What can you tell me? Thx,
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As of 4 years ago, the baseball program was not fully funded. That could have changed.
They still are not fully funded. It's hard to get a straight answer regarding exactly how many they do fund, but it's around 6-7.
High tuition. Very good academic school. Large endowment, which could mean a lot of academic money if your son is a good student. On the other hand if your son is not a good student he would probably hate it there.
They could make a little noise in the SoCon this year if they can get anything out of their pitching. They seem to have had a lot of trouble recruiting quality pitching in recent years.
High tuition. Very good academic school. Large endowment, which could mean a lot of academic money if your son is a good student. On the other hand if your son is not a good student he would probably hate it there.
They could make a little noise in the SoCon this year if they can get anything out of their pitching. They seem to have had a lot of trouble recruiting quality pitching in recent years.
My good friends son is there as a soph. They currently have 7.5 scholarships but will be fully funded this year. Pitcher recruiting is very strong now under very good pitching coach/recruiting coordinator.
Head coach Ron Smith is a very good guy, and it's an excellent school. The campus is big and gorgeous. But you need pretty good grades to go there, even as an athlete. The funding is an issue, especially when it comes to recruiting pitchers in a very solid SoCon with solid baseball programs like College of Charleston, Elon, The Citadel and Georgia Southern.
A former pitching coach once told me they don't get a lot of middle-class kids. They get their share of standout private-school players from wealthy families or other players that qualify for a lot of aid to help offset the cost.
A former pitching coach once told me they don't get a lot of middle-class kids. They get their share of standout private-school players from wealthy families or other players that qualify for a lot of aid to help offset the cost.
They are now fully funded, and the new AD is pushing for success. They should be a stronger team in a conference that is getting stronger every year. Don't know if they can move up with everyone else moving in the same direction. Construction started on new baseball facility for offices, locker room and player area, and they are dropping another few million $ into the stadium. This should give them a lot of leverage in the next few years. Coach Smith is great. The recruiter is young, but he is working hard to bring in the best. This year and next year will tell a lot about whether Furman can bridge the gap in a great conference.
Do your due diligence on Coaching Staff. Everyone has a story. Ours is a Travel team mate of son's recruited there. Good player, great kid from a Private School. However, he strongly disliked the coaching, transferred to another D1 electing to sit a year, rather than return.
Prime9
What did he dislike? Skills, approach, communication, treatment, knowledge, etc. Any and all additional info would be helpful.
What did he dislike? Skills, approach, communication, treatment, knowledge, etc. Any and all additional info would be helpful.
I can't say that I'm close to the program or anything, but they are fairly close by and I'm never heard a lot of negatives about the staff. I do know a good number of kids who played HS and travel ball for the chief assistant and he was well liked back then.
Having said that, Furman is not for everyone. My IMPRESSION is that more kids tend to not like the school/atmosphere than dislike the program. I know 4 kids that my son played with/against in HS. One, the best student of the lot, loves it and is still there. Of the other 3, 1 probably would not have been admitted were it not for baseball and the other 2 would have been close calls. The one who probably would not have been admitted hated the place and left after a semester. One of the marginal admits stayed 2 years then transferred. Word was that he also hated the school. I know he had to go to summer school his first summer to get his GPA up. BUT, the way he was managed as a pitcher may have had something to do with it. The other marginal admit considered transferring after his freshman year but is still there.
Son's best friend from HS (non-athlete) loves it there. Son has visited a time or two, on a RARE day off, and also likes the place. But another HS classmate, female s****r player, spent a year there and hated it.
I suspect that socio-economic factors are a factor for some kids. Who wants to pay $50K a year to hang out with people with which they have little in common?
Furman remains a great academic school. It was once considered the premier academic school in the state, but a number of other schools have closed the gap to the point that I'm not sure that is true anymore. But, all it takes is a few professors trying to prove a point to make things miserable for marginal students who are already dealing with a full athletic workload.
Now that they are fully funded I expect them to gradually start moving up the SoCon ladder. But, at $50K a year with fairly rigorous academics, they're still going to have to go after certain types of kids.
Having said that, Furman is not for everyone. My IMPRESSION is that more kids tend to not like the school/atmosphere than dislike the program. I know 4 kids that my son played with/against in HS. One, the best student of the lot, loves it and is still there. Of the other 3, 1 probably would not have been admitted were it not for baseball and the other 2 would have been close calls. The one who probably would not have been admitted hated the place and left after a semester. One of the marginal admits stayed 2 years then transferred. Word was that he also hated the school. I know he had to go to summer school his first summer to get his GPA up. BUT, the way he was managed as a pitcher may have had something to do with it. The other marginal admit considered transferring after his freshman year but is still there.
Son's best friend from HS (non-athlete) loves it there. Son has visited a time or two, on a RARE day off, and also likes the place. But another HS classmate, female s****r player, spent a year there and hated it.
I suspect that socio-economic factors are a factor for some kids. Who wants to pay $50K a year to hang out with people with which they have little in common?
Furman remains a great academic school. It was once considered the premier academic school in the state, but a number of other schools have closed the gap to the point that I'm not sure that is true anymore. But, all it takes is a few professors trying to prove a point to make things miserable for marginal students who are already dealing with a full athletic workload.
Now that they are fully funded I expect them to gradually start moving up the SoCon ladder. But, at $50K a year with fairly rigorous academics, they're still going to have to go after certain types of kids.
The school is very tough and was listed as the 2nd most rigorous school in the nation. It would be nice to know more about the staff if people have heard negatives. Maybe it was just the atmosphere or academics.
listed where?
New assistant coach hired this year is Chris Edwards, formerly at Presbyterian. Coach Edwards is a great guy and a super recruiter...and has a B.S., a M.B.A., and a J. D. (law degree)....and coaches baseball. I like his priorities.
Furman posted drawing for new player's lounge and locker room on website and investment for seating and concessions. Ground has been broken. This could be a huge recruiting tool for them. Keep an eye on this school.
http://www.furmanpaladins.com/sports/m-basebl/index
http://www.furmanpaladins.com/sports/m-basebl/index
This was my son's first choice 6-years ago. Being from Cali; they never saw my son play, however, after a number of recruits turned them down he was offered a small scholy. He choose another school becuase the wanted him and made it very clear.
That being said; my son walked away after his visit with the same glow that a little kid gets the first time they go to Disneyland. The school is drop dead beautiful.
We thought Coach Smith was our kind of guy; straight forward, honest and direct. When he first met my son; he talked with him like any other recruit until my son stood up and he really started eyeing his size and physique. From that point on he showed an interest and followed my son through his senior year in HS. They made him an offer only after all their recruits at his position fell through in the late spring.
My son had a great college career; however, has commented to this day that he might have gone to Furman if the timing was different.
That being said; my son walked away after his visit with the same glow that a little kid gets the first time they go to Disneyland. The school is drop dead beautiful.
We thought Coach Smith was our kind of guy; straight forward, honest and direct. When he first met my son; he talked with him like any other recruit until my son stood up and he really started eyeing his size and physique. From that point on he showed an interest and followed my son through his senior year in HS. They made him an offer only after all their recruits at his position fell through in the late spring.
My son had a great college career; however, has commented to this day that he might have gone to Furman if the timing was different.
