August 11, 2003
FURMAN RANKED NO. 8 IN SPORTS
NETWORK PRESEASON POLL
GREENVILLE, S.C. -- The Furman Paladins are ranked No. 8 in the Sports Network NCAA I-AA Preseason Poll, which was released today.
The Paladins went 8-4 and finished the 2002 campaign ranked No. 9 in the organization's poll, which has been the NCAA I-AA poll of record since 1993.
Furman opens the season Aug. 30 when it hosts new Southern Conference member Elon in a 7:00 p.m. game at Paladin Stadium.
The Sports Network 2003 Preseason
I-AA College Football Poll
Team (First-place votes) 2002 Record Points 2002 Final Rank
1. McNeese State (25) 13-2
1,905 2
2. Georgia Southern (16)
11-3 1,832 3
3. Western Illinois (15) 11-2 1,733 5
4. Montana (5) 11-3 1,729 7
5. Western Kentucky (17) 12-3 1,532 1
6. Northeastern 10-3 1,270 11
7. Grambling State (2) 11-2 1,208 8
8. Furman 8-4 1,194 9
9. Appalachian State 8-4 1,161 10
10. Bethune-Cookman 11-2 1,001 15
11. Idaho State 8-3 926 18
12. Villanova 11-4 908 4
13. Fordham 10-3 890 12
14. Massachusetts 8-4 779 NR
15. Montana State 7-6 773 19
16. Maine 11-3 745 6
17. Delaware 6-6 741 NR
18. Eastern Illinois 8-4 584 13
19. Wofford 9-3 576 14
20. Southeast Missouri 8-4 508 24
21. Pennsylvania 9-1 503 17
22. Northwestern State 9-4 403 16
23. Nicholls State 7-4 350 23
24. Stephen F. Austin 6-5 274 NR
25. Eastern Kentucky 8-4 237 21