November 25, 2001
FURMAN TO HOST WESTERN KENTUCKY
IN NCAA I-AA PLAYOFF GAME NEXT SATURDAY
GREENVILLE -- The Furman Paladins will host Western Kentucky on Saturday, Dec. 1, in NCAA I-AA first round playoff action, it was announced today. Kickoff is set for Noon EST.
Furman (9-2, 7-1 SoCon), the tournament's No. 3 seed, completed its regular season on Saturday with a 48-27 win over Presbyterian. The Paladins shared the 2001 Southern Conference championship with Georgia Southern. Western Kentucky (8-3, 5-2 Gateway) completed its regular season with a 36-6 win over Southern Illinois on Nov. 17 and finished second in the Gateway Conference behind Northern Iowa.
The winner of the Furman-Western Kentucky game will play the winner of Saturday's Lehigh-Hofstra contest on Dec. 8 at a site and time to be announced. The NCAA I-AA national championship game is scheduled for Friday, Dec. 21 at 5:30 p.m. at Chattanooga's Max Finley Stadium.
Furman's playoff appearance this year is its third straight and 11th trip to postseason play since Southern Conference football was reclassified from I-A to I-AA in 1982. Furman sports an 11-9 playoff record. The Paladins won the 1988 NCAA I-AA national championship by defeating Georgia Southern 17-12 in Pocatello, Idaho. Last year Furman dropped a first round matchup against Hofstra in Greenville, 31-24. The Paladins are 7-6 in home playoff games.
"We are certainly pleased with the No. 3 seed because it gives us a chance to play at least two home games here if we win, and it's always better to play at home," said Furman head coach Bobby Johnson. "We don't know much about Western Kentucky other than the fact that they are very fine football team. They are an option kind of team like Wofford, and they are a very physical defensive team with a lot of great athletes like the ones we face in the Southern Conference."
Tickets to Saturday's Furman-Western Kentucky playoff game are reserved and are $16 for adults and $8 for faculty, staff, and children 12 and under. Students may purchase tickets for $5. Furman season ticket holders have until 6:00 p.m. Monday to retain their regular season ticket location. Tickets will go on sale at 10:00 a.m. Monday at the Furman University Ticket Office, located in Timmons Arena. The ticket office will be open Monday-Friday from 10:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. Game day ticket sales will commence at 10:00 a.m. at the Paladin Stadium ticket office. The Furman Ticket Office number is (864) 294-3099.
Following are the match-ups for the first round of competition to be played Saturday, Dec. 1. Complete game times will be released Monday:
Dec. 1 at Missoula, Montana
Northwestern State (8-3) at No. 1 Montana (11-1)
Dec. 1 at Huntsville, Texas
Northern Arizona (9-2) at Sam Houston State (9-2)
Dec. 1 at Lake Charles, Louisiana
Maine (8-2) at McNeese State (8-3)
Dec. 1 at Charleston, Illinois
Northern Iowa (9-2) at No. 4 Eastern Illinois (9-1)
Dec. 1 at Statesboro, Georgia
Florida A&M (7-3) at No. 2 Georgia Southern (10-1)
Dec. 1 at Boone, North Carolina
William & Mary (8-3) at Appalachian
State (8-3
Dec. 1 at Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
Hofstra (9-2) at Lehigh (10-0)
Dec. 1 at Greenville, South Carolina
Western Kentucky (8-3) at No. 3 Furman (9-2), Noon