August 20, 2001

PALADINS TURNING ATTENTION TO
SEASON OPENER VERSUS WYOMING

GREENVILLE -- After taking Sunday off following Saturday's full-scale scrimmage, Furman returned to the practice field Monday with a pair of practices and some initial preparation for Wyoming, the Paladins' season opening opponent.

"We started hinting at the Wyoming game plan by putting aside some of the things we had installed that we might use later in the year but which we won't use against them," said head coach Bobby Johnson following Saturday afternoon's two hour and 15 minute practice session. "We've started thinking in those terms, not actually preparing a game plan, but we have begun to narrow our focus a bit."

In addition to spending time on basic schemes, the Paladins also worked on two-minute offense and defense in Monday afternoon's session. "We do that a lot at the end of practices to get it in, because if you don't you start neglecting it and the next thing you know you haven't practiced it enough. "

Everybody did a good job today. The first day after a scrimmage can be a little slow, but they came out and worked hard in both practices in the heat." Furman continues its twice daily practice schedule on Tuesday with practices at 8:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m.

Furman returns 19 starters off a 2000 squad that posted a 9-3 record. The Paladins were ranked No. 6 in the Sports Network NCAA I-AA Preseason Football Poll, which was released on Monday.