July 23, 2008

GREENVILLE, S.C. -- The Furman Paladins are a preseason fifth place pick in a poll of Southern Conference head football coaches, it was announced today at the league's annual rouser.

Three-time defending champion Appalachian State was a near unanimous choice to repeat as league champion in 2008. The Mountaineers collected eight first place votes and 64 points in a poll of nine SoCon coaches.

Elon was picked second with 47 points and one first place vote followed by Wofford (45), Georgia Southern (44), and Furman (41). The Citadel (37) placed sixth in the poll followed by Chattanooga (19) and Western Carolina (17). New league member Samford (10) rounded out the field as the ninth place selection.

Furman posted a 6-5 record a year ago and finished tied for third in the SoCon with a 4-3 league mark. The Paladins won four of their final five games in 2007, including triumphs over 14th-ranked Elon (52-49 win) and 11th-ranked Georgia Southern (24-22 win).

Furman, which returns 10 starters off last year's squad, opens preseason practice on Aug. 5.