FURMAN, GEORGIA SOUTHERN TOP SOCON
COACHES PRE-SEASON FOOTBALL POLL


Asheville, N.C. -- Defending Southern Conference champions Furman and Georgia Southern share the top spot and 1999 tri-champion Appalachian State has been picked to finish third in this year's Southern Conference Pre-Season Poll conducted by league head coaches.

Furman, Georgia Southern, and Appalachian State all posted 7-1 league records a year ago to share the 1999 conference crown, and all three schools advanced to the NCAA I-AA playoffs where Georgia Southern emerged as national champion with a 59-24 win over Youngstown State.

Last year Georgia Southern topped Furman 41-38 during the regular season but lost a 17-16 decision to Appalachian State. Furman's 35-21 win over Applachian State marked the Mountaineers' lone conference defeat in 1999. The Paladins and Mountaineers finished the season with 9-3 season records. Furman's 1999 campaign included a 28-3 win over North Carolina.

Wofford is picked to finish fourth, followed by Chattanooga, East Tennessee State, Western Carolina, The Citadel, and VMI.

Furman led the way with four first place votes. Two coaches predicted a second place finish for the Paladins and two other coaches thought Furman would finish in third place. Georgia Southern received two first place votes but six other coaches felt the Eagles would finish second.

The head coaches were asked to rate the eight teams other than their own in compiling the poll.

Appalachian State received three first place votes, a second, and four votes for third place.

2000 Southern Conference Coaches Preseason Football Poll:

No.
Team (First Place Votes)
Points
1) FURMAN (4) 58
Georgia Southern (2) 58
3) Appalachian State (3) 55
4) Wofford 38
5) Chattanooga 37
6) East Tennessee State 32
7) Western Carolina 22
8) The Citadel 16
9) VMI 8