Furman at The Citadel
The Game: Furman at #16 The Citadel
Last Week: The Fighting Football Paladins vastly exceeded my expectations and gave FBS 12th-ranked Michigan State a ballgame. Furman lost 28-13, but impressed as they went toe-to-toe with the Big Ten Champion and College Football Playoff Semifinalist. P.J. Blazejowski looked solid at quarterback and true freshman Darius Morehead lead rushers with 83 yards on the ground.
Are We Any Good? We might be. This week and the next will be the true determining factor as the Paladins take on last year's SoCon co-champs in successive weeks. But against probably one of the toughest foes Furman has played in years, the team looked good on both sides of the ball. We have looked solid against FBS teams before only to crash back to earth against FCS competition (last year being the most recent example), but I am cautiously optimistic and much more hopeful about this season than I was a week ago.
Opposing Team's Mascot: The Bulldogs. Zzzzzzzzzzzz...
What? I'm sorry, what happened? Oh yeah, we were talking about the fact that El Cid is represented by the most common mascot in Division 1 sports. You think with their history, that they would pick a mascot that wasn't shared by 14 other teams. But that's what they are. They're the Bulldo....zzzzzzzzzzzzz...
Huh? I did it again? Let's just move on.
Suggested Hashtag: #CitDogRollOver
Et cetera:
-This is the 96th meeting between Furman and The Citadel, the SoCon's oldest and most-played rivalry. The teams first met in 1913 and have played every year since 1919 with the exception of a three year hiatus during World War II. Furman leads the series 58-34-3, but the Bulldogs have won the last two matchups.
-This is an actual line from Furman's game release for the week: "Furman's ticket allotment is sold out in the now half-sized Johnson Hagood Stadium — the once-Confederate graveyard that recently had its east stands condemned due to lead paint issues." So the Paladins are basically playing this game in the setting for a Scooby-Doo episode.
-The last time Furman QB P.J. Blazejowski played in Chucktown, he accounted for 382 yards of total offense, 3 passing touchdowns, and another TD on the ground.
Anything else? Go Paladins!
