Peter Holland, Jr. & Jasmine Casimir // Asst. Sports Directors
As the Panthers prepare for their final home game of the season, the seniors looked back on the years of being a student athlete at FIU.
FIU football will host senior night honoring 13 seniors before the start of the game. Each senior will be greeted by family and friends on the field who will also accompany them through the ceremony.
Each senior knows how serious they work in their education as much as they take pride in their team activities. They are now getting ready to end their college career.
“FIU is a tough academic university,” said Imarjaye Albury, starting defensive tackle. “They are real serious about academics here, and the courses are challenging. You have to learn to manage your time.”
Albury, who graduated last spring understood the tough tasks as a student and still remembers his toughest class he ever has taken at FIU.
“Social choice math because I never heard of it.” said Albury. “I didn’t know the origin of it. Everyday is something new.”
Joshua Glanton said the hardest class for him throughout his college career was accounting, while Davison Colimon said that the hardest class for him throughout his career was excel.
“It was just a lot of math, and it was more than just typing in the tabs,” said Colimon.
The seniors expressed how hard it it was sometimes to be a student-athlete but reiterated that they are working hard for the next level.
With spending most of their college life together, Cheeks said that this moment of reaching the finish line was bittersweet.
“I’m going to miss my brothers,” Cheeks said. “We came together as a team this year. One thing I can say about the seniors is that we are really a family, and what I’m going to miss the most about being a leader is leading my brothers on the field.”
For most of these players, they have plenty of memories shared on and off the field. The best memory for them was the ‘gain five lose five’ experience where they would add extra weight on their bodies to reach their weight goals.
“Freshman year we used to cheat the weight,” said Montero. “It was hilarious.”
Cheeks said the team would put five pounds in their girdle to make weight.
Glanton, who will be celebrating his 23rd birthday on Nov. 17, said he wants to win the last home game to leave with a bang.
“Last birthday here I just want to get that win on Saturday,” said Glanton.
Cheeks mentioned that he scored a 24 on his ACT exam in high school before being enrolled at FIU. The New Orleans native had no problem with his academics despite the challenges that was given to him as a student-athlete.
“FIU is challenging but for me [classes] were pretty easy,” said Cheeks.
Defensive lineman Leonard Washington said that pursuing the NFL is a part of his plan after graduation, but is more focused on giving all that he can for his last two games.
“I don’t know if I’ll ever play again,” said Washington. “I’m just going to ball out for my last game.”
The Panthers will take the field for their last home game Saturday, Nov. 19 to take on the Marshall University Thundering Herd. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. and will be televised on American Sports Network.
About Post Author
