The Times and Democrat from Orangeburg, South Carolina • 14

Page 4B, THE TIMES AND DEMOCRAT, Orangeburg, Saturday. September 2. 1989 Football in Carolina scsc home to host Virginia Tech in a 7 p.m. start, while Duke returns home to face Northwestern in a 7 p.m. kickoff.

Meet the Bulldogs This is the fifth in a series spotlighting the football players of South Carolina State College, The will highlight two players Tuesdays through Saturdays. The spotlighted players today are Jamal Isom, free safety, and J.W. Montgomery, wide receiver. Jamal Isom Free Safety A 6-2, 190-pound junior from North Myrtle Beach High School in North Myrtle Beach. Isom has started 18 games at free safety led team in total defensive plays last year as a sophomore with 90.

He was in on 43 solo tackles and earned second team All-MEAC honors. Isom has been a regular in the South Carolina State lineup since he broke into the starting lineup in 1987 as a freshman. In 1987, Isom had 44 assists, one blocked punt and one interception. Isom is majoring in pre law. Continued from Page 4B think is one of the best backs in the country.

He has good speed and can take it all the way." Leading the defensive charge for the Bulldogs will be senior linebackers Reggie Kennedy (fill, 216), who recorded 31 tackles, 30 assists and three interceptions last season and Jimmy Buchanan (5-11, 225), who had 44 tackles, 40 assists and three quarterback sacks. The spark plug in the defensive backfield will be junior Jamal Isom (6-0, 178), who had 43 tackles, 44 assists and an interception last season. Joining Isom are senior William Weaver (6-0, 200), 37 tackles and 32 assists in 1988, and junior Robert Burkins (5-11, 170). Burkins had 10 tackles, 13 assists and two interceptions last season. Another area Jeffries expects a good showing from his Bulldogs is the special teams where both starters return.

Handling the placekicking duties will be sophomore Nick Caliguri (5-7, 150), who was second on the team in scoring last season with 32 points and was perfect in the PAT department, going 20-20. His longest field goal of the season was 33 yards. Sophomore Mike Freeborn (6-2, 220) returns as S.C. State's punter. Freeborn ranked third in the MEAC last season, averaging 36 yards per punt.

His longest being 54 yards. Gamecocks open at home with new coach, changes By The Associated Press COLUMBIA South Carolina, with a new head coach in Sparky Woods and plenty changes, opens at home Saturday against a veteran Duke team that wants to prove how well it can play defense. Woods, who took over in February after Coach Joe Morrison died from a heart attack, has the challenge of showing he can make his strategies work in Division I-A. Duke's Steve Spurrier, a former Heisman Trophy winner and NFL quarterback, has made the Blue Devils an offensive powerhouse in the Atlantic Coast Conference the last two years. But this season, he's turned more of his attention toward solving a previously porous defense.

Questions about each team start getting answered at 7 p.m. on the natural grass turf of Williams-Brice Stadium. "We'll find out Saturday whether we've made improvements defensively," said Spurrier, whose Blue Devils went 7-3-1 last season and led the ACC in total offense. At Appalachian State, Woods put the Division I-AA school on the football map during five seasons before bringing his staff and playbooks to South Carolina. "We've got a busy week," said Woods, 38-19-2 with the Mountaineers.

"We still haven't finalized all of our starting positions yet. Woods views Duke as a tough challenge for his first start as coach at South Carolina, primarily because the Blue Devils are so experienced 18 returning starters and 30 seniors. 4T Defenses Furman: Multiple Clemson: 52 1988 records Clemson (10-2-0 overall, 6-1-0 in ACC and Citrus Bowl) Clemson 40, Virginia Tech 7 Clemson 23, Furman 3 Florida State 24, Clemson 21 Clemson 30, Georgia 13 Clemson 10, Virgina 7 Clemson 49, Duke 17 N.C. State 10. Clemson 3 Clemson 38.

Wake Forest 21 Clemson 37, North Carolina 14 Clemson 49. Maryland 25 Clemson 29, South Carolina 10 Clemson 13, Oklahoma 6 Furman (13-2-0, 6-1-0 SoCon and the NCAA l-AA national championship) Furman 38, C. State 0 Clemson 23, Furman 3 Furman 21, Presbyterian 0 Furman 42, Newberry 0 Furman 31, VM1 13 Marshall 24, Furman 10 Furman 24, Appalachian State 9 Furman 31, Western Carolina 0 Furman 10, 7 Furman 31, East Tennessee State 14 Furman 30, The Citadel 17 Furman 21, Delaware 7 Furman 13, Marshall 9 Furman 38, Idaho 7 Furman 17, Georgia Southern 12 ACC lineup Maryland at N.C. State (3 p.m.) Duke at South Carolina (7 p.m.) Southern Conference Gardner-Webb at Appalachian State (1:30 p.m.) East Tennessee at VMI (2 p.m.) Catawba at Marshall (7 p.m.) Western Carolina at Eastern Kentucky (7:30 p.m.) Ford on Furman "It is not very often that we have to open up against a team that is ranked No. 1 in the country, so we are very concerned about Furman.

Furman is probably very excited about playing Clemson this year. They have a lot confidence, partly because of the way they played Clemson last year. They moved the ball at times and they stopped us at times. They can line up and compete with Clemson We know it and they know it. They don't have as many numbers as we have and they are going to be hungry to win.

They will probably play their best football game all year against Clemson. "Furman's greatest strength against us last year was probably their fullbacks and tailbacks, who ran awfully hard against Clemson. They have some real fine play-action passes on film. They also do an outstanding job defensively. Their linebackers played well against us last year and their defensive linemen probably penetrated the line of scrimmage better than any team we played last season.

They have a lot of people coming back, they are very well-coached, and they execute very well." Satterfield on Clemson "When you talk about Clemson, there are two things that really stand out about them. First, they are a much more physical team than we generally face; and second, we are very impressed with their overall team speed. You can talk about their speed and work on some things in practice to prepare for it. but until you actually see it on game day, there is nothing you can really do to prepare your team for it. All of their people are quick, especially their tailbacks.

Because of it (speedl, they have that big play potential on every play, whether it's on offense, kickoff returns, or punt returns. Last year, we were able to somewhat contain their backs, but we know they are capable of breaking one for 80 yards at anytime. On the other hand, we will have to peck away a little at a time to get what we can get. They have a definite advantage in big play potential. One other thing you have to point out about Clemson is they don't make mistakes.

It's hard to fool them. They just line up and come right at you. plain and simple. They haven't won all those ball games and been one of the nation's best teams over the last decade by making mistakes. They have great coaches and truly great players.

What more can you South Carolina vs. Duke Game One South Carolina vs. Duke at Williams Brice Stadium (73.400) at 7 p.m. For opener The University of South Carolina kicks off its 96th season of intercollegiate football Saturday. Over the years, the Gamecocks have posted an overall record of 420-408-40.

In season openers. South Carolina is 61 31-3 In home openers. USC is 57-16-3. The Gamecocks have been victorious in their last two opening games 124 3 vs. Appalachian State in 1987 and 30-10 vs.

North Carolina in '881 and have been winners in seven of their last 10 lid-lifters. South Carolina has met Duke on opening day 14 times, with the Blue Devils holding a 4 1 advantage in those contests. The last year the two foes squared off in the season's initial game was in 1969. when USC was a 27-20 victor. The two clubs met on opening day from 1957 61 consecutively.

The Gamecocks play host to Duke in the 1990 opener on Sept. 1. Series history Duke leads the overall series 24-15-2. The first game between the two came back in 1930, with USC winning 22-0 in Durham. At Columbia, the Blue Devils lead 17-11-1.

The Gamecocks have won the last three games of the series, however, 31-24 (1983), 21-0 ('84) and 28-7 (85). The last meeting USC 28, DU-7, Oct. 12, 1985 in Columbia 171.150). Gamecock wingback Sterling Sharpe returned the second half kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown, igniting South Carolina to a 28-7 homecoming victory. Runningback Raynard Brown got USC first points on a 12 yard run with 1 :36 left in the first period.

Five minute later, Eric Poole grabbed a 23-yard TD pass from Mike Hold to put the home team up 14-0. Duke scored with 21 seconds left in the first half to cut the lead to 14 7. Runningback Kent Hagood added a 35-yard touchdown run to close out the day's scoring as USC evened its record to 3 3. South Carolina vs. ACC South Carolina, a former member of the Atlantic Coast Conference from 1953-71, is 158-188-17 against ACC schools.

In 1989, the Gamecocks face five ACC opponents, including Duke, Georgia Tech, North Carolina State, North Carolina and Clemson. The coaches South Carolina Sparky Woods (Carson-Newman. 1976) will coach his first game at South Carolina since he was named head coach last Feb 21. Woods compiled a 38 19 2 record in five seasons at Division l-AA power Appalachian State 11984 88). Woods led ASU to two Southern Conference championships and he was named the league's Coach of the Year an unprecedented three consecutive years 11985-86-87).

Woods also served on the staffs at Tennessee, Kansas, North Alabama, and Iowa State. This will be the first time he has faced Duke as a head coach Duke Steve Spurrier (Florida, 1967) has compiled a 12-9-1 record in his two seasons with the Blue Devils. He likewise has never coached against South Carolina. Quoting Woods (On facing Duke in the season opener) "Coach Spurrier certainly has done an outstanding job with the program at Duke. They are a fine football team.

They return 18 starters from last year's team, which won seven football games. They are a senior-dominated football team, so they have good experience and depth. They are very high on their quarterback. Billy Ray, and I know that their receiver, Clarkston Hines, is rated as one of the best in the country. They have a lot of talented players to go along with those two.

Duke certainly poses a tremendous challenge for our football team." Over the airwaves The game will be broadcast live via the Gamecock and Duke radio networks. The veteran Bob Fulton enters his 38th year as the "Voice of the Gamecocks," while Tommy Suggs, a former Gamecock standout quarterback, returns for his 17th season as color analyst. Don Williams is in his ninth season as sideline reporter. Bob Harris handles the play-by-play chores for Duke, with Wes Chesson serving as color analyst. Items of note Gamecock placekicker Collin Mackie (195) will pass George Rogers (202) as the school's career scoring leader with his eighth point this season.

Mackie, an All-America candidate, is 44-57 on field goals and 63-63 on PATs in his three-year career. Quarterback Todd Ellis, holder of 25 school records, has thrown for 8.579 career yards (including two bowl games) and 39 touchdowns. Saturday will mark his 36th consecutive start at South Carolina. Runningback Harold Green enters this week's game as the ninth leading rusher (2,016 yards including two bowl games) in USC history. The senior has 27 career touchdowns (the school record is 33 by Rogers) and has scored a school-record tying three TDs in a game five times during his career.

Outside linebacker Scott Windsor begins his senior season with 129 career total tackles. Wide receiver Robert Brooks, who was named the top freshman receiver in the nation a year ago by The Sporting News, caught 34 passes for 508 yards and four TDs as a rookie. He also averaged 22.4 yards per kickoff return and took one 98 yards for a score against Virginia Tech. First-year Gamecock head coaches are 20-7 in season opening games. The average weight of the Gamecock offensive line is 262 pounds, compared to Duke's average weight of 267 pounds.

The USC defensive line averages 247 pounds, while Duke tips the scales at an average of 251 pounds. Clarkston Hines. Duke's standout receiver, has 128 career receptions for 2.169 yards and 21 touchdowns. He needs 263 yards to break the ACC career receiving record. Duke has led the ACC in total offense the last two years.

Duke Tailback Roger Boone has led the ACC in receptions the last two seasons. Next week South Carolina stays at S.C. State vs. Presbyterian The game Presbyterian at South Carolina State Sits Oliver C. Dawson Bulldog Stadium 114.0001, starting time 7p.m.

Attraction This nonconference game marks the first meeting betwen these two intrastate schools and is the season opener for both squads. The Bulldogs of South Carolina State plays in the Mid Eastern Athletic Conference, while the Blue Hose of Presbyterian are a member of the South Atlantic Conference). Both teams are coming off dismal 1988 campaigns and are looking for a fast start. The visiting Blue Hose were 3 8 last year, while C. State posted a 4 7 record.

The series Teams' first meeting. Presbyterian is one of two in-strastate schools C. State will be meeting for the first time this season. The Bulldogs travel to Charleston Sept. 30 for their first-ever encounter with The Citadel.

The coaches S.C. State: Willie Jeffries 15 C. State '601 is in the first year of his second stint as Bulldog head coach, having replaced Dennis Thomas in January. In six seasons at S.C. State.

1973-78, Jeffries compiled a 50-13-4 record, while winning five straight MEAC titles and one Black National Championship. Jeffries is 101-68 6 in 16 seasons as a head coach. Presbyterian: Elliott Poss (Presbyterian 71 1 begins his fifth season as Presbyterian head coach. In four previous campaigns, he has compiled a 23 22 1 record. Poss reached the 20 victory milestone at his Alma Mater earlier in his career than any other Blue Hose mentor.

1988 results S.C. State 14-7-0 overall and 3-3 0 in the MEAC) Furman38, S.C. State 0 N.C.A&T17, S.C. State 6 S.C. State 21, Howard 13 C.

State 33. Elizabeth CityO S.C. State 51. Morgan State 14 S.C. State 24, Bethune-Cookman 17 Florida 23, C.

State 17 Delaware State 28, S.C. State 7 Virginia Union 29. S.C. State 6 Grambling 45, S.C. State 16 Georgia Southern 53, S.C.

State 0 Presbyterian (3-8-0 overall and 16 in SAC 8) Presbyterian 34. Davidson 16 The Citadel 35, Presbyterian 9 Furman 21, Presbyterian 0 Lenoir-Rhyne 21. Presbyterian 20 Presbyterian 38, Wofford 13 Catabwa 31. Presbyterian 10 Elon 44. Presbyterian 27 Hill 16.

Presbyterian 13 Gardner Webb 20, Presbyterian 19 Carson-Newman 52, Presbyterian 21 Presbyterian 30, Newberry 16 Offenses S.C. State: Trap option Presbyterian: I formation Defenses S.C. State: 4 3 formation Presbyterian: Multiple 50 MEAC lineup Presbyterian at S.C. State I7p.m.) Cheyney vs. Delaware State I2p.m.) Tuskegee at Florida (7 p.

District of Columbia at Howard lip Norfolk State at Morgan State 11:30 pm.) Central at N.C. II 30p Players to watch S.C. State Offense QB-Jasper Brooks 16-1, 190, so. I RB Zachary Whitley 15 8, 215. sr I OT Eric Douglas (6-1, 293, All MEACI TB John Brown 15 7.

186. jrl WR-J W. Montgomery (5-8. 170. sr.) Defense LB Reggie Kennedy (6 0.

230. jrl DE Carleton Jinks (6-3. 220, i'l DB Jamal Isom (6 2. 190, irl DB William Weaver (6 2. 195.

jr.) DB Robert Burkms 15 11. 170. jr I PK -Nick Caliguri (5-8. 150. so.) Presbyterian Offense QB Harold Nichols (5 10.

180. sr I TB Steve Parsley (5 10. 180. sr I WR Lavern Reddick 16 2. 185 sr I Andy King 16 0.

234. sr.) OT Andy Crumpton (6-1, 244 I PK AlexHorton(6 0. 173. so I Defense NG Tyrone Lucas (6 0. 231.

sr I DT Will Bedingfield 16 2, 231. so LB Jason Sullivan (6 1 211. ft. I LB John Terrapin (5 11. 215.

sr I DB Keith McGriff 15 10. 168. so I Radio S.C. State. WOIC (1230 AM).

Columbia will serve as the flagship station for the 23-station Bulldog Football Network. Veteran announcer Bill Terrell will handle the play-by-play, with Ernest Robinson and Bobby Gist providing expert commentary. Caryying the broadcast throughout the network will be: WOKE AM and WQIZ-AM both out of Charleston; WLBG. Laurens; WBAW-AM, Barnwell; WVGB AM Beaufort; WVBX-AM, Georgetown; WSGW AM. Spartanburg; WALD AM, Walterboro; WKNG-FM, Aiken; WMCJ-AM, Moncks Corner; WFIS AM.

Greenville; WPJM-AM. Chester and WPCC AM, Clinton broadcasting home and away games. WQKI AM. St. Matthews; and WHYZ AM Greenville will broadcast day games only.

WKSO FM. Orangeburg, will broadcast night games only. Presbyterian: WPCC (1410 AM), Clinton is the flagship station for the Blue Hose Network. Television highlights The Willie Jeffries Show, featuring S.C. State highlights, will be aired Sundays at 11:30 a.m.

on WIS TV (Channel 10) in Columbia. Orangeburg Jones Intercable will carry the show on a delayed basis Mondays at 7:30 p.m. on Channel 19. Coach Jeffries on Presbyterian "It going to be a tough game for us. The game will be a tough one because Presbyterian is a very discplined football team.

They (Presbyterian) are a little smaller than we are in size, but they're a little quicker and that's something that worries me. We've watched them on film and they're the type of team that will make you work for what you get." Coach Poss on S.C. State "We know very little about South Carolina State. From watching their spring practice, we do know that they have some very fine athletes. We do have an idea about Coach Jeffries' philosophy from watching his teams at Howard.

The Bulldogs will be very tough for his return to Orangeburg." Clemson vs. Furman The game Furman at Clemson Site Clemson Memorial Stadium (79,5751 atl p.m. Expected attendance 78.000 Preseason ranking Clemson: Ranked 12th in AP, 11th in UPland 15th in USA Furman: Ranked No. 1 in NCAA l-AA Attraction Saturday's game marks the 1989 season opener for both Furman and Clemson. The contest will also feature the two most successful football programs in South Carolina in the 1980s.

Furman. the defending NCAA l-AA National Champion, is the state's most successful team this decade, having run up an 83-23-4 (.772) record since 1980. Clemson sports the second-best mark of all state teams during that span, having rolled to a 77-23-4 (.759) record over the last nine seasons. The series In a series that got its start with a 14-6 Clemson win in 1896. the Tigers have run up a commanding 35-10-4 advantage over Furman.

The two schoofs have played only three times in the last 25 years, but twice in the last ten years. Counting last season's 23 3 win, Clemson currently owns a 23 game winning streak over Furman, dating back to 1937. Furman's last victory over the Tigers was a 12 0 decision in 1936, the year Franklin Roosevelt began his second term as President. The largest margin of victory tor a Clemson team over Furman was 99 points, which came in 1915 in a 99 0 rout. Furman's biggest win over Clemson came in 1926 by a 30 0 score.

In games played in Clemson, Furman is 2 19 overall. Last meeting Clemson scored early following a Furman fumble and later got three field goals from Chris Gardocki to knock off the Paladins. 23-3. before 80.400 fans in Clemson Death Valley. Terry Allen's 1-yard touchdown plunge with 9 27 left in the first quarter helped give Clemson a 7 0 lead after Jesse Hatcher recovered a Patrick Baynes fumble at the Furman 3.

After Furman made it 7-3 with a 48 yard Glen Connelly field goal early in the second quarter, the Tigers got a pair of Gardocki field goals in the second quarter to take a 13-3 halftime lead. In the second half. Clemson held Furman's running game in check and added to its lead with another touchdown run from Allen and Gardocki's third field goal of the day to make the final score 23 3 in favor of Clemson. The coaches Furman Jimmy Satterfield (South Carolina 62). 27 9 2 1 736).

Third year. Satterfield vs. Clemson 10 II. Clemson Danny Ford (Alabama 70). 86 27 4 7521.

10th year. Ford vs Furman (2 0). Offenses Furman I formation, multiple Clemson: I formation North Greenville vs. Potomac St. The game Potomac State at North Greenville Site Tigerville.

S.C. (25 miles northeast of Greenville); game time, 2 p.m. The Carolinas Junior College Conference North Greenville is one of seven members of this conference. The other members are Lees McRae College, Chowan College, Anderson College, Spartanburg Methodist College, Lewisburg College and Brevard College. Players from tri-county area to watch David Ford, 218-pound freshman fullback from Denmark, attended Denmark Olar High School.

Rodney Hair, 220-pound freshman linebacker from Bamberg, attended Bamberg-Ehrhardt High School. SeanOdom.5'8", 160-freshman halfback from Denmark, attended Denmark-Olar High School. Other players from the Low-country Joe Washington, 178-pound freshman rover free safety from Hilton Head High, Lower State Player of the Year. 3 AAA Player of the Year. Bobby Bain, 183-pound sophomore running back from Timmonsville High, USA Today Player of the Week.

Fred Bowman, 245-pound sophomore defensive tackle from Irmo High. Ralph Brown, 175-pound freshman cornerback from Goose Creek High. Sampson Brunson, 195-pound defensive end from Batesburg Leesville High. Demar Denson, 218-pound sophomore linebacker from Stall High. Eric Gomillion, 172-pound freshman halfback from Stratford High.

Stevie Johnson, 248-pound freshman defensive tackle from Batesburg-Leesville High. Anthony Jones, 5 167 'A -pound sophomore cornerback from Stratford High. Miguel Koger, 270-pound freshman noseguard from Walterboro High. Franklin Lindler, 6-foot, 220-pound freshman offensive tackle from Lexington High. Patrick Means, 208-pound freshman wide receiver from Irmo High.

Eric Stephens, 162-pound freshman halfback from Walterboro High. Radio North Greenville's home games will be broadcast this fall on WBBR-AM. according to Elisabeth Doehring-Mann, the college's sports promotions director. The games can be found at 1580 on the AM dial. Jim Hendricks, a former Pickens High School player and afternoon announcer with WBBR, will be the play-by-play announcer.

WBBR's signal will cover the Greenville, Easley, Greer and Travelers Rest areas of the Upstate. The NGC coaches Mike Taylor, head coach native of Savannah, bachelor's degree from Newberry College, master's degree from Georgetown College; played for H.V. Jenkins High School in Savannah. and Newberry (four years); honors Newberry College Best Back 11976). Lutheran Brotherhood All American 11976) and All-District Six (1976); previous coaching experience Georgetown College (1977-78).

Lenoir-Rhyne College (1978-82). East Tennessee State University 11982 86). Lenoir-Rhyne College (1986 87), North Greenville College (1987-presentl; brother Steve Taylor played for University of Georgia (1973-75), and Denver Broncos and Seattle Seahawks, New York Jets of National Football league one year each. Rick Beard, assistant coach-offensive coordinator native of Roanoke, bachelor's, master's degrees from Appalachian State; playing experience Appalachian State (1979 82); honors -four-year letterman; previous coaching experience Appalachian State (1379-821. Ron Blakely, assistant coach-halfbacks and receivers native of Columbia; bachelor's degree from Newberry College; playing experience Wofford College and Newberry College; previous coaching experience Newberry College 11989).

Alan Rodemaker. assistant coach-defensive backs -native of Raleigh. N.C; bachelor's degree from Presbyterian College: playing experience four years, Presbyterian College. Billy Watson, assistant coach-defensive line coach native of Spartanburg; associate degree from North Greenville, bachelor's degree from Clemson University; previous playing eiperience Dorman High School in Spartanburg; honors high school all-region; previous coaching experience two years as NGC soccer coach. Joe Zichichi.

assistant coach-off ensive line coach native of Berkeley Heights. bachelor degree from Mars Hill College: previous playing experience four years. Mars Hill, previous coaching experience Mars Hill. J.W. Montgomery Wide Receiver A 5-8, 170-pound junior out of East Clarendon High School.

Montgomery, who hails from New Zion, has started the past two seasons after being redshirted his freshman year. Proved to be one of the team's top receivers last season was second on the team with 18 catches for 292 yards and one touchdown. Montgomery, voted the team's top receiver in 1988, averaged 16.2 yards per catch. He earned honorable mention honors on the All-MEAC squad. At East Clarendon, set the state high school single-season record for receptions with 89 during the 1985 season.

Montgomery is a mathematics major. Ford: Bigger not badder against champ Furman By The Associated Press COLUMBIA The numbers favor Clemson. The 12th-ranked Tigers are bigger on both the weight scale and the roster than defending I-AA champion Furman. But Clemson Coach Danny Ford knows bigger doesn't necessarily mean badder. "We have more scholarships, more numbers," Ford said.

"Naturally, they're the underdog, and they're going to play their pants off. They're not afraid of playing Clemson in front of 80,000 people." Clemson will be trying to put a troubling preseason behind it Saturday when it opens the 1989 season against the Paladins. While Furman has spent the preseason preparing for the Tigers, Clemson has had to deal with problems that focused unwanted attention on a program seeking an unprecedented fourth straight Atlantic Coast Conference title. Coach Danny Ford and his Tigers won't talk about the problems. But an NCAA investigation certainly can't help a team as it prepares for the year.

Nor can the disapperance of quarterback Michael Carr or the suspension of Terry Allen after the talented tailback was charged Sunday with driving under the influence. Through it all. Ford has tried to keep his team focused on Furman, 13-2 in 1988. Ford knows the Tigers, 10-2 a year ago, are heavy favorites. But he also knows Furman is a dangerous opponent.

"They can can line up and compete against Clemson," he said. "We know it and they know it." Clemson has a commanding 35-10-4 record against Furman and has won 23 straight against the Southern Conference school going back to 1937. The Tigers downed the Paladins 23-3 last year in the first meeting in nine years between the two teams, whose schools are only 30 miles apart. The game matches two of the top teams in I-A and I-AA in the 1980s. Furman has won 77.3 percent of its games this decade (83-23-4 1, the second best among I-AA teams.

The Tigers have won 76 percent of their games (77-23-4) during the 1980s, eighth best among I-A teams..