The Unofficial Furman Football Page

Saturday March 9, 1974. An upstart Furman team beat #10 South Carolina 75-67 before an empty house at the Palestra in Philadelphia to advance to the Sweet 16. Probably the best overall win considering the circumstances or at least a top 5 win. Earlier that afternoon I was in Charlotte to see Elvis Presley. Got home in time to see the game. Doesn't get any better than that for the huge Elvis and Furman fan that I am. Will never forget that day. A win tonight would be a fitting way to celebrate.

And Paris Mountain burned.

The following season was my first as a Paladin fan. Won Southern Conference; lost to BC in NCAA by 6. Looking back on that season, here's the OOC schedule:

Clemson
Oklahoma
Florida
Minnesota
George Washington
Lafayette
La Salle
Houston
Southern California
Jacksonville
North Carolina
North Carolina St.

That was a great OOC schedule but you have to remember back then there was half as many D1 teams if that. There were only 4 in South Carolina. Now there are 10.

apaladin wrote: ↑

Sat Mar 09, 2019 6:23 pm

That was a great OOC schedule but you have to remember back then there was half as many D1 teams if that. There were only 4 in South Carolina. Now there are 10.

Interesting point. I think the bigger difference, though, was that the vision was for the program to compete on a national stage. (We didn't bring in a coach straight from the National championship game to beat up on the weak sisters to get an inflated W-L). If I recall correctly, Coach Alley was athletic director and most, if not all, could be traced back to him. Coach Alley was a Furman grad, was passionate about the program, and was ambitious; he thought on big scale. Great man. I'm far from the only familiar with those days, and some folks surely were closer to it than me, but that's my recollection.

BTW, notice there is no SC on the schedule. The old man down there looked down on FU I suspect.

Fessor wrote: ↑

Sat Mar 09, 2019 7:51 pm

apaladin wrote: ↑

Sat Mar 09, 2019 6:23 pm

That was a great OOC schedule but you have to remember back then there was half as many D1 teams if that. There were only 4 in South Carolina. Now there are 10.

Interesting point. I think the bigger difference, though, was that the vision was for the program to compete on a national stage. (We didn't bring in a coach straight from the National championship game to beat up on the weak sisters to get an inflated W-L). If I'm recall correctly, Coach Alley was athletic director and most if not all could be traced back to him. Coach Alley was a Furman grad, was passionate about the program, and thought on big scale. I'm far from the only familiar with those days, and some folks surely were closer to it than me, but that's my recollection.

BTW, notice there is no SC on the schedule. The old man down there looked down on FU I suspect.

More good points Fessor. McGuire would not schedule FU which made the win in the NCAA that much sweeter. Another point is most conferences only had 8 teams and 25 games was the limit you could schedule.

apaladin wrote: ↑

Sat Mar 09, 2019 8:07 pm

Fessor wrote: ↑

Sat Mar 09, 2019 7:51 pm

apaladin wrote: ↑

Sat Mar 09, 2019 6:23 pm

That was a great OOC schedule but you have to remember back then there was half as many D1 teams if that. There were only 4 in South Carolina. Now there are 10.

Interesting point. I think the bigger difference, though, was that the vision was for the program to compete on a national stage. (We didn't bring in a coach straight from the National championship game to beat up on the weak sisters to get an inflated W-L). If I'm recall correctly, Coach Alley was athletic director and most if not all could be traced back to him. Coach Alley was a Furman grad, was passionate about the program, and thought on big scale. I'm far from the only familiar with those days, and some folks surely were closer to it than me, but that's my recollection.

BTW, notice there is no SC on the schedule. The old man down there looked down on FU I suspect.

More good points Fessor. McGuire would not schedule FU which made the win in the NCAA that much sweeter. Another point is most conferences only had 8 teams and 25 games was the limit you could schedule.

Fwank and his heralded 1969-70 team of Roche, Owens, Riker, Manning et. al. rolled into the Brown Box in January of 1970 and barely escaped. Joe Brunson, Jerry Martin, Lisco Thomas and the Paladins battled fiercely only to fall 59-56. Coach Selvy's wife warped Harry Bushkar in the head with a wadded up coke cup after the game. It was classic. If only we had won.

Revenge was exacted 4 years later.

Fessor wrote: ↑

Sat Mar 09, 2019 5:50 pm

The following season was my first as a Paladin fan. Won Southern Conference; lost to BC in NCAA by 6. Looking back on that season, here's the OOC schedule:

Clemson
Oklahoma
Florida
Minnesota
George Washington
Lafayette
La Salle
Houston
Southern California
Jacksonville
North Carolina
North Carolina St.

Subtracting LaSalle and JU (in its present iteration), I would be very glad to see any 5 of the remaining 10 from that 74-75 schedule (or any 5 similar quality teams) on our 2019-2020 schedule. Quality used here means reputation of the school, not NET score. And yes, I realize today is not a good time to talk about next year’s schedule. Beat UNCG.

cavedweller2 wrote: ↑

Sat Mar 09, 2019 10:33 pm

apaladin wrote: ↑

Sat Mar 09, 2019 8:07 pm

Fessor wrote: ↑

Sat Mar 09, 2019 7:51 pm

apaladin wrote: ↑

Sat Mar 09, 2019 6:23 pm

That was a great OOC schedule but you have to remember back then there was half as many D1 teams if that. There were only 4 in South Carolina. Now there are 10.

Interesting point. I think the bigger difference, though, was that the vision was for the program to compete on a national stage. (We didn't bring in a coach straight from the National championship game to beat up on the weak sisters to get an inflated W-L). If I'm recall correctly, Coach Alley was athletic director and most if not all could be traced back to him. Coach Alley was a Furman grad, was passionate about the program, and thought on big scale. I'm far from the only familiar with those days, and some folks surely were closer to it than me, but that's my recollection.

BTW, notice there is no SC on the schedule. The old man down there looked down on FU I suspect.

More good points Fessor. McGuire would not schedule FU which made the win in the NCAA that much sweeter. Another point is most conferences only had 8 teams and 25 games was the limit you could schedule.

Fwank and his heralded 1969-70 team of Roche, Owens, Riker, Manning et. al. rolled into the Brown Box in January of 1970 and barely escaped. Joe Brunson, Jerry Martin, Lisco Thomas and the Paladins battled fiercely only to fall 59-56. Coach Selvy's wife warped Harry Bushkar in the head with a wadded up coke cup after the game. It was classic. If only we had won.

Revenge was exacted 4 years later.

I had a great seat that night in Greenville Memorial Auditorium.

cavedweller2 wrote: ↑

Sat Mar 09, 2019 10:33 pm

apaladin wrote: ↑

Sat Mar 09, 2019 8:07 pm

Fessor wrote: ↑

Sat Mar 09, 2019 7:51 pm

apaladin wrote: ↑

Sat Mar 09, 2019 6:23 pm

That was a great OOC schedule but you have to remember back then there was half as many D1 teams if that. There were only 4 in South Carolina. Now there are 10.

Interesting point. I think the bigger difference, though, was that the vision was for the program to compete on a national stage. (We didn't bring in a coach straight from the National championship game to beat up on the weak sisters to get an inflated W-L). If I'm recall correctly, Coach Alley was athletic director and most if not all could be traced back to him. Coach Alley was a Furman grad, was passionate about the program, and thought on big scale. I'm far from the only familiar with those days, and some folks surely were closer to it than me, but that's my recollection.

BTW, notice there is no SC on the schedule. The old man down there looked down on FU I suspect.

More good points Fessor. McGuire would not schedule FU which made the win in the NCAA that much sweeter. Another point is most conferences only had 8 teams and 25 games was the limit you could schedule.

Fwank and his heralded 1969-70 team of Roche, Owens, Riker, Manning et. al. rolled into the Brown Box in January of 1970 and barely escaped. Joe Brunson, Jerry Martin, Lisco Thomas and the Paladins battled fiercely only to fall 59-56. Coach Selvy's wife warped Harry Bushkar in the head with a wadded up coke cup after the game. It was classic. If only we had won.

Revenge was exacted 4 years later.

I remember we lost 59-56 but that Joe Brunson outrebounded Riker, Ribock and Owens (the 3 big men for USC) combined. Some great memories of the brown box including close losses to Davidson and DePaul.

apaladin wrote:Saturday March 9, 1974. An upstart Furman team beat #10 South Carolina 75-67 before an empty house at the Palestra in Philadelphia to advance to the Sweet 16. Probably the best overall win considering the circumstances or at least a top 5 win. Earlier that afternoon I was in Charlotte to see Elvis Presley. Got home in time to see the game. Doesn't get any better than that for the huge Elvis and Furman fan that I am. Will never forget that day. A win tonight would be a fitting way to celebrate.

How much were we paying players back then?

GOAT wrote: ↑

Mon Mar 11, 2019 8:50 am

apaladin wrote:Saturday March 9, 1974. An upstart Furman team beat #10 South Carolina 75-67 before an empty house at the Palestra in Philadelphia to advance to the Sweet 16. Probably the best overall win considering the circumstances or at least a top 5 win. Earlier that afternoon I was in Charlotte to see Elvis Presley. Got home in time to see the game. Doesn't get any better than that for the huge Elvis and Furman fan that I am. Will never forget that day. A win tonight would be a fitting way to celebrate.

How much were we paying players back then?

Market rate.

How many FB players got bogus jobs with John Burgess' company thirty years ago?