Issue link: http://catalog.e-digitaleditions.com/i/39784
2011 Furman Paladins Historical Highlights 1920 — Furman defeats Clemson, 14-0, for the first time. Now known as the Purple Hurricane, Furman goes 9-1 and wins its second state championship, losing only to Georgia, 7-0. 1921 — Furman makes it three straight state champi- onships, winning its last five games en route to a 7-2-1 record. 1922 — Furman posts an 8-3 mark and defeats both Florida (7-6) and Clemson (20-6). 1923 — Manly Field's seating capacity is increased to 8,000. Furman opens the season with a 13-0 win over Virginia. Hurricane steamrolls South Carolina 23-3 and finishes with a 9-2 record. 1924 — Furman goes 5-5, but Hurricane finishes the season with three straight wins, defeating South Carolina (10- 0), Mississippi (7-2), and Clemson (3-0) to claim its fourth state championship. 1925 — Furman goes 7-3 and cruises to its fifth state championship. Hurricane knocks off South Carolina, (2-0) and Clemson (26-0). 1926 — Norwood Cleveland wagers to walk from Athens, Georgia, to Greenville if Furman beats Georgia. Purple Hurricane edges Bulldogs 14-7 and Cleveland's trek takes four days to complete. Furman's band meets Cleveland on his arrival in Greenville. Team posts an 8-1-1 record (among which are five shutouts) and claims its sixth straight state title. Besides the win over Georgia, Furman defeats North Carolina State (31-0), Wake Forest (10-0), South Carolina (10-7), and Clemson (30-0). 1927 — Considered by many to be one of the finest teams in school history, W.L. "Billy" Laval's Purple Hurricane, nicknamed the "30-Mule Team", goes 10-1 and defeats Miami, 38-7, in the forerunner of the Orange Bowl. On Miami trip, team spends time at the beach, where it has a picture taken with two sports heroes of the time: Gene Sarazen and Gene Tunney. In addition to win over Miami, season features triumphs over Duke (13-7), North Carolina State (20-0), Wake Forest (53-0), South Carolina (34-0), and Clemson (28-0). In all, Furman notches 1935 — Known as "The House of Magic" for its offensive prowess, Furman goes 8-1 and records six shutouts. Hurricane outscores its opposition, 232-44. Offensive guard Jack Shivers is tabbed South Carolina Jacobs Blocking Award winner. 1936 — Furman defeats Davidson 14-13 on Halloween afternoon in its first game in Sirrine Stadium. Furman joins the Southern Conference, and end Bob King becomes the school's first all-conference performer. King joins halfbacks June Scott and Joe Jenkins, and offensive guard J.W. "Pinky" Babb as first team all-state picks. Furman defeats South Carolina, 23-6 and Clemson 12-0 to win its ninth state championship. 1938 — On the strength of a 95-yard kickoff return by James "Pepper" Martin and 87-yard intercepted fumble return by Ray Zima, Furman defeats Marshall 18-13 in Huntington, in the first meeting between the two schools and first of 13 straight Captain of famed "30-Mule Team", Oscar "Bood" Pipkins and FU go 10-1, record seven shutouts, and top Miami (38-7) in forerunner of Orange Bowl. 1927 ▼ 1926 ▲ Quarterback Fred "Whitey" Rawl and Hurricane knock off N.C. State (31-0), Wake Forest (10-0), Georgia (14-7), South Carolina (10-7), and Clemson (30-0) on the way to 8-1-1 season. 1932 ▲ Seven of Furman's eight wins are shutouts. Bob Griffin wins Jacobs Blocking Award. 168 168 168 1936 ▲ Furman joins Southern Conference and goes 7-2, downing South Carolina (23-6) and Clemson (12-0) behind strong play of all-state guard Jack Shivers. Southern Conference Champion — 1978, '80, 81, '82, '83, '85, '88, '89, '90, '99, '01, '04 1943 — Football is discontinued due to war. 1945 — Football is revived under head coach R.W. "Bob" Smith. 1949 — Paul Stombaugh leads the nation in punting, averaging 44.7 yards per attempt. 1950 — Bill Young is named head coach, and Ed Jasonek goes to the Blue-Gray Game. 1951 — Furman grants exclusive rights to WFBC radio to broadcast home and away games. Fullback Jim Piner is selected as South Carolina's Jacobs Blocking Award winner. seven shutouts and seventh state title. 1928 — T.B. Amis succeeds W.L. Laval as head coach. 1929 — Furman tops Erskine 19-6 in the first night game in South Carolina football history before a Manly Field crowd of 5,000. Ed Davis returns an interception 80 yards for a touchdown against Clemson, but Furman loses 7-6. 1930 — Offensive tackle Bob Wilder becomes Furman's first All-American football player, gaining Board of Football All- America honors. Hurricane edges Florida 14-13. 1931 — Furman goes 5-2-2 and defeats The Citadel 33-7 in a game featuring an 82-yard scoring run by Bob Griffin. Lyles Alley scores on 73-yard run in 34-6 win over Richmond. 1932 — A.P. "Dizzy" McLeod succeeds T.B. Amis as head coach and directs Furman to 8-1 record and eighth state championship. Furman closes the season with seven straight shutout wins and outscores the opposition on the year, 169-19. Drayton Dorn recovers school record four fumbles in 7-0 win over Clemson. Bob Griffin garners Furman's first South Carolina Jacobs Blocking Award. Furman wins over the Thundering Herd. Team captain Rhoten Shetley earns team most valuable player honors and is named to Collier's Little All-America team. 1939 — Rhoten Shetley becomes the first (and high- est) NFL Draft choice in school history, going in third round (19th overall pick) to the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1940. 1940 — Largest crowd (19,300) in Furman's home football history witnesses a 13-7 Clemson win over the Purple Hurricane. Gates Barker earns South Carolina Jacobs Blocking Award accolades. The Greenville Piedmont conducts a poll to select an all-time, all-star Furman team. The published results placed Bob King and Dan Wood at ends; Trask McCarson and Drayton "Daddy" Dorn at tackles; and H.H. "Hardrock" Smith and Jack Shivers at guards. June Scott, "Whitey" Rawl, Dewey Proctor, and Rhoten Shetley are selected as backs, and Shetley is named captain. Second team members are "Blackie" Carter, Flucie Stewart, A.P. "Dizzy" McLeod, Hazel Gilstrap, "Red" Dobson, Gates Barker, Johnson Moore, "Speedy Speer" (captain), Bob Smith, Red Schneider, and Lee Rhame. 1942 — Dewey Proctor is selected by the New York Giants in third third round (21st overall pick) of the 1942 NFL Draft.