Durham, NC - This football season is going to be a good one for Beverly Foushee's son, Hunter. For the first time, he'll have prime seating each week to attend all seven home games of his favorite college team - the Duke Blue Devils.

Foushee, a staff assistant for Division of Medical Genetics in the Department of Pediatrics, is a first-time buyer of the Duke Employee Athletic Pass, presented by the Duke Credit Union. The pass offers deeply discounted tickets to the upcoming Duke football season, as well as other perks like the option to buy discounted season tickets to women's basketball and freebees like a hat or T-shirt.

"He's totally into Duke football and has high hopes for the team this year," Foushee said of her 14-year old son, Hunter. "On weekends, when there's not always something to do, going to Duke games will give my family an opportunity to do something together and to cheer on Duke. We do love Duke."

Duke staff and faculty can sign up any time for the Duke Credit Union's Employee Athletic Pass for $88 per reserved seating ticket to football games at Wallace Wade Stadium. The price is a savings of $137 per ticket for seating between the north end zone and 35-yard line (sections seven to 10).

The Blue Devils kick off the season at home Sept. 1 against Florida International during the annual Duke Employee Kickoff Celebration that day. Staff and faculty are invited to save the date for free football tickets, food and fun (see sidebar for more information).

Athletic Pass holders also are eligible to buy women's basketball season tickets at a discounted rate of $75, which provides four tickets to each game in Cameron Indoor Stadium. New this year, employees who don't purchase football tickets are still eligible to buy discounted women's basketball season tickets. The women's basketball schedule will be released this fall.

In addition to the good deal, Foushee said what pushed her to sign up for football season tickets is paying for the Athletic Pass by payroll deduction, something new this year. Monthly paid employees can spread the cost across two paychecks; biweekly employees can pay over three pay periods.

Home games for the 2012 football season include hosting cross-town rival North Carolina Central University as well as ACC rivals Miami, Clemson and North Carolina. For the first time since 1938, Duke and UNC will play at Wallace Wade in October.

"We want to see as many blue-clad fans as possible in the stands each Saturday, so we're happy to offer another way to make Duke football season tickets even more accessible to faculty and staff," said Mike Forman, director of marketing and promotions for Duke Athletics. "We have a great 2012 home schedule and look forward to filling Wallace Wade Stadium for all seven home games."

Faculty and staff can purchase the Employee Athletic Pass, presented by the Duke Credit Union, by calling (919) 681-2583.