For the first time in a decade, faculty and staff can see how the Duke football team stacks up against a national champion -- on the cheap.
Duke employees can now purchase the 2010-11 Employee Athletic Pass to all home football and women's basketball games. The pass includes admission to the anticipated football matchup against national champion University of Alabama at Wallace Wade Stadium on Sept. 18.
In addition to the Alabama game, Duke will host ACC powerhouses University of Miami and Boston College, and rival University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill. Duke went 5-7 in 2009, its winningest season since 1994.
"With an incredible home schedule and the excitement built around the progress the football team has made on the field, we're expecting 2010 to be a special season," said Bart Smith, director of marketing and promotions for Duke Athletics. "Faculty and staff have purchased tickets in record numbers the last couple years, so we can't wait to welcome more fans to Wallace Wade this season."
Last year, about 2,300 employees purchased the pass, which includes various package and ticket options that save employees $65 to more than $500. A person can be added to a family plan for $62.50. Here are the options:
• Single employee pass, football only -- $135
• Single employee pass, football and women's basketball -- $160
• Family employee pass, four tickets for football only -- $250
• Family employee pass, four tickets for football and women's basketball -- $300
"Having the support of Duke faculty and staff has been such a huge part of our success at Cameron," said women's basketball head coach Joanne P. McCallie, who led the Blue Devils to the ACC championship in March. "I can't wait to see more employees and their families come out to cheer us on and celebrate victories with us."
Each pass holder receives a free Duke T-shirt and multiple chances to purchase men's basketball tickets. A new reserved section of Wallace Wade Stadium has also been opened to pass holders for 2010, allowing more people to sit closer to mid-field.
Among those fans will be Babs Wise, associate director of the Office of Undergraduate Scholars and Fellows. Wise said she started buying the pass after David Cutcliffe became head coach in 2008.
"I felt that because Coach Cutcliffe was so adamant about getting community support, the least I could do was show up for game day and cheer him on," Wise said. "It's a great deal of fun to go to the games, sit in the same place every week and enjoy the company of other ticket holders."