FIU Golden Panthers football

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FIU Golden Panthers
First season 2002
Staff
Athletic director Pete Garcia
Head coach Mario Cristobal
1st year, 1–11–0
Stadium
Home stadium FIU Stadium
Stadium capacity 23,500
Stadium surface Field Turf
Location University Park, Miami, Florida
League/Conference
Conference Sun Belt
Team records
All-time record 16–51–0
Postseason bowl record 0–0–0
Pageantry
Colors Blue and Gold            
Fight song FIU Fight Song
Mascot Roary the Panther
Marching band Band of the Sun
Rivals Florida Atlantic Owls
Website FIUSports.com

The FIU Golden Panthers is the football team that represents Florida International University in Miami, Florida. The FIU Golden Panthers are a mid-major NCAA Division I-A college football team led by Mario Cristobal and play at the on-campus FIU Stadium.

Contents

[edit] History

Starting back in 2001, when after several years of contemplating the commencement of a football team FIU moved a step closer by signing Don Strock to be FIU’s first head coach, hoping to find a coach capable of erecting a prestigious football team. In august of 2002 FIU announced its first recruit class. Everything was falling into place. FIU had everything it needed to begin competing in NCAA Football. FIU was placed in the Division I-AA level as an Independent team.

[edit] Inagural Season/Early Years 2002-2004

The old FIU Golden Panthers logo used until June 2008
The old FIU Golden Panthers logo used until June 2008

FIU won its inaugural game of the 2002 season. The team faired fairly well against the competition that season and managed to finish with a mediocre 4-5 record. The golden panthers then hoped to build on that in the coming 2003 season. FIU signed to play more challenging teams of the division in hopes to get more recognition as a solid football team. The opening game of the following season started with a loss to Indiana State and it led to a 0-8 start for the second year team. They failed to reach the standard set the season before and fell to a 2-10 season. The next season followed with similar results, finishing with a 3-7 record.

The start wasn’t looking very firm, which is understandable knowing most newly developed team take years to get their act together. But what the athletic director along with the NCAA did next no one imagined. FIU was moved to Division I-A. Many believed that it was a premature decision even to this day. FIU became the fastest school in the history of college football to reach the highest level.

[edit] Division 1-A 2005-Present

Construction at the new 23,500-seat FIU Stadium (taken in November 2007). The expanded stadium will open in August 2008.
Construction at the new 23,500-seat FIU Stadium (taken in November 2007). The expanded stadium will open in August 2008.

To everyone’s surprise FIU played much better than expected, they finished the 2005 season with a 5-6 record. This was thanks some of the players stepping up and taking leadership roles. Most were from the 2003 recruiting class. Keyonvis Bouie FIU’s linebacker in nine games recorded 118 tackles, 11 for a loss and three interceptions to add to a wonderful performance. Another FIU linebacker stepped up his game, Antwan Barnes who in that year recorded 15 tackles for a loss and added 11 sacks to his statistics. It was these amazing defensive performances that allowed FIU to compete with the teams in Division I-A. On offence FIU found hope in quarter back Josh Padrick who passed for 2743 yards and 13 touchdowns. His Primary target was Chandler Williams a great talent who caught 61 passes for a total of 870 yards.

FIU had found the foundation upon which the team would be built. As characteristic of FIU’s athletic department the following year FIU signed to play harder teams. FIU was heading in the right direction but still lacked consistency, and organization. As they began their 2006 season they almost evenly matched the teams which they played, losing almost all of their first few games by very narrow margins. Middle Tennessee 7-6, USF 21-20, Bowling Green 33-28, Maryland 14-10, and North Texas 22-25(7OTs).

Once again FIU was passing expectations, but still where looking for a win. After being beaten by Arkansas State 31-6 and losing in a seven overtime game against North Texas FIU faced for the first time their cross-town scholastic rivals the University of Miami. UM where heavy favorites but FIU once again surprised all critics and kept the game at 7-0 in the middle of the 3rd Quarter with FIU trailing by just one touchdown. It was a highly anticipated game with emotion and spirits riding high. Everything was going normally until UM scored another touchdown bringing the score to 14-0 when upon celebration the UM player disrespectfully bowed before the FIU bench and began taunting the whole team. It was noted throughout the game that UM players were showing no respect to FIU. They were verbally and physically showing that they had no respect for their cross-town rivals. The UM players thought that they were superior to FIU players and felt that they were just the left-over recruits that UM athletics passed over. On the following extra point an FIU player retaliated and the famous FIU-UM brawl broke out. Both teams rushed to the field like some barbarian war, some UM players swinging helmets in hand and an FIU player with his crutches. Police had to get involved and the scene was seen across the nation embarrassing both schools. Directly following the fight 13 players were ejected 8 being FIU players and since that point UM pulled away 35-0.

After the game the tape was reviewed and 18 FIU players were suspended, leaving the team crippled for the rest of the season. From that point on FIU began to lose games by very wide margins. That brawl would affect FIU until this very day. With a team so depleted after suspensions FIU went the entire season winless, finishing 0-12. The fight killed the season, embarrassed the team, therefore affecting future recruiting, but most of all led to the resignation of Coach Don Stock. The fight just showed a team that lacked control and discipline which left the coaching to blame. Strock had been a mediocre coach and obviously wasn’t up to the challenge of forming a strong team.

Through all the collapse of the team the FIU defense still shined finishing 28th nationally, and 4th in pass defense. Antwan Barnes ranked 3rd in the nation in tackles for loss with 22 and 6 sacks. Bouie gained 119 tackles 18 for loss, and Alexander Bostic would add 98 tackles, 19 for loss and 8 sacks. Barnes, Bouie and, Bostic came to be known as the “Killer B’s”. On offense FIU’s best receiver Chandler Williams caught 67 passes for 664 yards.

To make matters worse, all FIU’s stars where seniors. Barnes and Williams were both drafted to the NFL. Bostic, Bouie and most of FIU’s starters who were seniors moved on. So at the end of 2006 FIU was left winless, starless, and coach-less. The little momentum that was gained was totally gone. If FIU started on ground zero, it now found its self 6 feet under. In essence FIU was starting all over again. No momentum, and in worse shape than in started. To fix the situation FIU hired a new athletic director Pete Garcia, and found a new head coach in ex- UM player/UM assistant coach/Rutgers Assistant coach Mario Cristobal. Cristobal became the second youngest Division I-A coach at 37. Cristobal brought in a whole new coaching staff in hopes to turn the program around. Yet again, FIU, determined to make a great football team now signs up to play several Bowl teams and commences building a stadium on-campus to put FIU on the same playing field as other Division I-A teams.

With very little time Cristobal recruits several players, and he and his new young team faced Penn State a top 20 team (at the time) in the first game of the 2007 season. FIU was now the second youngest team in the Division I-A, 2/3 underclassmen, mostly freshmen. In the 2007 season FIU called the Orange Bowl home due to the construcion of the on-campus stadium. FIU was only able to win the final game of the season against North Texas 38-19. It was the last college football game ever to e played at the historical stadium.

[edit] Rivalry games

[edit] Alumni in the NFL

Florida International alumni to have went on to the NFL.

Name Position Years at FIU Team
Nick Turnbull DB 2002-2005 Atlanta Falcons
Antwan Barnes DE/OLB 2003-2006 Baltimore Ravens
Chandler Williams WR 2003-2006 Minnesota Vikings

[edit] Future schedules

[edit] 2008

Date Opponent Site Result
8/30/08* at Kansas Memorial Stadium • Lawrence, KS   
9/6/08* at Iowa Kinnick Stadium • Iowa City, IA   
9/20/08* vs South Florida FIU Stadium • Miami, FL   
9/27/08* at Toledo Glass Bowl Stadium • Toledo, OH   
10/4/08 at North Texas Fouts Field • Denton, TX   
10/11/08 vs MTSU FIU Stadium • Miami, FL   
10/18/08 at Troy Movie Gallery Stadium • Troy, AL   
11/1/08 at University of Louisiana-Lafayette Cajun Field • Lafayette, LA   
11/8/08 vs Arkansas State FIU Stadium • Miami, FL   
11/22/08 vs Louisiana-Monroe FIU Stadium • Miami, FL   
11/29/08 at FAU Dolphin Stadium • Miami Gardens, FL   
12/6/08 vs Western Kentucky FIU Stadium • Miami, FL   
*Non-Conference Game. †Homecoming. All times are in Eastern Time.

[edit] 2009

Sept 12 @ Alabama
Sept 19 @ South Florida
Sept 26 Toledo
Nov 21 @ Florida
Florida Atlantic
+7 TBD

[edit] 2010

@ Maryland
@ Florida Atlantic
+10 TBD

[edit] 2011

Sept 10 @ Akron
Florida Atlantic
+10 TBD

[edit] Previous seasons

Record (Wins-Losses):

  • 2007- (1-11)
  • 2006- (0-12)
  • 2005- (5-6)
  • 2004- (3-7)
  • 2003- (3-9)
  • 2002- (4-5)

[edit] 2002 season

Date Opponent Site Result
8/29/02* vs St. Peter's College FIU Stadium • Miami, FL W 27-3 
9/7/02* at Elon University Rhodes Stadium • Elon, NC L 23-22 
9/14/02 vs Butler University FIU Stadium • Miami, FL W 42-0 
9/21/02* vs Bethune-Cookman University Lockhart Stadium • Fort Lauderdale, FL L 31-0 
9/28/02* vs Georgetown University FIU Stadium • Miami, FL W 27-2 
10/30/04 at Western Kentucky University Western Kentucky Stadium • Bowling Green, KY L 56-7 
10/19/02 vs University of Maine FIU Stadium • Miami, FL L 33-7 
10/26/02 vs Gardner-Webb University FIU Stadium • Miami, FL L 17-14 
10/31/02* vs Jacksonville University FIU Stadium • Miami, FL W 39-6 
*Non-Conference Game. †Homecoming. All times are in Eastern Time.

[edit] 2003 season

Date Opponent Site Result
9/6/03* vs Indiana State Terre Haute, Ind L 13-10 
9/13/03* at Maine Portland, Maine L 24-14 
9/20/03* vs Bethune-Cookman University FIU Stadium • Miami, FL L 24-14 
9/27/03 vs Carson-Newman University FIU Stadium • Miami, FL L 55-33 
10/04/03* vs Georgia Southern Statesboro, Ga L 37-35 
10/9/03 Stephen F. Austin FIU Stadium • Miami, Fl L 35-13 
10/18/03 vs Troy State Troy, Al L 21-10 
10/25/03 vs Holy Cross FIU Stadium • Miami, FL W 34-23 
10/30/03* vs Jacksonville University FIU Stadium • Miami, FL W 55-12 
*Non-Conference Game. †Homecoming. All times are in Eastern Time.

[edit] 2004 season

Date Opponent Site Result
9/11/04* at Youngstown State University Stambaugh Stadium • Youngstown, OH W 22-16 
10/2/04 vs Louisiana-Lafayette FIU Stadium • Miami, FL L 43-34 
10/9/04 at Stephen F. Austin University Homer Bryce Stadium • Nacogdoches, TX W 31-24 
10/16/04 at Louisiana-Monroe Malone Stadium • Monroe, LA L 28-20 
10/23/04* vs McNeese State University FIU Stadium • Miami, FL L 30-27 
10/30/04 at New Mexico State University Aggie Memorial Stadium • Las Cruces, NM L 56-31 
11/13/04* vs Georgia Southern University FIU Stadium • Miami, FL L 53-32 
11/20/04 vs Western Kentucky FIU Stadium • Miami, FL L 35-14 
11/27/04* vs Florida A&M FIU Stadium • Miami, FL W 40-23 
12/04/04 vs Florida Atlantic (Shula Bowl IV) FIU Stadium • Miami, FL L 17-10 
*Non-Conference Game. †Homecoming. All times are in Eastern Time.

[edit] 2005 season

Date Opponent Site Result
9/3/05* at Kansas State KSU Stadium • Manhattan, KS L 35-21 
9/10/05* at Texas Tech Jones SBC Stadium • Lubbock, TX L 56-3 
9/24/05 at Arkansas State Indian Stadium • Jonesboro, AK L 66-24 
10/1/05* vs Florida A&M FIU Stadium • Miami, FL W 23-6 
10/15/05 vs North Texas FIU Stadium • Miami, FL L 13-10 
10/20/05 at Troy Memorial Stadium • Troy, AL L 18-13 
11/5/05 at Louisiana-Monroe Malone Stadium • Monroe, LA W 31-29 
11/12/05 at Louisiana-Lafayette Ragin' Cajuns Stadium • Lafayette, LA L 28-7 
11/19/05 vs Western Kentucky FIU Stadium • Miami, FL W 38-35 
11/26/05 vs Florida Atlantic (Shula Bowl V) FIU Stadium • Miami, FL W 52-6 
12/3/05 vs Middle Tennessee FIU Stadium • Miami, FL W 35-31 
*Non-Conference Game. †Homecoming. All times are in Eastern Time.

[edit] 2007 season

Date Opponent Site Result Attendance
9/1/07* at Penn State Beaver Stadium • University Park, PA L 59-0  107,678
9/8/07* vs Maryland Miami Orange Bowl** • Miami, FL L 26-10  12,201
9/15/07* vs Miami Miami Orange Bowl** • Miami, FL L 23-9  40,915
9/22/07* at Kansas Memorial Stadium • Lawrence, KS L 55-3  42,134
9/29/07 at Middle Tennessee State Johnny "Red" Floyd Stadium • Murfreesboro, TN L 47-6  15,605
10/6/07 vs Troy Miami Orange Bowl** • Miami, FL L 34-16  5,723
10/20/07 at Louisiana-Monroe Malone Stadium • Monroe, LA L 28-14  8,814
10/27/07* at Arkansas Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium • Fayetteville, AR L 58-10  60,750
11/3/07 at Arkansas State Indian Stadium • Jonesboro, AR L 27-24  12,326
11/17/07 vs Louisiana- Lafayette Miami Orange Bowl** • Miami, FL L 38-28  5,734†
11/24/07 vs FAU (Shula Bowl VI) Miami Orange Bowl** • Miami, FL L 55-23  6,122
12/1/07 vs North Texas Miami Orange Bowl** • Miami, FL W 38-19  10,129
*Non-Conference Game. †Homecoming. All times are in Eastern Time.

**FIU played its 2007 home games at the Miami Orange Bowl, as FIU Stadium underwent expansions

[edit] 2006 Brawl with the Miami Hurricanes

Main article: Miami-FIU brawl

On October 14, 2006, FIU and the Miami Hurricanes met for the first time in what was supposed to be the beginning of an annual cross-town rivalry game. Nine minutes into the second half the two teams engaged in a brawl involving players from both schools, including one injured FIU player on crutches. The violence later spilled into the stands, where several spectators were arrested and later released without charges. On the field, police officers were hit with bottles from the stands.

31 players were later punished for the incident, including 13 Miami players and 18 FIU players. Two FIU players were kicked off the team.[1]

[edit] References

  1. ^ Florida International-U of Miami football (PDF). Retrieved on 2007-09-21.
  • ESPN College Football Encyclopedia: The Complete history of the Game (ISBN 1-4013-3703-1)

[edit] External links

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