Thanks for @AFierro21 for catching this, which makes official what I've heard rumored for some time now: FIU will open the football season on Sept. 1 against North Texas. The date comes from the Mean Green's chartered plane service request, which is a matter of public record.
No word yet from the athletic department, and the Sun Belt is expected to release its schedule early next week, but this is as close to a done deal as you can get.
Considering it's a Thursday night game, odds are you'll get a national telecast (ESPN, ESPN2, etc.). And since the regular season starts that weekend, there's an outside chance that FIU will be the first nationally televised game of any sort for the 2011 season.
More when we hear it ...
Hooray! A conference game first? Strange, but I like it
Posted by: FIUjoseph | February 24, 2011 at 07:50 PM
LOVE LOVE LOVE this scheduling... No reason to start the season with body bag games.
Posted by: TheChampionUnderdog | February 24, 2011 at 11:36 PM
Great news! I posted this on FIUGoldenpanthers.com about 3 days ago so I am glad to see that it is almost set in stone.
Posted by: GO CANES! | February 25, 2011 at 09:40 AM
opps, I changed my profile name. I was picking on the UM board but was trying to confuse them with my profile name. -GOLD
Posted by: Gold | February 25, 2011 at 09:41 AM
This is how we should start every season.. I can't stand opening up to a team that will beat us by 50 points just because of a pay check.. I realize money is important but a win is priceless.. I think they did a great job last year with Rudgers and UNT for 2011.. Way to go and BIG props on the National Television Game!!
Go FIU!
Posted by: Gooch7 | February 25, 2011 at 11:19 AM
green lizards are ready!
Posted by: roary | February 25, 2011 at 11:54 AM
Gold = loser who's obsessed with UM.
A common affliction among you FIU fans huh?
Posted by: GO PANTHERS! | February 25, 2011 at 12:46 PM
I used GO CANES! as a screen name to pick at canes fanes on their board. I play the negative nancy card.
Posted by: Gold | February 25, 2011 at 02:44 PM