By Brett Shweky/Sports Director
When Butch Davis first accepted the job as the new head coach for the Panthers, the expectations for the football program instantly took a leap forward.
With Davis’s exceptional resume, people throughout the college football landscape began to realize that for the first time in FIU football history, the program finally had an established head coach.
Senior running back Alex Gardner explained in the off-season that the hire of Coach Davis has made a significant impact on the culture of the football team and how the overall mentality of the team has changed.
“When Coach Davis first came in, when we had the first meeting, he gave so much encouragement to the team,” said Gardner. “He showed that he truly believed in us as a team.
This was huge in my opinion because to have someone to come in and not even really know us and show a team that much belief, made us in a sense believe in ourselves even more.”
In just a few games as the Panthers’ head coach, Davis has managed to add on to FIU’s history.
For the second time in school history, the Panthers were able to post a (3-1) record to start the year. The first time since the 2011 team, where they also started (3-1) and finished with the best record in program history at (8-5).
FIU also managed to start 2-0 in conference play, only the fifth time in the 16-year history of the football program. This is the Panthers’ third time as a member of Conference USA, while also accomplishing this twice as a member of the Sun Belt Conference.
Panthers’ Head Coach Butch Davis explained that regardless of the team’s hot start to the season, the team needs to remained focused and will take each game one week at a time.
“These first couple of ball games are over, I look at it as we’re 0-0. Next week, we want to 1-0,” said Coach Davis. “We’ve addressed the team every single week that here are areas that we need to get better at and the kids [the players] have responded exceptionally.”
FIU will play their next home game this upcoming week on Saturday, Oct. 14, as the Panthers host the Tulane Green Wave. Kickoff from Riccardo Silva Stadium is set for 7 p.m.
About Post Author
