FURMAN SLIPS TO 9TH IN NCAA I-AA FOOTBALL POLLS

GREENVILLE -- Its seven-game wining streak snapped with a 41-38 loss to nationally third-ranked Georgia Southern in Statesboro on Saturday, Furman slipped two notches to ninth in this week's Sports Network and USA Today/ESPN NCAA I-AA polls, which were released today.

Furman first cracked the national polls at No. 25 following the Paladins' 27-19 victory over Western Carolina on Oct. 2. The Paladins moved to 18th following a 35-21 win over previously third-ranked Appalachian State, and up to 14th after beating The Citadel 31-17 on Oct. 16. Furman improved to 12th following its 48-21 thrashing of East Tennessee State two weeks ago before leaping five slots to seventh with its stunning 28-3 rout of North Carolina on Oct. 30.

Furman is one of three conference teams in this week's national poll, which also includes Georgia Southern (No. 3) and Appalachian State (No. 5).

The Paladins return to action this Saturday when they host Wofford in Greenville in a key Southern Conference showdown. Kickoff is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. at Paladin Stadium.

With wins over Wofford and Chattanooga in its final two games, Furman can claim a share of the 1999 Southern Conference crown.

THE SPORTS NETWORK NCAA I-AA POLL (Nov. 8)
School (1st votes) /record Pts Last Week
1. Troy State (61) / 9-0 1,715 1
2. Tennessee State (6) / 9-0 1,586 2
3. Georgia Southern (1) / 8-2 1,521 4
4. Montana / 8-1 1,515 5
5. Appalachian State / 7-2 1,440 6
6. Hofstra / 8-1 1,315 10
7. Illinois State / 8-2 1,262 11
8. Florida A&M (1) / 7-2 1,254 12
9. Furman / 7-2 1,069 7
10. Youngstown State / 8-2 1,006 14
11. Northern Iowa / 7-2 961 13
12. Southern University / 8-1 953 3
13. Portland State / 8-2 827 15
14. James Madison / 7-2 824 8
15. Jackson State / 7-2 716 16
16. Lehigh / 8-1 700 9
17. Massachusetts / 6-3 667 17
18. South Florida / 7-3 485 21
19. Villanova / 6-3 440 20
20. Northern Arizona / 6-3 369 22
21. Elon College / 8-2 339 23
22. Colgate / 8-1 304 NR
23. North Carolina A&T / 8-1 279 24
24. Delaware / 6-3 209 25
25. Stephen F. Austin / 6-3 157 19