Football Southern Conference

Furman Names 2001 Captains

GREENVILLE -- Linebacker Will Bouton, tailback Louis Ivory, center Chris Stewart, and strong safety Shelvis Smith have been selected 2001 football team captains, head coach Bobby Johnson announced recently.

Bouton, a Greenville native, tallied a team leading 134 tackles and was a consensus Southern Conference Defensive Player-of-the-Year selection and All-America choice a year ago.

Ivory, the 2000 Walter Payton Award recipient, led the nation in rushing with 2,079 yards and 16 touchdowns last fall.

Stewart helped spearhead the Paladins' ground game that averaged 307.5 yards per game last year en route to earning All-America honors.

Smith, meanwhile, registered 115 tackles, a pair of interceptions, four caused fumbles, and five pass deflections a year ago in helping Furman to a 9-3 record, NCAA I-AA playoff berth, and No. 10 final national ranking.

Furman opens its 2001 season on Sept. 2 at Wyoming.