The seven games against NEC foes highlight the 2008 Dukes 10-game football schedule released today.
Fourth-year head coach Jerry Schmitt's Dukes, who return 14 starters from last year's 7-3 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Football League co-championship squad, open the season at Bucknell on Sept. 6. It will be the tenth time in 12 seasons that the Dukes and Bison, members of the Patriot League, will meet.
In week two, Duquesne hosts its first NEC opponent when Saint Francis, Pa. visits for a night game on Sept. 20. It will be the first game on Rooney Field which is currently undergoing a renovation that includes the construction of permanent grandstand seating and concession stands in addition to the installation of a new playing surface.
The Dukes will then play the two teams that met in last year's Gridiron Classic on consecutive weekends. Dayton, the 2007 Pioneer Football League champion, visits on Sept. 27 followed by 2007 NEC champ Albany on Oct. 4. Dayton defeated Albany 42-21 in the inaugural Gridiron Classic - which matches the champions of the PFL and NEC - last November.
Four of DU's final six games will be on the road beginning with conference games at cross-town rival Robert Morris (Oct. 11) and at Central Connecticut (Oct. 18).
Duquesne hosts Sacred Heart on Oct. 25 before heading to Smithfield, R.I. to complete the non-conference portion of the schedule at Bryant University on Nov. 1. Bryant, which qualified for the NCAA Division II playoffs in 2006 and 2007, will be in its first season of its four-year transition to Division I. The Bulldogs, who will face six Northeast Conference schools in `08, will officially join the NEC in 2012.
DU will travel to Staten Island, N.Y. to play Wagner on Nov. 8 before closing out the 2008 campaign at home against Monmouth on Nov. 15.
Duquesne won or shared titles in 11 of its 14 seasons in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Football League from 1994 through 2007. The Dukes are 14-7 all-time against current members of the NEC.
2008 SCHEDULE QUICK NOTES
- This will be Duquesne's first season as an associate football-playing member of the Northeast Conference. DU is 14-7 all-time against current NEC schools.
- DU will open the `08 home schedule with a 7:00 p.m. game against NEC opponent Saint Francis, Pa. on Sept. 20.
- The Dukes will play back-to-back home games against defending conference champions in late September/early October (Sept. 27 vs. defending Pioneer Football League champ Dayton and Oct. 4 vs. defending NEC titleholder Albany).
- The Dukes will play five times at home, with three coming in the first four weeks of the season.
- DU's three non-conference games will be against one Patriot League school (Bucknell), one Pioneer League school (Dayton) and one school in its first season of transition to NCAA Division I (Bryant).
2008 DUQUESNE FOOTBALL
additional game times to be announced
Date Opponent Time
Sept. 6 at Bucknell TBA
Sept. 20 SAINT FRANCIS, PA* 7:00
Sept. 27 DAYTON 1:00
Oct. 4 ALBANY* 1:00
Oct. 11 at Robert Morris* 1:00
Oct. 18 at CCSU* 1:00
Oct. 25 SACRED HEART* 1:00
Nov. 1 at Bryant 12:00
Nov. 8 at Wagner* 1:00
Nov. 15 MONMOUTH* 1:00
* - Denotes Northeast Conference games
Home games are played at Arthur J. Rooney Athletic Field on the Duquesne campus.
For tickets call 412-232-DUKE (3853)
Duquesne University Football