The Unofficial Furman Football Page

Bringing a thread over from the AGS board. Who is Furman's rival in football?

Historically I think the Citadel. Over the last decade… Wofford.
You also have to include some fierce old rivals… Marsha and App.

Saying all that - I think I have to throw my vote to GSU. I stumbled on this article.
I hadn't thought about it but Furman and GSU only played 25 matchups.
Think about that Twenty-Five games. Two national title matchups, one semi-final matchup.
Multiple intense regular-season matchups.
http://americansportsnet.com/news/great ... ampionship

For us recent fans (last 10 years) GSU was that one school that always whipped our tail a couple times in college and then left for the big leagues. I think Wofford and Citadel are two great rivalries I think of now.

a little summertime enjoyment — Furman vs GSU 2004.

Maybe the best game ever played in Paladin Stadium.

cavedweller2 wrote: ↑

Tue May 15, 2018 8:34 am

Maybe the best game ever played in Paladin Stadium.

On my unofficial list of greatest football games I have ever seen, that 2004 FU/GSU game is up there with this past Rose Bowl between UGA/OU and the Fiesta Bowl from a number of years back with OU/Boise State.

In context, that game is difficult to replicate in today's college game. Two rival fan bases of roughly equal number facing one another across the field backing their team in a back-and-forth game. I think the only time you will really see that in modern college football is the neutral site rivalry games (UF/UGA, OU/UT).

There is only one. citadel. Until the citadel got tired of losing their last game every year, the citadel - Furman game was always played on what was traditionally known as Rivalry Saturday. It was played on the same day as USC-Clemson, Alabama-Auburn, Georgia-Georgia Tech, etc.

For someone who was not around in 2004, that video of the FU - GSU game is stunning. Players looked like today's FBS caliber, the size of the crowd and its enthusiasm was amazing, the visitor side of the field was filled - awesome, FU students were out in force and really into the game - and they stayed for the whole game. Just amazing. I now understand why so many members of this site long for the "good old days" of FU football. It looked like a helluva lot of fun to be there.....and then there is Thomas Wolfe. For a myriad of reason, FU football and FCS football in general have taken a severe hit since those halcyon days. Nothing has demonstrated that fact to me as vividly as this video. Unfortunately, I don't think Paladin Stadium will see days like that again. But for my own sake, I really hope I am wrong. Savor the memories, folks.
As to the question put forth in the thread. Right now, Furman's rival is definitely Wofford. Even though I never heard of the school ten years ago, I now truly hate them. In ALL sports - at ALL times - forever.

Jasper wrote: ↑

Tue May 15, 2018 9:44 am

For someone who was not around in 2004, that video of the FU - GSU game is stunning. Players looked like today's FBS caliber, the size of the crowd and its enthusiasm was amazing, the visitor side of the field was filled - awesome, FU students were out in force and really into the game - and they stayed for the whole game. Just amazing. I now understand why so many members of this site long for the "good old days" of FU football. It looked like a helluva lot of fun to be there.....and then there is Thomas Wolfe. For a myriad of reason, FU football and FCS football in general have taken a severe hit since those halcyon days. Nothing has demonstrated that fact to me as vividly as this video. Unfortunately, I don't think Paladin Stadium will see days like that again. But for my own sake, I really hope I am wrong. Savor the memories, folks.
As to the question put forth in the thread. Right now, Furman's rival is definitely Wofford. Even though I never heard of the school ten years ago, I now truly hate them. In ALL sports - at ALL times - forever.

Jasper really great post… will we ever see an experience like that again at Paladin Stadium? The other really cool thing I noticed is all the shots of Bobby and Clay walking the sidelines together.

We will see that kind of atmosphere and experience again.

I have a hard time imagining that environment again unless some of the JMU, NDSU, Montana crowds trickle down to the Southeast. But back to the point of the post ... When I was in school in the mid-2000s, it was GSU and App 1A & 1B, going back and forth from year to year, and no one else was even close. I barely thought about Wofford. Now, it's Wofford. They've had our number in the two big sports for too long for it to not be the case.

Bootie wrote: ↑

Tue May 15, 2018 1:10 pm

We will see that kind of atmosphere and experience again.

Objectively, WE could maybe replicate it on our side w sustained success.. but the key there is also GSU w so many fans.. - I am looking at it from a 'both sides of the stadium are full' kind of thing. Woff will never bring 7000 fans. I don't know that it can happen again in the REGULAR season w the current schools? App and GSU just had larger fan bases than WOff and Citadel bring. It would have to be a game w a JMU/NDSU - type team in the post-season to get a full attendance I think.

I actually asked some of the players in the early 2000s this very question - most said App and GSU - and didn't think twice about Citadel. Kids don't care too much about historical rivalries. Given that, I suspect many would now say Wofford. And I hope we beat the snot out of Citadel this coming year like last year (we just RAN ALL OVER THEM) so that the current players have no reason to respect the Citadel a a rival..

Bootie wrote: ↑

Tue May 15, 2018 1:10 pm

We will see that kind of atmosphere and experience again.

Awesome game experience. Watching this game makes me question more than ever the Furman fans that were glad to see Marshall, GSU and Appy leaving the SoCon. And don’t give me that crap about the game experience at those schools. Your negative experience in Huntington, Statesboro or Boone does not matter. With the present teams we face, the only chance to fill up Paladin Stadium is when (not if) we get back to one of the top teams in the nation and The Citadel has one of their great years. Otherwise, tell me, which team can bring a lot of fans to Paladin Stadium?

I believe it was 1990… The Citadel completely filled the visiting stands - I think that's the year they beat USC too. BTW… that was the ninth win in a row for the Paladins.
I agree with others… to re-create that level of intensity — we need a villain.

Furman VS GSU - two schools with very little in common, players knew each other from high school.
We really need a program to rise up like Western — that's a rivalry that could rise up - if Western improves and their fan base buys in.
The Citadel has waves of success and when that happens their fans start barking, and that rivalry peaks out of the shadows. (btw) the only team that came in last season smack talking was the Citadel - their players during pre-game warm-ups stopped on the hill and barked at the Paladins. Furman ignored them.

Wofford, now that Ayers has left… I'll be watching curiously what happens with a new head coach. Wofford has enjoyed being the little brother, coming into the SoCon with a chip on its shoulder with something to prove. Now they face change. While Wofford was increasing its investments in football and building a program… Furman was stumbling. Now the tables have turned.

I'm not sure if we will ever have that "hated villain" like we did in GSU, APP, and MARSHA ever again. I hated those guys, I loved going into their pit and cheer for the Paladins. They also felt the same way about us.

I would add Mercer to our fiercest rivals. Them and Wofford and Citadel. Then, WCU and UTC and Samford and ETSU and VMI (and UNCG in every sport they have). Need to beat them all, but especially those first 3.