FIU making strides under Turtle Thomas

By: Jonathan Ramos/ Sports Director
As the Golden Panthers exploded for 18 runs against Boston College Wednesday, FIU head coach Turtle Thomas’ hands were over the field.
Centerfielder Pablo Bermudez went 3-for-5 with five RBI’s. Third baseman Garrett Wittels extended his season long hitting streak to 12 games with a two-hit performance. Mike Martinez and Jeremy Patton both had three hits.
And freshman leftfielder Jabari Henry hit two home runs, including a grand slam, to pad his seven RBI game.
Thomas’ had his hand in recruiting each of the talented underclassman who are shining under his guidance. On Wednesday, he got the chance to see it all come together for an offensive explosion at FIU stadium.
Those in attendance got to see it to.
In fact, the few people in attendance at the game, including nearly as many BC fans as FIU fans, had the opportunity to watch what has emerged as the best revenue sport the university has to offer.

#A GEM#

Under the FIU men’s basketball promotional pamphlets with Isiah Thomas’ face on the cover and the game day fireworks the football team has in place, Turtle has turned around the baseball team faster than T.Y Hilton’s 40-yard dash.
Since his hiring in 2007, the Golden Panthers have improved every season with him at the helm, including a a 34-win campaign a year ago that led to a fast start this season.
Thomas is athletic director Pete Garcia’s best hire since he took over in 2006. Cristobal and Isiah Thomas have shown they can recruit as well, but not near the level Thomas has, and they have not been able to say they coach a conference contender. Neither have them have even been able to call themselves a winner, for that matter.
A masterful recruiter, Thomas had 18-straight recruiting classes ranked among Collegiate Baseball’s Top 10 at Miami and LSU during his long tenure as an assistant coach. A streak like that is impossible to keep alive at FIU, but Thomas has done an admirable job in recruiting a pair of tremendous classes already.
And it is on pace to continue.
Thomas signed the best prep player in the country, Manny Machado, as part of his 2011 coup. Although Machado will probably be a high draft pick out of high school and never play in college, Thomas won’t need him if he continues to recruit deep, stacked recruiting classes.

#WORKING#

FIU shortstop Junior Arrojo enjoyed a breakout campaign in 2009 after slumping through his first few seasons as a Golden Panther, and credited Thomas for turning his career around, saying he would be “nothing” without Thomas. The veteran coach is an offensive expert, in a college game where the coach does more than fill out the lineup card and switch in defensive replacements. If Thomas doesn’t get swayed away by a big program, potent offenses and a strong pipeline of recruits will continue to run through FIU.