August 8, 2003


FURMAN'S LAMB PLEASED TO GET UNDERWAY

90-Man Preseason Roster (pdf)

GREENVILLE, S.C. -- Furman head football coach Bobby Lamb said Friday's first day of preseason practice was one of the busiest days he's ever experienced but that he was pleased with his team's start.

"It was a long day with orientation, meetings, and testing, with the Falcons packing up and leaving, and with us moving back into our locker room," said Lamb. "The best part was getting on the field. It appears we're in pretty good physical shape as a team and that we are ready to go."

With the Atlanta Falcons leaving town after two and half weeks at Furman, the Paladins kicked off their first practice with an evening session that lasted three hours. Following conditioning tests, the squad spent the first of four consecutive practices installing offensive and defensive schemes.

"You look back at all your practices you have in a season, and it always seems your first one is the best because all your guys are fast, their legs aren't worn out, and they are so quick in all the drills," added Lamb. "You just look at them as wish 'gosh, I wish they could be like this the entire year', but unfortunately we know we'll wear them down during two-a-days, but I hope we will be fresher by the first game this year.

"Anytime you have a helmets only practice, the people who impress you the most are the defensive backs and wide receivers. I thought Cam Newton and T.J. Wilson did a solid job in the secondary. On the offensive side, Bo Moore had a great day, and in the receiving corps Justin Stepp, Brian Bratton, and Daric Carter, Grant Brigham looked good. Grant made a lot of plays, and I think we can find a way to use his speed."

Earlier in the day players were tested in the bench press, and redshirt freshman defensive tackle Wesley Bray led the way with a lift of 225 pounds 33 times. Following with 27 repetitions were sophomore offensive tackle Brian Laggis and sophomore guard Corey Stewart. Topping the list among the true freshmen was offensive guard Reggie Goolsby with 23 reps.

"Wesley Bray is amazing," said Lamb. "You're almost scared to go in there and watch him lift weights because there is no telling what you'll see. He's as strong and as powerful a player as wešve ever had, and to bench 225 pounds 33 times is phenomenel.˛"

Bray set program records in spring testing with lifts of 515 pounds in the bench press and 385 pounds in the power clean.

In vertical jump testing, junior linebacker Cedrick Ritter notched a leap of 34.5" followed by freshman cornerback Andrew Thacker, sophomore linebacker William Freeman, and sophomore split end Brian Stone with a mark of 34".

Redshirt freshman guard Kyle McGraw tipped the scales as the heaviest Paladins at 312 pounds, and sophomore defensive end Johnny Shields was the tallest Paladin at 6'7".

Furman's 90-member preseason roster does not include suspended junior wide receiver Isaac West and junior tight end WIllis Sudderth, who are being held out of practice pending university disciplinary action, which is expected late next week.

The Paladins return to the practice field on Saturday at 2:30 p.m. in shorts and helmets.

All Furman practices are open to the public.

Notes: Junior tight end Will Keller was held out of Friday's practice due to a stomach virus. Junior fullback Brandon Berry is continuing rehabiliation efforts associated with a knee injury sustained in spring practice, and his return date to full practice is uncertain according to head athletic trainer Phil Hedrick.