The Golden Panthers had everything set up to start conference play 4-0 with putrid teams in front of them before going to Troy and playing Arkansas State and Middle Tennessee at home down the stretch.
Before next weekend’s homecoming match vs. ULM, FIU just needed to beat a 1-5 FAU team across the street at Lockhart stadium. Let me establish how bad FAU really is. The Owls recently lost to a depleted North Texas team that FIU ran over on the road just last week. The Owls are ranked near the bottom of the nation in rushing offense, with starting running back Alfred Morris (All-SBC in 09′) averaging just 2.7 yards per carry. The Owl’s have a terrible offensive line.
And you can chalk up their 21-9 win to the adrenaline that comes with a rivalry game that is always going to be played close, but if that is the case, why didn’t FIU return the adrenaline?
Why did FIU allow Alfred Morris to get 96 yards in 20 carries?
Why did they fail to score a touchdown against a unimpressive defense?
Morris’ 96 yards were a bit misleadinhg since 21 of them came on one carry, but let’s not forget that Willie Floyd also got 93 yards on just nine carries.
I won’t question the team’s decision to go to Wayne Times over T.Y Hilton in the goal line wildcat, because Times has shown he can be effective in it as well and we would be playing the results if he scored.
T.Y won MVP honors on the FIU said, but said he didn't deserve it afterward
The thing here, is that the Golds were able to get a running game going as well, behind Kerick Rhodes. But late in the game, they couldn’t complete a pass, let alone avoid an interception after three of them late.
The performance was a set back for the program, who couldn’t capture a Shula Bowl for the first time and will now face an uphill climb to bowl eligibility. To put it in perspective, the team will not only have to win next week, they will have to win at Louisiana, and at home to ASU and MTSU to finish at .500, with an expected loss at Troy.
Not the end of the road, but unlikely to happen with this team, which will likely go 5-7 again. I can already hear James and the rest of the fast twitch callers getting on us tommorow on ‘Panther Sports Talk Live’ calling for some changes haha.
TIDBITS
- Basketball season is getting closer, and I will be posting any stories I write on here as well as adding additional commentary. The team actually has a couple of bodies in the post this season, but we will have to see how skilled they are. Remember, Dominque Ferguson is out until Spring at the earliest with NCAA clearance issues. Check out footage of post practice interviews of the season opening session last week: http://fiusm.com/2010/10/20/fiu-mens-basketball-preview/
- Women’s Soccer will be the No.4 seed in the SBC tournament. Maybe that suits them better, because as a No. 1 seed last season, they fell to UALR in the first round.
- Don’t forget you can always get up to date FIU sports news on fiusm.com.
- PSTL is always streaming live on fiusm.com from 10-11 a.m. on Monday, Wednesday and Friday and can be caught on your radio dial on 95.3 at Modesto Maidique campus and the surrounding area. 88.1 should work around homestead and 96.9 is the signal for North Miami. Call us at 305-348-3575 and be heard as we always bring on insightful guests and talk FIU sports like nobody else can.