FIU Golden Panthers Prowl

In The Gym With The Panthers: Upperclassmen

So you feel good after adding those extra 10 pounds on to your barbell this morning in the gym. Good for you. The following is not meant to make you feel bad about your workout routine it's just some of the highlights of the FIU football team's off-season strength and conditioning program.

Your Panthers have been adding some weight on their barbells as well and that's making them and strength coach Rod Moore (thanks Sam Lewis photo) feel good too. With Coach Moore's program, the Panthers have made noticeable gains across the board that should translate onto the field when camp and the season rolls around.

Senior offensive lineman Andy Leavine (below, right, thanks Alex J. Hernandez photo) was the first Panther that RM talked about. RM said: "Andy's put in the extra work in two ways. He is pushing himself more than ever and he's taken a leadership role in the weight room with some of the other players."

AL's power clean went from 315 pounds (summer 2008) to 350 (this summer). His bench press increased from 355 to 385 and squats increased from 425 to 500.

RM is also proud of T.Y. Goodbye's gains. TY, who entered FIU as a freshman last season at 160 pounds, is up to 175 and the goal is to get him to 180. RM said they have a plan to get TY to 180 and maintain that weight throughout the season.

TY's clean went from 205 in 2008 to 250 pounds this summer. He went from bench pressing 225 (08') to 275 (09') and the fastest Panther picked up his squats from 275 pounds to now 405.

One guy that RM said will surprise this season is Little Canada Toronto Smith. LC is 100% fully recovered from his foot injury from last season and shown it in the weight room.

LC upped his bench press from 295 (08') to 365 this summer. And his squat jumped from 475 to 515 pounds. With the work, LC has gone from weighing 204 to 222 pounds. Might be time to change that first name to Ontario, because Toronto has gotten bigger.

RM says that "Anthony Gaitor is pound for pound the strongest kid on the team". Much like Goodbye, FIU would like to get Gaitor (left, thanks AJH photo) to 180 pounds and keep him there. He is at 175 now. Gaitor's numbers have gone up across the board: power clean (240 to 305), bench (245 to 315) and squats (405 to 475).

While being in his third season has definitely helped Gaitor and other FIU juniors, the Panthers probably benefitted a little from having several NFL players workout in the FIU gym. This summer Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Lawrence Timmons (below, right), Oakland Raiders offensive tackle Mario Henderson, Tennessee Titans linebacker Stephen Tulloch and Green Bay Packers defensive back Pat Lee have been regulars in the FIU weight room. Would not surprise if the list of NFLers in the FIU weight room increases in the future, especially once the team starts training in their state-of-the-art fieldhouse gym later this summer.

With a solid senior season, FIU safety Jeremiah Weatherspoon could follow former Panthers Antwan Barnes and Chandler Williams as the third FIU player drafted into the NFL. JW has also had a good summer bumping up his bench from 295 to 335 and squats from 385 to 425.

Ash Parker, who sustained a torn knee in last season's opener at Kansas, is just about 100%. RM says Ash's knee is "great" and his numbers in the gym attest to that: bench press (315 to 365) and in one of the ultimate tests for a knee, Ash increased his squats from 400 to 425.

Center Brad Serini has dropped some weight to be more mobile around the line of scrimmage. Brad went from weighing 300 pounds to 280 for this season. However, the weight on his gym work has increased. Brad's power clean went from 250 to 300; bench from 320 to 385 and squats from 440 to 500.

One player who both RM and MC were raving about was defensive lineman Jonas Murrell.

Jonas (No. 92, left with a sack vs. Middle Tennessee in 2005, thanks SL photo) weighed 358 pounds last summer and is now down to 314 pounds with the goal being to get to 300 pounds.

With MC repeatedly saying in his Q&A that the play of the FIU offensive and defensive lines will be critical to the success of this season, Jonas is leading the way.

Jonas upped his power clean from 275 to 325; bench from 355 to 400 and squats from 575 to 600 pounds.

Says RM: "Jonas has done such great work in the weight room and he's really taken to being educated about eating."

MC joked that he and the other FIU coaches text Jonas at around 10:30 every night with the message: "Put down that hamburger". He has. Jonas is tasting the unfried side of Kentucky Grilled Chicken.

If there is one player that FIU really needs to stay healthy all season it's running back Darriet Perry. And DP is doing his part to be in the best shape possible.

DP (right, thanks AJH photo) has trimmed his body fat from 10% to 8% for this season and picked up his numbers in his sophomore season in the weight room. DP's bench went from 290 to 350 pounds and his tree trunk legs went from squatting 405 to 475 pounds. DP is currently at his playing weight of 204 pounds and that's where he is expected to stay.

Will have a look at the FIU freshmen's offseason workouts and also let you know who are the fastest Panthers with some of their 40 times in the next post as well as more thoughts from coach Moore.

PANTHER PAWSE

The newest FIU basketball commit: point guard Phil Taylor is in town for an AAU basketball tournament at Fort Lauderdale Northeast High School. Spoke with PT and  added his comments on to the previous post "Another Point Guard Headed To FIU" so you can check it out there.

Got a text from FIU's PA man Roman that he read in a Heat blog that former FIU center Russell Hicks is playing for Miami's summer league team. Best of luck to RH.

SouthPaw: Pete, you snuck in a little nugget a few blogs back about a kid named Manny Juiz, a kicker who can kick with either leg, his longest being 72 yards with his left leg and 68 yards with his right. Are you trying to pull a Sid Finch on us here? Also, can you give us any update on Cedric Mack's eligibility  for this upcoming season?

PP: Manny "Sidd Finch" Juiz will be happy to know you referred to him as a kid. Manny has been overseeing the construction of FIU Stadium and the fieldhouse for Odebrecht. Manny has never kicked field goals and is not from Czech Republic. He is as Cuban as Cuban coffee.

CMack is ready to go eligibility-wise, but he may not be in football shape. We're going to start taking a look at the Panthers roster in our "Countdown to Camp" coming soon on the GPP.

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Another Point Guard Headed To FIU

Phil Taylor, a point guard from Wheeler High in Marietta, Georgia, has committed to play for FIU and new basketball coach Isiah Thomas.

Taylor, who is 5-9, 160 pounds, will be a senior this coming fall at Wheeler and would join the Panthers for the 2010-11 season.

Besides FIU, Taylor was being recruited by Clemson, Georgia, Georgia Tech, Florida State, Auburn, North Carolina State, Richmond and Xavier.

Taylor is in Fort Lauderdale until Thursday playing in an AAU tournament at Northeast High School. Last season for Wheeler, Taylor averaged: 21 points per game, 5 rebs, 7 asts and 3 steals.

Taylor says about his decision to commit to FIU: "Coach Thomas has made the situation feel like another family to me. It's going to be a great experience playing for him."

"Coach Thomas is going to groom me to be as good as he was. He's a Hall of Famer and who better to learn basketball from than the greatest point guard to play the game."

Taylor also added: "I know a lot of the top guys and I'm going to do my best to get them to come play with me at FIU."

Taylor would join power forward Brandon Moore as part of FIU's 2010-11 class.

For this coming season, FIU has signed point guard Phil Gary, shooting guards/small forwards Stephon Weaver and Antoine Watson and power forwards Marvin Roberts and Kavon Lytch.

Center Chris Coleman, who committed to FIU last week, is for the 2011-12 season.

PANTHER PAWSE

Will have strength coach Rod Moore and his thoughts and numbers on the Panthers off-season conditioning program on the blog on Monday at some point. Got some non-FIU stuff to work on Monday, but will get to the Panthers pumping iron.

Gooch7: PETE: Is there a way of knowing what Bowl Game (Realistically) FIU can play if they finish the season 7-5? I know if they win the conference they play in the New Orleans Bowl but what other Bowls can they play at with that type of record?

PP: The Sun Belt has bowl tie-ins with the St. Petersburg Bowl, Papa Johns Bowl and Independence Bowl as the first alternate for each of those bowls. But FIU could wind up in any number of bowls depending on what those particular bowls are looking for. The Florida Atlantic Hooters ended up in the Motor City Bowl in Detroit last season and that bowl has no tie-ins with the Sun Belt. On July 13, 2009 your question is tough to answer. Here is a blog I wrote last season with some examples of bowls FIU could play in: FIU Bowl Possibilites from 2008

alt7787: I keep hearing conflicting reports about a Dan Uggla trade. Some say the Marlins have not tried to trade him and do not plan on doing so, while other reports say that there were "discussions". What do you know about a Dan Uggla trade?

PP: I've heard both, but Jeremy Hermida has been the player the Marlins have been shopping the most. With the way Chris Coghlan has developed the Marlins could trade Uggla. Coghlan is a second baseman playing out of position in left field. However, the Marlins like Uggla's power (16 HR, 50 RBI) and on-base ability (50 walks) which makes up for his average (.227) and lack of fielding range. He is making $5 million, which is too expensive for the penny-pinching Marlins ownership. I think trading Uggla depends on if the Marlins can get what they need (a middle of the order power bat or a reliable closer). The problem with making trades now is that 20 of the 30 teams are still in the playoff hunt so 2/3rds of the major leagues are looking to improve before the July 31 trade deadline. 

James McOwen -- Hitting Machine

Former FIU and current High Desert Mavericks outfielder James McOwen is streaking having now recorded a hit in 45 consecutive games and owns the longest hitting streak in minor league baseball history since 1954.

The all-time minor league record is a 69-game hitting streak by Joe Wilhoit, an outfielder for the Wichita Jobbers in 1919. Joe DiMaggio is second all-time in the minors with a 61-game hit streak in 1933 for the San Francisco Seals. Mr. Coffee had his major league record 56-game hit streak in 1941.

McOwen was a 6th round draft choice of the Seattle Mariners after his junior season at FIU. He has been playing minor league baseball since then and after a different approach at the plate this season he has been tearing the cover off the ball.

It's been an experience during the past 45 games for McOwen. You can check out a story on McOwen and his streak in Saturday's Miami Herald. Until then you can read on about what McOwen thinks of the past 45 games. Had a phone conversation with the player who owns the third highest career batting average (.372) at FIU.

I remember at FIU you were pretty much a low-key type of player. When did you first become aware of the streak and how have you been handling the streak?

JM: At 14 games, a reporter mentioned to me I had a hitting streak going. But for like the first 15 or 16 games nobody on the team really talked about it. I’ve always been a person that tries not to let too much get to me, especially with this game where you fail so much. I just try to play up to my potential. I really don’t care about jinxes and superstitions. My teammates were the ones that were saying how hot I was at the plate.

What has been the craziest thing about the streak so far?

JM: Craziest thing is that I have gotten a hit in my last at-bat like five or six times [seven after Tuesday's game]. A lot of the credit for me getting last chances late in games has to go to my teammates. My teammates have helped me out a lot. Like Monday night’s game they got me 5 at-bats. I went 0 for 2 against the starting pitcher, who was real tough on me, but my teammates hit well enough off of him to knock him out of the game. They brought in a reliever and I hit a home run off the reliever to keep the streak alive.

What has been the most nerve-wracking moment for you during the streak?

JM: The most nerve wracking thing about the streak was being on ESPN. I was on the show 1^st Take and even though it was just a phone interview it was live on TV. I got a little rattled. I got through it. I kind of stuttered a little bit in the beginning.

Has there been a moment that has hit you about what you are doing at the plate?

JM: Probably, breaking the California League hitting streak record. They stopped the game, gave me the ball and announced it to the entire stadium. That was pretty neat.

What's the dugout like during these games and in particular your at-bats?

JM: There is no pressure on the team or myself. My teammates are always joking around during games. There is nothing off limits when it comes to the streak. In a game that came close to ending the streak in Stockton, in my last at-bat some of the guys on my team joked with me before I went to the plate saying “Hey, is that the right bat?” or “That’s not the bat you want to use against this pitcher”. I went up to the plate and got a hit to keep the streak going. Nobody on my team has gotten superstitious over it, There are no rally caps or anything like that when I am up at the plate.

What have you done differently at the plate to go from being a career .260 hitter to hitting .353 this season?

JM: My hitting coach Tommy Cruz really got me going. Tommy doesn’t allow me any wasted movement in the batter’s box. Before the streak started he told me to widen my stance and keep my hands still, because you can mess stuff up with movement. The new stance also allows me to be on time to the ball.

What's the weirdest thing an opposing team has done or said to you to try and snap the streak?

JM: Heading to the batting cages before a game against Rancho Cucamonga, the opposing pitching coach was standing outside of the bullpen with his pitchers and said to me: “We got a bounty hunt for whoever ends your streak. That pitcher is going to get some extra money for stopping your streak." I laughed I thought it was funny.

PANTHER PAWSE

   Got some FIU football on deck here on the GPP. Going to have strength coach Rod Moore visit here to talk about the Panthers off-season. Here's a preview: on his first day lifting as a Panther, freshman linebacker Pooh Bear Mars (right) squatted 515 pounds. Not bad for a freshman. Mars is 1 of 24 new Panthers in school already beginnning preparations for the 2009 season.

Q&A

SouthPaw: Pete, I read in a pre-season review of FIU football that Chris Cook is expected to come back next season. Can you validate that, and also give us an update on the status of Carlos Munera?

PP: Cook is not expected back. Munera is still waiting to hear from the NCAA if they will grant him a medical redshirt.

FIUJM: Pete, when fall practice begins...do you think they'll be open to public?

Pete, what have you heard about Freddy situation? Barry Jackson had a little section about it today, but like always he always gets one side of the story.

PP: MC has said before that there will be some practices open to the public. Which ones and what dates? Stay tuned. Will let you know when I know.

FA is not coming back. Barry didn't write the real reason why this whole soap opera started: FA's handler was trying to force one of his assistant coaches on to IT's staff and IT does not play that game. So when IT said no, then all of the sudden FA felt a loyalty toward SR and he didn't want to play for a new coach. But he would be playing for a new coach wherever he lands. Like I mentioned in previous posts, let's just bury this already and move forward. This novela is not worth anymore space in cyberspace.

FIU Fanatic: Pete, a question....would you be able to know/post statistics...perhaps from the Spring...or perhaps early Summer...as to the players lifting weights, jumping abilities, running the 40 yard dash, etc?

PP: Will be meeting with strength coach Rod Moore in the next couple of days to have some updates on the off-season conditioning program.

quijote!: Why are we scheduled to play UCF & Louisville so often in the next 3, 4 years? I don't like that!!! Pete, any ideas?

That patio looks super pimp. What does it take for us to catch a game from there?

PP: Like Dorothy (left) once said: "There's no place like home". The reason there are series with UCF & Louisville is because they are home-and-home games for FIU. The Panthers will play 2 games away against each of those schools and 2 games at FIU Stadium vs. each of those schools. FIU is the only Sun Belt school that will play home-and-home series with BCS and other non-conference teams. For more on this: CLICK HERE *Note: the link for the blog in the previous sentence does not include Rutgers playing at FIU in next season's home opener.

The patio is expected to be used on game days for hosting recruits and donors.

OC Panther: Pete whats the highest ranked high school star UM has ever recruited?

PP: With no disrespect toward you OC Panther, this is an FIU blog. Who cares about the history over in Coral Gables. FIU is making history right now. Enjoy it.

 

 

 

Big Hoops Recruit To FIU

Chris Coleman, a 6-11, 250-pound center, committed on Wednesday night to play for FIU and new basketball coach Isiah Thomas.

Coleman, who is a sophomore at Mount Zion Academy in North Carolina, would join the Panthers in 2011 as a freshman.

Trying to get CC on the phone to hear his thoughts. Until then here is a scouting report on the big fella: Learn about Chris Coleman

Fieldhouse Tour -- Second Floor & Patio Overlooking FIU Stadium Field

We conclude our first look at the brand new FIU R. Kirk Landon Fieldhouse with a tour of the second floor of the building and possibly the best seats in the house come game day.

(Click on all photos to enlarge and get a better view) To get to the second floor of the fieldhouse, you can take the elevator or stairs. When we were there to take these photos the elevator was yet to be installed.

We're going to go up the stairs located on the southwest corner of FIU Stadium. This is right by the tunnel where your Panthers will be running out of on game days. As you go up these stairs you get an idea of what the view would be like from the patio deck. This first photo on the right is from just outside the patio deck on the SW corner of the stadium. As you can tell, the deck is just about on top of the FIU Stadium field. And there are soccer markings on the field for the upcoming Gold Cup on Friday, July 10 at FIU Stadium. (your welcome, Gold Cup for the free plug).

The first thing you can see on your way up the stairs to the second floor of the fieldhouse is some extra space left for future expansion of the second floor. Of course, if there is even more expansion needed they can always get to building the third and fourth floors. This photo on the left is the area just to the left of MC's office if you are looking at the west end zone from the east side of FIU Stadium. Or in other words, if you stand on the side of the jumbotron and look toward the opposite end zone, then MC's office would be the first room going from left to right on the 2nd floor of the FH.

Let's go into MC's office. The FIU head coach's office is the only office with a view of the field and the largest of the FIU coaches offices. Take a look again at the first photo above on the right and that is what MC sees from his office. Now here on the right is a look inside the yet painted or furnished office of the FIU football coach. This photo was taken from the middle of the office looking at the east side of the office so picture the west side of the office being the same size space. You might be able to get a better idea of the office the next time we're there to shoot some pics and the place is furnished.

Before we go to the 6 extra meeting rooms/game day suites, let's have a look at the 125-seat team meeting auditorium.

The auditorium -- which is located across the hall from MC's office on the west side of the 2nd floor -- will have tiered-seating similar to the auditoriums you used to sit in college or high school.

To give you a sense of the depth of the auditorium, we asked FIU hopeful walk-on offensive lineman Ralph Garcia-Toledo to stand at the entrance of the room. The photo on the left with RGT standing is from the north entrance to the room. Then the photo on the right without o-lineman RGT is from the south entrance to the room.

What will really give you a sense of how big this room is, is looking at the column to the right of RGT in the photo on the left. The same column is on the photo on the right without RGT. As you can see there is plenty of room beyond the column on both sides.

Let's go on to the meeting rooms/game day suites.

We took a photo of a double meeting room to give you an idea of the size of the only double meeting room and at the same time an idea of the size of one meeting room. All 6 rooms overlook the FIU Stadium field and all 6 have access to the patio deck. You can see in the photo on the left a wooden beam above -- that is the divider between the 2 rooms.

Here on the left is a look inside a double meeting room. This can also be used for a large party of fans on game day or for hosting a large number of recruits on game days.

And now for what may be the best seat in the house on game day. The best seat in the house would be on the patio deck in the shade with a beverage watching some football. Here are a couple of photos of the patio deck. When these pics were shot the deck was just done and no one was allowed to step on it so we had to take the pics from inside a meeting room/suite and from the south side of the stadium.

Let's finish the tour with views of the mezzanine located on the second floor overlooking the lobby of the fieldhouse. This shot on the far right below the patio deck shot is from the lobby of the FH looking up at the area where the temporary FIU Hall of Fame will be located. The second photo (near right) of the mezzanine is taken from the second floor overlooking the lobby.

We'll be back in the fieldhouse in a couple of weeks to take some updated photos and have them here for you. Been told the FH is just about painted and is in the process of being furnished.

Haven't forgotten your questions from the previous post. Will get to them on the next post.

MC Q&A Part 5

Wrapping up your questions and coach Mario Cristobal's answers as we draw nearer to the start of the 2009 FIU football season. First practice is scheduled for August 10, first question of this last Q&A is right now....

FIUFPL: Have the plans for stadium completion been moved back due to the loss of the MLS bid?

                                                                                                                                           

MC: Everything is on schedule for Phase 1 completion. Phase 2 will begin whenever the specs have been approved. That is a process that I cannot give full detail on right now. Nothing has stopped the progress of the stadium due to the MLS.

                                                                                                                                                   

Nick F: In your mind, what would signify progress for the team this season? (Specifics)

Esteban: What defines this being a successful season?

MC: Number one cutting down senseless penalties. Number two be more efficient offensively, particularly in the red zone. Being better in our kicking game. We have a couple of dynamic players on special teams that we think can really change the game for us. Be more physical upfront on both sides of the ball I think is the most important thing for us to be a better football team. If we can do that and control the line of scrimmage that will make us a better football team. I think all those things combined, if done the right way, should show on the scoreboard and from game to game and from a record standpoint.

Gold: What is the missing piece that you feel FIU needs to overcome this year to help us win the SBC championship?

MC: It starts up front. It’s the area where we need the most, but particularly the defensive line. Our defensive line really needs to execute what they are being taught to execute. They need to play disciplined football, tough football and when called upon to make plays they need to make plays. Up front on the offensive line as well. I think both sides have to be extremely physical for us to take our next step in the conference. Our next step as a football team -- with the development of our skills kids coming along a little bit faster than usual -- has to be up front.

BaltimorePanther: What unit will be the most improve next year?

MC: Linebackers.  I think we have gotten bigger, stronger, faster through the weight room and through recruiting. It’s going to allow us to get downhill in the running game a little better and it’s going to allow us to be a little rangier in the passing game as well. Plus, another year with the system under our belt is going to make us more knowledgeable. We have more experience. I expect them to take a big jump.

                                                                                                                                               

BaltimorePanther: What do you think is the biggest challenge in the upcoming season?

MC: We’re not going to surprise anybody, anymore. I think walking into Toledo and North Texas last year and Middle Tennessee coming here I think there was still a sense that, that’s the FIU team that hadn’t been performing well and I think once we left those stadiums and our stadium it woke a lot of people up. And in closing out the year with a victory and playing some tight games also has put the word out there that FIU is on the rise. We like that. I think that’s part of the challenge, but only if you let it be, because that’s something that you can control. You can still prepare at the highest level. I think the biggest challenge is going to be up front.

 

JSuarez88: What kind of season do you expect out of Jeremiah Weatherspoon (below, right)? What are his chances to be the 3rd FIU player to be drafted?

MC: A big one. He’s working extremely hard. He’s always been in great shape and he’s getting leaner and more flexible on top of the weight room regiment that he puts himself through with Coach Rod Moore to stay healthy. Because if he stays healthy, in his second full year in our system he should be a very dominant force in that secondary. He can run, tackle and he’ll hit you. We expect big things from him.

[Being drafted] will depend on his season. If he has a good senior season, stays healthy and plays disciplined football I think he has a great shot. We’re fired up about him. We’re proud of him. He’s really done a good job in school and he’s got himself mentally and physically ready. He knows it’s time. It’s his senior year and he has to come up big.

FI-UM Fan: What did you learn about your offense during the spring?

MC: I learned that we can continue to evolve like we planned. Year one the fundamentals of coach Bill Legg’s offense were installed and by game three and going forward we certainly improved in one facet or another. As the season went on what we learned about ourselves is that our players have such a good understanding of it that it is not hard to introduce a new concept. We did that this spring with plenty of wrinkles that we think are going to help us. We have some personnel coming in and something that we discovered in the spring that is going to allow us to be more multiple and do some things that we probably we wouldn’t excel at last year, but we think we could be pretty good at this year in the running game. With a strong showing from Paul McCall and improvement from Wayne Younger you have to feel pretty comfortable going into fall camp with those guys.

FIUPIKE: Where will Rupert Bryan (left) play OL or DL?

MC: Not sure yet. He’s real good. He’s an excellent football player. He can do both. We’re going to sense where we are in terms of injury as we head into fall practice and make a decision then. I can tell you one thing for sure: he will play.

CJ: Which team do you think is the biggest hurdle to winning the Sun Belt Conference?

MC: Troy is going to be excellent. FAU is going to be excellent. Louisiana, although they lost some players, we had a tough time against them last year. I don’t think there is a team that can be overlooked, because I know that one of the best players in the conference next year will be the quarterback from North Texas, Riley Dodge, one of the most coveted players in the country. I know that Monroe is bringing in a quarterback that we saw play in the Pensacola area that is a phenomenal football player. He’s going to make them better. We are not at that stage where we could start talking about this team or another team. I don’t ever want that locker room or those players to have that mentality. We need to think of everyone as the Super Bowl to make sure that we prepare to go out there and play lights out, extreme effort, finish football, every single Saturday.

CJ: What game do you think holds the key to the season?

MC: Every game.

outofthecage88: Is there any way for a team to be given a shot at a national title coming from the Sun Belt?

MC: I think so. One of the things that we always make sure recruits know is we always face the challenge of: “You guys are in the Sun Belt Conference and not a BCS conference” and typically it comes from schools that have never sniffed a BCS bowl game or a national championship. What we have seen in Utah and Boise State that that day is coming fast and near for two reasons. Number one it’s evident there is great football out there aside from the BCS conferences and number two if you take care of your schedule and what you are supposed to do you will earn yourself a shot. I think that is something that is becoming more and more clear. I think that’s why there is such a buzz about a possible playoff or realigning the BCS and how it works. I have no doubts that when we reach that level that we strive for everyday to be champions and to go out and win every football game that we play in I believe the opportunity will be there.

Chrisfiu: What are you expecting in the Bama and Florida games? In terms of "visualizing the win", are you hopeful that this team will put up a good fight?

MC: We do nothing, but visualize wins. We do nothing but prepare to win. We expect physical football. We expect fast football. We expect to play against the greatest athletes in the SEC. We expect to enter in there on an emotional high, physically prepared and ready to play some of the most exciting games in the history of FIU football.

PANTHER PAWSE

In case you missed it in Thursday's MH, there was a good story on FIU football's youth clinic with FIU coaches and players. Here is the link to it: FIU football clinic

In one of the previous posts someone had asked MC what was FIU doing to get more people in the seats for football games, well, this story is a prime example: 200 football playing kids and their coaches got a taste of FIU football and practiced in FIU Stadium for a day.

 FIU 3-time All-American Yarimar Rosa (No. 6 photo, right) has led the Puerto Rican national team into the semifinals of the Pan American Cup currently ongoing over in the Coral Gables basketball building. YR and the PRs take on the Dominican Republic in a Friday night semifinal. The winner plays the winner of the U.S./Brazil match for the championship on Saturday evening. Here's a story on FIU's first soon-to-be 4-time All-American: Puerto Rico and FIU's finest

 Time to put this thing to bed. The latest on the FA novela is that his camp is claiming that FIU sent a letter to FA's home in Colombia denying his release 1 month too late. Thus, passing the 15-day window that FA could have appealed to the NCAA for a release from FIU.

Got a public records release regarding any FIU shipping receipts to Colombia within the last 2 months. With the name of the recipient blacked out due to the Family Education Records Privacy Act and Florida State Student Records Law, the only shipment from FIU to Colombia in the last 2 months was delivered FedEx and signed for on May 22 -- one month before the date FA's camp is claiming that the letter arrived late. Go figure. Regardless, FA will likely take the JUCO route this season.

IT added another assistant coach to his staff with the hiring of William Eddie from Central Michigan.

MC says the linebackers will be the most improved unit on the FIU football team this season. What do you think?

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More with Turtle

FIU baseball coach Turtle Thomas took some time out Tuesday to speak about the past few days and the future of FIU baseball.

What was your thought process in declining even interviewing with Maryland and staying at FIU?

TT: It's nice to be wanted, but my heart is at FIU. We had the best turnaround in the program's history last season and I want to develop FIU baseball into one of the top college baseball teams in the state and in the nation. We are building something special at FIU.

I'm very, very happy that [FIU athletic director] Pete Garcia hired to me to be the leader of the baseball program at FIU. When you are the head coach of a program to me you have to stand the test of time. It's not like you win one year, you're a flash in the pan and you jump to whatever else. You have to really put your roots down, put your feet on the ground, roll up your sleeves and get to work.

 

What was it about Maryland that had you turn them down and remain coaching baseball at FIU?

 

TT: It was nothing about Maryland. It was our feelings and our love toward FIU and our program. A lot of players and families have made a commitment to FIU and you want to keep coaching these players. I like the players on our team. I like our assistant coaches and I like where our program is going. We want to make something out of this program. We want to make the FIU community and the Miami area proud and happy of the direction the FIU program is taking.

 

I think we are going to have a very solid ballclub this coming year. I know what this baseball program can be with the South Florida and Florida talent that is available to recruit to our program. We have a lot of good players in our program right now and we are continuing to get good players to our program through the recruiting process.

Other conferences and other schools are taking note that our program is winning and going in the right direction. FIU is on the way up. We certainly know that recruits in Florida and particularly in South Florida are taking note of that.

 

What do you think were the main reasons for the 14-win turnaround last season? As you know that was the greatest win improvement in the 37-year history of FIU baseball.

 

TT: Many of our players have developed a love, a caring and loyalty toward FIU. They’ve taken a lot of pride. You see them all the time wearing FIU baseball stuff around outside of the ballpark. You could see that we had really good team chemistry this past year. They were all pulling in the same direction. It’s exactly what you want to see from a coaching standpoint. We had good talent, but we had great team chemistry which led in the turnaround from the previous year. We hope this coming year and in the future years to continue that turnaround where we’re thought upon as certainly one of the better teams in the state and in the country. That’s our goal.

 

Did the positive direction that FIU sports is headed in play any kind of factor in your decision?

 

TT: FIU has made a total U-turn in a lot of sports, but especially in the big three [football, basketball and baseball]. It's the right time at FIU with what Mario is doing in football, with what Isiah is  going to do in basketball and what every coach here at FIU is doing.  Everybody is pulling on the rope in the same direction and everybody is headed in the right direction, because they are all proud of what FIU is becoming and getting better by leaps and bounds every day that goes by. We all feel tremendous about our great university.

I'm sure there were several moments that stood out from last year's 34-win season, but which one first comes to mind when you think of the 2009 season? 

 

TT: When we beat [then Sun Belt No. 1] Western Kentucky 2 out of 3 games and our fans were chanting FIU, FIU and they were just pumped. It was an exciting series. All 3 games came down to the last batter of the game. It sends a tingling feeling up your spine and everything like that, because it’s just a lot of fun. That’s what it’s all about right there. The effort that you put in and the effort our players put in and to have that result it’s fist-pumping type of feeling.

                                                                                                                                                     

Do you see FIU as a long-term job?

                                                                                                                                                       

TT: I want to coach 18 more years. Absolutely, I see FIU as long-term. I said that at [the introductory] press conference and I still see that today.

                                                                                                                                                      

PANTHER PAWSE

 

Former FIU right-hander Josh Banks, who returned from the disabled list last week, picked up his first win of the season last night for the San Diego Padres against the Houston Astros. This on the heels of another FIU alum and Red Sox 3B Mike Lowell going on the DL,   because of a hip injury.

 

Q&A

 

Joel: I know that Wikipedia isn't exactly a credible source, but on the FIU football wiki page UCG is listed as an opponent for the 2011 season. Any truth to this or just somebody messing around?

 

PP: No truth. The only match between the crosstown schools scheduled for this coming year is in volleyball at U.S. Century Bank Arena. Asked TT if there was any progress with the baseball series being renewed and he said "nope". Heard from a very reliable source over at the Coral Gables school that JM took a lot of heat from the boosters after FIU and TT ended the crosstown series with a W in Coral Gables in 2008.

 

Ultimate FIU Fan: Pete, need an update on Freddy A.'s status for hoops. Finally, since the NCAA cancelled all Alabama victory's since '05, doesn't that mean that FIU's game in '05 becomes a victory for the WINLESS Golden Panthers of that year?

 

PP: Freddy is not coming back to FIU and FIU is not releasing him from his scholie. Last I heard, FA was stuck in Colombia, because his visa expired and could not get back in the U.S. And since he is not coming back to FIU, the university does not have the responsibility of helping him with a visa. So, it's up to Miami Dade College or whatever JUCO he decides on or FA's handler to get him back into the good, old USA. As far as the situation, feel bad for FA, because he's a good kid, but unfortunately he's not making his own decisions. If you read the Sports Illustrated story, writer Seth Davis didn't have the entire picture when he took shots at FIU, because nowhere did he mention FA's handler and his intentions -- that is the root of this whole situation. I'm not buying the whole wanted to play for SR deal that has become the main excuse, because former FIU players have told me that FA and SR were not always on the same page.

 

As far as the Alabama sanction, unfortunately it doesn't work that way with FIU getting a win. It is just counted as an Alabama loss. But technically, you could say FIU won by forfeit.

 

FIUFan: Hey Pete, Hardaway Jr. is going to Meechigan, does this mean that Timmy won't be one of IT's Asst's?

 

PP: Not necessarily. Junior gave a verbal commitment. Nothing is signed and we've all seen before that recruits have a tough time picking a Gatorade flavor. Not saying he won't stick at UM, but stranger things have happened. Timmy, Sr. is still in the running to join IT's staff. Except, that Sr. never finished his degree at UTEP and is going to take classes to get that degree (need a degree to work at a state university) so that he could eventually coach. IT has said that he would like to fill out his coaching staff by the end of July.

 

*Thanks to Alex J. Hernandez for the FIU photos

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Turtle Power at FIU

FIU baseball coach Turtle Thomas is not going anywhere after he turned down an offer to become Maryland's head coach.

Here is a quick version of a story that will appear on the MH on-line. Will update this blog post later with more from the Turtle....

   Coming off the greatest turnaround in FIU baseball's 37-year history and acknowledging he is building "something special", Golden Panthers coach Turtle Thomas turned down an offer to become the University of Maryland's baseball coach.

   After a 20-36 season in his first year as FIU coach in 2007, Thomas guided the Panthers to a 34-21 record last season -- the largest win improvement in the history of the program.

   "It's nice to be wanted," Thomas said. "But my heart is at FIU. We had the best turnaround in the program's history last season and I want to develop FIU baseball into one of the top college baseball teams in the state and in the nation. We are building something special at FIU."

 

   Last week, Maryland athletic director Deborah Yow contacted Thomas about the vacant Terrapins coaching job.

 

   Yow wanted to fly Thomas and his wife, Maria, up to Maryland on Sunday to introduce them to the program and have Thomas formally interview. However, after Thomas spoke with Yow for nearly 45 minutes on the phone, Thomas declined the job interview.

 

   "I'm very, very happy that [FIU athletic director] Pete Garcia hired to me to be the leader of the baseball program at FIU," Thomas said. "When you are the head coach of a program to me you have to stand the test of time. It's not like you win one year, you're a flash in the pan and you jump to whatever else. You have to really put your roots down, put your feet on the ground, roll up your sleeves and get to work. "

 

Fieldhouse Tour -- FIU Locker Room & the rest of the 1st Floor

Back to the second of our three-part tour of the new R. Kirk Landon FIU fieldhouse (left) with a look at your Panthers locker room and the rest of the first floor. We'll also walk you through the tunnel that your Panthers will come storming out of on game days.

Before we head on over to the FIU locker room here are some of the other features on the 1st floor of FIU football headquarters. **Click on each photo to enlarge it**

To begin with located north of the FIU locker room is the spacious equipment room (photo, right) -- an equipment manager's dream. The equipment room (photo right) is about half the size of the FIU locker room and located just east of the weight room.

Just south of the equipment room is the laundry room (photo, left), which has a pretty neat feature. In the photo below on the left you see what looks like a large hole in the wall. That hole you see in the photo will eventually have individual slots marked with each player's jersey number for your Panthers to drop their dirty laundry, shoes and all into. Sort of like a laundry chute. The idea comes from the Miami Dolphins. The Dolphins have a very similar system for their laundry over at will-always-be-Joe Robbie Stadium to me.

Before we step into the Panthers locker room, we'll give you some shots of the new cleaning facilities. The players got to eventually get clean after the game and here on the right are a look at the new showers and one of the bathrooms. The shower room (photo, right) has 22 shower heads to match the number of starters on offense and defense. So depending on who has the better game, whether it be offense, defense or special teams -- 2 of the 3 FIU units will get first dibs on the showers.

Here on the left is a shot of one of the new bathrooms. Wish I could give you a more detailed account of the bathroom, but we all know what a bathroom features: toilets, urinals and hand wash sinks. No, there will not be a bathroom valet offering mints, mouthwash or cologne to your Panthers.

OK, let's step into the FIU locker room. Like the weight room, when you first step foot in the locker room, the first thing that hits you is the size of the place. Although the locker room is not as big as the weight room, the locker room is plenty big enough with nearly 5,000 square feet (more than 1/3 the size of the 14,000 square-foot weight room) and there will be 120 locker stalls for 120 players should FIU decide to keep that many players on the team.

Here on the right are some different views from the entrance of the locker room. It might not be easy to gauge the size of the locker room with it being all white right now, but when we go back to shoot some more photos in July you might get a better idea of the depth of the place. 

We'll throw another photo of the locker room here below on the left to see if you get a better view of it.

Another tidbit about the FIU locker room is that originally there were 2 pillars in the middle of the room. However, in order for MC to stand in the middle of the room to address the Panthers and no player have an obstructed view of their coach and teammates, the pillars were removed. In the photo above on the left, PG in the suit is standing where one of the pillars would have been. Here on the right below the 2 photos of the locker room is a photo of the 2 horizontal beams that were installed to support the area where the 2 pillars would have been.

Let's get the FIU Stadium jumbotron cranking with the Panther running through the Everglades and jumping buildings throughout Miami and pump up AC/DC's "Thunderstruck", you're about to run out of the same tunnel that your Panthers will storm out of on Sept. 26 against Toledo for the first home game of the 2009 season.

The tunnel begins at the southeast exit of the FIU locker room and runs in a sort of "L" shape into the southwest tunnel of FIU Stadium. This photo on the left is of the second part of the tunnel.

At the exit of the tunnel stand a couple of players that will attempt to walk-on to the FIU team in August. Here in the photo on the right are offensive lineman Ralph Garcia-Toledo (left). RGT comes from a Kansas JUCO and is 6-0, 330 lbs. The other player is kicker Manny Juiz (right), who arrived at FIU from the Czech Republic, where he was a talented high school soccer player. MJ can kick field goals with either leg and his career-long is from 72 yards out with his left leg. With the right leg, MJ has a career-long of 68 yards.

And here on the left is the view that your Panthers have of the FIU Stadium field when they are out of the locker room and ready to run onto the field.

We'll finish up the fieldhouse tour next time with a look at the 2nd floor where the 6 extra meeting rooms/suites with the patio deck overlooking the FIU Stadium field are located. Plus, we'll show you MC's office and the 125-seat auditorium for team meetings.

You've gotten a preliminary look at the 1st floor of the FIU fieldhouse. (If you need another look at our 1st tour of the fieldhouse click on the link above on the left). With the first 2 tours in mind, tell us what you like the most.

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FIU vs. Florida State and Florida

FIU will be seeing a lot more of Florida State and Florida in the coming years on its sports schedules. Here is the story that will be running in the MH on Saturday.....

   FIU and Florida State signed an agreement to play a home-and-home series in men’s basketball beginning this December and the Golden Panthers are in negotiations with the Seminoles and the University of Florida to schedule more games in other sports.

   Led by new basketball coach Isiah Thomas, FIU will travel to Tallahassee on Dec. 6 to take on the Seminoles. The following season on Nov. 19, 2010 Florida State visits FIU’s U.S. Century Bank Arena.

   “We’re very excited to play a team the quality of Florida State,” FIU athletic director Pete Garcia said. “It’s a great opportunity anytime you get a chance to play a team that played for the ACC championship.”

   FIU defeated Florida State 65-60 in 2004 in Tallahassee the last time the two teams met.

   This past season FIU and FSU met in baseball with the Seminoles winning 15-5. The two schools -- which have met 19 times before with FSU holding a 13-6 series lead -- are working on a possible 3-game series for next season.

   FIU is also looking to continue its series with Florida in football and re-start a basketball series with the Gators.

   The Panthers and Gators meet for the first time on the gridiron Nov. 21 in Gainesville and are in talks about future football games.

   FIU and UF would also like to renew their basketball series. The Gators have won both meetings with the Panthers -- the last game being played in 1993.

   “It’s very important for us to continue to have a balanced schedule with Florida and Florida State in different sports,” Garcia said. “We will continue to schedule games with both schools as we move forward.”

                                                                                                                                                

 Tell us what you think of these scheduling moves in our poll below the Pawse.

                                                                                                                                                

PANTHER PAWSE

                                                                                                                                                

Nothing official yet on the TT watch, but it looks like he's leaning toward staying at FIU. When I get confirmation from TT you will have it here.

                                                                                                                                                  

Q&A

                                                                                                                                                   

quijote: WTF is a college football game without the sounds and the hunnies complimenting the game? Pete what's the deal here?

 

Fans & Pete, Football season is almost here. I'm VERY upset that FIU has YET to contact me with any sort of away game fan packages. I want to go to Alabama, Rutgers and UF games, but would obviously would like to go with a FIU sponsored fan group. Some of us are very busy and have to plan these schedules ahead of time. Any word on when FIU will make "fan group" packages available?!

 

PP: Like many schools across the nation, FIU has to make cuts in its athletics program. Unlike other schools across the nation, FIU does not have the type of financial support from donors, alumni and other people to make less impactful cuts and thus you have these unpopular cuts.

                                                                                                                                                      

FIU does not have that huge outside financial support, because of 2 reasons: it hasn't been in Division I as long as other schools and FIU has never really given its fans and would-be bandwagon fans much reason to cheer over the years. As we all know everybody loves a winner and consistent winning = more fans, which = more interest in the program, which = more support and more donors.

                                                                                                                                                     

Since the change in athletic administration in 2006, FIU has made a commitment to winning as evidenced by type of athletes being recruited, 8 new head coaches in 13 sports, and new and improved facilities.

                                                                                                                                                      

No longer acceptable are the days of let's play close to .500 ball and collect our state paychecks every 2 weeks. Let's be honest before 2006, the university viewed its athletic department like the P.E. department. But now there is a refreshing accountability with the FIU athletic program.

                                                                                                                                                      

And we're starting to see the fruits of these changes in FIU sports with the Panthers football and baseball teams producing the 2 largest historical turnarounds in school history. MC's boys improved (+4 wins) and TT's boys improved (+14 wins) in just their second seasons at the helm.

                                                                                                                                                  

Plus, FIU won Sun Belt titles in volleyball and tennis in the last year. The men's soccer team reached the Conference USA title game. FIU has produced 3 All-Americans (5 if you count all 3 of Yarimar Rosa's All-American honors) and won 4 Sun Belt Coach of the Year awards in the last 2 years.

                                                                                                                                                      

Although it may not seem like it financially, FIU is building an athletic monster (to borrow a phrase from MC) with the type of athletes and coaches in place right now and those that are headed this way. Which is why you have other schools ready to start pouncing on coaches like TT.

                                                                                                                                                     

But this commitment to winning needs support and maybe now with the initial and future successes of FIU's teams those more than 140,000 FIU alumni in South Florida will start coming out and supporting an athletic program on the rise.

                                                                                                                                                     

And this long answer to the question above is not meant to start a telethon. No, by support I mean -- like several GPP readers have posted in previous blogs -- go to FIU games and bring friends along that might not be aware what's happening at SW 8 Street. And like that shampoo commercial -- "those friends will tell their friends and their friends will tell their friends".

                                                                                                                                                      

This is not the old FIU sports where winning was something to hope for. This is an FIU that has its sights set on conference championships and much more. FIU's teams are being built to win. It's happening right now.

**********************************

                                                                                                                                                     

The answer to your other question: FIU doesn't have travel packages to away games, but you can get in to games at Alabama, Florida and Rutgers, plus all 5 FIU home games for a total of $200.

                                                                                                                                                    

That would be $50 for season tickets and then you can purchase whichever of those 3 road games you want to go to. The prices are: $55 for Rutgers, $50 for Alabama and $45 for Florida. Those road prices are set by the host schools and not FIU.

                                                                                                                                                   

FIUPantherFan: Pete, please post a contact e-mail/number for the FIU cheerleader coach, I would like to contribute. I know the Dazzler coach use to post on FIUGoldenPanthers.com.

                                                                                                                                                   

PP: This was posted in the comments section of the previous post:

You can contribute at:
Panther Cheer Club
c/o Coach Racquel
P.O. Box 655052
Miami, FL 33265

and this is their Facebook support page:
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=108646168376

Turtle is one popular guy with at last count 154 votes in our last poll question. Nearly 80% percent of you say TT stay at FIU.  Among those readers is our first GPP reader from Sweden. As someone in Uppsala, Sweden says Turtle Power at FIU. Here's our latest scorecard:

 

GPP WORLDWIDE READERSHIP SCORECARD:

The GPP is now read in: 45 STATES: ALA, ARI, ARK, CA, COL, CT, DEL, FLA, GA, HI, IDAHO, IL, IND, IOWA, KAN, KY, LA, MASS, MD, MICH, MIN, MISS, MISSOURI, MON, NEB, NEV, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH, OK, ORE, PA, RI, SC, TEN, TEX, UTAH, VA, VER, WASH, WEST VA., WISC.

37 COUNTRIES: Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Costa Rica, Croatia, Czech Republic, Dominican Republic, France, Germany, Guatemala, Honduras, Hong Kong, Hungary, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Lebanon, Mexico, Netherlands, Netherlands Antilles, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Panama, Peru, Scotland, Serbia, Spain, Sweden, Thailand, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, U.S.A., Venezuela, Vietnam.

1 DISTRICT: Washington, D.C. and 1 TERRITORY: Puerto Rico.

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