Furman Announces 2006 Football Schedule

Jan. 27, 2006

GREENVILLE -- Six home games and a clash with Atlantic Coast Conference member North Carolina highlight Furman's 2006 football schedule, which was released today by director of athletics Gary Clark.

Furman, which posted an 11-3 record, advanced to the NCAA I-AA playoff semifinals, and finished the 2005 campaign ranked No. 3 nationally, kicks off the season with a Sept. 2 home game against Ohio Valley Conference power Jacksonville State. The Paladins clipped the Gamecocks 37-35 last year on a 9-yard touchdown catch by Justin Stepp on the final play of the game in the season opener for both teams.

Following a home game against NCAA Division II member West Georgia on Sept. 9, the Paladins will travel to Chapel Hill, N.C., to take on the North Carolina Tar Heels. Furman defeated North Carolina 28-3 in 1999 in the last meeting between the two schools.

Head coach Bobby Lamb's Paladins will kick off the SoCon schedule on Sept. 23 at home against Western Carolina and the following week travel to Spartanburg to take on Wofford in the first mid-season clash with the Terriers following the SoCon's new schedule arrangement. Furman defeated Wofford 34-21 last year to extend the state's oldest football rivalry, which began in 1889.

An Oct. 7 contest at Coastal Carolina will mark the series inaugural between the two schools. Furman will then return home for two home games against arch-rival The Citadel (Oct. 14) and Chattanooga (Oct. 21). The Paladins upended the Bulldogs 39-31 in triple overtime last year in Charleston and claimed a 56-35 decision over the Mocs a year ago in Chattanooga.

Furman will travel to Boone, N.C., for an Oct. 28 clash against defending national champion Appalachian State. The Paladins defeated ASU 34-31 in Greenville a year ago but fell to the Mountaineers 29-23 in last season's NCAA I-AA playoff semifinals in Boone.

The Paladins wrap up the regular season with a Nov. 4 road contest at Elon and Nov. 11 home game against Georgia Southern. Furman handled Elon 45-6 in 2005 but dropped a narrow 27-24 decision to Georgia Southern in Statesboro. The last time the Paladins and Eagles met in Greenville, Furman claimed a 29-22 win over the second-ranked Eagles during the 2004 campaign.

Furman will return 15 starters off last year's team, including senior All-Southern Conference wide receiver Justin Stepp (46 receptions, 8 TDs in 2005) and junior all-conference linebacker Andrew Jones (129 tackles in 2005).

2006 FURMAN PALADINS FOOTBALL SCHEDULE

Sept. 2 Jacksonville State

Sept. 9 West Georgia

Sept. 16 at North Carolina

Sept. 23 Western Carolina

Sept. 30 at Wofford

Oct. 7 at Coastal Carolina

Oct. 14 The Citadel (Parents' Weekend)

Oct. 21 Chattanooga (Homecoming)

Oct. 28 at Appalachian State

Nov. 4 at Elon

Nov. 11 Georgia Southern