November 19, 2000

FURMAN TO HOST HOFSTRA IN NCAA I-AA
PLAYOFF GAME NEXT SATURDAY

GREENVILLE -- The Furman Paladins will host the Hofstra Flying Dutchmen on Saturday, Nov. 25, in NCAA I-AA first round playoff action, it was announced today. Kickoff is set for 1:00 p.m. EST.

Furman (9-2, 6-2 SoCon), the tournament's No. 6 seed, completed its regular season on Saturday with a 45-44 overtime win over Chattanooga. The Paladins finished second in the Southern Conference along with Appalachian State, but Furman routed league regular season champion Georgia Southern 45-10 in Greenville on Nov. 4. Hofstra (8-3), an NCAA I-AA independent, completed its regular season with a 55-28 win over Albany on Saturday. The Flying Dutchmen are the No. 11 seed in the tournament.

The winner of the Furman-Hofstra game will play the winner of Saturday's Georgia Southern-McNeese State contest on Dec. 2 at a site and time to be determined. The NCAA I-AA national championship game is scheduled for Dec. 16 at 3:00 p.m. at Chattanooga's Max Finley Stadium.

Furman's playoff appearance this year is its second straight and 10th trip to postseason play since Southern Conference football was reclassified from I-A to I-AA in 1982. Furman sports an 11-8 playoff record. The Paladins won the 1988 NCAA I-AA national championship by defeating Georgia Southern 17-12 in Pocatello, Idaho. Last year Furman dropped a first round matchup against Massachusetts, 30-23, in overtime in Greenville. The Paladins are 7-5 in home playoff games.

"We are very glad we got one home game; we were hoping for two, but when it comes down to it you have to beat the best teams at some point, and we'll see how we do," said Furman head coach Bobby Johnson immediately after the brackets were announced. "I know Hofstra throws it a great deal, and they are probably licking their chops after our Chattanooga game. But I think our guys will be ready for the challenge."

Tickets to Saturday's Furman-Hofstra playoff game are reserved and are $15 for adults and $7 for students and children 12 and under. Furman season ticket holders have until 6:00 p.m. Monday to retain their regular season ticket location. Tickets will go on sale at 10:00 a.m. Monday at the Furman University Ticket Office, located in Timmons Arena. The ticket office will be open Monday-Wednesday from 10:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m., and on Friday from 10:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m. The ticket office will be closed on Thanksgiving Day. Game day ticket sales will commence at 10:00 a.m. at the Paladin Stadium ticket office. The Furman Ticket Office number is (864) 294-3099.

Following are the match-ups for the first round of competition of the 2000 NCAA I-AA Football Playoffs to be contested Saturday, November 25. Complete game times will be released Monday:

November 25 at Missoula, Montana
No. 16 Eastern Illinois (8-3) at No. 1 Montana (10-1)

November 25 at Richmond, Virginia
No. 9 Youngstown State (9-2) at No. 8 Richmond (9-2)

November 25 at Bowling Green, Kentucky
No. 12 Florida A&M (9-2) at No. 5 Western Kentucky (9-2)

November 25 at Troy, Alabama
No. 13 Appalachian State (8-3) at No. 4 Troy State (9-2)

November 25 at Statesboro, Georgia
No. 14 McNeese State (8-3) at No. 3 Georgia Southern (9-2)

November 25 at Greenville, South Carolina
No. 11 Hofstra (8-3) at No. 6 Furman (9-2), 1:00 p.m. EST

November 25 at Macomb, Illinois
No. 10 Lehigh (11-0) at No. 7 Western Illinois (9-2)

November 25 at Newark, Delaware
No. 15 Portland State (8-3) at No. 2 Delaware (10-1)