January 19, 2001

FURMAN'S IVORY NAMED MOST VALUABLE
AT ANNUAL FOOTBALL BANQUET

GREENVILLE -- Furman University junior tailback Louis Ivory was presented the football program's Paladin (MVP) Award Friday night at the school's annual banquet.

Ivory, a consensus All-America, Southern Conference Offensive Player-of-the-Year, and Walter Payton Award choice as the top player in NCAA I-AA football, rushed for a Southern Conference record 2,251 yards and 18 touchdowns in 2000, helping Furman to a 9-3 record and No. 4 final regular season ranking. Included in his season was a 301-yard, three-touchdown rushing peformance in the Paladins' 45-10 rout of No. 1 ranked Georgia Southern.

The complete list of 2000 season award winners is as follows:

Most Valuable Offensive Scout Award -- Brian Bratton
Most Valuable Defensive Scout Award -- Mike Killian
Best Receiver Award -- Bear Rinehart
Best Offensive Back Award -- Louis Ivory
Best Offensive Lineman Award -- Chris Stewart
Best Defensive Lineman Award -- Ryan Spencer
Best Linebacker Award -- Will Bouton
Best Defensive Back Award -- Richie Jackson
Coach Whitey Kendall Specialist Award -- Danny Marshall
Most Valuable Freshman Award -- Danny Marshall
Osteen Pruple Heart Award -- Justin Hill
Bryan Burns Academic Award -- Marion Martin
Christian Athlete Award -- Adam Sanders
Hustle Award -- Shelvis Smith
Captains' Awards -- Justin Hill, Josh Moore, Marion Martin, Will Bouton
Robert B. King Award -- Zach Smerdzinski
Paladin Award -- Louis Ivory