It appears that Duquesne will have to earn its respect on the football field this fall in its inaugural season in the Northeast Conference.

Despite winning or sharing 11 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference championships in the past 14 seasons, the Dukes were picked to finish fifth in the eight-team NEC in a preseason vote of the league coaches. Robert Morris was sixth and Saint Francis, Pa., eighth. Defending champion Albany was chosen to repeat.

Duquesne has 14 starters returning from a 6-4 team, led by three players selected to the NEC first team -- quarterback Kevin Rombach, cornerback Mark Aaron Strader and kicker Mark Troyan. Also selected were Saint Francis linebacker Scott Lewis, the 2007 NEC Defensive Rookie of the Year, and Robert Morris punter Nick Schirtz, who led the league with a 41.4-yard average last year.

Rombach, competing for the starting job with Michigan State transfer and former South Park High star Connor Dixon, completed a school-record 61.1 percent of his passes for 2,410 yards and 20 touchdowns. Strader, a senior from Westinghouse, had four interceptions last season, and Troyan, a senior from Ford City, made 12 of 13 field goals last season and holds the school career record with 32 field goals and most points by a kicker (186).

"It's nice that we've played some of the NEC teams over the years ... there's some comfort there," said Duquesne coach Jerry Schmitt, whose Dukes were 3-1 against NEC teams last season and 14-7 overall.

"We know the quality of the programs from top to bottom in the NEC is outstanding. We're excited to be part of a conference that continues to grow and get better each year.

"[Joining] is a major plus and a major challenge for Duquesne."

As for the competition between Rombach and Dixon, Schmitt said, "It's nice to have two quality guys who can go."

At Robert Morris, coach Joe Walton called this season "a little bit of a rebuilding program" with the emphasis on youth. Only three senior starters are back from a 4-6 team.

Saint Francis has shown improvement in the first five seasons under Dave Opfar, who is looking to post his first .500 record.

"Our goal is to get over the hump," Opfar said. "I think we've got some players who know what it takes to win football games."