Paladin

After finishing last season with a disappointing 24-31 overall record (including 10-20 in Southern Conference play), the Furman Paladin baseball squad looks to improve on that mark as they head into the 2010 season. This year's team returns 20 lettermen and adds 12 new freshmen to the squad.

Despite the wind, the snow and the unbelievably cold conditions, Furman softball finally got the chance to triumph in its season opener against Charleston Southern at the Palmetto State Showdown this past week. A series of cancellations due to bouts of inclement weather prevented the Paladins from taking on Coastal Carolina, Winthrop and USC - all teams that Furman was slated to play in the tournament.

Following three games versus Wofford, Georgia Southern University and Elon, the women's basketball team has fallen to 6-21 on the season. "We have become stagnant offensively, and that has hurt us in the last couple of games," said Head Coach Sam Dixon. Indeed, the team has been held to under 50 points nine times this season and has lost eight consecutive games in a row.

Though both men's and women's tennis garnered several wins over the second week of February, the season hit a bump in the road as both teams tallied losses this past week. Furman's women handled UNC Asheville and Presbyterian easily in a double-header at the Mickel Tennis Center on February 9th, but this past weekend fell to both Wake Forest and #6 Duke.

After a big win and a pair of close losses, the Furman men's basketball team returns home for games against The Citadel and a season finale against conference leader College of Charleston (19-9 overall, 13-3 SoCon) on Feb 27. The Paladins began a three game road trip with an 87-78 win over Chattanooga (13-15, 5-10), led by Jordan Miller's career high 31 points and Amu Saaka's 19.

After a solid performance in Clemson at the Tiger Tune-Up, the Furman track and field team will prepare for the Southern Conference championships. In Clemson, the team was led with first-place finishes from Monique Ositelu, Chloe Kowalski and Lee Gilmer. Cortez Johnson finished in second place in the 60 meter dash and Charlie McGoogan races to a second place finish in the 3,000 meter run.

Dear Tiger, That was some kind of event you had the other day. Covered on all the major networks, even live in Times Square. I must admit, most of us just wanted to see if you had changed any - were there any scars or new teeth? After all, it's still unbelievable that you, the most recognizable athlete in the world, could literally disappear for three months.