Dec. 14, 2007

PITTSBURGH - Duquesne senior punter David Kovalcik (Chantilly, Va./Chantilly) and senior center Matt Stansfield (Meadville, Pa./Meadville) were named to the 10th annual Football Championship Subdivision Athletics Directors Association Academic All-Star Team announced today.

The team was unveiled at the Football Championship Subdivision football championship in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

It is the second-straight year Kovalcik has been honored by the FCS ADA. It is a first-time honor for Stansfield.

Kovalcik, a three-time first team All-Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Football League pick, was a four-year starter at punter for the Dukes. He finished his career second on DU's all-time list for total punts (207) and punting average (37.4). His 40.9 yards per punt in 2007 set a new school single-season record. Kovalcik has a 3.88 GPA in accounting.

Stansfield, who was named first team All-MAAC twice, started 20 consecutive games at center over the past two seasons. He helped the Dukes to 406.8 yards of total offense per game in 2007. A 2007, co-captain, Stansfield has a 3.46 GPA in economics.

Duquesne was one of just nine schools with two players named to the 51-man team.

"It's an honor for the Football Championship Subdivision Athletics Directors Association to annually award an academic all-star team in FCS football," said Jim Murphy, chair of the Football Championship Subdivision Academic All-Star Team Selection Committee and athletics director at Davidson College. "These outstanding individuals represent the true meaning of the word student-athlete. We are proud of their accomplishments both in the classroom and on the field."

Football players from all Football Championship Subdivision institutions are eligible for these prestigious awards. Each of the nominees were required to have a minimum grade point average of 3.20 (on a 4.00 scale) in undergraduate study and have been a starter or key player with legitimate athletics credentials. He must have reached his second year of athletics and academic standing at the nominated institution and have completed a minimum of one full academic year at the nominated institution. He must also have participated in 50 percent of the games played at his designated position.