December 14, 2000

FURMAN PLACES THREE ON ASSOCIATED PRESS
I-AA ALL-AMERICA FOOTBALL TEAM

GREENVILLE -- Furman football's postseason awards haul continued on Thursday when three Paladins were named Associated Press first team All-Americans.

Junior tailback Louis Ivory, winner of the Walter Payton Award as the top offensive player in NCAA I-AA football, was joined on the first team by junior offensive guard Marty Priore and junior linebacker Will Bouton. It marked the first time in Furman football history the Paladins have had three first team All-America selections.

"I couldn't be prouder of these young men and what they have accomplished," said Paladin head coach Bobby Johnson on Thursday. "Louis, Marty, and Will were all vital to our team's success this year and through hard work have made themselves into outstanding football players. This is a real credit to their dedication, and I'm glad they have been rewarded in this way and happy they will be back with us next year."

Ivory, a product of Fort Valley, Ga., who rushed for a Southern Conference record 2,079 yards and 16 touchdowns in 11 regular season games, became the first player in league and state football history to rush for 2,000 yards in a season while leading Furman to a 9-3 record. His season featured five 200-yard performances, including a Southern Conference single game record 301-yard, three-touchdown outing in a 45-10 win over top-ranked and defending national champion Georgia Southern.

Priore, a Cincinnati, Ohio, native and consensus first team all-conference selection, helped key a talented Furman offensive line that helped clear the way for Ivory and a Paladin ground attack that averaged a school record 307.5 rushing yards per game. He has started in 31 consecutive games.

Bouton, meanwhile, headlined a Paladin defense with a team high 134 tackles, 14 tackles-for-loss, two sacks, and two interceptions. The Greenville native and former Greenville High standout garnered conference defensive player-of-the-year honors after headlining a Paladin defensive unit that paced the league in scoring and rushing defense.

Furman's three first team All-America picks this year top the program's previous high of two first team selections registered in 1990. Defensive back Corey Hall of Appalachian State was the only other Southern Conference player named to the first team.