1. It's no secret that South Carolina has struggled in the last few weeks. What is Furman's confidence level going in to this game?
Furman is coming off a double OT loss at the hands of the third-ranked team in the FCS, Coastal Carolina. The Paladins had a chance at winning the game but fell short on a trick play in the first OT. I think our confidence will be higher than ever. Our third-string quarterback has had a few weeks to get used to the system and be comfortable in it. Since we are not playing for much besides pride, I think that we will play with a looseness that will allow us to stay in the game.
2. What do you think the Paladins have to do in order to stay in this game and have a shot to pull off an upset?
The biggest thing in my opinion is going to be ball control. Furman has one of the better defenses in the SoCon and possibly the FCS, so if we are able to keep our offense on the field I think we will have a great shot at winning.
3. Furman is in the middle of a a four-game losing streak, but they haven't necessarily been blown out in all those losses. How close is this team to turning a corner and competing in the Southern Conference?
The Paladins are very close to turning around the season. With the loss of our starting quarterback in the first game, we have had to play a game of musical chairs at that position. And it seems that we have found a winner in P.J. Blazejowski.
4. What's the excitement level around campus when Furman plays big schools like South Carolina? Do fans see it as a chance to get national exposure or just a bad beating waiting to happen?
The students get really excited when we play a big school like South Carolina. Especially with recent history of us traveling to other SEC and ACC schools and giving them a run for their money. (Pun intended.)
5. Which Furman players should South Carolina fans be on the lookout for Saturday?
On the defensive side, the Gamecock offense should be aware of defensive end Gary Wilkins (the SoCon defensive player of the month) and linebacker Marcus McMorris. These two seniors are the two leaders of the Paladin defense. On the offensive side, I've already mentioned one and that is true freshman quarterback P.J. Blazejowski. He has really taken hold of the Paladins offense. The other is his throwing mate Jordan Snellings. With a big frame, look for Blazejowski to try to find the Paladins' leading receiver.
Prediction:
I think it will be a lot closer than the experts think. And maybe even a different outcome. With the Paladins surging and the Gamecocks doing anything but that, I predict that the Paladins will win 27-24. The difference is going to be the play calling of the Head Ball Coach, Steve Spurrier. He will not let Mike Davis and the supporting cast of running backs take control of the line and the game. Instead, he is going to try to beat the 'Dins through the air. But it will be ineffective against the pass rush of the Paladins. This is going to be the game that Bruce Fowler and the Paladins turn the season around and make a push for the SoCon title.