PITTSBURGH - Duquesne, which fielded its first football team in 1891, was ranked among The Associated Press' Top 100 programs in a unique ranking system released this week.

The AP, which has been ranking teams for the past 80 seasons, compiled an all-time Top 100 based on a formula that counts poll appearances, No. 1 rankings and AP championships. The results placed Duquesne 97th. The Dukes are one of just 11 current Football Championship Subdivision programs to earn a spot on the list.

DU, which competed at college football's highest level through 1950, appeared in the AP final poll in 1936 (14th), 1939 (10th) and 1941 (8th).

The 1936 team capped its 8-2-0 season with a 13-12 win over Mississippi State in the Orange Bowl. According to the Jan. 7 edition of the Duquesne Duke: "Thousands of followers and classmates greeted the conquering Duquesne University squad on its arrival at the Pennsylvania station last night at 11:25 p.m. The Duke gridders, weary from the long train ride, were pleasantly surprised by the enthusiastic throng which greeted them on their return from Miami in tribute to their brilliant triumph.

"The welcome celebration climaxed one of the most successful seasons in the athletic history of Duquesne. Loyal followers cheered wildly and sang the school songs as the train bearing the squad pulled into the train shed a few minutes late. Radio announcers succeeded in detaining the coaches and some of the girdders for a few hurried words to audiences of WWSW and KDKA."

The 1939 Dukes - who defeated No. 1 Pitt, 21-13 during the regular season - finished the year 8-0-1 and rejected a proposition to appear in the Cotton Bowl against Boston College after bowl administrators failed to meet a DU imposed deadline. The Dec. 8, 1939 Pittsburgh Press reported: "The Dukes tendered their proposition and when definite acceptance had not been received from J. Curtis Stanford, Cotton Bowl promoter, at the "deadline" time, the game was rejected by the Bluff school authorities. Duquesne was ready and willing to play an opponent in the Cotton Bowl, provided certain financial matters were straightened out to the school's satisfaction."

In 1941, Duquesne - at 8-0 - finished as one of three undefeated, untied teams at the end of the regular season (along with 9-0 Duke and 8-0 Minnesota). The '41 Dukes, who surrendered just 21 points in leading the nation in scoring defense, rushing defense and total defense, were ranked as the No. 1 team in the nation by the Massey Ratings.

Duquesne's glory years ended with the onset of World War II, as DU was one of the first schools to cancel football to help with the war effort. The war sidelined a Duquesne program that was among the nation's elite. From 1933-45, Duquesne (71-22-2, .758) had the sixth-highest winning percentage in the nation behind Alabama, Tennessee, Duke, Fordham and Notre Dame.

The University fielded teams in 1947 through 1950 prior to discontinuing the program. The program reformed at the Club level in 1969 and competed in NCAA Division III from 1979 through 1992.

Duquesne, which has played at the Football Championship Subdivision level since 1993, is coming off its first-ever NCAA FCS Championship playoff appearance.

The 2016 Dukes report to practice this weekend looking to defend their 2015 Northeast Conference title and earn another trip to the FCS Championship.

Season tickets may be purchased by calling 412.232.DUKE (3853) or by sending an email to ticketservices@duq.edu. Tickets may also be ordered by following this link.

You can check out the complete AP Top 100 here.