In a hard-fought battle against Virginia Military Institute, Furman’s football team came up short in a narrow 21-17 loss in Lexington, Va. As Furman endured their third straight conference loss and has fallen to a dismal 2-6 on the season, fans wonder what it will take for the Paladins to start winning again. The true, long-term answer for Furman is simple — trust the process.
Furman’s loss at VMI on Saturday, Nov. 2 was a tough pill to swallow. The result was shaped by widespread injuries that exposed a thin roster and inconsistencies on offense. The Keydets unleashed a no-huddle, rapid-fire spread attack that kept the Dins on their heels which was a stark departure from VMI’s air raid in previous years. The Paladins’ defense, which has had trouble adjusting to fast-paced offenses all season, notably in their defeat against Lane Kiffin’s Ole Miss, could not keep up with VMI’s relentless no-huddle strategy in the game’s early stages.
However, the Furman defense mustered a crucial shutout in the second half, putting the game in the hands of the Paladin offense. The Paladin offense put up an impressive 412 yards of total offense. Still, it failed to score, convert on downs, or maintain possession of the football when it mattered most. All of these resulted in a head-scratching defeat when VMI could only produce 195 yards of total offense.
Furman head coach Clay Hendrix addressed the media on Monday, Nov. 4. He highlighted the team’s critical errors and frustration with the results this season and proclaimed his desire to beat Wofford this week.
Hendrix pointed to shifting their aspirations to the next season while still not “giving up” on this year. “We are not going to win the (Southern) Conference championship this year, but we are building towards our next conference championship,” Hendrix said. “There have been a few years where you are glad you get to the end of the season. I have not felt that way this year.”
In a frustrating Furman football season, Hendrix pointed to the importance of “the process” and that there is always next year, given the circumstances they face this season such as numerous injuries and lack of depth. Hendrix also emphasized that he would continue to hold his players to a high standard even though a trophy is out of the equation. Some college football coaches have fallen victim to despair following championship seasons, but Hendrix still vows to rise to the occasion despite adversity and live by the classic football mantra: “It is not about the Xs and Os, it is about the Jimmys and Joes.”
The Paladins will be back in action for the last time at Paladin Stadium this Saturday, Nov. 9 against their bitter rivals, the Wofford Terriers. The game will kick off at 2 p.m. and will air on ESPN+.
