(June 20, 2003) ?C The Fordham University football squad was ranked fifth in the NCAA I-AA by the Sports Network's Tony Moss. Fordham is coming off its most successful season on the I-AA level as the Rams finished the 2002 season with a 10-3 overall record, 6-1 in the Patriot League. They tied with Colgate for the Patriot League championship and received the league??s automatic bid to the NCAA I-AA playoffs. In the first round of the playoffs, the Rams defeated Northeastern, the Atlantic 10 champion, before falling to Villanova in the quarterfinals. Fordham finished the 2002 season ranked 12th in the final Sports Network poll and 15th in the final ESPN/Sportsticker poll. Head coach Dave Clawson, who was named the 2002 Schutt Sports I-AA National Coach of the Year, returns eight starters on offense and seven more on defense, including eight All-Patriot League selections. Besides the team ranking, four Rams were also ranked by Moss of The Sports Network as tops among their positions. Senior running back Kirwin Watson was listed as the second best running back in I-AA, senior wide receiver Javarus Dudley as the third best receiver in I-AA and senior Dan McGrath was ranked as the eighth best defensive back in I-AA. Additionally, junior Steve Porco was rated the sixth best two receiver in I-AA. Watson, a Payton Award finalist last fall, was named Third Team All-America by the Associated Press last year as well as Third Team All-America by The Sports Network and the Football Gazette. Last year, Watson led the league and set a Fordham record with 1,467 rushing yards, earning himself the Patriot League Offensive Player of the Year award. Dudley had another record-setting season last year, resetting the school records for receiving yardage that he set in 2001 and tying the record for receptions. He also became the career leader in receptions and receiving yardage last year and was named First Team All-Patriot League and Third Team All-America. McGrath, who will serve as a team captain in 2003, had a successful first full season on the defensive side of the ball in 2002, moving over from wide receiver. He earned First Team All-Patriot League honors at defensive back last year and was named Second Team All-America as a return specialist by Football Gazette. Porco enjoyed an outstanding sophomore campaign, finishing as the Rams?? second leading receiver with 52 receptions for 672 yards and five touchdowns. The Rams open the 2003 season on Saturday, August 30th when they host C.W. Post College on Jack Coffey Field at 1:00 p.m. 2003 Sports Network Preseason Rankings 1. Georgia Southern 2. Western Illinois 3. McNeese State 4. Montana 5. FORDHAM 6. Delaware 7. Montana State 8. Northeastern 9. Furman 10. Eastern Illinois 11. Bethune-Cookman 12. Western Kentucky 13. Nicholls State 14. Appalachian State 15. Massachusetts 16. Southeast Missouri 17. Villanova 18. Lehigh 19. Idaho State 20. Wofford 21. Hofstra 22. Eastern Washington 23. Pennsylvania 24. Florida A&M 25. Youngstown State