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Wednesday, October 11, 2000

Duquesne and Robert Morris might have outgrown their conferences, but they have no place to go.

Robert Morris, 4-0 and ranked No. 1 in Division I-AA mid-major by Don Hansen's Football Gazette, is a heavy favorite to win its fifth consecutive Northeast Conference title.

Duquesne, 4-1 and ranked No. 3, seems to have an easy path remaining for its second consecutive Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference championship and fourth in six seasons.

Because Robert Morris is a member of the NEC for all its men's and women's sports, a football move probably would require an overhaul of the athletic program.

Duquesne has more flexibility because the Dukes play football only in the MAAC; their other programs are in the Atlantic 10.

The next step up in NCAA Division I-AA non-scholarship football for Duquesne would be the Patriot League. Three years ago when Lafayette was considering dropping out of the Patriot, Duquesne did a study and discovered it would cost roughly $4 million initially to attain the league standards.

Duquesne's facilities would have to be upgraded and enlarged, financial aid to men and women increased and additional staff added. Patriot League football teams have eight full-time coaches; Duquesne is limited to two full timers under MAAC rules.

"The Patriot is not looking for new members," Duquesne Athletic Director Brian Colleary said. "Right now the MAAC is a good fit for Duquesne. We're happy where we are, but I think we're always on the outlook for the best fit for your university and athletic program.

"I think we've come to the point we out-program certain schools in the MAAC, but Fairfield, Marist and La Salle are with us and Iona has made a renewed commitment."

Canisius, Siena and St. Peter's have fallen behind competitively, on and off the field.

The Patriot will grow to eight teams in 2001 with the addition of Georgetown, which left the MAAC and is an independent this season.

Duquesne, which will meet Georgetown Saturday at Rooney Field, also has Bucknell and Lafayette of the Patriot League on its schedule.

Bucknell has defeated Duquesne the past four years, including 35-14 last month. The Dukes defeated Lafayette last season, 28-17, in the only meeting between the schools.

"That was a breakthrough win for our program," Duquesne Coach Greg Gattuso said. "That gave us confidence we could play with Patriot teams."

Would Duquesne consider joining the Atlantic 10 Football Conference that offers full athletic scholarships?

"The A-10 would be somewhat of a reach at this point," Colleary said. "We're not looking in that direction."

Colleary said the NEC and MAAC aren't looking to stage a postseason game between the league champions.

"That's not on the table," he said. "I don't think everybody wants to give up a regular-season game in hopes of getting to the championship game."

Although Division I-AA non-scholarship members are eligible for the Division I-AA playoffs, a non-scholarship school has never been invited. The Patriot League champion receives an automatic bid.

"A non-scholarship school probably would have to go undefeated," Colleary said. "You would have to have some non-conference wins over Patriot or Ivy League teams to even be considered."

Even if Robert Morris goes undefeated this season, the Colonials most likely would be bypassed by the selection committee because their non-league opponents are I-AA non-scholarship Dayton and Division III Buffalo State.

Robert Morris plays at No. 2 Dayton (5-1) Saturday.

The rankings

Youngstown State (5-0), a 14-12 winner over Illinois State, dropped a notch to No. 3 in NCAA Division I-AA.

IUP (4-1) fell five spots to No. 10 in NCAA Division II with a 38-14 loss to Bloomsburg. Slippery Rock (4-2) moved up three positions to 16th with a 28-21 victory against Shippensburg. More important, IUP is second and SRU third in the Northeast rankings that determine postseason seeding. The top four reach the playoffs.

Washington and Jefferson (4-1) jumped three spots to 19th in Division III with a 38-17 victory against Grove City.

Geneva (4-2) slipped three spots to 12th in NAIA with a 29-17 loss to Malone.