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Terriers to get Montana in first round
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By PETE IACOBELLI
AP Sports Writer

6:32 pm, November 18, 2007
Josh Collier didn't want Wofford's fate decided by a group of people locked in a room late in the season like it was five years ago.

Continue to 2nd paragraph So Collier and the Terriers made sure that didn't happen, advancing to the NCAA FCS playoffs for the first time since 2003. Wofford (8-3) travels for a first-round game Saturday at Montana, which completed an 11-0 regular season with a 41-20 victory Saturday over rival Montana State.

The Terriers earned the Southern Conference's automatic bid after tying two-time defending national champion Appalachian State for the league's title. But Wofford got the nod because it upended the Mountaineers back in September.

The road wasn't easy, Collier says, but the Terriers prevailed after beating Chattanooga 42-16 on Nov. 10 and learning that Elon and Georgia Southern, which both beat Wofford in the regular season, fell in their final league games.

"It wasn't too difficult to keep the team together," Collier said. "The coaches did a great job keeping everybody motivated. Even with the losses we had, they told us to keep driving, keep driving."

Now, Wofford gets to drive all the way to Montana to start its NCAA run.

Collier said the players whooped it up on the bus back from Chattanooga after learning they had clinched. That brought a big sigh of relief from coach Mike Ayers, who was not certain his team would've made the 16-team field.

After all, he remembers the bitterness of five years ago when his 9-3 Wofford club was snubbed despite a resume that included a victory over SoCon power Appalachian State.

The next season, Ayers and the Terriers didn't leave it up to a committee, posting an 8-0 Southern Conference mark to gain the automatic bid.

Wofford advance to the NCAA semifinals before falling to eventual champion Delaware.

That 2003 had talented stars like Matt Nelson on defense and a young runner in Kevious Johnson to power the wishbone-like attack. Plus, Ayers said they had a grit that came from remembering what it felt like to miss the playoffs a year earlier.

There aren't the big names on either side of the ball this year, though Johnson, now a senior, led Wofford with 1,029 yards. He had eight touchdowns. Collier accounted for nine TDs on the ground and passed for five more.

Ayers says what this year's club did in winning the Southern Conference is even bigger than what the Terriers did in 2003.

"The people that know realize that winning the conference this year was probably one of the biggest accomplishments because it was so balanced from top to bottom," Ayers said. "I know the team that we have is a bunch of good guys and they've earned the right to be here."

How long they stay is another question.

Ayers had them focused on fundamentals this past week as they waited for their playoff opponent. He likes the attitude he's seen so far.

"I know there are a lot of guys who are committed to making us a champion," Ayers said. "Our first goal was to win the Southern Conference championship, our next goal was to win the national championship."

Wofford helps Huskers wrestlers overcome Lehigh
BY KARL VOGEL / Lincoln Journal Star
Saturday, Nov 17, 2007 - 12:56:16 am CST
Barely more than 24 hours after he learned he'd be wrestling in Friday night's dual, Husker sophomore Levi Wofford got the biggest win of his college career.

With fourth-ranked sophomore Craig Brester on crutches following minor knee surgery early Friday, Wofford stepped in at 197 pounds and earned a major decision over Lehigh's Alex Iacocca. The victory turned the tide in what had become a shockingly uncomfortable dual with the Mountain Hawks, starting a three-match winning streak to end the dual and carry Nebraska to a 28-13 win.

Wofford wrestled at 184 last year in place of 2006 NCAA qualifier Vince Jones, who was taking a redshirt season, and until Thursday, he wasn't expecting to see any action before today's Kaufman-Brand Open in Omaha.

"I was cutting (weight) pretty hard to make it to 184, but I felt really really good tonight," said Wofford. "Hopefully, I can dominate tomorrow."

Wofford's domination of Friday's match helped the Huskers breathe a little bit easier after a shocking upset midway through the dual put Lehigh back in the game.

Sophomore Stephen Dwyer, ranked No. 11 at 165, was thrown to his back by Lehigh's Mike Galante just 85 seconds into the match. Galante scored a pin just 16 seconds later, cutting the Huskers' lead to 12-10.

NU's Brandon Browne, a Plattsmouth native, picked up an 11-5 decision over Alex Caruso at 174.

But No. 11 David Craig, Lehigh's only ranked wrestler, scored a pair of takedowns in the final period at 184 to hold off Husker freshman Andy Johnson 9-4, keeping Lehigh down only two points with three matches to go.

That put the spotlight squarely on Wofford.

"I've wrestled for 18 years of my life, I thrive on pressure," Wofford said. "The more people we can get in the crowd the better. I just like to put on a show for them and have some fun."

Heavyweight Jon May, in his first home match in nearly two seasons, beat Lehigh's Justin Allen 7-3 to give Nebraska an insurmountable 22-13 advantage, then national champion Paul Donahoe pinned Mitch Berger in 1 minute, 29 seconds.

Husker coach Mark Manning said the performances of Wofford and Johnson, even in a loss, were key for his team after Dwyer's loss.

"I don't think (Dwyer's loss) altered our confidence. I think it's more everyone felt bad for Stephen because he works hard," Manning said. "It's going to happen in this sport. It was a nice move, but it's like blowing coverage in football, sometimes the best defense can get beat."

The University of Montana football team was awarded the No. 3 seed in next weekend's opening round of the Football Championship Subdivision playoffs and will play in Missoula against Wofford.

Wofford (8-3) is the co-champion of the Southern Conference and won the conference's automatic bid.

The top seed went to the University of Northern Iowa. McNeese State is No. 2 and Southern Illinois No. 4.

If the Grizzlies (11-0) win in the first round, they will play in Missoula the next weekend against the winner of the game between Richmond and Eastern Kentucky. While most of South Carolina's smaller colleges prepare for their final games Saturday, Wofford is getting ready for next week, when the Terriers will make their second appearance in the Football Championship Subdivision playoffs since joining what used to be called Division I-AA 12 years ago.

Wofford (8-3, 5-2 Southern Conference) won at least a share of the league title last week by beating Chattanooga. Co-leaders Elon and Georgia Southern lost, giving the Terriers the automatic playoff bid because they beat Appalachian State, the only other team that could share the SoCon title with them.

Wofford is off this week and the playoff bracket won't be announced until Sunday, so coach Mike Ayers said he will practice fundamentals and give his younger players a chance to show him what they can do.

"It definitely gives you a chance to at least take a breath," Ayers said of the off week. "Everybody else, there going to be finishing up and then all of the sudden they're right back into it. This affords us just an opportunity to recharge the batteries and get physically well."

In other games Saturday involving South Carolina's smaller colleges, Coastal Carolina is at Charleston Southern; Furman travels to Western Carolina; and Citadel plays "The Military Classic of the South" at VMI.

In Charleston, Coastal Carolina (4-6, 2-1 Big South) takes on Charleston Southern (5-5, 1-2) as both teams try to end somewhat disappointing seasons on a high note.

Buccaneers coach Jay Mills said the game has turned into one of the state's biggest rivalries. The teams have played every year since the Chanticleers started playing football, with Coastal Carolina leading the series 3-1.

There will be no playoff berth for this year's Chanticleers, and Charleston Southern needs a win to salvage its third-straight winning season.

"I think the lesson there for Jay and us both in the same season is humility," Coastal Carolina coach David Bennett said. "Sometimes we need that humility and we need that character building. And that's what this season has been."

The last two years, the game has had implications on the Big South title. This year, it has only a minor role as Coastal Carolina can sneak into a share of the league title with a win and a Liberty loss.

In Cullowhee, N.C., Furman (5-5, 3-3 Southern Conference) will try to keep the positive vibe going against Western Carolina (1-9, 0-6).

The Paladins fell out of the playoff picture early with losses to Hofstra and Citadel, but have won their past two games against Elon and Georgia Southern - two of the hottest teams in the SoCon in the second half of the season.

Furman coach Bobby Lamb said it's a credit to the team that they kept fighting after the main goal of season was gone.

"We've come on and going into this last football game, we're playing our best football of the year," Lamb said.

It will be an emotional game for Western Carolina coach Kent Briggs, who has been fired, but was allowed to coach this final game.

In Lexington, Va., Citadel (6-4) has one final goal this season - beat VMI (2-8) and keep the Silver Shako.

The trophy, shaped like the military hat worn by cadets at both schools, goes to the winner.

The Bulldogs have three straight wins over the Keydets and have won 12 of the last 16 between the state military schools.

"The game is important for us," said Citadel coach Kevin Higgins, who has led the Bulldogs to a winning record for the first time in a decade. "We really want to leave there with the Silver Shako and to have our seniors go out with a win."

And in Charleston, South Carolina State (6-4, 5-2 Mid-Eastern Athletic) will try to finish the season with at least seven wins for the sixth year in a row as it takes on North Carolina A&T.

The Aggies have lost 26 games in a row, and haven't beat the Bulldogs in seven years.

South Carolina State also wants to keep another streak intact. The Bulldogs have won at least seven games every season since Buddy Pough took over as coach in 2002.

The game is South Carolina State's annual Lowcountry Classic and will be played at Johnson Hagood Stadium in Charleston.

Wofford College
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Wofford College



Motto Intaminatis fulget honoribus (She shines with untarnished honor)
Established 1854
Type Private
President Dr. Benjamin B. Dunlap
Faculty 106
Undergraduates 1,350
Location Spartanburg, South Carolina, United States
Campus Suburban
Colors Gold and Black
Mascot Boston Terrier
Website www.wofford.edu

Wofford College is a small liberal arts college located in Spartanburg, South Carolina. Wofford was founded in 1854 with a bequest of $100,000 from the Rev. Benjamin Wofford (1780-1850), a Methodist minister and Spartanburg native who sought to create a college for "literary, classical, and scientific education in my native district of Spartanburg." Wofford is one of the few four-year institutions in the southeastern United States founded before the American Civil War and still operating on its original campus. In 1941, Wofford received a chapter of Phi Beta Kappa. In 2002, The entire 145-acre campus was designated as an arboretum, and Wofford is a member of the American Association of Botanical Gardens and Arboreta.

The academic year consists of a four month fall semester, a one month January term called the Interim Period, and a four month spring semester.

Wofford's colors are old gold and black.

Contents
1 Interim Program
2 Academic Majors and Programs
3 Athletics
4 Alumni
5 External links



[edit] Interim Program
The Interim Period is designed to provide students with opportunities for new experiences outside the realm of traditional academics. Many students use this four week time period to travel abroad to places all over the world. In 2006 the Interim Program took students kayaking in Costa Rica, play going in New York City, visiting Koinonia Partners and backpacking in Central America. In addition to these off-campus opportunities there are several on-campus interims as well. In 2006, these will include "The History and Politics of Hip-Hop Music and Culture in America," "You Are What You Eat: The Study of Food in Culture," "Cartography: A Study of Maps, History, and Culture," and others. In addition to the offered Interims students can design and submit independent Interim studies which may or may not take the student off-campus.


Official logo
[edit] Academic Majors and Programs
Wofford College offers academic majors in Accounting, Art History, Biology, Business Economics, Chemistry, Computer Science, Chinese Language and Culture, Economics, English, Finance, French, German, Government, History, Humanities, Intercultural Studies, Intercultural Studies for Business, Mathematics, Philosophy, Physics, Psychology, Religion, Sociology, Spanish, and Theater. [1]

It also offers pre-professional programs about Education, Engineering, Medical, Law, Ministry and Veterinary Science.

Wofford College ranks fourth in the country in the percentage of undergraduates receiving credit for studying abroad, according to Open Doors national survey. For the past ten years, Wofford has consistently ranked among the top 10 nationally in this survey.


[edit] Athletics

Logo used to represent Wofford AthleticsMain article: Wofford College Terriers
The Wofford Terriers compete in NCAA Division I (in the Football Championship Subdivision for football) and in the Southern Conference. Notably, Wofford has the smallest enrollment of any Division I school that sponsors football.

Wofford is represented by 17 men and women's varsity sports. Athletes train in the Richardson Physical Activities Building, located behind the newly renovated Raines Center, formerly the Campus Life Building. The Richardson Building is named for the family of Wofford alum Jerry Richardson, the owner of the Carolina Panthers. The Carolina Panthers annually hold summer training camp at Wofford. The 2003 football season was a banner year for the Terriers. Winning their first Southern Conference title, they advanced to the NCAA Division I-AA Football Semi-Finals. The 2007 baseball team won the Southern Conference championship, advancing to the NCAA regional tournament.


[edit] Alumni
See also: Category:Wofford College alumni
Five Rhodes Scholars, Five Truman Scholars, Two Barry M. Goldwater Scholars, 12 Woodrow Wilson Fellows, 12 Rotary Ambassador Scholars, Two James Madison Fellows, and one Morris K. Udall Scholar.
Alumni include 42 College or University Presidents
Two of the five Justices of the SC Supreme Court (John Henry Waller and Costa M. Pleicones)
Rodney O. Anderson - General in the United States Army.
Paul S. Atkins- Commissioner of the Securities and Exchange Commission
Tom Bolt- lawyer, President of the American Counsel Association
David English Camak - Founder of Spartanburg Methodist College
Michael J. Copps- Commissioner of the Federal Communications Commission
Otto Davis- Economist and Professor at Carnegie Mellon University and co-founder of the Heinz School
Samuel Dibble - first graduate of Wofford College, 1856, later a U. S. Congressman
William Wallace Duncan (1858 graduate) - Bishop of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South
William Preston Few- First president of Duke University and the fifth president of its predecessor, Trinity College.
William A. Finley - First president of Oregon State University
Donald Fowler- Former Chairman of the Democratic National Convention
James H. Kirkland- Chancellor of Vanderbilt University
Olin D. Johnston - United States Senator
George Dean Johnson - Founder of Extended Stay Hotels, Co-Founder of Advance America, Co-Founder and Chairman of OTO Development, Founder and Chairman of Johnson Development & Associates
Harry Thomas Maddux- Vice President of Apex CoVantgasge
Marshall L. "Jack" Meadors- Retired Bishop of the United Methodist Church
Dr. Austin T. Moore - orthopedist; inventor hip replacement surgery
Albert C. Outler- theologian and philosopher
Jerry Richardson - owner of the Carolina Panthers
Richard Wright Simpson - Class of 1861 (Confederate Veteran, 3rd SC Inf, Co A) 1st President Clemson College, Executor of the will of Thomas Green Clemson.
Ellison D. Smith- United States Senator, 17th longest-serving senator in history @ 35 yrs, 8 mos.
William H. Willimon- Bishop of the United Methodist Church