Well good luck with any real change.  A while ago someone in the woman’s thread posted negative comments about Assistant AD Megan Jahrling.


She is in charge of Crew.   

I did a little investigative work on my own and found out the negative comments concerning Jahrling were spot on and her popularity is very low.  Particularly with one coach.   

But even tbough no can see what she brings to the table,
Harper likes her,so case closed. 

Ask yourself what new and innovative things come from DU promotions?   What do they do beside those canned commercials on ESPN970 with the same script but with different coaches reading it.  “I’m Jim Ferry......, I’m Keith Dambot......, I’m Jerry Schmidt.  Join us for exciting action at......”.  You get the point.   

Actually I wish I hadn’t looked into more because a picture was painted which shows a demoralized athletic department.    I left the season with high hopes.  But when I talked to people those high hopes  were misplaced. 

She brings nothing to the table.  Nothing to help the Crew so no new ideas will be listened to.   

Sorry to piss on the off season.

I’m the “someone awhile ago”.    Thanks duqkurt for confirming what I heard was going on.  If Dave Harper is happy with her, fine.  It’s his call.  Obviously Dave doesn’t feel like it’s a big problem.  She’ll be there again for the 18-19 season.

Box & One wrote:

For your consideration:
Rhapsody in Blue
Blue Balls
The Wrecking Blue
Code Blue
Red Tide
Code Red
Red Buttons
Red Royality
Spiritan Zone
Section John 3:16
1955
Holy Ghost Yinzers
Dunk This
Section Slick
Bad Breath
6th Man
Hi Say To Your Mom For Me
Wilma Boyd
Commuter Majority
The Holy Ghost Majority
Bluff Thunder
Bluff n Stuff
Forbes Avenue
The Red Manning
412
The Quiet Man

Thanks for all the awesome suggestions.  Regarding Jarhling, that is really disappointing to hear.  I would think that the executive committee would have the autonomy to make any changes that they want, but maybe I am wrong?  I know when I was running The Crew that I was able to do pretty much whatever I wanted, but that was back when Mark Geller was in charge.  I don't know who is in charge of the Crew right now, and there is nothing listed on the website.  

Kurt,  I am sorry to hear about the negative attitude.  Are you suggesting that most people in the Athletic Dept. are disappointed with their job, or just that this one particular employee is causing issues.  If Harper is happy with Megan, then that is all that matters as he is the boss, but hopefully it isn't impacting the department as a whole.  

I think if it were up to me, I would change the name to The Dignified Dukes, or "The Red Royalty" and I would play up the theme.  Our section needs an identity that it is sorely missing.  I would see if I could buy the entire section cheap top hates and monocles, and we would try to play off being "above" or "royalty" to the filth that is the other team.  You have to think of this like a WWE superstar in a way.  

For the shirts, I would totally buy one of those fake tuxedo t-shirts and design it with Duquesne apparel.  Personally, I think that would be awesome and very unique for a student section.  See below only in Red or Blue or a mix of both.  

http://www.tuxedo-tshirts-online.com/original-tuxedo-t-shirt-heavy-cotton-in-8-colors/?gclid=Cj0KCQjw8YXXBRDXARIsAMzsQuVUNsU-DHZDeupNIGjFAq5CCHBRWXha256mFAm1byo16wp7ljKAGqEaAvSXEALw_wcB

 

Last edited by Simms (4/26/2018 9:26 am)

The Bluff Riders is a sweet name.  I can't believe that athletics is being so awful in regards to the group.  I would have quit the organization too!  I plan on emailing those in the know to see if I can make some change happen.  

Idea for creating autonomy - find a Donor to fund the RBC.
​Assumptions:
- This would not be an NCAA infraction/violation .. if so - idea is dead.
​- Run the RBC as an independent entity as an association or fraternal order
​- Create joining/entry & participation requirements & expectations
​- Students still get tix for free ... if not, make that part of the Donor operating model to buy the section .... in whatever part of Palumbo deemed. I.E buy the section behind the visitor bench
​- Behavior would adhere to Palumbo rules ... but thinking wearing top hats & monocles is okay

Box & One wrote:

Idea for creating autonomy - find a Donor to fund the RBC.
​Assumptions:
- This would not be an NCAA infraction/violation .. if so - idea is dead.
​- Run the RBC as an independent entity as an association or fraternal order
​- Create joining/entry & participation requirements & expectations
​- Students still get tix for free ... if not, make that part of the Donor operating model to buy the section .... in whatever part of Palumbo deemed. I.E buy the section behind the visitor bench
​- Behavior would adhere to Palumbo rules ... but thinking wearing top hats & monocles is okay

This was my first thought as well upon reading the thread. Why not say screw "your" red and blue crew, and just do your own. Geeze, if the rbc is essentially free labor carrying out the ADs wishes than why would students want to be a part of this anyway??? They even took away the voting rights???

This should be for, by, and exclusively a functoin of the students expressing their school spirit and support for the team.

I mean what does the athletic department offer from a value added standpoint??? I see the same folded flimsy face cutouts that have been there since I was a freshman 8 years ago. Do you even get a free t shirt? The athletic department could not realistically pull free student tickets.

Simply swiping your card at a station being worked by a non-athletics person is what gets you into the games. Could you imagine with all the momentum that the program has been picking up over the past year, what kind of media backlash we would recieve if students had to start paying to attend games because they started their own "student section", we would again being a laughing stock, especially given where current attendance levels currently are.

This should be looked upon as an opportunity for any enterprising students out there. Like Dambrot, someone can "be the change" to grow a real, passionate student fan base that follows their own rules and does what they want for games (in the parameters of what is acceptable obviously), rather than what they are told to do. This could be a grassroots thing done with social media, the Duquesne paper, and other methods of spreading information as there are countless ways to do this now. Would you rather have some generic internship on your resume or say you helped create, grow, and turn around a struggling student fanbase orginization to coincide with the success associated with the product on the court being turned around.

The players could also be a big help to getting people to come out by being more active and visible among the general student body from a day to day perspective IMO.

If I still lived in Pittsburgh I would personally volunteer my time to help the RBC.  As it stands, I am going to see what I can do as an alumni.  I am a school teacher, so I'm not exactly a weather donor, but my wife is done with Nurse Anesthetist school in February and I would be more likely to try to sponsor something at that time.  That said, I am going to reach out to some people in the Athletic Dept. to see what the heck is going on.  The issue is that there is no executive committee so I don't even have students I can message other than Yak who is no longer as involved.  If someone were in charge, it might be a start to talk with the Oakland Zoo and see how their organization is run.  It's easy to rip on Pitt, but I can't imagine the organization being rude to us.  

Since I made this organization official, it is obviously something I have passion for.  I'm all for change, and I wish I had thought of a better name back in the day. 

THE DUNKING DUKES !!
 

Thanks for the update and help Fjhryn and I will do same!

coffee wrote:

Good Gravy! Let the kids decide what they want to call themselves!

Bluff Riders??? Are you kidding me? "Hey guys, let's join the Bluff Riders!"

Code Red and Red Zone sound much more exciting to be part of than the boring Red and Blue Crew but the students are creative and should own the decision!

Lol, you have to keep in mind that Bluff Riders WAS a student suggestion according to Yak.  Also, it has connections to the DMX song "roughriders" that could be used as a song to pump up the crowd.

That said,  I agree with you.  This should be up to the students, not us.  I was offering suggestions because I wanted to communicate with the leaders of the group (and Meghan) to attempt some change.  

No offense, but based on past history they should be called "The Ghost Crew" because they are invisible and rarely show up.  What needs to change is the DU pathetic students school spirit not the name.