My posts/recaps are usually pretty long, but I'll try not to go overboard, but... I probably will.

I can't remember a more amazing week in all of sports in this town. And I'm a pretty avid sports fan for all the major teams here. I've been to Stanley Cup finals, the Super Bowl in Tampa, and the Cueto game... but this week was something out of a storybook. I've said it a couple times already, this should be a 30 for 30. Something like:

Our history as a school, breaking barriers and a winning tradition, but then trying to find a winning path again and again and again, Keith's almost not being able to coach again, but a kid from Akron changed his future, a regime change that finally cared, getting that coach this team needed, building the house that was required to compete, and a fan base that believed. A family, a brotherhood formed, both inside and out of those four lines. One that would support this team even when things looked dire. And to boot a man trying to do right by his wife, who was battling for her live. And then it happens... lightning in a bottle. A run that hasn't been seen for decades. Winning an A10 championship, people from across the US finally recognizing who we are on that selection Sunday. And then an announcement, the man that brought us here would retire to care for his wife, but leaving this university in a better place. But the mission wasn't over... Then more articles, interviews, press conferences, national coverage that never has been seen before. Millions of people searching Duquesnes website. Mr James sending sneakers to our boys. But then, when we think it couldn't get any better. We win... We win against a team that most didn't think we could handle. Our boys put us on the map, people are asking how to pronounce this teams name, and we remind them. My buddy Bobby cancels class and goes viral. Keith is talking to Scott Van Pelt. Getting mentions several times on Pat McAfee. ESPN talking about our team, our town, our history. People, not just hoop fans, but people across the US know our story, the Duquesne Dukes are on the loose again. 😁

I know it ended pretty quickly with Illinois, but I for one wasn't sad, mad for a hot second sure, but the path to get here was not a quick one. And I think the board needs to change it's thinking a bit... we finally accomplished the goal! Now we have to improve on it. So instead of looking at the past negatively, I like to think of the coaches before as chapters, the players as pages, but we couldn't get to THIS ending without them. But we had to bring in someone special to write the ending...

But now it's a new era, maybe we can build upon this years success and get back to those glory years of the past. If it's Dru I'll support him whole heartedly, but the Dambrot era has ended, let's make sure the new era is even better. Go to the games, support where we can with NIL, repost that article, and just like how we were a part of this era, let's create this new one together boys.

I'll end with during the NCAA tournament I was in Vegas sporting all my Dukes gear every day. People from Pittsburgh and across the US came up to be to talk Dukes. Fans or not. A couple name pronunciation corrections. A couple retellings of our story. High fives! Go Dukes chants. I felt proud... and this time it wasn't just hyperbole, because I talk us up every year to my out of state friends, Duquesne is back baby! And we are just getting started...

Last edited by StillatShales (3/25/2024 9:22 pm)