October 15, 2002

FURMAN FULLBACK AL MEANS OUT FOR SEASON

GREENVILLE, S.C. -- Furman backup fullback Al Means will miss the remainder of the 2002 season after sustaining a torn ligament in his lower right leg in Saturday's game at Appalachian State, head football coach Bobby Lamb announced today.

Means, a sophomore from Charlotte, N.C., rushed four times for 36 yards against Appalachian State before being sidelined in the second half with the injury. In six games this year he had 22 rushes for 120 yards and four touchdowns. He will undergo surgery on Thursday to repair the torn syndesmosis ligament, according to head athletic trainer Phil Hedrick.

"Al's injury is a significant loss to our team," said Lamb. "At the time of his injury he was running as hard and as well as any time since joining the program. Now it will Corey Tant's time to step up."

Tant, a sophomore from Easley, S.C., has played sparingly in two games this year as a reserve behind starting fullback Eric Emerson and Means.

Ranked sixth in the latest Sports Network NCAA I-AA poll, Furman returns to action this Saturday when it hosts arch-rival The Citadel in a 3:30 p.m. game televised by Comcast Charter Sports Southeast (CSS).