Aug. 9, 2004

Duquesne University, winner of the last five consecutive Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Football League titles, was picked to win its sixth consecutive championship in a preseason vote of league coaches released by the MAAC this morning. In addition, DU quarterback NIEL LOEBIG and middle linebacker HARRY CARTER were named MAAC Preseason Offensive and Defensive Players of the Year respectively. Here are some quick notes on the Duquesne football program, Loebig and Carter: TEAM
* Defending NCAA I-AA Mid-Major National Champions
* Has won seven of the last nine MAAC titles, including five in a row (1995, '96, '99, '00, '01, '02, '03)
* DU's five consecutive titles rank second only Montana's six-straight Big Sky Conference titles among current streaks in both NCAA Division I-A and I-AA ... all five of DU's titles have been won outright, while Montana has shared two of its six
* Duquesne enters the 2004 season with a 29-game league winning streak (last MAAC loss was Oct. 23, 1999)
* DU's 10 consecutive winning seasons rank tied for fourth among all NCAA Division I-AA schools NIEL LOEBIG
Sr., QB, McDonald, Pa./South Fayette
2004 MAAC PRESEASON OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
* Three-year starter, holds 13 of a possible 15 Duquesne school passing records
* Was named the 2003 MAAC Offensive Player of the Year, was the fifth consecutive DU player to win the honor
* Enters his senior season with 7,883 career passing yarda and 76 TDs
* Ranks third among all QBs at the NCAA Division I-A and I-AA levels in career TD passes with 76 ... only Grambling's Bruce Eugene (83) and Hawaii's Timmy Chang (79) have thrown for more scores
* Loebig is the only active QB in NCAA Division IA or I-AA to throw for 20 or more touchdowns in each of the last three seasons (22 as a freshman, 29 as a sophomore and 25 last season)
* Is 27-7-0 as a starter for his career (including 19-0 in MAAC play) HARRY CARTER
Jr., MLB, Lanham, Md./Eleanor Roosevelt
2004 MAAC PRESEASON DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
* Consensus All-American as a sophomore
* Has led Duquesne in tackles in each of the last two seasons
* Averaging 8.8 tackles per game for his career ... has either first or second on the team in tackles in 15 of his 20 career starts
* One of just two returning juniors on the 13-man 2003 Sports Network Mid-Major All-Ameria Team (teammate Josh Antinopoulos, DT, is the other)