Sept. 8, 2008

Bronx, N.Y. - Fordham University sophomore linebacker Nick Magiera (Carpentersville, Ill./Barrington) was named Patriot League Defensive Player of the Week for the week it was announced today. It is the first career weekly honor for Magiera.

In Fordham's 16-0 opening-day shutout win over the University of Rhode Island, Magiera recorded seven tackles, four solo, including four for loss of 21 yards and two sacks and he also broke up a pass.

The Rhode Island game is believed to be the first Fordham football game played on a Sunday and was the first opening day shutout at home since the Rams blanked Marist, 46-0, in 1995. The last time the Rams shutout out an opponent on opening day was a 23-0 win at Lafayette in 1998 and their first overall shutout since a 14-0 win over Albany in 2004.

Magiera led a Ram defense which held Rhode Island to minus-26 net rushing yards, the first time a Fordham defense held an opponent to negative rushing yards since the Rams moved to the NCAA FCS level in 1989. The defense sacked Rhode Island quarterback Derek Cassidy seven times, the most sacks since the Rams recorded seven sacks at Fairfield in 2002.

The Rams (1-0) will next be in action on Saturday, September 13th, as they travel to Dayton, Ohio, to face the University of Dayton Flyers in Welcome Stadium at 1:00 PM.