Embed Size (px)
DESCRIPTION
Â
Citation preview
Rebekah DuntzEditor-in-Chief
AUG. 25, 2015ISSUE 2
All you need to know about Windows 10 inside. See pages 2 and 7.
The Florida Tech Crimson
Efram Goldberg, a Ph.D. student studying chemistry at Florida Tech, has taken his white German Shepherd to the pond by Harris Commons every day since January.
Darwin was only 16 months old when he started showing signs: his fur was stained, reddish.
When Goldberg examined further, looking under his tail, he found an open, bleeding ulcer. Dar-win was rushed to the vet the next day, diagnosed on July 25 with what appeared to be a bacterial infection and given a shot of anti-biotics. But the ulcer continued to grow and become more gruesome.
He started searching online for anything he could find that matched Darwin’s symptoms, and he found a website that contained a comprehensive list of diseases.
“So I went through each one, one by one, and found one called Pythiosis, and everything matched. They said it’s rare, it’s gotten from swimming in ponds or lakes,” Goldberg said. “It causes ulcers that don’t heal or don’t respond, and it’s deadly.”
Goldberg said he felt a sense of urgency. The sooner Darwin was diagnosed, the higher his chances of survival were.
He made several calls and a couple visits to the surrounding veterinary clinics in the Melbourne and Palm Bay area, where all they
said they could do was give Dar-win antibiotics for his ulcer. Some of the clinics didn’t have the proper testing tools to be able to tell if it was Pythiosis.
He then made a call to the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine in Gaines-ville, which is known to test and treat this rare disease in horses and a few dogs.
Darwin’s preliminary results suggested positive for Pythiosis on Aug. 5, and he we went in for surgery to have his tail fully am-putated on Aug. 7.
This disease is found in horses, and is starting to more commonly show up in dogs, spe-cifically white German Shepherd and Labrador Retriever breeds.
E r i c a G o s s , Ph.D., studies plant pathogens at the Uni-versity of Florida, and is familiar with Py-thiosis.
“We tried to see if we could find the pathogen agent in the environment, and we were surprised to find that it’s very com-mon,” Goss said.
Pythium insid-iosum, the fungal or-ganism infecting these animals and plants, was found in 11 out of the 19 water bodies sampled.
“We don’t know if the infections are
increasing in prevalence, or if veterinarians are just learning to recognize it and diagnosing it more often,” Goss said.
“If I was a dog owner,” she said, “I would definitely not let my dogs swim in local lakes and ponds pretty much anywhere where you see vegetation growing in the water.”
She said it’s okay to let your dogs swim at dog parks, in man-made lakes or ponds where it’s clear dogs are allowed. Gold-berg also mentioned there should probably be signs posted at ponds warning dog owners of the dangers of the water.
“You read about rare diseas-es and stuff and think they’re far
away… but no, they’re right here in our backyard,” Goldberg said.
Usually in a fungal infection like this, the vet has to remove the infected tissue, and sometimes lesions come back. Goldberg and the vets are waiting for the next two months to see if any lesions come back. And as a result, Darwin will have to be on medications for seven to eight months, up to two years. Goldberg said if Darwin can make it to December, he’s hoping the both of them are in the clear.
So far, Goldberg’s father has paid for the medical costs, and Goldberg has started a GoFundMe to help raise funds for Darwin’s medical bills.
“I’m hoping that’ll help
pay for his medical bills and then anything extra that’s raised will go to the vet at UF for his research for Pythiosis,” Goldberg said. “I’ve been taken aback by how kind strangers are, like a stranger donated $300. and I think that’s really neat that people are really supportive like that.”
The fund can be found at www.GoFundMe.com/Darwins-Fund.
“If it’s not treated, it’s fatal 100% of the time. The good news is, the earlier that they catch it, the better chances of success,” Goldberg said. “So hopefully he’ll make a full recovery. Just without a tail.” v
Student’s dog contracts rare, deadly disease
Darwin after being released from surgery at University of Florida. His tail was amputated.
A PUPPY NAMED Darwin
OPINIONS2 - August 25, 2015 the Florida tech crimson
AdviserTed Petersen
Editor-in-ChiefRebekah Duntz
Managing EditorAlex Coultrup
Sci/Tech EditorEbube Ubochi
Social Media CoordinatorAshley Montion
Staff:Christopher Pangalos
Fumiko ShinkawaLindsay Isaac
Sports EditorAndrew Shipotofsky
For media kit, email: [email protected]
CAPS PSA: Back on Track Kendra Bartel
CAPS Outreach Columnist
Get Into a Routine
During the summer, we of-ten go with the flow. We wake up when we want, eat when we want and workout when we want.
During the school year this plan does not work very well. \It does not need to be strict, but it does need to give you structure.
By giving your days struc-ture you will get back on track and back into the swing of the semester.
Setting a schedule helps your mind and body stay consis-tent!
Wake upIn the summer, sleeping until
2 or 3 p.m. is great. During the school year, it’s likely you’ll miss a class or something important. Also, try not to wake up an hour before your class starts.
Wake up early enough that you can get going, get focused and prepare.
Go to BedSummer means staying out
late with awesome friends. When you have an 8 a.m. class, it’s not as awesome. Make sure you go to bed at a time you will not regret the next morning.
Tell your friends you’ll have to make plans another day or hang out that weekend.
Going to bed earlier on weekdays helps you not only get up earlier, but it helps you keep your schedule.
Write Your Schedule Down
Write down when and where your classes are. Also, go through your syllabi and highlight any due dates and important dates.
You can also write down important assignments and dates in your planner or in a calendar on your phone.
By writing these down ahead of time, you will not forget about them later. It’s a great way to get organized.
Unpack Your BagsTo feel more at home and
also more like life is back to nor-mal, unpack your suitcases and boxes. Get organized in your dorm room or apartment. Having every-thing unpacked and organized will help you feel more comfortable in your living space and will also help you save time searching for things you may need.
If you or someone you know is struggling with adjusting to college or getting back on track, do not be afraid to ask for help by contacting the student counseling center (CAPS)! To make an appoint-ment, call 321-674-8050 or walk into the center, which is located next to the student health center, on the corner of Country Club Road and University Boulevard.
Also, check out CAPS website at www.fit.edu/caps, where you will find anonymous screenings, brochures and helpful links on a variety of college issues. CAPS is just one of many resources at Florida Tech that supports maintaining a happy and healthy you! v
After it’s officially released over the summer, Windows 10 has managed to maintain Microsoft’s pattern of producing a popular operating system on every other attempt. Sources including Engad-get, Cnet, Tech Advisor, as well as comments from users show over-whelmingly positive responses to Windows 10, raising the possibility that Microsoft’s pattern is, in fact, a clever marketing strategy.
Windows 10 basically takes the popular features of Windows 8 and corrects most of the things us-ers disliked about it. In particular, Microsoft has improved the user interface: returning the start menu and designing it to be easily usable by those without touchscreens while still allowing touchscreens
to work well.One of the new features
includes Virtual Desktops, which allow you to create multiple desk-tops, for instance one for gaming and one for work, which you can switch between as need. You can now snap apps into the corner of your screen instead of just on the side.
You can also now use Wifi Sense to share your Wifi with other users without sharing your actual password.
Microsoft has also released a new web browser known as Edge with a much more modern look to replace the older Internet Explorer.
Despite its popularity, Win-dows 10 has received its share of controversy surrounding its release, not so much due to its usability but due to some of Mi-crosoft’s practices surrounding it.
Microsoft has changed its update practices, which now al-ways install automatically without giving the user an option to disable them, though for those most ada-mantly against it they have made a tool available for download that can be used to manually disable each update.
According to Extreme Tech, since the release of Windows 10 Microsoft also now provides cu-mulative updates which contain all previous versions and does not distinguish most security updates, feature updates and bug fixes.
Microsoft has also been re-leasing significantly less informa-tion about what Windows updates actually include.
Three of the updates re-leased this month KB 3081424, KB 3081436, and KB 3081438 were described only with the
words “This update includes improvements that enhance the functionality of Windows 10”. In addition, according to Info World and posts on Microsoft Answers Forum many users experienced endless reboot loops triggered by the first two updates.
The biggest deal breaker for Windows 10 may be the services agreement for some Windows 10 apps which stated “We may automatically check your version of the software and download updates or configuration changes, including those that prevent you from accessing the Services, play-ing counterfeit games, or using unauthorized hardware peripheral devices.”
There has been conflicting information across sources of how exactly Microsoft determines
if a game is counterfeit and what qualifies as unauthorized hardware peripheral devices.
Microsoft said in a statement to Tech Insider “The Microsoft Services Agreement allows Mi-crosoft to change or discontinue certain apps or content where we deem your security is at risk.”
One example is that Win-dows 10 will not run games using SafeDisc or some versions of Securom DRM which were com-monly considered unsecure. Some of the games that use this include Grand Theft Auto III, Crimson Skies and the first Sims game.
While it’s still uncertain how far this policy will extend, the restrictions on what can be installed will likely make many think twice before upgrading to Windows 10. v
Christopher PangalosStaff Member
Microsoft offers more features, less freedom?Photo courtesy of Microsoft Press release
WINDOWS 10:
After a summer that went by way too fast, you might be struggling to get back on track with school-related activities.
You cannot seem to wake up or find anything you need and your laundry pile is the size of a mountain. Along with the hustle and bustle the beginning of a se-mester brings, it’s likely you are feeling stressed out.
Don’t worry! There is hope and even you can get back on track!
3 -august 25, 2015 The Florida tech crimsonCAMPUS LIFE
The first wave of renovations to the Evans Library was completed Aug. 20, according to an email from Angela Taylor, director of enabling infrastructure. The email, distributed over Fitforum informed students of the changes and resources now available.
The changes being made to the library are based on patterns of student use, said Dean of Libraries Sohair Wastawy, Ph.D.
“In the past, if you come to a library that is completely print, all you need is a four-
by-six card, or a notebook and pencil,” Wastawy said. She went on to explain that now, in 2015, students do not visit the library simply to write notes based on a book they check out, or even to pho-tocopy pages for later reference.
The library is still all about information and research, she said, but “we were us-ing different tools in the past and our tools were mostly print.”
Today, nearly 90 percent of the periodicals are in digital form, as well as
almost all of the reference texts. Wastawy expressed that it is due to these chang-ing times and technology that the library needed an update.
According to her, “to be able to use the digital in-formation, you need digital tools.”
The Applied Comput-ing Center, formerly located one level lower, officially opened on the third floor on Thursday.
The empty space on the second floor where the Ap-plied Computing Center used to reside will soon be repur-posed to accommodate the needs of a modern student.
“As long as you are us-ing a different tool, you need a different setting,” Wastawy said. “You may not need the same chairs or tables.”
More ergonomic work-spaces will be added, such
as sit-to-stand desks, which can change height depending on the user’s preference and
more comfortable seating. That area of the sec-
ond floor is scheduled to be completed in October. It will be outfitted with many new computing features and tools that students, especially those in the sciences, require to complete projects.
Student-athletes are re-quired to log their study table hours on the third floor, but the changes should not dis-rupt normal operations, said Mandi Bennett, director of student-athlete development.
“The downfall is going to be the number of people and possibly the noise level,” Bennett said, “so we’re go-ing to try to do what we can to keep that to a minimum.”
The third floor should not become too crowded, since many of its shelves have been relocated to other parts of campus or donated to local schools and nonprofits.
Additionally, new study rooms have been created by dividing larger ones in
half. “Often we see just one student using an entire study room,” said Wastawy. The increased number of rooms will allow more solo students and average-sized groups to study in a quieter environment.
Creating a more com-fortable working environ-ment for students is very important to Wastawy. She said, “for you to be comfort-able in the library, it is not going to work to have very hard, wooden chairs and wooden tables.”
On the fourth floor, a silent zone, a large hammock for sleeping has been added in one corner, while reclining ‘zero-gravity chairs’ circle a nearby bin of blankets.
On the first floor, the primary changes are in the main entry area. Some upper panels of the walls have been painted a bold blue color and soon, the words “Just Ask,” will be painted above the front desk.
Where a large reference desk once stood, there are now two smaller kiosk ar-eas. Wastawy said of the old desk, “it is very formal and does not allow a good level of communication.”
She said that switching out the large desk for the new, smaller ones, should serve to make the librarians and student employees seem more accessible. “What we are trying to do is to remove all the barriers.” v
Evans Library making modern tech renovations
Alex CoultrupManaging Editor
MArketing & Comm Toolbox
Want to see More?
Check us out on:twitter.com/ftcrimson
Facebook.com/ftcrimsoninstagram.com/ftcrimson
Take the shot.Become a student journalist.
Writing positions available in: - Breaking News- Campus Life- Sports- Entertainment/ Arts & Culture- Science and Technology
Looking for page designers and photographers. Positions at the Crimson are paid.
Photo courtesy of Griffith College
6 -August 25, 2015 The Florida tech crimson
Andrew ShipotofskySports Editor
campus life
International students and Florida Tech Football came to-gether on Aug. 21 for a night of teaching and friendship. Once again the football program hosted Football 101 to welcome interna-tional students to not only Florida Tech, but also to America.
Over 200 students showed up to eat barbeque and learn the game of American football. In many international countries, “football” means what most stu-dents know as soccer.
The whole idea of the event is for international and American students to get to know each other
and to make the transition easier. “People get excited about
things when they know the people involved,” Head Football Coach Steve Englehart said. “[The] best way to get excited is have a con-nection with a player.”
During the event, interna-tional students played the popular tailgating game, corn hole as well as learned the basics of football. Students learned to throw the ball from football players.
One the most fun events of the evening was when students were able to strap on pads and put a helmet on under the direction of offensive lineman, Chas Lofquist.
The event wrapped up with a team picture including all the students and players involved in a night of cultural learning. v
Florida Tech Football hosts ‘Football 101’
Above: Students pose with Pete the Panther.
Left: Students dressed in football gear at Football 101.
Below: Football 101 had a great turnout on the evening of Aug. 21.
7 -August 25, 2015 The Florida tech crimson
Ebube UbochiSci/Tech E
SCI/TECH
As promised, Microsoft has shown up at our doorsteps – or for a lot of us, on our taskbars – with Windows 10 and they intend to win our hearts and regain our unwavering trust with it. The tech giant has been dealt a few blows by competition in recent years with the gradual decrease in popularity of Windows Phone, coupled with the increase in popularity and adoption of Apple’s Mac OS X in numerous regions.
Regardless, Windows 10 has arrived and it is here to stay, so the real question is whether or not it is worth the upgrade. It comes bearing a slew of new features, as well as a reimagined functionality and a clean unobtrusive interface.
While many may be put off or intimidated by such an overhaul, there are numerous things that seem to make quite the case for sparking a new flame with the fresh OS. Here are five of them:app icon on the far right of their Windows 7 or Windows 8 taskbars.
This fast, sleek and light browser is the bad news Internet Explorer has been fearing since Chrome was born, and the good news that Windows users have been praying for for years.
Edge performs extremely well and earns remarkable bench-mark scores that rival those of even Google Chrome. Its simple and easily navigable interface makes web browsing the joy that it should be, complete with a mode optimized for reading that is reminiscent of what many have come to know and love in Mac OS X’s Safari.
However, it’s not perfect by any means — Edge has a slightly disorganized protocol for saving downloads, but it can only improve from here on out.
Microsoft included the op-tion for users to open pages in Internet Explorer if they feel the need to, so concerns in that area are covered, at least temporarily.
Edge allows users to use their mouse or trackpad — or their fingers in tablet mode on PCs that support touch screen input — to write notes in assorted colors over their screenshots, for future refer-ence. These screenshots are as easy to share as they are to annotate.
Microsoft engineered Edge from the ground up and it shows, but this is only the beginning; Edge has a bright future waiting beyond its horizon.
The Start Menu is back. The beloved Start Menu that defined the Windows user interface and ex-perience for 25 years before going AWOL and sending a pretty stunt double in its place that did noth-ing but launch users into oblivion whenever they attempted opening an application.
It’s back for real this time, and it combines all its best features from both Windows 7 and Win-dows 8 to bring us a true testament to utility. It’s even resizable! Users can adjust the height and width of the Start menu on the desktop, and in the settings app, they can even configure it to launch in full page display as it did in Windows 8.
Start, like the taskbar, is able to take on the aesthetic qualities of any wallpaper or theme applied to the system. This is also true for Action Center — the brand new extension of the notification tray located at the rightmost end of the taskbar. Action Center functions as a notification slider, complete with access to quick settings and all the essential buttons that would be found on the notification panel of any mobile phone or tablet. All notifications are interactive and are able to deep link users into their parent apps, launching said apps at the relevant pages when clicked.
This new hub for notifica-tions and alerts is a welcome replacement from the Charms Bar that governed in-app naviga-tion in Windows 8. Action Centre operates in perfect sync with Start and Cortana and is a very handy addition to the tools presented in Windows 10.
Chances are, by now you’ve heard of Siri, as well as the famously efficient and
versatile Google Now. Cortana is Microsoft’s contribution to the mobile personal assistant com-munity, and though she hasn’t
quite caught up to her more ex-perienced crew mates, Cortana is smarter than many might assume.
She greets users as soon as they log in, asking how she can be of service; she can perform various tasks initiated through voice com-mands or otherwise; she can keep track of users’ interests so they can stay well informed about relevant things, places and events around them. She can even tell jokes.
In addition, slightly similar to Google’s “Now On Tap” feature coming in the fall with the release of Android 6.0 Marshmallow, Cortana can provide contextual assistance in apps like Microsoft Edge, making the combined expe-rience of learning and browsing a compact and productive one.
Cortana resides at the far left of the taskbar, next to the Start button, and is only a click away. She is equipped with a notebook literally dubbed “Cortana’s Note-book,” which users can access to update the information Cortana has on file; they can alter their prefer-ences, their favorite places to eat and even their names.
Cortana comes with room for improvement, but she embrac-es it and does her best to be better with the help of the user, and this might in fact be her best feature. Cortana brings a lot of personal-ity to Windows 10 and promises to always have every user’s back.
With the arrival of Windows 10, Microsoft’s desktop firmware is more capable of handling con-sole level games than ever before. Using the XBOX app for Windows 10, users can seamlessly integrate their XBOX one with their PC and initiate tangible interaction in real time.
The app allows users to stream XBOX One games to a laptop or desktop and plug in a controller to play. The rather pleas-ant surprise here is that it works considerably well, rendering with-out lag even over Wi-Fi networks.
The limit is that it can only be used in a home setting — over a local network essentially — but it makes for a handy solution when the television that serves as the console’s primary display is in use. Users can also access XBOX Live and create group chats to talk to their friends on the XBOX One gamer network as they would on their console, right from their PCs.
The best feature of Windows 10’s XBOX integration is perhaps the built in DVR. Gamers can record their screen activity to cre-ate clips of even AAA gameplay, take easily shareable screenshots, and even make screen recordings of other apps that do not involve gaming. In the past, users would have needed to acquire expensive third party apps to achieve this. This newly facilitated relationship between Windows and XBox is the next stage in Microsoft’s approach to helping customers establishing a well ordered technological eco-system, and it seems like they are on the right track.v
There’s a new button on the taskbar, and it’s every power user’s dream come true. Let’s talk about virtual desktops for a moment.
Put simply, virtual desktops expand the virtual space of a computer’s desktop environment beyond the physical limits of the screen’s display area through the use of software.
In English? Sure. Virtual desktops emulate the functional-ity of having more than one physi-cal screen at a user’s disposal.
Consider a situation where a user simultaneously has two or three active displays: one where most of the day’s homework is be-ing tacked, one for Amazon, Ebay and Pinterest in search of a new desk chair, and one for Netflix. Now imagine that by some freak accident, two of those monitors were cracked and needed to be repaired. The same functional-ity could not be enjoyed— not unless the computer was running Windows 10, that is.
With virtual desktops, our faithfully departed Netflix and window shopping screens are stored in an invisible folder that the user can switch to at any time. Application windows can be moved between individual desktops so the number of vis-ible apps can be changed at any time; they can even be viewed in an entirely different form factor with Windows 10’s brand new Tablet Mode. Virtual desktops constitute a whole new frontier for Microsoft in terms of desktop multitasking; it has existed for years as a key part of Apple’s OS X so Mac users know what’s up, but now everybody wins.
This offer will not last forever, as customers have until July 2016 to take advantage of Microsoft’s giveaway. Anyone using a version of Windows released before 2009 (Windows Vista and below) will have to buy it for $119 or higher, depending on the edition; however, it is more advisable to purchase a more modern computer as it possesses significantly more capable hardware.
Making the switch is definitely beneficial, but it is definitely a good idea to wait until one is sure before doing so. If users depend heavily on their current version of Windows and are happy with the fact that it just works, then there is no harm in waiting for a little while. Windows 10 has something new for everyone so in the end, it should all be worth it.
Microsoft Edge TASK VIEW CORTANA START INTEGRATION
How to upgrade? Simple: users have the chance to get Windows 10 for free by reserving their download of the operating system by clicking the “Get Windows 10” app icon on the far right of their Windows 7 or Windows 8 taskbars.
This offer will not last forever, as customers have until July 2016 to take advan-tage of Microsoft’s giveaway. Anyone using a version of Windows released before 2009 (Windows Vista and below) will have to buy it for $119 or higher, depending
on the edition; however, it is more advisable to purchase a more modern computer as it possesses significantly more capable hardware.
Making the switch is definitely beneficial, but it is definitely a good idea to wait until one is sure before doing so. If users depend heavily on their current version of Windows and are happy with the fact that it just works, then there is no harm in waiting for a little while. Windows 10 has something new for everyone so in the end, it should all be worth it. v
the Florida tech crimson
August 25, 2015
SPORTS
Audrey GangloffStaff Member
Andrew ShipotofskySports Editor
Florida Tech announced on July 28 that it purchased the naming rights to Palm Bay High’s football stadium.
The contract was negotiated by Vice President for Marketing and Communications, Wes Sum-ner, former member of the school board at Brevard County Schools. The contact will last for three years and includes a two-year option at a cost of $20,000 a year.
“Surprisingly, the only stick-ing point in negotiations was the “P,” Florida Tech President An-thony Catanese said. “They had the pirate and we wanted a panther, so we compromised with a ‘P’.”
One change to the stadium is a large “P” logo that sits between opposing 40-yard lines. The “P” represents both the Florida Tech Panthers and the Palm Bay Pirates.
“We’re excited to partner with the School Board of Bre-vard County in this agreement,” Catanese said. “We believe it’s
mutually beneficial for the school district, Palm Bay Magnet High School and our athletics program.”
“This initiative demon-strates a creative approach to leverage resources in a way that mutually benefits our schools.” Su-perintendent of schools, Desmond Blackburn said in a press release.
Florida Tech and the school board are also working on another deal to replace the scoreboard at the stadium. Once finalized, the plan is to bring in an LED score-board with an electronic message board by mid-September.
“We love having the naming rights,” Head football Coach Steve Englehart said. “Florida Tech Pan-ther Stadium definitely has a better ring to it, especially when it comes to what our players think when we recruit.”
“It’s so important to us at Florida Tech,” President Anthony Catanese said. “We‘re playing some of these big teams from all over the country and we are in a high school stadium; it kind of took down our creds a little.”
So now we can say come on over and we will play you at
our home stadium, Florida Tech Panther Stadium.”
Catanese said Stetson Uni-versity calls its stadium Stetson Stadium. In reality, it is the City of Deland Stadium. “For them to call it Stetson Stadium, it makes all the difference in the world,” Catanese explained.
Catanese also commented on recruiting, stating that we can now say this is our house.
Florida Tech opens the season Sep. 5 at home against Newberry. Tickets are on sale at floridatechsports.com. v
Florida Tech purchases naming rights to Palm Bay High’s football stadium
To travel the world while playing the sport that you love — that is the opportunity that the men’s basketball team had this summer, according to basketball senior Isaac Spence.
The Panthers played a six-game series throughout London this summer, finishing with a record of 4-2. For many on the team, this was a their first time experiencing a new culture.
After exchanging their dol-lars for pounds, Spence said that some of the differences in London came as a surprise to the team.
“Driving on the left side of the road I think startled some of the guys the first time we pulled out right into traffic, but it was a lot of fun.”
Along with seeing tourist sites like Big Ben and Buckingham Palace in central London, the team was afforded the opportunity to take a tour of Wembley Stadium, something Spence said he had been looking forward to for a while.
“We got to go through the locker rooms and walk out onto the field, and hold the replica Football Associations Challenge Cup, so it was really exciting.”
In between the fun and field trips, the team was able to gain a serious advantage over their normal competition back home.
Spence explained that the team usually would not start real practice until mid-October which prevents them from building up the good chemistry that would result from a longer pre-season.
“On a trip like this, which is a once in a lifetime experience that no other teams really have, you’re
together for 10 days and don’t have to worry about school or jobs or anything,” Spence said. He said he was happy the team was able to build on its chemistry.
Coach Mims also empha-sized the importance of the tour as a bonding experience for his team.
While it might have been the team’s first international ap-pearance, for Mims it was a “bit-tersweet” homecoming.
Before his career in the United States, Mims was a profes-sional basketball coach in England for 12 years, coaching the London Leopards and also the Leicester Riders. Mims made history with the Riders when he led them to their first Championship in club history in 2001.
Whether it was fate or the luck of the draw, the Panthers started their series against an off-shoot of Mims’ first team, the Es-
sex Leopards, and ended it against the Leicester Riders. Walking into the stadium at Loughborough Uni-versity, Mims was greeted by rows of fans applauding in ovation and lining up to shake his hand.
Unfortunately, the Panthers were not able to pull out the win against the seasoned professional team. With both teams missing some valuable players the game was won by a tight margin, the Riders breaking an 80-point tie in a buzzer beating baseline jump to win the game 82-80.
Spence said was happy with the way their team came together by that last game.
“They were really talented and well-coached, and to see how well our team did against that level of competition was really exciting,” Spence said.
Mims was proud of his team’s performance as well. There
were excellent performances from veteran Corbin Jackson, two-time Sunshine State Confer-ence Defensive Player of the Year and Jordan Majors, 2014 - 2015 Rookie of the Year.
Patrick Anderson showed himself to be a standout player over the summer series as the only point guard on the team able to make the trip and one of the top scorers in some of the games.
“We won four big, we lost two close, both losses to very talented teams with very mature professional players. I think that bodes very well for our team.”
Mims thanked the Florida Tech administration, specifically Athletics Director Bill Jergens and President Anthony Catanese, for making this once in a lifetime tour one for the books for the Panthers Basketball team. v
Men’s basketball team travels to London this summerFEATURE:
