By: Jackson Wolek / Staff Writer
The annual Blue vs. Gold football game taking place this Saturday will be a sample size preview of what we can expect for this upcoming season at FIU. It will feature what we saw from last year’s team, along with a new playbook, and a slew of incoming players.
It is still not clear how many spots are actually up for grabs, but the spring practices the players have been a part of, as well as the summer workouts, will help determine the starting lineup for this upcoming season.
“I think the summer really makes or breaks guys because you can tell from day one who’s in good shape, and that’s one of the challenges for us in the offseason,” said Coach Cristobal. “You’re not going to win a game with that Friday night speech. You’re going to win the game in the offseason.”
The area where they bring back some of the most experience and depth is at running back. The Golden Panthers bring back all four runners who helped make FIU the second best running attack in the Sun Belt last year. The list includes Darriet Perry, Darian Mallary, Jeremiah Harden and Kedrick Rhodes.
“Each one of us has something else to bring to the table. You have speed, you have power and you have agility,” Perry said. “You can’t just really set your defense up for three running backs.”
Wesley Carroll will be the starter once again for the Golden Panthers, but this year he is going to be backed up by Jake Medlock and Blaine Dalton.
“I think as a unit were all doing well with this team,” Carroll said. “We can only control making the other ten better that’s what we always talk about and I feel like we’ve done a good job so far.”
The wide receiving core is headlined by senior T.Y Hilton, who chose to skip the NFL draft to stay one more year at FIU. Although the team lost its second most vital option from last year in Greg Ellingson, they still have Wayne Times and Jacob Younger to fill the void.
Also look for Willis Wright, who only played six games last season, to have an increased role in the offense.
“We just have to step up and make more plays now,” said Times on losing Ellingson. “We lose a guy but we bring a guy in, so we still put another bullet in the chamber we never stop shooting.”
The area that needed the most improving was on the defensive side of the ball.
After losing players like Anthony Gaitor and Toronto Smith, FIU came back strong in an offseason headlined by the hiring of defensive coordinator Todd Orlando and the signing of top prospects Jordan Hunt, Corey Tindal and bringing in Richard Leonard.
“I think we’re adjusting very well,” said Jonathan Cyprien. “As a whole team we’ve always been a family. So losing them, we understand the process and someone else has got to step up.”
The spring game will see much of the same players that were featured on last year’s team, with a couple new faces which you can expect to see a lot of.
“We’re going to make sure that ball gets spread around a little bit so they can see some of our new playmakers play a whole lot of football,” said Cristobal
When it comes to the scrimmage on Saturday, both players and coaches are still pumped up and Cristobal has just one message for the fans.
“We need them here, this is their championship team,” Cristobal said. “Not only to take part in the championship ring ceremony but also to take a look at what to expect in 2011.”
The game is being held on April 2 and is set for a 10:30 a.m. start time.
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