March 4, 2002

FURMAN TO OPEN SPRING FOOTBALL PRACTICE TUESDAY;
77 PLAYERS TO PARTICIPATE AS LAMB ERA BEGINS

GREENVILLE -- Furman's football team will open its 2002 spring practice on Tuesday with a two-hour session in helmets beginning at 3:30 p.m., according to new head coach Bobby Lamb.

"We're excited about getting underway with our new staff members and returning players," said Lamb. "The players are ready to get back out there because the last time they were on the field we came up short for a national championship. They've also put in a lot of work in the weight room over the last couple of months, so they'd like to begin to show what they can do. And we're anxious to see some of the younger players step up and take the place of seniors we lost to graduation."

Under NCAA spring practice rules, the Paladins have 29 days to complete 15 practice sessions beginning with Tuesday's practice. Full-scale scrimmages are scheduled in Paladin Stadium for March 9, 16, and 23rd.

According to Lamb, among Furman's biggest objectives in spring practice will be developing depth in the offensive line, where the Paladins lost three All-Americans to graduation, shoring up the tight end position following the departure of Trent Sansbury, finding a replacement for cornerback Richie Jackson, and identifying the successor to graduated all-conference defensive interior lineman Ryan Spencer.

"In terms of numbers and experience, we probably took our biggest hit in the offensive line, so that will be a big area concentration for us," added Lamb. "At tight end Willis Sudderth got a lot of experience as our backup a year ago, so he will be stepping up, and we think John Rust has the potential to help us. He's a Trent Sansbury-type of player.

"At cornerback, we have Rodney Johnson back at one side, and we know what he can do, so we'll put Chris Lowery, our second most experienced corner, plus redshirt freshmen T.J. Wilson, Maurice Duncan, and Keith Johnson on the other side and let them battle it out. On the interior defensive line, we're looking at Justin Porter, Brant Glover, and Ken Striggles ‹ all of those players we redshirted last year ‹ plus Michael Burant to compete for the starting job. We think one of them will step up."

The two safety positions, which lost three-year starters Josh Cooper and Shelvis Smith, and tailback, where the Paladins graduate Louis Ivory, the school's all-time leading rusher, appear to be of less overall concern to Lamb.

"Paul Billingsly, Cam Newton, and Daniel South were all a part of our nickel package a year ago and have a lot of experience and ability, and I think any questions about tailback were answered by Lamar Rembers, Hindley Brigham, and Toreico O'Neal in the playoffs a year ago, so we feel good about those two areas."

Ahead of Tuesday's start to spring practice, Lamb announced a pair of player position moves. Mike Killian, who as a true freshman racked up 54 tackles at defensive end in 2001, will move to middle linebacker, where he will compete with senior Andrew Knight to take over for graduated All-America performer Will Bouton. Also, redshirt freshman David Latimer will be switched from fullback to safety. Lamb also said that rising sophomore fullback Corey Tant, who sustained three concussions this past season, would not participate in spring practice but hoped to complete his comeback attempt in the fall.

"Of 40 players we've signed the last two years, 35 have been redshirted, so there's a lot of depth in there. We've just got to find them."

Furman returns 41 lettermen and 12 starters off a 2001 team that went 12-3, claimed the Southern Conference title, and finished as NCAA I-AA national runnerup. Furman opens its 2002 season on Sept. 7 against Vanderbilt in Nashville.