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2008 FURMAN PALADINS TO FACE SEVEN TEAMSRANKED IN PRESEASON POLLS

Furman’s 2008 football schedule ranks among thetoughest in the NCAA’s Football Championship Subdivision, according to theS ports Network FCS Preseason Poll that was released today.

Six of Furman’s 12 opponents this fall are ranked in the FCS Preseason Top25, and a seventh foe, Virginia Tech, is ranked 15th in USA Today’s Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) Preseason Poll and 17th by the Associated Press.

“We have a challenging schedule every year, and ours this year certainly meets the standard,” said Furman head coach Bobby Lamb on Tuesday. ‘The strength of the Southern Conference is reflected in the poll, and then you throw in an opponent like Delaware and another quality program like Colgate, you know you will be tested every Saturday. We also have Virginia Tech, one of the best teams in the country.”

Paladin opponents ranked in the Sports Network FCS Preseason Poll include defending national champion and top-ranked Appalachian State and ninth-ranked Delaware. Furman will also face 13th-ranked Wofford,15th-ranked Elon, 17th-ranked Georgia Southern, and The Citadel, ranked23rd.

Furman, which ranked 33rd in the preseason poll based on the 120 points it received in balloting, is coming off a 6-5 campaign a year ago that included a 4-3 mark and third place finish in SoCon play. The Paladins won three of their final four games in 2007, including triumphs over11th-ranked Elon (52-49) and 14th-ranked Georgia Southern (24-22).

The Paladins’ Sept. 20 clash with Delaware in Greenville will mark onlyits second meeting with the Blue Hens. Furman claimed a 21-7 win over Delaware in 1988 NCAA I-AA (now FCS) first round playoff action in Greenville.

Furman will carry an eight-game series winning streak into its Oct. 4showdown at Elon and later entertain arch-rival The Citadel on Oct. 18 in Greenville, where the Paladins have won four straight and 12 of their last15 clashes against the Bulldogs.

Winners of three of its last four games against Georgia Southern, Furman will face the Eagles in Paladin Stadium on Nov. 15.

The Paladins have won four straight over Wofford in Spartanburg, where the two meet this year on Nov. 22 in the regular season finale.