Aug. 6, 2002

Duquesne University, winner of five of the last seven Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Football League titles, has been chosen to "four-peat" in a preseason vote of league coaches released today. The Dukes, who became the first school in league history to win three consecutive titles last season, received all nine first place votes from MAAC head coaches.

Duquesne, who earned last year's title with an 8-3 overall mark, went 6-0 in league play marking the fourth time head coach Greg Gattuso has guided the Dukes through the MAAC without a loss. DU brings a 16-game league winning streak into the 2002 season. During the current streak, the Dukes have outscored their MAAC opponents 688-193.

DU returns four First Team All-MAAC performers led by senior wide receiver Jeremy Conley (above) (Pittsburgh, PA/Allderdice) who today was named the league's Preseason Offensive Player of the Year. Conley averaged 18.7 yards per catch and scored 11 touchdowns last season.

A three-sport athlete (football, basketball & track) at Duquesne, Conley earned All-American and All-Conference honors in leading the Dukes in receiving last year. The 6-2, 215-pounder came back from a grade three separation of his shoulder and shattered knuckle in his ring finger to catch 41 passes for 766 yards and 11 TDs for the Dukes in '01.

Conley, who is averaging 20.8 yards on his 71 career receptions, has eight grabs of 50 yards or more as a Duke, including a school-record 95-yard TD catch as a freshman. He is the only player in school history with two career 200-yard receiving games (231 vs. VMI as a RS-Jr. and 204 vs. Dayton last season).

Also back on the offensive side are sophomore quarterback Niel Loebig (McDonald, PA/South Fayette) and senior running back Josh Rue (Pittsburgh, PA/Gateway) . Loebig led the league in passing yardage (211.2 ypg.), pass efficiency (136.5) and total offense (204.8 ypg.) as a freshman. Rue finished fourth in the MAAC with 91.6 rushing yards per game, and added 12 rushing TDs.

Senior defensive back Leigh Bodden (Hyattsville, MD/Northwestern) returns to lead the Dukes' defense. Bodden enters his senior season with a school record 21 career interceptions.

Duquesne opens the season on Sept. 7 at home vs. Bucknell. The Dukes begin preseason practice on Wednesday, August 14.

2002 MAAC PRESEASON POLL
as chosen by league coaches

NO.  TEAM    POINTS1.      DUQUESNE (9)    812.      Saint Peter's   703.      Fairfield   604.      Marist  505.      Iona        416.      La Salle    317.      Siena   288       Canisius    239.      St. John's  17