PALADIN STADIUM

Furman's Paladin Stadium, nestled beautifully on campus with a scenic view of Paris Mountain, is the football home of the Paladins, having opened in 1981 to replace Sirrine Stadium, which served as the site of Furman football for 45 years.

The stadium, which features 16,000 permanent seats, originally was constructed to accommodate 13,200 spectators.  Prior to the 1985 season, 2,800 additional seats were added, giving the stadium its current capacity.

Paladin Stadium is the third home of Furman football since 1919.  Manly Field, completed in that year, served as the home of Furman football until 1936, when Furman moved the site of its football contests to then-newly constructed Sirrine Stadium.  The first game  played in Sirrine Stadium -- a 14-13 Furman win over Davidson -- was the sixth game of the year for Furman during the 1936 season.  In 1980, Furman closed its association with Sirrine Stadium with a 28-15 victory over arch-rival The Citadel to win its first outright Southern Conference football championship.

Furman opened Paladin Stadium in the same fashion it did Manly and Sirrine, winning the first game played within its confines.  The Paladins defeated East Tennessee State, 21-0, in the stadium's inaugural contest and in a quarter century of play have gone on to record a 136-34-1 (.798 winning percentage) home record, claiming 10 Southern Conference championships and the 1988 NCAA I-AA national championship along the way.

In 1985 the stadium's field was named Eugene Stone Field, in honor of the support of Furman benefactor Eugene Stone, who was directly responsible for the additional seats added to the stadium prior to the 1985 season.

Fulfilling its primary function as home of Furman football, Paladin Stadium is also used for other activities, including graduation and concerts.

From initial grading to completion, Paladin Stadium took two years to be realized at a cost of approximately two million dollars.  Construction was by Farley Construction of Columbia.

The playing field is hybrid Bermuda and landscaping at the stadium is in line with the design and architecture of the entire university.

PALADIN STADIUM FACTS
Year Opened:  1981
Seating Capacity:  16,000
First Game: Furman 21, East Tennessee State 0
            September 19, 1981 (Attendance: 12,070)
First Furman Victory:   Furman 21, East Tennessee State 0
            September 19, 1981
First Furman Defeat:    Chattanooga 31, Furman 28
            October 2, 1981
First Touchdown:   Stanford Jennings 1 run  vs. East Tennessee State -- 3:59-1Q
First PAT:  Tim Tanguay vs. East Tennessee State  -- 3:59-1Q
First Field Goal:  Tim Tanguay 23 FG vs.  Chattanooga -- 5:43-1Q
Largest Home Crowd: 19,058 (Furman 22, Appalachian Sate 18)
            October 10, 1981
Stadium Record:    136-34-1 (.798) in 27 seasons

FURMAN'S TOP CROWDS IN PALADIN STADIUM
Attendance  Season       Opponent Date      Score
  19,058     1981       Appalachian State   Oct. 10   22-18 W
  18,617     1986       Presbyterian   Nov. 1    45-31 W
  18,190     1990       The Citadel    Nov. 17   30-17 W
  17,145     2004       Georgia Southern    Nov. 6    29-22 W
  17,001     1989       East Tennessee State    Nov. 11   44-20 W
  16,579     1991       Chattanooga    Nov. 16   24-21 W
  16,464     1992       The Citadel    Nov. 21   14-20 L
  16,460     1988       The Citadel    Nov. 19   30-17 W
  16,125     1991       Marshall Oct.   12   35-38 L
15,794    2002 Georgia Southern   Nov. 9    21-41 L