November 9, 2000


FURMAN'S MARTIN, SANSBURY, DEBEER NAMED
TO VERIZON ACADEMIC ALL-DISTRICT FOOTBALL TEAM

GREENVILLE -- Furman University linebacker Marion Martin, tight end Trent Sansbury, and defensive lineman Steve DeBeer have been named to the Verizon University Division Academic All-District III football team, it was announced today.

District III is made up of all Division I and I-AA schools in Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia. To be eligible, a player must have a cumulative grade point average of 3.2 in the classroom and be a starter or key reserve on the field. A total of 21 players named to the all-district team are now eligible for the national Verizon Academic All-America team, which will be announced in early December.

Furman has had 12 Verizon Academic All-America selections over the years, more than any other Southern Conference member school.

Martin, a Columbia, S.C., native, two-year starter, and team co-captain, earned national Academic All-America honors a year ago and graduated Summa Cum Laude in May with a 3.90 grade point average in chemistry. Recently named a National Football Foundation And College Hall Of Fame Scholar-Athlete, he currently is pursuing a master's degree in chemistry at Furman and has totaled 57 tackles through nine games for the nationally fourth-ranked Paladins.

Sansbury, a computing business major from Lilburn, Ga., has 12 receptions for 236 yards and two touchdowns this year. A Sports Network Pre-Season All-America team selection, he had five receptions for 94 yards and a touchdown covering 60 yards against Appalachian State earlier this year and a 35-yard touchdown catch in a 33-7 win over The Citadel.

DeBeer has tallied 17 tackles and 2.5 sacks on a Paladin defense that tops the Southern Conference in rushing defense and scoring defense this year. A chemistry major and two-year starter, he is from Atlanta, Ga.