Category Archives: University of Denver

Men's Soccer, Men's Sports, Pioneers, University of Denver

Pioneer Soccer Upset Bid Falters Late in 2-1 Loss to #8 SMU Mustangs in Overtime

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Josh Drack
DU’s Josh Drack (left) scored this go-ahead goal in the 83rd minute, but the Pioneers fell 2-1 to the Eighth-Ranked SMU Mustangs in OT.  Photo: University of Denver

This loss will be one the University of Denver Pioneer Men’s Soccer team will remember for a long time as eighth-ranked Southern Methodist University foiled DU’s late upset bid, ripping out the Pioneers’ heart with a game-tying goal in the final 2 minutes, then flat-out eating the Pioneers’ heart with a game-winner in overtime, 2-1 on Sept. 21 in Denver. The SMU win exacted revenge on the Pioneers for last year’s 1-0 Denver win over the Mustangs in Dallas.

Things were looking really good for DU as the second half clock ticked down in a tight game. DU’s Josh Drack had just scored a pretty go-ahead goal for the Pioneers with less than seven minutes remaining in regulation time, against the run of play in the second half, and the Pioneers were suddenly leading #8th ranked SMU, delighting a large crowd of over 1500 fans at DU soccer stadium on “Bark-in-the-Park” night home opener.

But with the big upset seemingly just within the Pioneers’ grasp, the DU wheels came off in the final two minutes of regulation, as SMU’s Garrett McLaughlin poked-home a game-tying goal with just 1:25 left in regulation in a goal-mouth scrum, forcing overtime at 1-1.

And once again, DU found a way to lose on overtime this season, letting SMU’s leader Eddie Munjoma dance free for a rocketing shot that beat DU goalie Will Palmquist to win the game for the Mustangs in the third minute of overtime.

SMU had dominated the second half of the contest, out shooting DU 12-3 after DU was better in the first half, as DU missed some strong chances to score early in the contest.

SMU improved to 7-0-0 on the season, and the Pioneers fell to 1-5-1.

 

Co-ed Sports, Pioneers, Swim/Dive, University of Denver, Women's Sports

Denver Pioneer Sarah Thomas becomes first to swim four English Channel laps

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DU Alumnus Sarah Thomas during her record English Channel Swim/Photos: London Independent

DU Pioneer alumni women simply dominate the world in long-distance feats of human sporting endurance, with performances that leave the most capable far behind. Continue reading Denver Pioneer Sarah Thomas becomes first to swim four English Channel laps →

University of Denver

Outstanding DU Food Service worker needs our help

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Sometimes when you least expect it, someone makes a difference in your life. A food service worker at Centennial Halls, Benita Foote, needs our help. Her daughter, Tanasia Famber, has established a GoFundMe page to help her mother with transportation. Ms. Foote has been employed full-time at DU for the last 16 years. Unfortunately, she was in a serious car accident and has preexisting diabetic neuropathy which makes her 3:00 am walk to the bus a challenging task. The funding goal is to raise $10,009 for regular transportation from her home in Aurora to the University of Denver campus. Continue reading Outstanding DU Food Service worker needs our help →

Pioneers, University of Denver

DU falls to #97 in US News Rankings; Continues 8-Year rankings backslide

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In some disappointing news, the University Denver has fallen an additional slot from #96 to #97 in yesterday’s (Sept. 9) release of the annual US News and World Report Ranking of National Universities, the most well-known US university ranking system. The fall marks yet another downward notch in a near-continuous DU backslide since 2012 when DU ranked #82, and brings DU another step closer to falling out of the top 100 altogether. Continue reading DU falls to #97 in US News Rankings; Continues 8-Year rankings backslide →

University of Denver

DU’s Promises Made, Promises Broken

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In the movie, Mary Poppins says, “Sounds like a ‘pie crust promise’ — easily made and easily broken”.

Well, DU makes a whole lot of pie crusts, which is especially rich coming from a school that promotes its honor code and pitches us continually on the virtues of its integrity. As administrators change frequently at DU, it’s important to remind those in power at DU that we alumni and fans have long memories, and we notice when our school lies to us or tries to trick us regarding the University of Denver’s cherished identity.

Here is a brief recap of DU identity-related trickery over the last 18 months: Continue reading DU’s Promises Made, Promises Broken →

Pioneers, University of Denver

Denver public gives giant thumbs down to DU’s nickname meddling by 100-1 ratio

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The Denver public has spoken loudly, and they clearly don’t want DU to mess with the Pioneer nickname — by a 100-to-1 ratio.

For a University that wants more engagement with the local metro area as a high strategic plan priority, this firm rebuke of DU’s recent efforts to erase the Pioneer name should provide quite a clear roadmap of how NOT to win public favor.

A Channel 7 Denver 360 TV news report gave us our first chance to measure local public reaction to DU’s recent efforts to erase the Pioneer nickname on the DU Campus. And there was an overwhelming reaction on the station’s Twitter and Facebook pages, supporting the Pioneer nickname by a ratio of nearly 100-to-1. Continue reading Denver public gives giant thumbs down to DU’s nickname meddling by 100-1 ratio →

Men's Sports, University of Denver, Women's Sports

Puck Swami’s Rapid Reaction: Creech Reorganizes DU Athletics Division

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DU Vice Chancellor for Athletics Karlton Creech/Photo Credit: DU

DU’s Vice Chancellor for Athletics and Recreation Karlton Creech has reorganized the athletic department’s structure after 17 months of observing DU’s high-performing athletic division. The changes come following the long-planned retirement of Ron Grahame, Creech’s principal deputy, who is retiring this week after decades of service to DU. 

Joining DU will be three new faces — former Maine Senior Associate Director of Athletics Lynn Coutts; former Miami (Fla.) Senior Associate Athletic Director for Administration Josh Boone; and former Miami (Fla.) Assistant Athletic Director for Annual Giving Emily Boone. Two of these three new faces (Coutts and Josh Boone) will be on Creech’s senior team, along with several promoted DU veteran leaders taking on greater roles under Creech, specifically Deputy Athletic Director and Chief Revenue Officer Brandon Macneill, Deputy AD and Chief Operating Officer Stu Halsall and Deputy AD for Community and Diversity Bob Willis. Continue reading Puck Swami’s Rapid Reaction: Creech Reorganizes DU Athletics Division →