Moon Township, Pa. - Juniors Adam Lawrence (Big Run, Pa. / Dubois Area) and Mark Szymanski (Cadogan, Pa. / Ford City) of the Robert Morris University football team were named to the ESPN The Magazine 2008 District II University Division Football Academic All-America Team Thursday by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA). By making the team, the pair will placed on the national ballot for Academic All-America consideration.    

Lawrence, a 6'1", 220-pound outside linebacker, is in his second year as a starter for the Colonials and owns a 3.98 cumulative grade point average as an environmental science major. He ranks second for RMU in tackles this season with 70, including seven takedowns for losses that total 21 yards. Lawrence is tied for team-high honors in sacks with Szymanski, as each own two and-a-half on the season. Lawrence has also posted five pass breakups, three quarterback hurries, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery so far in 2008.

Szymanski earns his second straight District II Academic All-America honor after being named to the 2007 squad, and the 6'2", 255-pound defensive lineman owns a cumulative grade point average of 3.31 as a computer information systems major. As well as being tied with Lawrence for the team lead in sacks, Szymanski has contributed 39 tackles and a pair of quarterback hurries. Of his 39 stops, he owns a team-high nine that have gone for losses of 28 yards.

In order to be eligible for All-District Academic All-America Team consideration, a student-athlete must be a varsity starter or key reserve and maintain a cumulative grade point average of 3.30 on a scale of 4.00. The student-athlete must have reached sophomore eligibility and academic standing at the institution and must have completed at least one full academic year. CoSIDA's District II covers Delaware, the District of Columbia, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and West Virginia.

Led by Joe Walton, the only head coach in the 15-year history of the program, Robert Morris concludes the home portion of its 2008 schedule Saturday, Nov. 8, in search of its third straight win in Northeast Conference play by hosting Albany for a 1:00 p.m. contest at Joe Walton Stadium. The Colonials will conclude their 2008 season Saturday, Nov. 15, with a 1:00 p.m. tilt at in-state rival Saint Francis.