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Over the past 30 years, I agree that certain individuals in the Athletic Department have been less than motivated and I have had issues with one or two people. But this string makes it sound that everyone there has been lazy and just collecting a paycheck; and that the Athletic Department has done little to nothing to attract ticket holders or media coverage. I have to disagree with that perception and soften that criticism. It's true there was some turnover in the A10 in the early '90s. Penn State left after the '90-91 season on its way to the Big 10. WVU and Rutgers would both leave after '94-95 for the Big East. But Colleary was on the record in one of the local papers as saying Duquesne thought it could dominate the MCC and more people would come to Palumbo to see the Dukes play as opposed to the opposition. The old, "we'll win if we play in a weaker conference" argument that's been debunked so many times on this board and its predecessors. Right idea, "win and they will come" wrong way to get there. This post, all in the athletic department, should be directed more to the AD's staff. It sounds like the "help" is being blamed. The "help" will always do what the leaders ask. They will get the APJ ready for all the games and will adapt to the size of the crowds. The "help" has been there in the past and will be in the future. I was there then, early 90s, it was fun. I can still remember. I missed the FSU game, was studying for an anatomy and physiology final. I heard cheers from the Palumbo all the way up in Towers. You're right; no Charlie Ward; but Bobby Sura had a ridiculous game. I remember thinking throughout the game how different the Dukes' fortunes would have been if Sura committed to the Dukes instead of the Seminoles. True, no Charlie Ward but looking at the box score, they had Sam Cassell who played 15 years in the NBA. So we beat a pretty good. I was there for that one.
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Re: TO THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO WORK AT DUQUESNE ATHLETIC DEPT
Much effort by individuals and many department initiatives have taken place over the years to try to attract students, faculty, alums and basketball fans to the Palumbo. Hundreds of ideas have been tried; most, if not all, of the ideas in this string. The problem has been the less than acceptable product that Duquesne men's basketball has put on the floor for most of the last 30 years and the sub-par facility. Not to mention the number of times when some momentum was building, you get a larger crowd into Palumbo/PPG and watched the team lay an egg. You also have a changing media landscape that has moved from an obligation to cover Duquesne to one that is primarily chasing eyeballs and ears - giving the people want they want (and it hasn't been Duquesne basketball).
Wins will increase the demand, and then the marketing, media relations, game day atmosphere and fan engagement of the Athletic Department can be fully judged.
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Re: TO THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO WORK AT DUQUESNE ATHLETIC DEPT
As it turned out, the Dukes went just 5-9 in their one MCC year. If I remember correctly, many of the MCC teams played a slower-paced, more deliberate style that John Carroll really struggled to coach against. I remember watching losses to Evansville and LaSalle that both seemed like dying of a thousand paper cuts. Yet that was the Duquesne team that beat Florida State, then ranked No. 10 in the country and on its way to the Elite 8, and later beat Notre Dame, albeit a weak Notre Dame team, in South Bend. They closed out the regular season by hammering Xavier, then ranked No. 18 in the country, at Palumbo. The same Xavier team that would almost take down No. 1 Indiana in the NCAA tourney a couple weeks later.
Oh well, onward and upward.
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Re: TO THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO WORK AT DUQUESNE ATHLETIC DEPT
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Re: TO THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO WORK AT DUQUESNE ATHLETIC DEPT
PhoenixRising2 wrote:townsonkid wrote:
Charlie Ward didnt play tho, correct, he was prepping for a bowl game?
Box score below.
WE ARE CREEPING UP TO THE SECOND FLOOR....
