Rooney Field -- DUQUESNE DUKES FOOTBALL FORUM

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Subject: Rooney Field

Author:
A83
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Date Posted: Sunday, August 31, 08:57:33pm

I was on campus today and saw the completed Rooney Field renovations. When the plans were announced, I was a little underwhelmed.

But having seen it in person, I must admit it is a marked improvement. And there is definitely room for expansion if warranted.

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[> Subject: Re: Rooney Field

Author:
Doug
[Edit]
Date Posted: Monday, September 01, 09:18:24am

You hit the nail on the head. "Expansion if warranted". Two ways of looking at it here. Would more come if it were a bigger college experience and seating or should we build more stands if they fill what we have.

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[> [> Subject: Re: Rooney Field

Author:
A83
[Edit]
Date Posted: Monday, September 01, 09:31:29am

It would have to be fill what you have first. FYI, that press box was built with no planning or foresight. It is huge and takes up the majority of the seats at the 50.

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[> [> [> Subject: Re: Rooney Field

Author:
Duke of Earl
[Edit]
Date Posted: Monday, September 01, 10:40:44am

I agree- They should either jack it up or move it back it they can.

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[> Subject: Re: Rooney Field

Author:
Always a Duke
[Edit]

Date Posted: Friday, September 05, 08:18:48am

Last night, September 4th, I attended the Dukes-Pitt men's soccer game. (Results: 0-0 tie in 2 overtimes.) I sat in the same seats that I will have for the upcoming football season located in Section 3, Row C (the last row in this section). This is supposedly the premier section roughly spanning the 40 to 40 yard lines and located immediately in front of the press box. When I ordered these tickets, I was told that that each seat in this section would have seat backs, thus making them more comfortable than the bleacher seats used in the other sections of the field. Unfortunately the seat backs in Row C are mounted too close to the railing located immediately behind the row resulting in one's back pressed uncomfortably against the railing.

At the game I spoke to a gentleman who worked for the prime contractor or subcontractor on the Rooney Field Renovation Project. He said that the plastic seat backs were a last minute selection when it was discovered that the actual construction of this section was not consistent with the architect's plans for the seat backs. While I eventually was able to modify my normal sitting position in the seat to accommodate the railing, it is very disappointing that such a mistake was made. I believe that a possible remedy would be to remove the railing and remount it 3 to 4 inches back from the seat backs. If any of you Dukes' football fans are able to get to Rooney Field in the next few days, why not try out the seats in this section to see if you agree. I plan on bringing this to the Athletic Dept.'s attention.

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[> [> Subject: Re: Rooney Field

Author:
A83
[Edit]

Date Posted: Friday, September 05, 09:35:53am

I will check it out and let you know. I usually attend a few soccer games a year and most football games.

I really wanted to make it to the DU Pitt game but could not.

Also, most of these board members love the current administration (almost to a fault) and gush over them repeatedly. I think they have done a good job, but the adoration with still no NCAA tournaments in any sports...well, I think the jury is still out. Usually, they will take offense to anything said negatively about the administration.

Just a friendly warning. Not so much here, but especially on the BB board.

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[> [> [> Subject: Re: Rooney Field

Author:
Coffee
[Edit]

Date Posted: Friday, September 05, 06:45:46pm

I agree with your view of how the BB board views the administration, but they have promoted BB longer and louder than FB. We get a new field, but a tiny one. We get scholarships, but wipe out the marching band. We get a radio contract but only schedule 10 games. We move up in conference, but are still in the bottom two in all the BCS.

Still, it is a vast improvement over the past, so I'll feel gratefull.

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[> [> [> [> Subject: Re: Rooney Field

Author:
A83
[Edit]

Date Posted: Friday, September 05, 09:25:25pm

Gosh, I really thought it was just me. There are certain subjects that are forbidden over there. And the elimination of the marching band (a foolish, short-sighted decision) is forbidden topic number one. I wonder if there will be a seated band for football. I know one was promised, but I have heard there is no band as of yet for football. I don't know if that is true, but as of Wednesday that is what I heard from a source.

And if there is, I certainly hope it is a different director than who lead the bb band last season. I have never witnessed a band director with less pep or interest in what he is doing. They made a horrible mistake in getting rid of the former band lady.

Why were only 10 football games scheduled? That puzzles me.

Anyone else interested in mens soccer team? We host the A-10s and have been a steady tourney qualifier. We were picked to miss the tourney by the A-10 coachs pool, but even when we made it we never got respect there. Will we finish in top six?

Another soccer question, why (and this has happened the last five years or so) are all the A-10 home games at beginning of season and then they finish the season with 5 or 6 straight road games. Last year, the played first 5 or 6 at home, remaining A-10 games at home. Other A-10 teams do not have this odd schedule.

Is Greg Annan (sp?) back to 100% after his injury? He was really doing well his junior year before getting injured and red-shirted. Any newcomers to look for?

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[> [> [> [> [> Subject: Re: Rooney Field

Author:
Always a Duke
[Edit]

Date Posted: Friday, September 05, 10:02:09pm

Yes, Greg Annan is back. Based on last night's game, I'd say that he's quite the hustler. He was not credited with any shots on goal.

Curiously I heard a band practicing last night while at the soccer game. It played the Dukes' fight song among other selections. I couldn't see the musicians, but the music was coming from the direction of the music school.

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[> [> [> [> [> [> Subject: Re: Rooney Field
Author: A83 [Edit]	Date Posted: Friday, September 05, 10:30:08pm I am glad that Greg is back. I saw him dominate a few games his junior year. He was clearly the best player on the field. I am glad that the band is back and what I heard was wrong. [ Post a Reply to This Message ]

[> [> [> [> Subject: Re: Rooney Field

Author:
El Duque
[Edit]

Date Posted: Saturday, September 06, 08:41:21am

I have long supported the opinion that men's basketball is king, but in order to sustain success there has to be a strong athletic program around it.

I still root hard for the Duchesses in basketball (when will DU bring back the right name for our women's programs) and of course football, which is actually the sport closest to my heart.

Can't remember how long ago it was, but I said once (and please, this is just my opinion) that it would be ideal if we had tournament/playoff teams in men's & women's basketball, football, baseball, wrestling, and men's & women's soccer. I think these are the most visible NCAA sports.

For the record, I'm in favor of a marching band for football. I know I didn't vocally support this when the change took place, but I did state my opinion back then on the board. Of course I lumped cheerleaders into the mix, but what the heck, I am a guy.

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[> [> [> [> [> Subject: Re: Rooney Field

Author:
A83
[Edit]

Date Posted: Saturday, September 06, 10:18:28am

For the non-revenue sports, what approach is best? We seem to try to fund all non-revenue equally. (I am saying that from an outside perspective.) It seems like all the other A-10 schools pick a minor sport and go really hard at it and support it.

LaSalle constantly wins cross-country.
St. Louis has nationally ranked soccer programs.
St. Bonaventure wins swimming all the time.
Dayton owns women's volleyball.

Is our approach wrong, should we pick one or two of the other sports (perhaps those that ED mentioned) and just fund those to the max and perhaps cut something? I dont like to see anything cut, but I am just throwing that out there.

It seems that we are now competitive across the board, but no a champion in any sports. Thoughts?

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[> [> [> [> [> Subject: Re: Rooney Field

Author:
Always a Duke
[Edit]

Date Posted: Saturday, September 06, 06:35:50pm

El Duque, I have always referred to all of the Duquesne women's (girl's might be more appropriate given my age) teams as the Duchesses. Unlike many other team mascots, the word "Dukes" has a very appropriate feminine version, "Duchesses." In my opinion it is not demeaning and with a single word clearly distinguishes between the male and female teams. No need for such references as "Lady Dukes," seemingly a contradiction in terms. I believe the dropping of the official use of "Duchesses" was seen as politically correct at the time (probably in the 1980s).

The only way the university might consider going back to using "Duchesses" would be if a filthy rich Duquesne Alum (if there is such a person) were to make a contribution of $1 or $2 million to the women's athletic programs conditioned on the return to the official use of "Duchesses." This seems very unlikely. However, there's nothing wrong with our continued use of "Duchesses" on this chat line.

Go Duchesses!

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[> [> Subject: Re: Rooney Field
Author: Marquis [Edit]	Date Posted: Sunday, September 07, 09:35:44am They should be able to more a railing 4 inches for a "premium" seat. I know that they really had to shoe-horn the field into a parking lot, but 4 inches?? Maybe the legend of Collery pacing out the old parking lot should include that his calculations were 4 inches short. [ Post a Reply to This Message ]

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