And that, my friends, is how you build an athletic brand.

Questions?

Why are we a distant three? By my count, our athletic programs are 4-1 against rmu this fall. There's no guarantee their basketball success will survive the inevitable departure of toole. And as for the university as a whole, I think we are in fine shape as evidenced by the annual increase in the national rankings and the very successful fundraising totals. RMU is nowhere to be found in those same publications despite some recent basketball success. We all agree that the basketball program needs to be better run, but let's not pretend rmu is on the same level as a university and athletic programs

ElDuque wrote:

The president calls off campus students sluts, the basketball program hasn't been to the NCAAs since 1977, and web analytics say that among Internet users, only 34% of people view Duquesne positively.

Outside of Pittsburgh, the university is basically unknown. In Pittsburgh it's Bobby Mo getting the nice articles while we're criticized for indigent faculty members dying and anything the outgoing president says.

If you think everything is hunky dory that's OK. But some of us are unhappy about it and are hoping the new president and AD can turn it around.

Ditto​
 

Last edited by KenOTR73 (11/11/2015 7:12 am)

Dukes2012, the point of this article is that the RMU president, AD and Board understand the correlation of winning big in their major sports programs and growth, fund raising, alumni pride, branding and national recognition.  In the 50's & 60's the Duquesne name was highly recognized and known as a national basketball powerhouse, much like Gonzaga today.   Over the last 40 years the DU Administration has destroyed the Duquesne brand though willful neglect and indifference.  Trust me in my job I have dealt with people all over the US and the farther you go from Pittsburgh the less people have heard of Duquesne.  The DU Administration has never really been serious about winning in the A10.  They have not recognized the level of investment it takes to win, nor do they understand the benefits to be derived.  If DU is serious they need to commit to be a top 5 in terms of spending in the league like Dayton.  That is why I want to know if the new president, a guy who I understand never goes to any basketball game, gets it or is just more of the same. 


 

The low percentage of positive views is a direct result of union people giving the school bad marks, given the schools' recent fights to stave off unionization. You didn't address what will happen at rmu once toole leaves. They do not have a good history, conference, or academic reputation to fall back on. Look, I get it. We are all frustrated with the lack of progress in basketball. The people running the school have ignored it for way too long. But again, let's not pretend the university is struggling and is on the same level as rmu, because the facts just don't support that conclusion.

Dukes2012 wrote:

The low percentage of positive views is a direct result of union people giving the school bad marks, given the schools' recent fights to stave off unionization. You didn't address what will happen at rmu once toole leaves. They do not have a good history, conference, or academic reputation to fall back on. Look, I get it. We are all frustrated with the lack of progress in basketball. The people running the school have ignored it for way too long. But again, let's not pretend the university is struggling and is on the same level as rmu, because the facts just don't support that conclusion.

As far as Toole, RMU success began before him and to his credit he built on it.  RMU has consistently made good hires.  Jarrett was the first good hire who took RMU to the NCAA, followed by Schmitt, and like him or not Mie Rice (both of whom went on to bigger programs).  I  do not think RMU would miss a beat if Toole left because the have the will and commitment to win. Don't be surprised if you see them move to a higher conference in the future.  BTW the word "frustration" doesn't nearly describe what many long suffering fans like myself feel. 
 

Can someone please take this article to the new AD and President? RMU is in the middle of no where and has nothing to offer. We are in the heart of downtown with a beautiful campus and even better students. I could not agree more with the whole Gonzaga thing. If even just the basketball team was good it would help increase the recruits of all sports. It will also help with recruiting smart and better students which in turn makes the university better. It seems like such a no brainer and it makes me EXTREMELY mad that they refuse to do anything while freaking RMU is doing great. 

CLK, I just want to clarify my stance. I am in no way making excuses for the administration's lack of investment in athletics, specifically basketball. It is shortsighted and, frankly, just bad business. As someone who spent his freshman year at George mason, I am a great example of what basketball success can do to raise a university's profile. No way I would have even heard of that school without their magical run to the final 4. However, I just don't want our collective disgust with the state of the basketball program and the administration's lack of support to keep us from recognizing that there are some very good things going on at our alma mater right now. Never has the school been stronger financially and our academic programs are continuing to improve. Now let's just hope that ken Gormley understands that strong athletic programs are the best and easiest way to market our university nationwide. I already like what I see from the new AD. Zach tweeted last night that he has seen the AD at nearly every athletic event he has covered

Here ya go CLK:  David Harper      harperd1@duq.edu

You are well respected and I think it should come from you.  A strong, loyal fan.

Dukes2012 please do not take our reaction to any lack of urgency as a disregard for your points, but to those of us that have been around "forever" your views are somewhat naive.  The lack of unionization of faculty has nothing to do with this schools over all perception. The university has done nothing for years to improve its standing in the community. The slide down the rabbit hole has gone on for years. I totally agree with CLK, if your hope for RMU's demise is Toole's departure don't hold your breath. The school has a established reputation and I believe they have the internals in place to make a good hire and candidates would be excited about the opportunity. Do a little research on our hire of Ferry. Enough said.

http://triblive.com/mobile/9394507-96/duquesne-think-university

Ken Gormley begins charting Duquesne University's future
By Eric Heyl
Friday, Nov. 13, 2015, 8:57 p.m.

Q: When can long-suffering Duquesne sports fans expect a consistently competitive men's basketball program?

A: We're doing great in a lot of Olympic sports (but) men's basketball has been just this elusive thing for Duquesne fans for decades and I'm well aware of it. I talk to alums all the time and I feel the pain. But I do think this is a time of great opportunity. We have a new athletic director, Dave Harper, and I see him as a secret weapon. He not only has extensive experience in building an athletic program at Dayton, but he has extensive experience in fundraising, which is the other key component of this.

Obviously, if you have a successful men's basketball team, or any athletic program, that generates excitement for the whole campus, for alums and for the region — and it can bring in revenue, which many institutions have figured out. So I think it's important to try to establish funding at a level consistent with top schools in the Atlantic 10. And that's the one thing I think would be an immediate priority: to look at the big picture of athletics and see how that can be accomplished.

Thank heaven he knows we have a basketball team.  On a related note, the attendance last night, under 1000 rests solely on the shoulders of Ferry.  Though I did NOT like the AD - and he did hire this coach, we all know that if you win folks will come.  You can have all of the give aways, half-time shows, and free t-shirts in the world...if you don't win games there won't be anyone there to get the give-aways, see the shows, or get the t-shirts.
Not to be cruel, but I thought the dance team was a step down from the last two years, the cheerleaders about the same, but I thought the pep band did a nice job.

Last edited by FAM (11/14/2015 3:12 pm)