Sports

Less than one month away from the draft, it seems certain that former Furman offensive lineman Dakota Dozier will be taken on the second day of this year’s NFL draft.

With the year winding down for spring sports, the collegiate careers of Furman’s seniors are also coming to an end. The Paladin decided to ask a few seniors about their time at Furman and their expectations for the last weeks of the season.

This past Saturday the Furman University Fish and Fly Club hosted the semi-annual Furman Bass Tournament. Without a cloud in the sky, the participants enjoyed phenomenal 80-degree spring weather and competitive camaraderie as they all vied for the title of best Furman fisherman.

The 2013 MLB Draft saw three Furman players selected: outfielder Taylor Johnson and pitchers Nate Smith and Ben Carlson were chosen by the Los Angeles Angels in the 2013 MLB Entry Draft.

The 2014 Blue Shoes Mile took their positions before the race Saturday night. The meet, up to that point, had featured many record-breaking performances, but everyone knew the main event had yet to come.

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.

It has been a long hard season for the Furman men’s basketball team and the Paladin faithful. The Paladins season ended with a 65-50 defeat against Georgia Southern in the first round of the Southern Conference tournament, leaving their final record at 9-21, with just three of those wins coming in conference play.

March Madness is finally finishing up (despite being a week into April) and giving way to a baseball season that is already off to an exciting start. Only a week into the season there are stories aplenty around the sport.

By Trent McCann, Sports Editor Saturday, April 5 was one of the busiest days the Furman Paladins have had all year. The day had beautiful weather, and the campus was bustling with events, with the Paladins, both men and women, competing in seven different sports.

Only a select few sports enthusiasts integrate linear algebra or advanced probability regression models into the argument. The Furman-organized Carolinas Sports Analytics Meeting is designed to do exactly that: predict the contingencies in sporting events by applying algorithms and advanced mathematical techniques.

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.

Furman announced last month that, thanks to donations from golf alumni, the men’s golf team will be able to continue operations, reversing the Board of Trustees’ decision to cancel the program for budgetary reasons.

Professional baseball will soon be present again in the Greenville community when the Red Sox’s Low-A affiliate Greenville Drive starts their season. Despite a disappointing 2013 season in which the team finished in last place with an abysmal 51-87 record, there is reason for optimism this year.

At the conclusion of the men’s lacrosse team’s non-conference schedule, the team is still in search of the program’s first-ever victory.

Furman’s runners are poised for a memorable outdoor season as they come off an impressive performance at the Southern Conference Indoor Track and Field Championship.

Furman announced on Tuesday that, thanks to donations from golf alumni, the men’s golf team will be able to continue operations, reversing the Board of Trustees’ decision to cancel the program for budgetary reasons.

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.

Much to the chagrin of golf enthusiasts and especially the men’s golf team, the Furman Board of Trustees recently decided to discontinue the varsity men’s golf program. Consequently, many students have been wondering what will happen to the Furman golf course, the current members of the golf team, and whether the women’s varsity program may suffer the same fate.

All is not well in the baseball world, at least not for everyone. The recent qualifying offer system, put in place in the 2012 season, has left some players without a team even at this late hour. With workouts already beginning for the Major League teams, no player wants to still be without a contract.