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 yesterday.

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 diffent 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 Confence Football League running back set new school cords for rushing yardage (1,544) and rushing touchdowns (15) in helping 8-3 Duquesne to its MAAC-cord 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-cord 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 serve with at least a 3.20 cumulative grade point average (on a 4.0 scale) for his caer. No athlete is eligible until he has ached sophomo athletic and academic standing at his institution.

The Academic All-America program was cated in 1952 by the College Sports Information Dictors of America. No other award acknowledges as many scholar-athletes for the hard work, success and balance they achieve in sports and academics.

24 student-athletes named to national teams a total of 36 times:

Mike Hilliard Football 1st

Jason Kutney Soccer 1st

Mike Hilliard Football 2nd

Joe Pavlick Football 2nd

Jason Kutney Soccer 2nd

Christian Reinecker Soccer 2nd

Terry McNelis Soccer 3rd

Beth Friday Basketball 3rd

Sean Wilson Baseball 3rd

Terry McNelis Soccer 1st

Tanya Brown CC/Track 3rd

Kathleen McCabe CC/Track 3rd

Ben Boyle Soccer 3rd

Terry McNelis Soccer 3rd

Meghan Hungate Lacrosse 3rd

Kate Matuszewski Soccer 1st

Rocky Kravetz Baseball 2nd

Nick Danzuso Baseball 3rd

Meghan Hungate Lacrosse 3rd

Kate Matuszewski Soccer 2nd

Jeff Rihn Soccer 2nd

Korie Hlede Basketball 2nd

B.J. Barns Baseball 3rd

Jeff Rihn Soccer 2nd

Kelsie Hess Track & Field 2nd

Kelsie Hess Cross Country 3rd

Korie Hlede Basketball 3rd

Bob Nithman Football 2nd

Kelsie Hess Track & Field 3rd

Korie Hlede Basketball 3rd

Daniel Francis Rifle 2nd

Kathy Ridilla Basketball 2nd

Eleanor Smith Volleyball 3rd

Perry Napolitano Baseball 1st

Bill Zoph Basketball Nat’l Team

Bill Zoph Basketball Nat’l Team