Dec. 2, 2003
PITTSBURGH - Duquesne University's Mike Hilliard (Homer City, Pa. / Homer Center) was one of 24 student-athletes named to the CoSIDA Academic All-America University Division Football Team it was announced Monday.
Hilliard, a senior finance major with a 3.55 GPA, was a second team Academic All-America pick last season. The Homer, City, Pa. native is one of 24 different student-athletes to have earned national Academic All-America honors for the Red & Blue. Overall, DU student-athletes have been named Academic All-America a total of 36 times.
Hilliard, a first-team All-Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Football League running back set new school records for rushing yardage (1,544) and rushing touchdowns (15) in helping 8-3 Duquesne to its MAAC-record fifth consecutive league championship and first ever I-AA Mid-Major National Championship.
Hilliard, who averaged 140.0 yards per game, topped the 100-yard mark seven times including a school-record 323-yard, 5 touchdown performance vs. La Salle. It was the top rushing game by any player this season at both the NCAA Division I-A or I-AA levels.
To be nominated for the Academic All-America team, a student-athlete must be a starter or important reserve with at least a 3.20 cumulative grade point average (on a 4.0 scale) for his career. No athlete is eligible until he has reached sophomore athletic and academic standing at his institution.
The Academic All-America program was created in 1952 by the College Sports Information Directors of America. No other award acknowledges as many scholar-athletes for the hard work, success and balance they achieve in sports and academics.
DUQUESNE ACADEMIC ALL-AMERICANS
24 student-athletes named to national teams a total of 36 times:
2003-04Mike Hilliard Football 1stJason Kutney Soccer 1st
2002-03Mike Hilliard Football 2ndJoe Pavlick Football 2ndJason Kutney Soccer 2ndChristian Reinecker Soccer 2ndTerry McNelis Soccer 3rdBeth Friday Basketball 3rdSean Wilson Baseball 3rd
2001-02Terry McNelis Soccer 1stTanya Brown CC/Track 3rdKathleen McCabe CC/Track 3rd
2000-01Ben Boyle Soccer 3rdTerry McNelis Soccer 3rdMeghan Hungate Lacrosse 3rd
1999-00Kate Matuszewski Soccer 1stRocky Kravetz Baseball 2ndNick Danzuso Baseball 3rdMeghan Hungate Lacrosse 3rd
1998-99Kate Matuszewski Soccer 2nd
1997-98Jeff Rihn Soccer 2ndKorie Hlede Basketball 2ndB.J. Barns Baseball 3rd
1996-97Jeff Rihn Soccer 2ndKelsie Hess Track & Field 2ndKelsie Hess Cross Country 3rdKorie Hlede Basketball 3rd
1995-96Bob Nithman Football 2ndKelsie Hess Track & Field 3rdKorie Hlede Basketball 3rd
1989-90Daniel Francis Rifle 2nd
1987-88Kathy Ridilla Basketball 2ndEleanor Smith Volleyball 3rd
1985-86Perry Napolitano Baseball 1st
1969-70Bill Zoph Basketball Nat'l Team
1968-69Bill Zoph Basketball Nat'l Team
