Dukes’ Goss kept the faith

Few Division I college basketball announcers have worked longer for the same team than the Voice of the Duquesne Dukes, Ray Goss. The games are carried locally by KQV (1410) and on the Internet by Red Zone Media.

Goss began calling the team’s games during the glory days of the 1960s, but as an Associated Press profile notes, there’s been a long dry spell for the red-and-blue since then. The Dukes have had only five winning seasons in the last 35 years.

The Dukes are currently 14 and 7, and only two games away from clinching their first winning season since 1993-94.

“While I lean toward Duquesne, my job has always been to be as objective as possible,” says Goss, a Carnegie native who’s believed to have called more losing games for his home team than any other Division I announcer.

He was almost replaced twice (once by “Sweet Old Bill” Currie of KDKA) but his popularity with Duquesne’s fan base saved his job.

Goss now counts Pitt Panthers’ play-by-play man Bill Hillgrove, former Pitt sports information director Beano Cook, and — best of all — Duquesne men’s basketball coach Ron Everhart among his fans.