Nov. 11, 2002
PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA -- - Duquesne University, one of just two undefeated teams at the I-AA level, made history on Monday by earning its first national ranking in both the USA Today/ESPN Division I-AA College Football Poll and The Sports Network I-AA College Football Poll.
The Dukes, who clinched their fourth consecutive Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Football League title with a 42-0 win at Canisius on Saturday, are No. 25 in The ESPN poll and hold down the 24th spot in the Sports Network poll. Montana (10-0), who is ranked No. 1 in both polls is the only other undefeated I-AA team.
"Being ranked is a great accomplishment for our program," said DU head coach Greg Gattuso. "I just know that polls matter a whole lot more at the end of the season. Right now we're focused on playing Fairfield this weekend."
Duquesne has joined Dayton as the only other I-AA Mid-Major team to ever earn a ranking in either of the polls. Dayton, a member of the Pioneer Football League, was ranked as high as No. 20 in the 1997 USA Today/ESPN poll, before finishing the season with a No. 25 ranking. The Flyers reached the No. 18 spot in the Sports Network poll before finishing the 1997 season at No. 23. Dayton also was ranked No. 24 in the final Sports Network poll of 1996.
Duquesne, who has spent the last seven weeks at the top of the Sports Network's Mid-Major Top 10, will be looking for its school record 11th win when it takes on Fairfield in the regular-season finale at Rooney Field on Saturday (12:30 p.m. kickoff). By virtue of its MAAC title, the Dukes have also secured a spot in the ECAC Classic to be played at the home field of the to-be-determined Northeast Conference champion on Nov. 23.
Noting Duquesne Football (10-0, 7-0)
- Clinched its fourth consecutive MAAC championship with a 42-0 win at Canisius on Saturday. The Dukes have now won six league titles in the last eight years. DU has won its last 23 consecutive league games and has outscored its MAAC opponents by a 277-27 margin this season.
- With 10 consecutive victories owns the fourth-longest win streak in NCAA Division I behind Miami (31), I-AA Montana (24) and Ohio State (11).
- Ranks No. 1 among I-AA schools in both total defense (180.7 ypg.) and scoring defense (9.1 ppg.) and ranks second in scoring offense at 37 ppg. No other school at the Division I or I-AA level has surrendered fewer points the Duquesne's 91.
Mid-Majors in the I-AA Polls
Duquesne and Dayton are the only I-AA Mid-Major programs to ever earn a ranking in either the USA Today/ESPN or The Sports Network polls. Here is a closer look at the best Mid-Major's have done in either poll.
USA Today/ESPN Poll (coaches)
Recognized as an NCAA poll of record in 1997
Highest rank by a Mid-Major: #20 by Dayton in 1997
Final Rank: #25 by Dayton in 1997
Sports Network Poll (I-AA administrators and media)
Recognized as an NCAA poll of record in 1993
Highest rank by a Mid-Major: #18 by Dayton (Nov. 3 & 10, 1997)
Final Rank: #23 by Dayton in 1997; #24 by Dayton in 1996
