August 8, 2002

SPORTS ILLUSTRATED RANKS
FURMAN FIFTH IN NCAA I-AA

GREENVILLE -- Sports Illustrated has ranked Furman fifth in its pre-season Top 10 NCAA I-AA football poll, it was announced today.

Furman, which returns 11 starters off last year¹s 12-3 team that claimed a share of the Southern Conference championship and finished as NCAA I-AA runner-up, was the highest ranked league school in the poll, which also included Georgia Southern (No. 6) and Appalachian State (No. 8).

Defending national champion Montana, which edged Furman 13-6 in last year¹s championship game, was Sports Illustrated's pre-season No. 1 pick followed by Northern Iowa, Eastern Illinois, and Lehigh. Furman defeated Lehigh, 34-17, last year in NCAA I-AA quarterfinal playoff action in Greenville.

Under the direction of new head coach Bobby Lamb, Furman opens its 2002 season at Vanderbilt on Sept. 7.