Jacob Spiwak
Asst. Sports Director
When two archrival teams play against each other, generally you throw each team’s record out the window because anything can happen. That statement is especially true when it comes to the rivalry between FIU and Florida Atlantic University and we once again witnessed why on Saturday, Oct. 31.
Despite having a significantly better record and being an overall better team all season long, the Panthers went into Boca Raton and got smoked by FAU. The Owls (2-6, 2-3) defeated FIU (4-5, 2-3) by a score of 31-17 and the score didn’t even feel that close as the game continued to unfold.
Injuries did play a key role in this game, with inactive players for FIU including their top tight ends Jonnu Smith (sprained knee) and Ya’Keem Griner (missed his second consecutive game with a foot injury), two of their top running backs Anthony Jones (hamstring injury) and Anthon Samuel (sprained ankle) and junior defensive tackle Imarjaye Albury (illness). Losing this many key players makes winning very difficult for anybody, but there’s still no excuse for how poorly FIU played.
FAU played like the superior team on Saturday. Plain and simple. From the first drive of the game until the very end, they outmatched the Panthers on both sides of the ball as well as special teams. The Owls moved the ball seemingly with ease, while FIU rarely saw a drive that didn’t end in a turnover or punt.
The glaring problem for this FIU team all season long has been their defense, specifically against the run. After having a nationally ranked defense under former defensive coordinator Josh Conklin just a season ago, new coordinator Matt House leads a group that no longer poses much of a threat at all. Instead of forcing FAU to commit turnovers, which is essentially what won them the Shula Bowl last season, they allowed freshman running back Trey Rodriguez and senior quarterback Jaquez Johnson to combine for 158 rushing yards on just 29 carries.
Whether the issue is coaching (which many signs seem to point to) or simply all of the returning defensive players aside from Jeremiah McKinnon and Anthony Wint taking major steps back on their own, there needs to be a drastic change if FIU hopes to avoid more embarrassment in their final three regular season games. This defense looks much less aggressive than they did under Conklin in 2014 and FAU became the most recent team to exploit FIU’s tentative defense.
Unfortunately for the Panthers, their issues on Saturday did not end with the defense. The banged up and inexperienced offensive line hasn’t been good for FIU all season and they played their worst game of the season against the Owls. Alex McGough wasn’t given a chance all afternoon, as he was sacked seven times and forced to rush his throws several other times.
Running back Alex Gardner played almost every snap due to the injuries to Jones and Samuel, and the lack of holes created by his line saw him get taken down at the line of scrimmage a handful of times. Gardner did break off a few nice runs and actually finished with over 100 rushing yards for the first time this season, but that didn’t translate to the scoreboard for FIU.
What does this loss mean for FIU? Well, unfortunately, it more than likely ends any realistic chance the Panthers had to play in a bowl game after the regular season. With three games left on the schedule, two of which being against the only teams that are undefeated in Conference USA play (Marshall University and Western Kentucky University), I find it extremely unlikely for FIU to win the two games necessary to become bowl eligible.
As unlikely as it is for FIU to defeat Marshall and/or Western Kentucky, their next game is much more winnable. The Panthers will return home to take on the lone winless team in C-USA play, the University of North Carolina at Charlotte 49ers. FIU will be favored to win this game easily, but after what we saw over the weekend against FAU it’s worth repeating: anything can happen.
Be the first to comment on "Disappointing Performance Costs FIU Shula Bowl and Chance at a Bowl Game"