Dukes deserve organized student support

Pageantry.

The word evokes images of frenzied college students in crowds 100,000 strong. It "stirs the echoes" at Notre Dame while making Wisconsin students "Jump Around." Pageantry is essential to the college football experience.

Pageantry is something this University's football student section lacks.

In 2011, Duquesne's football attendance has been relatively impressive, averaging 2,095 fans per game, 427 more per game than last season, while twice attracting more fans than Rooney Field has seating for (2,200). But a lack of passion still hampers the Bluff's game day experience.

Duquesne crowds are rarely enthusiastic, and when there is uproar at Rooney, it's usually led by University alumni. There are no chants, there is no singing of "The Victory Song" and, most strikingly, there is no student section.

This lack of student involvement raises a question: What will it take?

What will it take for this football program to get Duquesne students to take the short walk to Rooney on Saturday afternoons? In most cases, success breeds excitement, but for some inexplicable reason, Duquesne seems to be exempt from this rule.

Nobody cares that the Dukes are now 7-2, 5-1 and have a decent shot at winning the Northeast Conference and earning one of the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision's 20 playoff spots.

It's not only that Duquesne is good, but how good they are should send the more than 10,000 students pouring into Rooney. The Dukes play a much more "High Octane" style than Pitt could ever dream of, by putting up an average of 29 points per game, 36 at home, while averaging 397 offensive yards.

Duquesne's balance, paired with its unpredictable play-calling makes it impossible for any fan to turn away from the field. Quarterback Sean Patterson's 1,621 passing yards and 531 rushing yards, along with running back Larry McCoy's FCS third-best 1,126 rushing yards, give the Dukes the NEC's most exciting offense.

What's even better is that when the other team gets the ball, it regularly gets smacked in the mouth and is forced to give it back to the Dukes in a timely fashion.

This city loves nothing more than tough, blue-collar defense. Duquesne's FCS fifth-ranked defense, surrendering 290.2 yards per game, 17th ranked scoring defense, surrendering 19.56 points per game, and second ranked pass defense, allowing 134.1 passing yards per game, epitomizes Pittsburgh football.

The Dukes also field the FCS's 17th best third down defense, allowing opponents to convert on only 31.75 percent of third downs, but when the crowd should be attempting to drown out the opposition's play-calling, there's barely a whisper.

A packed house is useless if the house still sounds empty, and that is the dilemma Duquesne faces at each home game.

The cheerleaders almost plead for the crowd to chant "Let's Go Dukes!" while the band, which fits in a tiny tent found in the east end zone, plays an inaudible rendition of Duquesne's fight song. The whole scene is so laughable that it's almost hard to understand why so many talented athletes would agree to play here.

These players earned an enthusiastic crowd with a third place NEC finish and 7-4 2010 record, and with even more success this season, that enthusiasm is way past due.

It's time to pay up, Duquesne, so here's a challenge: wake up before noon on Nov. 19 and make your way to Rooney Field for the Dukes' final game of the 2011 season. Pull out your student ID and receive your free college football ticket. Proceed to the grandstands and watch your team.

But don't just observe the action between Duquesne and local NEC rival Robert Morris. No, that's not enough. Be an active participant. Chant your school's name, learn the fight song's lyrics and make some noise.

Most of all, show these players that their efforts this season have been recognized. Because whether you care or not, they've earned it.