By: Jackson Wolek / Staff Writer
People around the nation have started buzzing about FIU football and their 3-0 start that included victories against Louisville and UCF.
On top of the four votes they received in the AP polls, University of Miami head coach Al Golden gave them praise in The Miami Herald recently, and now they will have a segment on ESPN College Gameday that will air this Saturday.
ESPN made a recent visit to the Golden Panthers’ practice on Wednesday to film some of the practice and interview head coach Mario Cristobal.
“It was kind of weird having a mic on, obviously I wouldn’t compromise anything for our gameplan and our chances for victory, but just for the initial start of practice it was a tremendous honor,” said head coach Mario Cristobal.
In Golden’s comments on FIU, he mentioned that it was great to see them getting votes and that he and Cristobal talk and text all the time.
Cristobal said that a possible matchup with UM sometime along the road would be something he is in favor of.
“I think any time cross-town universities can play or in-state universities can play, with a great example being this weekend with UCF, you have a chance to really pack the stadium and fill the stands with alumni and with family,” said Cristobal. “It makes for a great event.”
Right now, what the team is focused on is their next opponent, the Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns. This will be their second conference game this year.
Louisiana comes in with a record of 2-1, having lost to number nine, Oklahoma State, in their first game and beating Kent State and Nicholls State in the next two.
They have accumulated 30 points per game in their first three games, the most in the Sun Belt. The scoring has come in a variety of ways.
Out of the 11 touchdowns that they have scored, four have been interception returns, one has been a blocked field goal return, five have been rushing touchdowns and only one has been a touchdown pass.
CAJUN GROUND GAME
The ground game is made up of freshmen Qyenda Griffin and Alonzo Harris. Griffin has compiled 116 yards on 43 carries and two touchdowns, while Harris has 106 yards on just 18 carries.
“He’s only a freshman, so a tribute to him and his coaches for getting him prepared to play,” said Cristobal on Griffin’s performance.
FIU has the top defense overall in the Sun Belt, allowing only 14 points per game. The Panthers also have the top rushing defense that has given up only 99 yards per game against elite rushers such as Lance Dunbar of North Texas and Jeff Godfrey of UCF.
“I didn’t know we lead in the Sun Belt; that’s nice to hear, but our goal is always bigger than just leading the conference. We want to be leading the nation,” said defensive end Tourek Williams.
TURNOVER BATTLE
Louisiana is a team that has a great ability of causing turnovers and making points out of them. They have five interceptions and five forced fumbles.
FIU, on the other hand, has turned the ball over just once on offense and another time on special teams.
Wesley Carroll, who has thrown no interceptions sfter three games, knows how great of a defense they have, specifically cornerback Dwight Bentley, who leads the Sun Belt with three interceptions.
“He was very active last year. We know exactly how good of a player he is and he’s gotten even better,” said Carroll. “Whatever we do isn’t going to change based on a player being on the field.”
T.Y. Hilton, who has become his main target with 17 catches along with Wayne Times who has 15, participated in about 40 percent of practice on Wednesday and Cristobal claims that he is ahead of schedule.
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