PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – The first local college football game this year is not the Backyard Brawl. It is not a non-conference Penn State game. It's Duquesne playing at an FBS national champion from the last decade.
Picked second in the Northeast Conference, the Dukes are playing at Florida State Saturday at 5p. It's the Week Zero, or the opening week, of FBS football and the Duquesne game is one of 11 across the country. The Dukes are also the biggest underdog at +39.5 points.
"We have always wanted to challenge ourselves," Dukes Head Coach Jerry Schmitt told 93.7 The Fan. "The program has been getting better and better. When this opportunity came up of playing a 'zero week', there were a number of schools interested. It allows them and us to come into camp early."
Schmitt said it's an opportunity and potential to grow the program even more. It also comes with a nice payday that can be used not only to help fund the football program, but the other sports on campus.
It's not the first time they've done this, Duquesne has been pretty aggressive scheduling FBS schools recently. Two weeks after playing the Seminoles, they will play at Hawaii. Last year the Dukes played at TCU, losing 45-3 and beat Ohio University 28-26. The first ever program win over an FBS team.
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"We don't have to worry about their excitement and enthusiasm," Schmitt said. "They are fully aware of not only the program, but its history and tradition."
"It's great. It's college football at it's best to play an ACC team. I just talked to the kids today about controlling our emotional energy that jumps up on a young team and we are a pretty young team right now."
First Team All-NEC quarterback Joe Mischler returns after being lost for the season due to a first quarter injury against TCU last year. Schmitt said he's excited about the progress of Second Team All-NEC running back Billy Lucas and they also added Samford transfer running back Demarcus Ware. It's a young receiving corps with the top five in yardage gone from last year, but the coaches believe it's deeper than it's ever been.
Andrew Woodley-Duquesne University Athletics
Duquesne will be led by its defense with six starters back including all of the defensive line, a group that likely will be able to rotate guys in to keep them fresh. Jeremiah Josephs (Gateway HS) will lead the defensive backs and Ezekiel Daure (Keystone Oaks) will be a key leader along with Shane Stump (Thomas Jefferson) and Anthony Dellovade (West Allegheny).
"I think I have more drive than when I started," Schmitt said of opening his 18th season as Duquesne head coach. "I'm excited about it, very excited about it. I have to look at the whole picture in the first game."
"I will stand there and enjoy the fact that we have the opportunity to play in Doak Campbell Stadium."
