Duquesne Dukes
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Duquesne Dukes is the name of the athletic teams of Duquesne University of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Duquesne has played men's basketball only in NCAA Division I and has played football as a club team from 1891-1894, 1896-1903, 1913-1914, and 1920-1928, in the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) from 1929-1942 and 1947-1950, again as a club team from 1969-1978, in NCAA Division III from 1979-1992, and in the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) from 1993-present.
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[edit] Mascot
The "Dukes" nickname dates back to 1911, when what is now Duquesne University changed its name to honor the Marquis Du Quesne, the French governor of Canada, who first brought Catholic observances to the Pittsburgh area.
Since a Marquis and a Duke are not visually distinct (and the name "Duquesne" implies a "Duke"), the unofficial symbol of the school's athletic teams became a man dressed in a top hat, tails and a regal sash across his chest. "Dukes" being more readily recognized than "Marquis," the name Duke was popularly assigned to the symbol and stuck ever since the fall of 1911.
The Duquesne Department of Athletics unveiled its new "Duke" mascot prior to the 18 January 2003 game against Richmond. The Duke is 7-feet tall with an oversized head and sports a dapper navy blue suit with red piping, a red shirt with a red bow tie, and red gloves, with a black top hat. The new Duke replaces "Duke the Bear" who was a fixture at DU athletic events since 1996.
Duquesne's school colors of red and blue, the colors of the Congregation of the Holy Ghost, have been in place since the school's inception.[1]
[edit] University fight song
The Victory Song (Red and Blue) was written in 1926. Words and music were composed by Father Thomas J. Quigley (class of 1927).[2]
We'll sing hooray for the Red and Blue,
A big hooray for the Red and Blue;
For the flag we love on to victory,
And when the foe is down,
We will raise a mighty shout
And sing hooray for the Red and Blue;
We're all your sons and daughters true.
Now with all your might, give them
Fight! Fight! Fight!
For the grand old Red and Blue.
[edit] Basketball
- For extended information about the men's basketball team, see Duquesne Dukes men's basketball.
The Dukes men's basketball team has had great success over the years, playing twice in national championship games in the 1950s and winning the National Invitation Tournament championship in 1955. (At the time, the NIT was the premier collegiate basketball tournament in the country.) The men's basketball Dukes annually play their cross-town rival, the University of Pittsburgh Panthers, in Pittsburgh's much anticipated and highly attended City Game. The Dukes women's basketball team also plays the University of Pittsburgh every year in the women's version of the City Game.
[edit] Football
In 2008, the Dukes begin playing varsity football in 2008 in the NCAA Division I Northeast Conference. In recent years, Duquesne Football was a member of the NCAA Division I Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference, winning or sharing 11 conference titles, including eight in a row and 11 of the past 13.
Duquesne was the ECAC Bowl champions and NCAA Division I FCS Mid-Major National Champions in 2003. (The team was the 1995 ECAC Bowl Champions as well.)
The Dukes also had NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) success in the past, winning the 1934 Festival of Palms Bowl (played on January 1, 1934, but part of the 1933 season) and 1937 Orange Bowl (played on January 1, 1937, but part of the 1936 season). (There was only one level of major college football at the time.)
From 1933-42, Duquesne was among the elite college football teams in the United States, garnering the sixth-highest winning percentage (71-22-2, 0.762) in the nation behind Alabama, Tennessee, Duke, Fordham, and Notre Dame. In 1941, Duquesne finished the season undefeated and untied, earning a No. 8 Associated Press ranking while leading the nation in scoring defense, rushing defense, and total defense. (Duquesne also led all of NCAA Division I Football in scoring defense in 2002 and rushing defense, passing defense, and total defense in 2005.)
Duquesne is noted for establishing numerous firsts in collegiate football. Former head coach Elmer Layden is credited with devising the system of hand signals that officials use today. The signal system was put to use for the first time on November 11, 1928, when Duquesne hosted Thiel College at Pitt Stadium. Layden was also the first coach to use two sets of uniform jerseys for home and away contests. In 1929, graduate student manager John Holohan conceived the idea of Pittsburgh's first night game at Forbes Field. On the evening of November 1 that year, the Dukes made history by defeating Geneva College, 27-7, in front of more than 27,000 spectators.
At the club level, Duquesne won the 1973 National Club Football Association National Championship and was runner-up in 1977.
The Dukes football team also boasts the greatest all-time intraconference winning streak in NCAA Division I FCS history with 39 straight wins in the MAAC. The 39-game streak also ties for the second-longest intraconference winning streak in NCAA Division I Football history, five games shy of the all-time record.
Although Duquesne will offer football scholarships as it moves to the Northeast Conference as an associate member in 2008, the Dukes will still be in consideration for the NCAA Division I FCS Mid-Major National Championship as awarded by the Sports Network, at least until further notice.
The National Football League's Pittsburgh franchise has drafted more players out of Duquesne University than any other institution.
[edit] Yearly football results
(yellow = .500 record; soft orange = above .500 record; green = undefeated)
| Year | Wins | Losses | Ties | Coach | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | 6 | 4 | 0 | Jerry Schmitt | #8 NCAA Division I FCS Mid-Major (Sports Network) | Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Champions | |
| 2006 | 7 | 3 | 0 | Jerry Schmitt | #6 NCAA Division I FCS Mid-Major (Sports Network) | MAAC Champions | |
| 2005 | 7 | 3 | 0 | Jerry Schmitt | #3 NCAA Division I FCS Mid-Major (Sports Network) | MAAC Champions | |
| 2004 | 7 | 3 | 0 | Greg Gattuso | #5 NCAA Division I FCS Mid-Major (Sports Network) | MAAC Champions | |
| 2003 | 8 | 3 | 0 | Greg Gattuso | #1 NCAA Division I FCS Mid-Major (Sports Network) | MAAC Champions Eastern College Athletic Conference Bowl Champions |
NCAA Division I FCS Mid-Major National Champions |
| 2002 | 11 | 1 | 0 | Greg Gattuso | #2 NCAA Division I FCS Mid-Major (Sports Network) | MAAC Champions | |
| 2001 | 8 | 3 | 0 | Greg Gattuso | #4 NCAA Division I FCS Mid-Major (Sports Network) | MAAC Champions | |
| 2000 | 10 | 1 | 0 | Greg Gattuso | MAAC Champions | ||
| 1999 | 8 | 3 | 0 | Greg Gattuso | MAAC Champions | ||
| 1998 | 8 | 3 | 0 | Greg Gattuso | |||
| 1997 | 7 | 3 | 0 | Greg Gattuso | |||
| 1996 | 10 | 1 | 0 | Greg Gattuso | MAAC Champions | ||
| 1995 | 10 | 1 | 0 | Greg Gattuso | MAAC Champions ECAC Bowl Champions |
||
| 1994 | 6 | 4 | 0 | Greg Gattuso | |||
| 1993 | 4 | 6 | 0 | Greg Gattuso | |||
| 1992 | 5 | 4 | 0 | Dan McCann | |||
| 1991 | 0 | 9 | 0 | Dan McCann | |||
| 1990 | 1 | 8 | 1 | Dan McCann | |||
| 1989 | 6 | 4 | 0 | Dan McCann | |||
| 1988 | 2 | 7 | 0 | Dan McCann | |||
| 1987 | 2 | 7 | 0 | Terry Russell | |||
| 1986 | 5 | 3 | 1 | Terry Russell | |||
| 1985 | 3 | 6 | 0 | Terry Russell | |||
| 1984 | 3 | 5 | 1 | Terry Russell | |||
| 1983 | 5 | 4 | 1 | Dan McCann | |||
| 1982 | 6 | 3 | 0 | Dan McCann | |||
| 1981 | 4 | 5 | 0 | Dan McCann | |||
| 1980 | 4 | 5 | 0 | Dan McCann | |||
| 1979 | 5 | 4 | 0 | Dan McCann | |||
| 1978 | 5 | 3 | 0 | Dan McCann | #7 club football (National Club Football Association) | ||
| 1977 | 7 | 2 | 0 | Dan McCann | #2 club football (NCFA) | ||
| 1976 | 6 | 2 | 0 | Dan McCann | #4 club football (NCFA) | ||
| 1975 | 5 | 4 | 0 | Dan McCann | |||
| 1974 | 5 | 2 | 0 | Dan McCann | #6 club football (NCFA) | ||
| 1973 | 10 | 0 | 0 | Dan McCann | #1 club football (NCFA) | NCFA National Champions | |
| 1972 | 7 | 1 | 0 | Dan McCann | #3 club football (NCFA) | ||
| 1971 | 4 | 4 | 0 | Dan McCann | |||
| 1970 | 4 | 3 | 1 | Dan McCann | #15 club football (NCFA) | ||
| 1969 | 2 | 4 | 0 | Joe Nicoletti | |||
| 1950 | 2 | 6 | 1 | Phil Ahwesh / Doc Skender | |||
| 1949 | 3 | 6 | 0 | Phil Ahwesh | |||
| 1948 | 2 | 7 | 0 | Kass Kovalcheck | |||
| 1947 | 2 | 8 | 0 | Kass Kovalcheck | |||
| 1942 | 6 | 3 | 0 | Aldo Donelli | |||
| 1941 | 8 | 0 | 0 | Aldo Donelli | #8 NCAA Division I FBS (Associated Press) | ||
| 1940 | 7 | 1 | 0 | Aldo Donelli | |||
| 1939 | 8 | 0 | 1 | Aldo Donelli | #10 NCAA Division I FBS (AP) | ||
| 1938 | 4 | 6 | 0 | Clipper Smith | |||
| 1937 | 6 | 4 | 0 | Clipper Smith | |||
| 1936 | 8 | 2 | 0 | Clipper Smith | #14 NCAA Division I FBS (AP) | Orange Bowl Champions | |
| 1935 | 6 | 3 | 0 | Christy Flanagan | |||
| 1934 | 8 | 2 | 0 | Joe Bach | |||
| 1933 | 10 | 1 | 0 | Elmer Layden | Festival of Palms Bowl Champions | ||
| 1932 | 7 | 2 | 1 | Elmer Layden | |||
| 1931 | 3 | 5 | 3 | Elmer Layden | |||
| 1930 | 7 | 3 | 0 | Elmer Layden | |||
| 1929 | 9 | 0 | 1 | Elmer Layden | |||
| 1928 | 8 | 1 | 0 | Elmer Layden | |||
| 1927 | 4 | 4 | 1 | Elmer Layden | |||
| 1926 | 2 | 5 | 1 | Frank McDermott | |||
| 1925 | 0 | 7 | 0 | Frank McDermott | |||
| 1924 | 2 | 4 | 2 | Mike Shortley | |||
| 1923 | 4 | 4 | 0 | Hal Ballin | |||
| 1922 | 0 | 8 | 0 | Hal Ballin | |||
| 1921 | 0 | 4 | 1 | E.A. Jake Stahl | |||
| 1920 | 3 | 3 | 1 | E.A. Jake Stahl | |||
| 1914 | 1 | 5 | 0 | Dr. Budd | |||
| 1913 | 3 | 5 | 1 | Dr. Budd | |||
| 1903 | 3 | 5 | 0 | T.A. Giblin | |||
| 1902 | 1 | 6 | 0 | T.A. Giblin | |||
| 1901 | 1 | 1 | 0 | Coach Unknown | Record Incomplete | ||
| 1900 | 2 | 3 | 1 | Coach Unknown | Record Incomplete | ||
| 1899 | 2 | 0 | 2 | Walker | Record Incomplete | ||
| 1898 | 5 | 4 | 1 | J. Van Cleve | Record Incomplete | ||
| 1897 | 2 | 4 | 1 | J.P. Wolfe | Record Incomplete | ||
| 1896 | 12 | 1 | 0 | Mr. Brown | |||
| 1894 | 9 | 3 | 0 | Coach Unknown |
1891-1893: Results Unavailable
[edit] Other varsity sports
The Dukes wrestling squad has also been immensely successful, although it competes as an Independent in NCAA Division I. The Dukes wrestlers have won two NCAA Division I East Regional Championships (2000 and 2005) and have sent at least one wrestler to the NCAA Championships every year during John Hartupee's 11 seasons as head coach, the position he currently holds.
Duquesne fielded an NCAA varsity rifle team for many years (a coed sport). This team competed in the Middle Atlantic Rifle Conference, claiming a share of the conference title in the 2001-02 season. The team officially disbanded after the 2003-04 season.
Recently, Duquesne's Olympic/"non-revenue" sports have been led by distance runner Tom Slosky, a member of the university's cross country and indoor and outdoor track & field teams. Slosky is a four-time Atlantic 10 champion--winning a team and individual cross country title in 2005 and 2007, respectively, and the conference's 3,000-meter steeplechase as a member of Duquesne's outdoor track & field program in 2005 and 2006--as well as a two-time IC4A champion in the 3,000-meter steeplechase (2006 and 2007). Slosky also was a 3,000-meter steeplechase competitor in the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships in 2006 and 2007--advancing to the final heat in 2007--and a competitor in the 2007 NCAA Division I Cross Country Championships.
[edit] Club sports
Duquesne fields many club, or non-varsity, teams that compete regularly against other schools. Club sports offered at Duquesne are men's indoor track & field, men's rowing, men's ice hockey, and men's roller hockey.
The men's indoor track & field program practices and competes alongside Duquesne's varsity women's indoor track & field program during the winter months and is affiliated with the Intercollegiate Association of Amateur Athletes of America. The men's team is recognized as varsity during the spring months when it becomes an outdoor track & field program and competes in the Atlantic 10, although it maintains its affiliation with the IC4A.
The men's rowing program generally practices and competes alongside Duquesne's varsity women's rowing team.
The men's ice hockey team is affiliated with the Division I level of the American Collegiate Hockey Association, competing in the College Hockey Mid-America conference. The team was CHMA champions during the 2006–07 season.
The men's roller hockey team competed as a Division II team in the National Collegiate Roller Hockey Association (NCRHA)'s Eastern Collegiate Roller Hockey Association (ECRHA), specifically in the Central Conference. The team is currently inactive.
[edit] Atlantic Ten championships
For a complete list of the University's Atlantic 10 champions, both team and individual, see Duquesne University Atlantic 10 Champions.
Duquesne's first full/"postseason" Atlantic 10 team championship came in 1977 with a men's championship in the Eastern Collegiate Basketball League (the forerunner to the Eastern Athletic Association—now known as the Atlantic 10 Conference. The Dukes' only other full/"postseason" Atlantic 10 team championship came in 2005 by way of men's cross country, but the Dukes have also won numerous regular season Atlantic 10 team championships. Men's basketball was co-champion of the league's regular seasons in both 1980 and 1981 when it was known as the Eastern Athletic Association. Men's soccer was co-champion of the league's regular season in 2003, sole champion in 2004, and again co-champion in 2005. Women's lacrosse was co-champion of the league's regular seasons in both 2004 and 2005.
The Dukes have crowned numerous full Atlantic 10 individual champions in men's cross country (1), women's rowing (4), men's and women's swimming and diving [15 (men), 8 (women)], women's indoor track and field (8), and men's and women's outdoor track & field [11 (men), 8 (women)].
[edit] References
- ^ Why Dukes?. Official Athletic Site. Duquesne University. Retrieved on 2007-10-15.
- ^ The Duquesne University Fight Song. Official Athletic Site. Duquesne University. Retrieved on 2007-10-15.
[edit] External links and sources
- Dukes Chat
- Official Web Site of Duquesne University Athletics
- Official 2007 NCAA Division I Football Records Book
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