Moon Township, Pa. - Sophomore punter Nick Schirtzinger (Hurricane, W.Va. / Hurricane) earned the first weekly honor of the 2008 campaign Monday for the Robert Morris University football team, as he was tabbed the Northeast Conference Special Teams Player of the Week. It marks the second career weekly honor for Schirtzinger, as he was named NEC Rookie of the Week Sept. 24, 2007.

In a 27-13 season-opening victory over Morehead State (9/6/08) at Joe Walton Stadium, Schirtzinger punted four times for 164 yards, an average of 41 yards per punt. He placed his first two punts of the season inside the 20-yard line of the Eagles, including a 51-yarder that was downed at that MSU nine-yard line.

RMU's lone representative on the 2008 All-NEC Preseason Team, Schirtzinger led the NEC in 2007 by averaging 41.4 yards per punt. He owns Robert Morris single-season records for punts (61) and punting yards (2,524), each of which came last season. Schirtzinger's 415 yards punting in a 28-14 win over Saint Francis (9/15/07) also stands as the Colonial single-game mark.

Under the tutelage of 15th-year head coach Joe Walton, Robert Morris continues its 2008 campaign Saturday, Sept. 13, with a 1:00 p.m. tilt against Bucknell at Joe Walton Stadium. It marks the inaugural meeting between the Bison and Colonials.