While the football team hopes to improve the state of its program on the field this year, the athletic department is looking to lend a helping hand off it.
In the first of what could be a number of steps to upgrade the football facilities, a new, high-tech scoreboard has been built to replace the old one in Wallace Wade Stadium.
The 70x50-foot structure includes a 19x25-foot video display system that can show both live game action and replays. With a price tag of over a million dollars, which is being paid by corporate sponsors, athletic director Joe Alleva says Duke is beginning to show an increased commitment to football at the University.
"I think we're making the first step in fixing up the football stadium," Alleva said. "We're showing our fans, our players, our recruits that we really do care about football. Football is an interest here. That old scoreboard is over 25 years old and it's hard even getting parts for it anymore.
"Something had to be done, and I think it's a good statement to show that we've got a commitment to football and we want to be good."
The scoreboard was a logical start in that it is highly visible and also an affordable way to begin revamping facilities. Alleva mentions the need for a new football building and weight-room facility as future objectives.
The first-year AD is currently in the process of hiring a fundraiser for the department. Over the last decade, Duke's football facilities have fallen far behind the rest of the ACC in what both Alleva and coach Fred Goldsmith call an "arms race." They said that hurts the most in recruiting, especially when rival North Carolina has a state-of-the-art new building just down the road.
Goldsmith feels the Blue Devils can compete with anyone in recruiting if their facilities are at least around the middle of the pack. While they're not in that position now, the current players notice the improvements.
"If you look at the field you can tell they're putting a lot more money into the system," senior offensive lineman Lennie Friedman said. "They've got a new scoreboard up, they've really cleaned up the stadium. That's not all it takes to get a winning program, but it definitely shows that they're putting a lot of effort into it. I really do think we're on the right track."
Alleva says the administration, led by President Nan Keohane, has been extremely cooperative in helping out. Now, everyone is ready to see results on the field.
"Young people don't have any idea about the football history we have here," Alleva said. "Duke actually made its reputation as a football school, which is hard for a lot of people to believe nowadays. But it was a great football school. Hopefully someday we can get back to those days where we were good and competitive on the football field.
"It's critical we win some games, get competitive and get the fan and student support back. Toward the end of last year our students weren't even coming to the games. I want to show people we care about football."
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