SB Nation Atlanta - Georgia Southern vs. Furman: Eagles defeat Paladins, 38-17https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/46601/atlanta-fave.png2012-10-21T17:50:06-04:00http://atlanta.sbnation.com/rss/stream/32737932012-10-21T17:50:06-04:002012-10-21T17:50:06-04:00Late 2-point conversion causes controversy
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<figcaption>Mike Zarrilli</figcaption>
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<p>Georgia Southern's decision to go for a two-point conversion at the end of Saturday's game raised some questions about running up the score. </p> <p>Aside from the <a href="http://atlanta.sbnation.com/georgia-southern/2012/10/21/3535406/georgia-southern-football-jeff-monken-furman">furious pep talk</a> Jeff Monken gave his players to help motivate them to climb out of a halftime deficit Saturday against Furman, he also made a controversial call at the end of the game that caused an extended conversation between the two head coaches following the game.</p>
<p>Running back Domonique Swope ran in a touchdown for the Eagles to give them a convincing 36-17 lead with just 20 seconds left to play. Then, Swope ran in a two-point conversion to solidify the three-touchdown victory, arguably a move that was totally uncalled for.</p>
<p>Monken gave the excuse of the Eagles having their tails whipped in the beginning of the game and that he was just coaching them to the very end. Whether or not a 19-point lead with 20 seconds left could be considered "the end" is debatable. Either way, Monken said it wasn't his intention to be disrespectful to Furman head coach Bruce Fowler, or the rivalry between the two programs.</p>
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<p>"I would never try to put a black mark on this rivalry by trying to run up the score on them or anybody," <a href="http://www.statesboroherald.com/section/291/article/45043/">said Monken.</a> "But, you know, we had a tough, hard-fought football game. They were beating the pants off us in the first half, and we went in that locker room and I said, ‘They've got a good football team, and if we don't get it going, they're going to beat our butts.' We've got a lot of season left. Our guys need to have things that help the momentum and help their confidence, and I'm going to coach them all the way to the end as hard as I can."</p>
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https://atlanta.sbnation.com/georgia-southern/2012/10/21/3535502/georgia-southern-two-point-conversion-jeff-monken-bruce-fowlerBrandon Scott2012-10-21T17:25:36-04:002012-10-21T17:25:36-04:00Jeff Monken lit fire under Eagles at halftime
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<figcaption>Mike Zarrilli</figcaption>
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<p>Georgia Southern was down to Furman at halftime Saturday, but a pep talk in the locker room from head coach Jeff Monken changed the Eagles' attitude. </p> <p>No one but the Georgia Southern players and coaches themselves know exactly<a href="http://chronicle.augusta.com/sports/college/2012-10-20/georgia-southern-explodes-second-half-victory"> what Jeff Monken said to his team</a> at halftime of Saturday's 38-17 win against Furman. But whatever it was, Monken might want to consider using something similar in his pregame speeches.</p>
<p>The Eagles were down 7-3 at halftime and it didn't quite go over well with their coach. The impact of his halftime pep talk could be bigger than outsiders realize. Georgia Southern out-gained Furman 180-22 in the third quarter, including a long touchdown pass. The Eagles were last in FCS passing yards per game with a 34.5 average coming into the game, but they finished with 165 yards on 10 attempts through the air.</p>
<p>After the game, Monken said the coaches got after the players because they deserved it with how they played in the first half. This was pretty much a must-win game for the Eagles if they have hopes of winning the Southern Conference.</p>
<p>Defensive tackle <a href="#" class="sbn-auto-link">Brent Russell</a> said the team had to either get sparked or get back on the bus.</p>
https://atlanta.sbnation.com/georgia-southern/2012/10/21/3535406/georgia-southern-football-jeff-monken-furmanBrandon Scott2012-10-20T16:43:13-04:002012-10-20T16:43:13-04:00Georgia Southern Beats Furman, 38-17
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<figcaption>Mike Zarrilli</figcaption>
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<p>The Georgia Southern Eagles used a big second half to beat the Furman Paladins this afternoon at Paladin Stadium.</p> <p>On a big performance by the Eagles' rushing game, Georgia Southern was able to overcome a halftime deficit to crush the Furman Paladins, 38-17.</p>
<p>Eight different players rushed the ball for the Eagles, as the team totalled 275 rushing yards on 5.1 yards per carry with four touchdowns. Johnathan Bryant and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="#">Dominique Swope</a> set the pace for Georgia Southern, combining for 142 yards and three touchdowns.</p>
<p>Furman produced well offensively, with a total of 324 yards coming fairly balanced between their rushing and passing attacks, but a turnover, penalties, and difficulties converting third down kept the Paladins from scoring as regularly as the Eagles.</p>
<p>On the win, Georgia Southern improved to 6-1 on the season with a 5-1 record in the Southern Conference. Furman, on the other hand, fell to 2-6 overall and 1-4 in the conference.</p>
<p><b>Box Score Hero: </b>While much has been said about the Georgia Southern running game, the passing game was perhaps more effective on the afternoon. While there were only six Eagles receptions during the game, the Georgia Southern receivers averaged 27.5 yards per reception.</p>
<p><b>Next Week's Schedule: </b>Next week, Furman will travel to Elon and Georgia State will play at Chattanooga.</p>
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https://atlanta.sbnation.com/georgia-southern/2012/10/20/3531308/georgia-southern-vs-furman-final-scoreBob Lynch2012-10-20T14:52:53-04:002012-10-20T14:52:53-04:00Upset brewing as Furman leads Eagles at half
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<p>With an upset brewing, the Georgia Southern Eagles are having trouble with the Furman Paladins, trailing 7-3 at halftime on the road.</p>
<p>Following a slow start, scoring picked up in the second quarter as No. 3 Georgia Southern got on the board first with a 32-yard field goal by Alex Hanks.</p>
<p>At the end of the half, Furman drove down the field in seven plays for 55 yards, capped off with a two-yard rushing touchdown by Ernie Cain to take a 7-3 lead with one minute, 50 seconds remaining. The Eagles nearly responded with a score, but quarterback Ezayi Youyoute lost a fumble inside the Furman 10-yard line to end the half.</p>
<p>Jerodis Williams is carrying the load for the Furman offense with 77 rushing yards on 11 carries. For the Eagles, a balanced attack on the ground has accounted for 23 rushes, with Youyoute leading the way with 26 yards.</p>
https://atlanta.sbnation.com/2012/10/20/3530956/georgia-southern-vs-furman-scoreJay Asser2012-10-20T08:00:22-04:002012-10-20T08:00:22-04:00Georgia Southern vs. Furman gameday guide
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<figcaption>Mike Zarrilli - Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>The Eagles hope to keep rolling in Southern Conference play.</p> <p>The Georgia Southern Eagles are riding a four-game winning streak as they head to Greenville, S.C. to face the Furman Paladins. The Eagles top the Southern Conference standings at 4-1 in league play, while the Paladins are seventh at 1-3.</p>
<p>Georgia Southern comes into this matchup with the No. 2 rushing offense in the Football Championship Subdivision -- the Eagles are averaging more than 400 yards on the ground per game. While they rank just 121st in passing offense, their effectiveness on the ground has helped them to a top-20 ranking in total offense. And since losing to The Citadel on Sept. 8, the Eagles have outscored their opponents, 123-61.</p>
<p>The Paladins come in at No. 48 in total offense with an average of 394.9 yards per game. They are 58th in rushing defense and 76th in total defense.</p>
<p>Kickoff is set for 1:30 p.m. ET. </p>
<p><b>TV:</b> None</p>
<p><b>Radio:</b> <a href="http://www.georgiasoutherneagles.com/eagle-fans/radio">Georgia Southern Radio Network</a></p>
<p><iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/videoseries?list=PL3FF4E82DBEA5AD7E&hl=en_US" frameborder="0" height="315" width="560"></iframe></p>
https://atlanta.sbnation.com/georgia-southern/2012/10/20/3508856/furman-georgia-southern-2012-game-time-schedule-oddsSteven Muma2012-10-19T09:52:23-04:002012-10-19T09:52:23-04:00Georgia Southern, Furman no strangers
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<figcaption>Mike Zarrilli</figcaption>
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<p>Georgia Southern renews its rivalry with Furman on Saturday.</p> <p>The No. 3 Georgia Southern Eagles and Furman Paladins are no strangers to each other, writes <a target="_blank" href="http://www.statesboroherald.com/section/291/article/44991/">Matt Yogus of the Statesboro Herald</a>. Their rivalry is renewed Saturday at 1:30 p.m. ET in Greensboro, S.C.</p>
<p>The Eagles' 2010 run to the Football Championship Series semifinals never would have happend without a win over the Paladins to improve to 7-4 and earn a spot in the tournament. Georgia Southern upset a top-ranked Furman in 2005. Before that, Furman handed Georgia Southern its first-ever playoff loss at Paulson Stadium in the 2001 semifinals.</p>
<p>The players understand the importance of this weekend's rivalry game. GSU cornerback Valdon Cooper said "from what I hear, the tradition runs deep, and the rivalry runs deep."</p>
<p>The latest chapter opens on Sunday. Georgia Southern (5-1) is catching Furman (2-5) in a down season. Both teams are breaking in first-year quarterbacks, but the Eagles will continue to rely on the run. Georgia Southern has completed only 12 passes all season.</p>
https://atlanta.sbnation.com/georgia-southern/2012/10/19/3525766/georgia-southern-vs-furman-2012-soconKevin Jeffers2012-10-18T10:44:30-04:002012-10-18T10:44:30-04:00Swope busting through opposing defenses
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<figcaption>Mike Zarrilli</figcaption>
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<p>Sophomore fullback has 662 yards and 10 touchdowns this season.</p> <p>Georgia Southern Eagles fullback <a href="#" class="sbn-auto-link">Dominique Swope</a> has run over defenses this season. His continued success on the ground will be a major factor in Saturday's game against Furman, <a target="_blank" href="http://www.statesboroherald.com/section/291/article/44957/">according to a report in the Statesboro Herald</a>.</p>
<p>The 5'11", 221-pound rusher picked up 137 yards and two touchdowns during last week's 17-9 win over Wofford en route to being named the SoCon's offensive player of the week. On the year, Swope has carried the ball 116 times for 662 yards and 10 touchdowns. He's also surpassed the 100-yard mark in five of the Eagles' six games this season and scored a touchdown in seven straight games dating back to last season.</p>
<p>"I think he had a really good game, particularly the second half," coach Jeff Monken told the Statesboro Herald. "He had some runs where he ran through some tackles, and carried some people with him. He made it tough on people to bring him down. I was proud of his effort for that. We needed that effort out of him to be able to win the football game."</p>
<p>Georgia Southern (5-1, 4-1 SoCon) travels to Furman (2-5, 1-3) for a 1:30 p.m. kickoff Saturday.</p>
https://atlanta.sbnation.com/georgia-southern/2012/10/18/3521112/dominique-swope-georgia-southern-vs-furmanJakob Engelke2012-10-17T11:57:01-04:002012-10-17T11:57:01-04:00Georgia Southern has historic edge over Furman
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<figcaption>Mike Zarrilli - Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Georgia Southern head coach Jeff Monken says rivalry with Furman is school's greatest.</p> <p>Georgia Southern and Furman have a deep history with each other. The two teams split national championships in 1985 and 1988.</p>
<p>While they might have split those years, the Eagles have dominated the all-time series, winning 15 of 23 meetings.</p>
<p>But those split titles have fueled a rivalry regardless of Georgia Southern's success, <a target="_blank" href="http://www.statesboroherald.com/section/291/article/44925/">according to StatesBoroHerald.com</a>.</p>
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<p><span id="widgetid_1831_articlebody">"The rivalry between Georgia Southern and Furman runs deeper than any other rivalry we have at our school," GSU coach Jeff Monken said.</span></p>
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<p>Last season, Georgia Southern defeated Furman, 50-20. In that game, the Eagles scored six rushing touchdowns and had 361 rushing yards.</p>
<p>Furman last won in 2009, when it defeated Georgia Southern, 30-22. Despite losing the yardage battle that day, Furman jumped out to a 30-7 lead that day and held on for the win.</p>
<p>The two teams will take the field on Saturday at 1 p.m. The Eagles have a 4-1 record in the Southern Conference.</p>
https://atlanta.sbnation.com/georgia-southern/2012/10/17/3516624/georgia-southern-vs-furman-socon-2012David Cassilo