September 2, 2002

FURMAN IMPROVES TO FOURTH IN
SPORTS NETWORK NCAA I-AA POLL

GREENVILLE -- Although idle on Saturday, Furman improved from a No. 7 preseason ranking to No. 4 this week in the Sports Network NCAA I-AA football poll, which was released today.

The Paladins, who open their 2002 campaign this Saturday against Vanderbilt, moved up three positions to claim the highest ranking among Southern Conference teams. Previously second-ranked Appalachian State slipped to No. 5 following a 50-17 loss to Marshall, and Georgia Southern, ranked fifth in the preseason poll, dropped to No. 12 after falling to Delaware, 22-19 last Thursday.

Including playoffs, Furman has earned national Top 25 rankings for 38 consecutive weeks since the 1999 season.

SPORTS NETWORK NCAA I-AA FOOTBALL POLL
(September 2, 2002)
Rnk. Team 2002 Record Points Previous
1) Montana (85) 1-0 2,146 1
2) Northern Iowa 1-0 1,932 3
3) Lehigh Mountain (2) 1-0 1,834 6
4) Furman (2) 0-0 1,680 7
5) Appalachian State 0-1 1,667 2
6) McNeese State 1-0 1,651 11
7) Eastern Illinois 0-1 1,511 4
8) Youngstown State 1-0 1,502 8
9) Delaware 1-0 1,369 22
10) William & Mary 0-1 1,353 9
11) Maine 1-0 1,271 13
12) Georgia Southern 0-1 1,148 5
13) Portland State 1-0 1,109 17
14) Sam Houston State 0-1 821 12
15) Villanova 1-0 816 NR
16) Northwestern State 1-0 710 19
17) Eastern Kentucky 0-1 658 14
18) Grambling State 0-1 593 10
19) Montana State 1-0 585 20
20) Hofstra 0-1 542 15
21) Florida A&M 0-1 529 16
22) Western Kentucky 0-1 411 18
23) Hampton 1-0 400 25
24) Jacksonville State 1-0 363 24
25) Harvard 0-0 221 23