November 19, 2001

FURMAN'S NAPIER, COOPER NAMED SOCON
FOOBALL PLAYERS-OF-THE-WEEK

GREENVILLE -- Furman quarterback Billy Napier and free safety Josh Cooper have been named Southern Conference Offensive and Defensive Player-of-the-Week, respectively, for their performances Saturday in the Paladins' 42-10 win over Chattanooga that guaranteed Furman at least a share of the 2001 league championship.

Napier, a junior from Chatsworth, Ga., completed 16-of-23 passes for a career high 218 yards and three touchdowns, and also scored on a 1-yard run to pace Furman's offense to a season high 468 yards against the Mocs.

Cooper, a senior from Cincinnati, Ohio, tallied 10 tackles, two interceptions, two pass deflections, and a forced fumble in the victory. His first interception, which he returned 28 yards to the Chattanooga 19-yard line, set up what proved to be the Paladins' game winning touchdown — a 19-yard pass from Napier to Bear Rinehart that gave the Paladins a 16-7 second quarter lead.

Now 8-2 on the season and ranked fourth in the lastest NCAA I-AA poll released today, Furman plays its final regular season game of the 2001 season this Saturday when it hosts Presbyterian at Paladin Stadium in a 2:00 p.m. game.

The NCAA I-AA playoffs begin Dec. 1.