Aug. 11, 2003
In addition to naming Duquesne as the team to beat this season (click here), MAAC head coaches also voted DU's Niel Loebig (McDonald, Pa./South Fayette) as the league's Preseason Offensive Player of the Year.
Loebig, a two-time first team All-MAAC pick, threw for a school record 2,685 yards and 29 TDs last season. He enters his junior year with more career touchdown passes (51) than any other returning junior signal-caller at either the NCAA Division IA or I-AA levels.
The 6-3, 215-pounder led the MAAC in total offense with 223.8 yards per game last season. Only two other I-AA sophomores (Harvard's Ryan Fitzpatrick and Grambling's Bruce Eugene) had a better efficiency rating than Loebig's 134.3 mark last year.
2003 MAAC PRESEASON INDIVIDUAL HONORS
as chosen by league coaches
Offensive Player of the Year
QB Niel Loebig, Duquesne
Defensive Player of the Year
LB Dan Smacchia, Siena
