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Pittsburgh Preview Picks Hoyas 4th

Ward Misses Final Cut For '98 Ravens

GU Coach Added To hall Of Fame List

Above the "News & Notes", it was listed that Georgetown has connections to five members of the College Football Hall of Fame. We stand corrected--there are six.

We came across a Hall of Fame citation for Philip King, who was not previously listed as a Georgetown-affiliated member of the Hall. At Wisconsin, King's teams won three Big Ten titles in seven seasons, with a record of 63-11-2 from 1896-1902. But King also coached at Georgetown, where his 1903 team finished 7-3 with six shutouts, highlighted by a 33-0 win over North Carolina.

King not only coached the Blue & Gray, he once played against them. The D.C. native prepped at Emerson Institute from 1887-1889. According to a 1947 history of the Georgetown football program, a back named "King" accounted for Emerson's only touchdown in a 46-6 loss to Georgetown in 1887. This game is cited as the University's first varsity game.

MAAC Expands to Ten (For Now...)

Of immediate concern to Georgetown fans is how this affects the ability to schedule quality non-conference opponents. It was not announced if MAAC teams will be forced to play a nine game conference slate in 1999, and drop a non-conference opponent to do so. The MAAC is considering expanding to 12 schools, which would allow for fewer conference games and a divisional playoff game, but no expansion targets have been announced.

The Explorers were 1-8 in 1997, their first season since 1941. LaSalle is scheduled to play two MAAC schools this fall (St. Peter's and Iona) as a Division I-AA independent.

Iorio Named Academic-All America

Iorio, a second team Academic All-America selection in 1996, was one of fifteen players selected nationwide in the spring selections. Iorio, a 1998 graduate with a degree in finance, was a two sport letterman and the career rushing leader in Hoya football history. He will be presented with the 44th annual Robert A. Duffey Scholar Athlete award during ceremonies October 9 at Georgetown University.

Teams Of The Century...We're #99

Georgetown QB Signs With NFL

"WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Georgetown University senior quarterback Bill Ward (Montvale, N.J./St. Joseph's) has agreed to terms with the NFL's Baltimore Ravens. Ward will report to the Raven's rookie minicamp from Friday, April 24 through Sunday, April 26. Ward is one of 20 players Baltimore signed as free agents and is the only quarterback.

Ward, 6-3, 215, was a First Team All-Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) selection in 1997. He led Georgetown to an 8-3 overall record and a 7-0 mark in league play for the Hoyas' first-ever MAAC title. Ward concludes his career as Georgetown's all-time leader in every major statistical category while playing just 26 career games. He holds the Georgetown career records for: passing yards (4,555), completions (353) attempts (663), touchdown passes (44), completion percentage (53.2%), total yards (4,199) and total plays (773).

In 1997, Ward set numerous single season records in leading the Hoyas to the ECAC-Intercollegiate Football Conference (IFC) Bowl Game, Georgetown's first postseason appearance since playing in the Sun Bowl at the conclusion of the 1949 season. Ward completed 161 of 309 passes for 2,081 yards and 19 touchdowns, which are all school records. What makes Ward's statistics even more impressive is the fact that he was coming off a knee injury that sidelined him for the final eight games of the 1996 season.

The last time that Georgetown had a player sign as a free agent with an NFL team was in 1993, when wide receiver Chris Murphy signed with the Philadelphia Eagles. Murphy, the Hoyas' all-time leading receiver, played in an exhibition game, but did not make the final cut."

Ward is the all-time leader in passing yardage at Georgetown despite missing much of his junior season with injury. And it's not beyond the realm of possibility that Ward could battle for a roster spot with the Ravens. Veteran QB Jim Harbaugh has arrived at Baltimore, and former Georgia star Eric Zeier is the likely #2 QB. Ward would compete with Penn State's Wally Richardson for the #3 spot. And courtesy of The HOYA, here's a feature story on Ward that appeared in the April 28 issue. Recommended reading.

MAAC Declares Iona, Fairfield Ineligible

MAAC Ends ECAC Bowl Participation

"The athletic administrators believe that the focus of team competition should be on the MAAC Football League Title, not a postseason berth, said MAAC Commissioner Rich Ensor. "There was also concern raised about the impact of postseason competition on academics."

Perhaps, but the league also is publicly exploring expansion to a 12 team, two division configuration and a divisional playoff, which would be sanctioned by the NCAA. Owing to the fact that a MAAC team will never be invited to the NCAA Division I-AA playoffs in its current format, a MAAC title game would provide the league more exposure and more revenue than the ECAC Bowl.

Commenting on the change, Coach Benson told The HOYA that "We have a goal here of developing a program that is on par with Ivy League schools. The Ivy League does not particpate in the post season, so I do not see this as being any sort of problem for us."

Iorio Named NCAA Postgraduate Scholar

"Georgetown University senior tailback Steve Iorio has been awarded a $5,000 NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship. Iorio is one of 35 football players at the Division I, II and III levels to earn a 1997-98 Football NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship Award.

Iorio, who is also a tri-captain of Georgetown's nationally ranked men's lacrosse team, closed out an outstanding football career on the Hilltop this fall. Iorio holds numerous Georgetown football records. He is the school's all-time leading rusher with 3,243 yards on a school record 704 attempts... Iorio is a three-time All-MAAC selection....He is a three-time recipient of Georgetown's John L. Hagerty Award, presented to the football team's outstanding back. He captured those awards in 1994, 1996 and 1997.

Iorio has also excelled in the classroom at Georgetown. The Finance major is a two-time GTE District II Football Academic All-American, having won the awards in 1996 and 1997. He went on to earn GTE National Second Team Academic All-America honors in 1996. Iorio also earned 1997 GTE District II At-Large Academic All-American accolades as a lacrosse player. In addition, he has also been honored twice by the MAAC as an Academic All-Star in 1996 and 1997. "

Iorio is Georgetown's first NCAA postgraduate award winner in football since Jim Chesley in 1975. Congratulations to Steve and his entire family.

Team Awards Announced

John L. Hagerty Award (outstanding running back)
Steve Iorio (Sr., Mendham, N.J./West Morris-Mendham)

George A. Murtagh Award (outstanding lineman)
Steve Pogorelec (Clifton, N.J./Clifton)

Maurice (Mush) Dubofsky Award (outstanding student athlete)
Mike Lynn ( Fort Washington, Md./Gonzaga)

John D. Burke Award (outstanding courage)
Ryan Johnson (Beavercreek, Ohio/Carroll)

Jeremiah Minehan Award (coach's award)
Dennis Hermonstyne (Silver Spring, Md./Georgetown Prep)