October 21, 2003

NORTHERN ILLINOIS WIDE RECEIVER P.J. FLECK EARNS MAC SCHOLAR-ATHLETE OF THE WEEK HONOR

CLEVELAND, OH---Sometimes, brains can win out over brawn. For proof of that statement, look no further than Northern Illinois University wide receiver P.J. Fleck (Sugar Grove / Maple Park Kaneland), who snared the Mid-American Conference Scholar-Athlete of the Week award as announced by MAC Commissioner Rick Chryst on Tuesday (Oct. 21).

Fleck caught ten passes for 103 yards and a touchdown in NIU's 37-10 victory over Western Michigan last Saturday (Oct. 18). Six of Fleck's catches came during a 17-play, 80-yard drive---capped by his 13-yard TD reception---to put the game out of reach at 34-3 in the third quarter. The five-foot-ten, 185-pound senior also returned four punts for 39 yards versus the Broncos.

With the victory, Northern Illinois improved to 7-0 overall and 3-0 atop the MAC West Division standings. Northern Illinois---currently rated 12th in the Associated Press national poll and 14th according to ESPN / USA Today balloting---is one of five remaining undefeated teams in Division 1-A heading into Saturday's (Oct. 25) showdown at Bowling Green State University.

For the season, Fleck has 57 receptions for 621 yards (10.9 yards per catch) with four touchdowns. The 8.14 receptions-per-game rate is second in the nation behind University of Toledo junior Lance Moore (8.57 per contest) and puts the Sugar Grove native on pace to challenge Dave Petzke's single-season record of 91 receptions in 1978. Fleck also could become only the third player in NIU annals to record 2,000 yards through the air.

"P.J. has received so much recognition for his play as a wide receiver and punt returner, it's great to also see his great accomplishments in the classroom noticed," Northern Illinois coach Joe Novak said. "He's such a well-rounded individual. It's good to see his academic work get the recognition it deserves."

Fleck owns a 3.43 cumulative grade-point-average as an elementary education major. Academically, his personal trophy case also includes Verizon/CoSIDA Academic All-District V accolades and MAC Honor Roll notice from the 2001 campaign when he caught a career-high 59 passes for 732 yards and five touchdowns. That effort on the field also earned First-Team All-MAC notice from Football News.
Miami University cross country standout Andrea Kremer won the women's award for the second time this fall.

Kremer set a school record with a 17:12 clocking to win the Pack-It-Up Illini Challenge on Saturday, leading the RedHawks to a second-place finish in the team standings.

The MAC Scholar-Athlete of the Week honor is presented to a league male and female student-athlete with a cumulative grade-point-average of 3.00 or better based on performance during that week's competition. The winners are selected by conference faculty athletics representatives. Fleck is the second Huskie to earn the honor this season, joining quarterback Josh Haldi (Madison, OH) who received the award on Sept. 30.

-30- -Copy by Robert Hester