Bobby Lamb

Bobby Lamb has resigned his position as Furman’s head football coach, effective tomorrow (Saturday) afternoon, director of athletics Gary Clark announced today.

“This is a tough day for Furman University and our football program,” said Clark in making the announcement. ~“As a player, assistant coach, and head coach, Bobby certainly played a role in the success Paladin football has enjoyed over the past three decades. ~He always represented Furman in a positive manner, and his players performed admirably on the field and graduated at a nationally high rate.”

“I am resigning my position as head football coach at my school tomorrow (Saturday),” said Lamb. “Since walking on this campus as a freshman in 1982, it has indeed been an honor beyond measure to play with the finest teammates and for a model head coach; work alongside coaches of impeccable character, integrity, and ability; and recruit and direct the most outstanding players, students, and young men any coach, at any level of this great sport, could possibly seek. I have been truly blessed, and for that I am eternally grateful.

“The last few years have been very difficult for me, for my staff, our families, our players, and the many loyal fans who love Furman football. We have not won as many games as we had certainly hoped to win, but it is not for lack of effort, especially those of our coaches and players. I am very proud of our accomplishments, both on and off the field, and the manner in which we attained them.

“Furman football has enjoyed many great moments, a number of which I have been fortunate to experience as a player, assistant coach, and head coach over the past 29 years. I’m confident that with new direction, supported by a renewed commitment to competitiveness and excellence from the university, Paladin football will again experience many more bright moments, which this great football program so richly deserves.”

Lamb, who will conclude his ninth season as head coach of the Paladin football program on Saturday when his Paladins play Georgia Southern, has compiled a 67-39 overall record and 43-24 Southern Conference mark during his head coaching tenure. ~He coached Furman to one league regular season championship (2004), for which he was named league coach of the year, and four NCAA Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) playoff appearances (2002, ‘04, ‘05, and ‘06). His 2005 squad was his best in terms of wins, notching an 11-3 record and semi-final finish in NCAA Football Championship Subdivision.

Over the past six years Furman’s football program posted the highest NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) and Graduation Success Rate (GSR) among SoCon schools competing for the league championship.

In terms of player recognition, during Lamb’s tenure Furman produced 15 All-Americans, 87 All-SoCon ~selections, including two Jacobs Blocking Award recipients and one player of the year, a pair of CoSIDA Academic All-Americans, and the 2006 NACDA National Scholar Athlete of the Year. ~In addition, 10 Paladins signed professional contracts, including three NFL Draft selections, over the past nine years.

Lamb’s Furman tenure spanned 29 seasons, dating from 1982 when he came to the university as a player out of Commerce, Ga. ~A four-year letterman and two-year starter, he twice earned All-SoCon honors as a quarterback and was a member of three SoCon championship teams. ~As a senior in 1985 he led the nation in passing efficiency and was named SoCon Player of the Year while helping Furman to a 12-2 campaign and national runner-up finish.

Following graduation in 1986, he remained at his alma mater as an assistant coach, serving first under Jimmy Satterfield (1986-93) and Bobby Johnson (1994-01) before being named Furman’s 21st head coach following the 2001 season.

A 1995 inductee into Furman’s Athletics Hall of Fame, he was a member of nine of university’s 12 Southern Conference championship teams in the capacity of player, assistant coach, or head coach.

“It is our intent to conduct a nationwide search for our next head football coach, added Clark, who did not announce a time frame or target date to fill the position.

Furman will go back to Greenville with a loss, but they certainly have nothing to hang their heads over.  Bobby Lamb’s team represented itself and the Southern Conference well.

AUDIO: Bobby Lamb

You can count USC coach Steve Spurrier among the new members of the Furman fan club.  Spurrier, known for his jabs at opposing teams and coaches, had nothing but positive things to say about the Paladins in his post game interview.

“They are almost just as good us,” Spurrier said.  “I think that is the thing to say. I don’t know how else to say it.  We are a little bit better than them.  That’s it.

Later Spurrier said, “We’re glad the game is over and we don’t have to play them for another 25 years.”  I’d say that is respect.

AUDIO: Furman coach Bobby Lamb conference call

It has been a while since these two teams have played, but there is a long history in this series.  Saturday will be the 48^th time these two teams have met on the gridiron.  The Gamecocks hold a 26-20-1 all-time advantage in the series.  The Paladins won the last meeting in 1982, which is probably why USC hasn’t put them back on the schedule since the Reagan administration.  

Saturday’s game kicks off at 7:03 and you can watch it on television for if you are willing to go the pay-per-view route.

L-R Kevin Higgins, Dabo Swinney, Bobby Lamb, Fisher DeBerry, Mike Ayers, Art Baker

Former legendary Air Force head football coach Fisher Deberry hosted the South Carolina Coaches for Charity inaugural dinner Thursday night at the Embassy Suites in Columbia.  Deberry is the all-time winningest head football coach for the United States Air Force Academy.  He is originally from South Carolina, and has recently moved back to the state.

Fisher DeBerry

Deberry and his wife Lu Ann lead the Fisher Deberry Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to the support and education of single parents and their children.  For this event, they have united with head coaches from around the state to raise money and awareness for each of their respective organizations.

The event was roughly from 6-10 pm, starting with a meet and greet, followed by dinner.  There was also a silent and live auction with various sports memorabilia up for grabs ranging from a George Rogers autographed helmet to a “Broadway Joe” Namath autographed Jets jersey, among others.  All proceeds were donated to the charities involved.  The evening concluded with each coach giving a speech about their respective teams and to raise awareness for their charities.

Dabo Swinney

The coaches involved were

• Dabo Swinney – Clemson -  Dabo’s All-In Team Foundation
• Steve Spurrier – USC – Gamecock FCA
• Mike Ayers – Wofford – FCA of Spartanburg
• Kevin Higgins – The Citadel – Hope for Haiti
• Bobby Lamb – Furman – Greenville FCA
• Buddy Pough – SC State – FCA of Orangeburg
• Pough was unable to appear at the dinner, and SC State was instead represented by Hall-of-Fame member Willie Jeffries.

Steve Spurrier

Various sponsors also participated in the dinner, including Founders Federal Credit Union, State Farm, Rod Walters, IPTAY, The Citadel Football Association, and Coca-Cola Bottling Co. Consolidated.  Former  coach Art Baker served as the Master of Ceremonies, and Burt Trembley promoted the event with the help of his team.