Men's Soccer Southern Conference

Traffic Accident Claims Life Of Furman Soccer Player

GREENVILLE, S.C. -- An early Friday morning accident on Interstate 85
in Spartanburg County has claimed the life of one member of Furman
University's nationally-ranked men's soccer team and injured three of his
teammates.

Furman freshman Philip Gray Griffin, 18, of Huntersville, N.C., was
killed after his sport utility vehicle overturned in the southbound lanes
just south of Highway 129. A tractor-trailer driven by Neil Fournier, 46,
of Arden, N.C., then hit the SUV. The accident occurred at approximately
2:50 a.m., according to the South Carolina Highway Patrol.

Also injured in the accident were Furman freshmen soccer players
Chefik Simo of Dallas, Texas; Josh Villalobos of Fayetteville, N.C.; and
Sean Murray of Wauwatosa, Wisconsin. All three Furman students were taken
to Spartanburg Regional Medical Center, where Simo underwent surgery early
Friday morning for a fractured pelvis and other injuries. He was listed in
stable condition as of 11:05 a.m. Villalobos and Murray were also being
treated for non-life threatening injuries.

"This is a great tragedy for Furman University and, more pointedly,
for our men's soccer team," said Furman Director of Athletics Gary Clark.
"We mourn for the family of Gray Griffin and for his teammates and friends.
It's devastating to lose a young person whose life was so vibrant and so
full of promise."

Griffin, a product of North Mecklenburg High School, was a two-time
adidas NSCAA Youth and Parade All-America selection and former captain of
the United States Under-17 National Team that competed in the 2001 World
Championships in Trinidad and Tobago. He had started as a defender in 12
matches and scored one goal and two assists this season as a member of the
Furman soccer team that is currently ranked 14th nationally by Soccer
America,sporting a 9-2-1 overall record and 4-0 Southern Conference mark.

The tragedy has forced the indefinite postponement of Furman's
Saturday men's soccer match against Georgia Southern in Statesboro,
according to Clark.

Funeral arrangements for Griffin are unavailable at this time.