Forest Stulting

Since the last issue of the newspaper, the Paladins have gone 2-3. But with the meat of the season here, it is time for the Paladins to start cooking. With a lot of rotation in the outfield and bullpen during the non-conference schedule, it is time to find the winning formula.

The Paladins have played 17 games, winning 6 and dropping 11. With SoCon play starting, the Paladins must play with greater consistency if they hope to attain their goals this season.

Last weekend’s home series against Virginia Commonwealth didn’t go as planned for the Paladins, though, with Furman falling short in all three games.

Warm afternoons beginning to replace early sunsets can only mean one thing — baseball season is almost here. The Paladins open the 2014 season at Latham Stadium Feb. 14 versus Norfolk State. The first pitch is scheduled for 4 p.m.

This past weekend the Furman men’s lacrosse team played Lehigh (ranked 16th nationally), beginning not only the season but a new era in Furman athletics. Furman also added a women’s lacrosse team, though they will not compete at the Division I varsity level until next year.

This past week Major League Baseball suspended Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez for his connections to the Biogenesis clinic and evidence of his interfering with the MLB’s investigation of charges that he took performance enhancing drugs (PEDs). The suspension was reduced from 211 to 162 games (one full season) plus the 2014 playoffs.

The rugby team is fairly new, it debuted in 1998, but rugby — a physically demanding team game that originated in England — has become one of the sports at which Furman consistently excels. Furman’s club team competes in Division II of Rugby USA and is nearing the end of a winning season in which the team went 3-1 and had the opportunity to compete in the playoffs.

I remember waking up at four in the morning to make the drive to Chattanooga for the 2001 National Championship game against the Montana Grizzlies. Even though the team came up short, those were much better days for Furman football. Under the direction of Bobby Johnson from 1994-2001, the Paladins experienced a lot of success.

The start of the 2013-2014 college basketball season is just a week away. With a lot of changes to conferences, it should shape up to be another wild ride this season. The pre-season top 10, however, has no surprises