, If I were Duquesne I stay far away from them , a Cal or the Rock. Much like Pitt needs to stay away early form YSU or a James Madison. Those are NO WIN situations. in reality a healthy top level 1 step lower team can field an equivalent, or very close, starting 22. Again first game there is no fear of depth.

4. Cant wait to see Hawaii. Although they have a spread offense and passing. Sadly they c

...I imagine a lot has to do a lot with the "stadium" :/ ...Still Really think that is what keeps many teams coming to the bluff. The Rooney's are a Duquesne family. They SHOULD have been or able to "let the city" use Heinz for at least 1 game a year. Whether a Pitt away game, no games on an odd weekend, or a Thursday night warmer weather tilt. Also with less city schools the Rooney field should be a track, practice field and utilize cupples within walking distance. Shuttle from the ample parking in station square. 9000 probably a little more appealing with the travel than a 1000 seat practice field.

General thoughts, and alluding to other post:

"What is the vibe in Pittsburg on Duquesne football?"

I am a Pitt fan first, primarily because of FBS Hometown School status. When not playing Pitt I actually am a WVU fan also, for the same reasons. If you don't know Pittsburgh  (btw with an H at the end )  if your a faster driver WVU is no more than 70 minutes from from the city core. Essentially it is the Greater Pittsburgh MSA. Imho, Pitt is the city school fans are College alum and educated folk, & to a lesser extent some  City folks that were Steel mills people in and around city root for them because they are "Pittsburgh". WVU co joined to some of of the counties directly south and have more fans than Pitt because they are Appalachia and the Coal Miner region. I say all that to say I am a Duquesne fan because they are also the City, I have taken more interest in the past few years since the NEC stepped its game up and can actually make it to the FCS playoffs. I honestly would like them to step up more. Meaning, give more Schollies and a serious college home venue. In Todays economy may not be realistic but again either build up the stadium that currently is a small high school level, or fix up a close high school field they used to utilize within walking distance that could seat up to 12,000 I believe. Also what has intrigued, and saddens me, they are battling for and bringing in kids that are getting legitimate looks or offers from lower tier FBS teams and YSU, and they pretty much get all the local kid FBS transfers. The part that hurts is it has taken some away from my D2 alma mater that used to get some of these kids, now even with somewhat similar scholarship parameters it is more attractive to play for a school in a higher profile division. 

Also saying all that , I did not realize up until recently how bad our media is. Frankly I love the Steelers, but not the NFL over the

Think they got too comfortable from such a game at JMU. YSU/JMU similar programs in that their starting 22 imho are lower mid level FBS roster. The Dukes came so close, came close to beating Buffalo which Albany beat them to :/ ...Pipe dream but would love to see the Dukes keep stepping it up scholarship/program facilities wise to another level. Almost would like to see fix up the far end of cupples and use that again, Use Rooney for practice, Too small. But ultimately have to get the crowd anyways but Pittsburgh Media does not help, they barely cover FBS schools, too much time dogging Pitt and barely cover WVU 80 minutes down the road.

Also how is the transfer Davidson doing?