August 21, 2000

LACK OF CONCENTRATION, INJURIES
LIMITING PALADINS' PROGRESS

GREENVILLE -- With his team beginning its second week of two-a-day practices, Furman head coach Bobby Johnson on Monday expressed frustration with his squad's concentration level and the high number of injuries that have many of the Paladins' regulars on the sidelines.

"We didn't have a very good day of concentration with people playing different positions because of injuries and with some of the ones out there banged up a bit from Saturday's scrimmage," Johnson said following his team's afternoon practice session. "We've got to do a much better job of concentrating and executing. We are not a very good football team when we don't execute."

A total of 15 players, including many projected starters, sat out Monday's two practices. Nearly half are suffering from the same injury ‹ hamstring strains ‹ and several have yet to participate in full contact work since the Paladins went to full pads last Thursday.

Furman's receiving corps has been hit especially hard hit with three players, Bryant Huguley, James Thomas, and Bear Rinehart, having missed virtually all of the pre-season. Other veteran performers on the sideline include nose guard Steve DeBeer (concussion) and defensive end Eddie Overdyke (subluxed shoulder). Defensive tackle Jarrod Holmes (strained hamstring), injured for much of the 1999 season, has also been unavailable, as has backup tight end Graham Hunter (strained hamstring) and backup linebacker Andrew Knight (strained hamstring). Even starting quarterback Justin Hill has been limited due to a strained calf muscle, although the Greer product took part in Monday drills.

"It's day-to-day on some of them," Johnson added. "We'll continue to be cautious, particularly with those with tender hamstrings. We don't want anybody to aggravate that injury and risk missing a lot of time."

Furman, which returns 17 starters off its 9-3, 1999 Southern Conference championship, NCAA playoff squad, returns to the practice field with two practices on Tuesday beginning at 6:20 a.m. and 3:20 p.m. The Paladins open the 2000 season on Sept. 2 against Elon in Paladin Stadium.