November 29, 2000


FURMAN'S IVORY, BOUTON CONSENSUS PLAYER-OF-THE-YEAR SELECTIONS,
11 PALADINS EARN ALL-SOUTHERN CONFERENCE HONORS

GREENVILLE -- Furman tailback Louis Ivory and linebacker Will Bouton have been named Southern Conference Offensive and Defensive Player-of-the-Year by vote of the Southern Conference Sports Media Association, it was announced today.

Ivory and Bouton, who last week were accorded offensive and defensive player-of-the-year accolades by league head coaches, headline a contingent of 11 Furman all-conference selections.

"We're pleased the media has recognized Louis and Will for their outstanding seasons and all of our all-conference players," said Furman head coach Bobby Johnson Wednesday afternoon. "They were all vital to our success this year and certainly rank among the best players in our league."

Ivory, the leading rusher in NCAA I-AA, became the first player in conference history to rush for 2,000 yards in a season this year by totaling 2,079 yards and 16 touchdowns during the regular season. He finished the season with 2,251 yards and 18 touchdowns.

The Fort Valley, Ga., product recorded five 200-yard games, including a conference single game record 301 yards and three touchdowns in Furman's 45-10 win over defending national champion Georgia Southern on Nov. 4. A finalist for the Walter Payton Award, I-AA football's equivalent to the Heisman Trophy, he averaged 189.0 yards per game and 7.3 yards per carry in the regular season. Ivory is the seventh Furman player to garner Southern Conference Offensive-Player-of-the-Year honors and first since quarterback Frankie DeBusk captured the award in 1989.

Bouton headlined Furman's defense this year with 134 tackles, 14 tackles-for-loss, two sacks, two interceptions, and a fumble recovery during the regular season.

The Greenville product recorded a career high 19 tackles in the Paladins' 27-18 win over Wofford on Nov. 11 and was a major factor on a Furman defensive unit that paced the conference in scoring and rushing defense . Bouton has started in 35 consecutive games and already ranks 10th on Furman's career tackles chart with 368. He is the seventh Paladin to be named defensive player-of-the-year since the conference added the defensive player-of-the-year honor in 1986. Last year Paladin free safety John Keith, now with the San Francisco 49ers, captured the honor.

Furman's first team all-conference selections included Louis Ivory (RB), Marty Priore (OG), Josh Moore (OT), and Will Bouton (LB). Second team honorees include Trent Sansbury (TE), Donnie Littleohn (OT), Ryan Spencer (DL), LeBryan Sperling (DL), Richie Jackson (CB), and Josh Cooper (FS).

Furman, which went 9-3 this season and 6-2 in Southern Conference play, dropped a 31-24 decision to Hofstra in NCAA I-AA first round playoff action last Saturday in Greenville.