By Southern Pigskin Staff
SouthernPigskin.com

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If Furman head coach Bruce Fowler didnxe2x80x99t know better, he would think he is heading into December rather than September when looking at the first month of his Paladins schedule, the toughest opening month in FCS Football.

nIf Furman head coach Bruce Fowler didnxe2x80x99t know better, he would think he is heading into December rather than September when looking at the first month of his Paladins schedule, the toughest opening month in FCS Football.xc2xa0

nThe 2015 Furman Paladins struggled with a 4-7 finish while the first four opponents in 2016 played at the highest level, late into the season, all appearing in their respective divisions playoffs.xc2xa0 Furman opens the season with a Friday night road trip to East Lansing to take on Michigan State who lost to the eventual FBS National Champion Alabama in the College Football playoff semifinals on September 2nd.xc2xa0

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nThe following Saturday, the Paladins lift the lid on their SOCON schedule at defending SOCON co-champion The Citadel who lost in the second round of the FCS playoffs to cross town rival Charleston Southern.xc2xa0

nOn the penultimate Saturday in September, Furman hosts three time defending SOCON champion Chattanooga who also lost in the second round of the FCS playoffs as well.xc2xa0

nThe run of the 2015 playoff team gauntlet concludes on September 24th with a trip to FBS transitional program Coastal Carolina, who lost in the first round of the FCS playoffs to The Citadel.xc2xa0

nCoach Bruce Fowler is focused on fixing things within the purple camp rather than looking at the schedule, xe2x80x9cThere is no option there, it has to be a playerxe2x80x99s mindset and coachxe2x80x99s mindset that you go out there every day to improve to get better.xe2x80x9d Fowler went on to say that Furman wants to be one of the good teams that everyone is talking about on their schedule.xc2xa0 xe2x80x9cWe want to be one of those good teams and if we can get on track and do what we are supposed to be doing all of a sudden somebody is going to be playing a good Furman team in October.xe2x80x9dxc2xa0

nOpening the season at Michigan State, the Paladins will face an FBS foe outside of the Southeast for just the 3rd time since 1982 when the NCAA established Division 1-AA, now FCS (Missouri 2009, Pittsburgh 2004 and Wyoming 2001).xc2xa0

nAfter winning 13 out of 17 games against The Citadel from 1995 to 2011 the Paladins have lost 3 out of the last 4 to the Bulldogs including last yearxe2x80x99s game in Greenville 38-17.xc2xa0

nFollowing the SOCON opening game at The Citadel, the Paladins finally open Paladin Stadium in 2016 hosting another team they dominated until recently.xc2xa0 Furman has lost 4 games in a row to the three-time defending SOCON Champion Chattanooga Mocs after winning 16 out of 17 from 1995 to 2011.xc2xa0

nThe Paladins wrap up the toughest opening month in FCS Football on the road at soon-to-be Sun Belt Conference Member Coastal Carolina.xc2xa0 The series with Coastal, which began in 1996, has not been as lopsided as the 1-6 record that favors the Chants would indicate.xc2xa0 In the 6 games that Furman has lost to Coastal Carolina the margin of defeat has been by an average of 4.5 points and all have been decided by a touchdown or less.xc2xa0

nFurman returns 6 starters on offense including 5th year Senior Reese Hannon at quarterback and 7 starters on defense led by preseason All American Trey Robinson at safety.

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nWritten by Robbie Rossxc2xa0