Sept. 4, 2002

Six Duquesne University football players, led by first team selections senior wide receiver Jeremy Conley (Pittsburgh, Pa./Allderdice) and senior cornerback Leigh Bodden (Hyattsville, Md./Northwestern), have been named to Don Hansen's Football Gazette Pre-Season NCAA I-AA Mid-Major All-American team.

Bodden, a consensus All-American pick last season, is a two-time Don Hansen post-season All-American. Conley, the preseason Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Football League Offensive Player of the Year, is making his first appearance on a Don Hansen All-American team.

Four other Dukes were named second team including junior wide receiver Yardon Brantley (Reading, Pa./Reading Central Catholic), senior running back Josh Rue (Pittsburgh, Pa./Gateway), senior offensive lineman Richard Greer (Pittsburgh, Pa./Shady Side Academy) and senior linebacker Trent Wissner (Beaver Falls, Pa./Blackhawk). In addition, sophomore quarterback Niel Loebig (McDonald, Pa./South Fayette) was an honorable mention All-American pick.

The Dukes, winners of five of the last seven MAAC titles, open the season on Saturday, Sept. 7 at 1:00 p.m. with a non-conference game vs. Bucknell at Rooney Field on Duquesne's campus in Pittsburgh.

Note: Josh Rue was recently ruled academically ineligible for this season by the NCAA. more.