January 21, 1999
Release: After 8:00 p.m.

FURMAN'S KEITH NAMED MOST VALUABLE
AT ANNUAL FOOTBALL BANQUET

GREENVILLE -- Furman University senior free safety John Keith was presented the football program's Paladin (MVP) Award Friday night at the school's annual banquet.

Keith, a consensus All-America and Southern Conference Defensive Player-of-the-Year choice this past season, tallied a team leading 132 tackles in helping the Paladins to a 9-3 record, league championship, and NCAA I-AA playoff appearance. Included in Furman's 1999 season was a 28-3 win over North Carolina.

The complete list of 1999 season award winners is as follows:

Most Valuable Offensive Scout Award -- Toreico O'Neal
Most Valuable Defensive Scout Award -- Keito Whetstone
Best Receiver Award -- Desmond Kitching
s Best Offensive Back Award -- Louis Ivory
Best Offensive Lineman Award -- Ben Hall
Best Defensive Back Award -- John Keith
Best Defensive Lineman Award -- LeBryan Sperling
Best Linebacker Award -- Will Bouton
Coach Whitey Kendall Specialist Award -- Andre Stroman
Most Valuable Freshman Award -- LeBryan Sperling
Osteen Pruple Heart Award -- Walter Booth
Bryan Burns Academic Award -- Stuart Rentz
Christian Athlete Award -- Mark Batluck
Hustle Award -- Stuart Rentz
Captains' Awards -- Des Kitchings, John Keith, Stuart Rentz, Walter Booth, Ben Hall
Robert B. King Award -- Walter Booth
Paladin Award -- John Keith