Furman Magazine Volume 53 Article 20 Issue 2 Summer 2010

9-1-2010 Former Paladins part of U.S. World Cup squad Furman University

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Recommended Citation University, Furman (2010) "Former Paladins part of U.S. World Cup squad," Furman Magazine: Vol. 53 : Iss. 2 , Article 20. Available at: https://scholarexchange.furman.edu/furman-magazine/vol53/iss2/20

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NCAA, FCS recognize Carson proves you can go home again teams’ academic efforts WHEN JACKIE SMITH CARSON was “The last time Furman won the Southern introduced at a press conference this spring Conference championship was my senior year, THE FOOTBALL SUBDIVISION Athletics as the new women’s basketball coach at Furman, and I hope to continue where I left off,” says Directors Association has announced that it took all of two minutes to realize that patience Carson, who succeeds Sam Dixon as coach. Furman’s football program is the inaugural and a long-suffering temperament might not rate “The program has fallen off a little bit [7-24 recipient of the Academic Progress Rate high on Carson’s list of virtues. last season], but I know we can get back to (APR) Award for the Southern Conference. (2)

RESS After a few remarks about how nice it was to where we were. We just have to work hard The APR Award recognizes an institution P be back on campus and see familiar faces, Carson and not be afraid to fail.” in each of the 14 Football Championship got down to business. “I’m going to show you After graduating in 2000, Carson played SSOCIATED Subdivision (formerly NCAA Division I-AA) A guys how it’s supposed to be,” she said, motioning professionally in Belgium and Israel for two years. conferences that has the highest Academic toward a group of Lady Paladin players who were She enjoyed the traveling and the basketball, but Progress Rate score over the NCAA’s most recent Former Paladins part of U.S. World Cup squad sitting near the back of the room. “We’re going not the uncertainty that the lifestyle entailed. four-year time period. Furman’s APR of 977 was to get things going in the right direction.” “I’m the type who likes to have her ducks 43 points higher than the Southern Conference FIVE OF THE 23 PLAYERS on this year’s Dempsey (left photo, number 8) scored For those who remember the resolute in a row,” she says. “I would come home from average of 934 and 42 points higher than the World Cup soccer squad the only credited goal for the United States intensity Carson displayed on the court during playing overseas and I didn’t have medical insur- FCS average. represented colleges in South Carolina — in the 2006 World Cup and the team’s !rst her stellar career at Furman, it’s no surprise that ance or any kind of stability. That was the part

NCAA member colleges and universities FLEMING and two of them were former Paladins. goal this year, against England. He was a star she would cut to the heart of the matter. And I didn’t like.” recently adopted a comprehensive academic who could argue that she doesn’t know how it’s She returned home to northern Virginia

Mid!elders and Clint mid!elder and forward during his three years JEREMY reform package designed to improve the Dempsey, both members of the Class of 2005, at Furman, !nishing with 17 goals and 19 supposed to be done? and began working toward a degree as a physician academic success and graduation rates of all were chosen to represent their country in the assists in 62 games and earning All-America When she played from 1996 to 2000, assistant. But she couldn’t let go of basketball decision to leave Rob’s alma mater and come student-athletes. The centerpiece of the reforms quadrennial international event, held this honors. Furman was a force in the Southern Conference, altogether, so she volunteered as an assistant to mine. He was excited for me and said let’s is the APR. year in South Africa. Dempsey also played In 2004 he was named MLS Rookie of winning 44 league games and taking the regular coach for a girls’ 15-year-old AAU team that do it, but I had the wife mentality and wanted The APR awards two points each term on the 2006 squad. the Year while playing for the New England season conference championship in 1997 and would win a national championship and produce him to have everything, too.” to student-athletes who meet academic-eligibility Clark (right photo, number 13), who Revolution, and in 2006 he was named U.S. the tournament in 2000. three future Atlantic Coast Conference stars. While Carson may be a loving wife who standards and who remain with the institution. was recently inducted into the university’s Soccer Player of the Year. He plays with The 6-1 Carson had much to do with that Soon, without any college coaching wears high heels and often looks as if she stepped A team’s APR is determined by the total points Athletic Hall of Fame, played two years at Fulham of England’s . success. She was !rst-team all-conference her experience, she was offered an assistant’s job out of the pages of Vogue — she actually did it earns at a given time divided by the total Furman before turning professional. An With !ve goals, he tied for second on sophomore, junior and senior seasons. She was at Bucknell University in 2004. Two years later some modeling in Baltimore and New York after points possible. All-American as a collegian, he played on the U.S. team in scoring during qualifying the conference Player of the Year her sophomore she moved to James Madison University in graduation — her players will soon learn that The NCAA also honored !ve Furman teams that combined to post a 36-8-1 record for this year’s World Cup. Dempsey, who and junior years, was team captain her !nal Virginia, where she was recruiting coordinator steely competitiveness comes in all shapes and teams with public recognition awards for their (16-0 in the Southern Conference). He was was inducted into the Furman Athletic Hall two seasons, and was Furman’s Edna Hartness and was promoted to associate head coach in sizes. APR. The men’s golf, women’s basketball, a three-time All-Star of Fame in 2008, became the !rst former Female Athlete of the Year in 1999. She !nished 2009. During her !ve years at JMU the team “Because I’m kind of girly and I wear women’s cross country, and women’s indoor and with the Houston Dynamo and in 2003 Furman athlete to appear on the cover of her career as the second leading scorer and posted a 125-40 record and advanced to post- heels and make-up, I think the girls had this outdoor track squads were recognized for posting was a !nalist for MLS Rookie of the Year. Sports Illustrated when he joined World rebounder in school history. For good measure, season play each year. certain impression of me,” she says, smiling. APR scores in the top 10 percent of all schools He scored the lone goal against Trinidad Cup teammates and Tim the health and exercise science major made the It was also at James Madison that she “But I worked out with them for two days, and in their respective sports for the past four years. and Tobago last September to help the Howard on the front of the June 7 issue. conference Academic Honor Roll three times. met her husband, Rob, who played football I think I shocked them. They were surprised A total of 841 teams representing 228 United States clinch its spot in the World The other state schools represented on She was elected to the university’s Athletic Hall for the Dukes and was the athletic department’s to learn that I can shoot and still play.” Division I institutions were recognized by Cup. He now plays for the team were Clemson (defender Oguchi of Fame in 2005. academic advisor. So when Furman came After all, they don’t hang your jersey from the NCAA. High-performing teams receiving of Germany’s , the country’s top Onyewu and mid!elder ) and To be reminded of Carson’s contributions, calling this spring, the decision wasn’t simple. the rafters because you look good in heels. awards posted APR scores ranging from 978 soccer division. South Carolina (goalkeeper ). her players need only look to the rafters of “It was easy because of the coaching — VINCE MOORE to a perfect 1,000. Timmons Arena, where her jersey (22) hangs. opportunity,” says Carson, who has been married She is one of only three Furman women’s players two years, “but it was the !rst major decision to have her number retired. I had to make as a wife. It wasn’t an easy

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