September 19, 2001

NCAA DECISION HAS FURMAN LOOKING
TO ADD NOVEMBER 24 FOOTBALL GAME

GREENVILLE -- A decision by the NCAA today to push back the start of the I-AA football playoffs one week has put Furman in the market for an 11th game on November 24, according to school athletic director Gary Clark and head football coach Bobby Johnson.

"Adding an 11th game is something we will be working on over the next few days, and obviously we will look first at trying to secure a home game," Clark said late Wednesday afternoon.

"I'm very interested in playing another game, because if you play a 10-game schedule, it just gives folks an excuse not to award you a playoff bid if you are in position to possibly earn one," said head coach Bobby Johnson. 'We'd like a chance to win another game and solidify what we hope is a chance to earn a bid to the playoffs."

Furman, whose regularly scheduled Sept. 15 game at Liberty was canceled along with other Southern Conference contests following terrorists attacks on the United States, has "no interest" in playing the Liberty game on November 24, according to Clark. Clark and Johnson earlier stated the Paladins were also opposed to scheduling a game on Oct. 27, Furman's regular season open date.

Today's NCAA decision pushes back the start of the NCAA I-AA playoffs to Dec. 1. The championship game will be played in Chattanooga on Friday, December 21 at 5:30 p.m. and will be televised by ESPN. Originally the championship game was scheduled for December 15.

Furman, 1-1 and ranked fourth in the latest Sports Network NCAA I-AA poll, opens Southern Conference play this Saturday at home against VMI. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.