Good things come to those who wait.

Just ask Michael Daniluk.

The Duquesne University guard and Seneca Valley graduate waited three years for a starting spot with the Dukes' football team.

That chance finally came last season, and Daniluk made the most of it.

Starting at left guard, Daniluk helped the team to its fifth straight Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference title and a Division I-AA national championship with an 8-3 record.

"Mike's a big kid," said Dukes coach Greg Gattuso. "He's fundamentally sound and very coachable."

After the season, individual honors came the lineman's way: First Team All-MAAC Offense and CollegeSportsReport.com I-AA Mid-Major All-American second team offense.

"We felt this needed to be his year," said Gattuso. "He was battling a few other players for a starting spot. We told him at his goals session that he needed to step up and take it."

The Dukes were also tops in their conference in points scored (31.4 per game), rushing yards (168.3) and passing yards (287.2).

"I enjoy run blocking much more than pass blocking," said Daniluk, an international business major. "In run blocking, you can physically beat up on your opponent. But in pass blocking, you can't push them around as much, just protecting the quarterback."

The Dukes have had just one losing season since Gattuso took over in

1993, b

ut there were other reasons why Daniluk picked the Pittsburgh school.

"The winning tradition helped in my decision, but the big factor was that the other schools I looked at didn't have international business as a major," he said.

Those schools included Washington & Jefferson, Allegheny College, Georgetown and Brown.

"Plus, when I came to visit (Duquesne), I just really fit in with the players," added Daniluk. "It felt like I was back in high school with my friends."

Daniluk was redshirted his freshman year of 2000.

"My goal was to be a starter in my redshirt freshman year (sophomore academically)," he said. "I did start one game that season, but got a lot of playing time besides that."

More playing time followed his sophomore season, leading up to his award-winning junior campaign in 2003.

"Mike made tremendous progress those first couple of years," said Gattuso. "He played some center, guard and even a little tackle for us. It's rare to have a young guy get thrown in there like that.

"He knows all the line calls for every position," added Gattuso. "That gives a coach peace of mind knowing he can play anywhere on the line if needed."

"The playing time I got those first two years really helped me out," said Daniluk. "Coming into last season, I knew what to expect and had some continuity with the other guys on the line."

At 6-feet-4 and 305 pounds, Daniluk knows that strength is a big factor in an offensive lineman's success; but it's not any more important than technique.

"If you've got good technique and you're going up against a guy with poor technique, no matter how strong he is, you're going to win that battle," he said.

Daniluk didn't learn everything he needed to know while at Seneca Valley, where he played center.

"I worked on the basic stuff in high school," he said. "But in college, you learn to work a lot more with your hands. Keeping separation between you and the defensive lineman, that's important."

Coming off an impressive season, a starting job on the Dukes' line in 2004 seems a done deal for Daniluk, who is currently taking part in the team's spring practices.

"I'm just looking to get better," Daniluk said. "Work on my technique and get stronger because next season is going to be tough with Holy Cross, Fordham, Columbia and Robert Morris on our schedule."