A new era for FIU Football and a new schedule, featuring four Nationally televised games

New Head Coach Mike Macintyre during the FIU Spring showcase (Photo by Michael Berlfein FIU Athletics)

Noel Cabrera/Contributing Writer

The FIU football schedule for the 2022/23 season has been released and updated with four nationally televised games on the cards for the Panthers as the promised “new era” under new Head Coach Mike Macintyre nears kick-off. 

FIU recently announced the games that’ll be televised include three on CBS Sports Network (WKU/Sep. 24, UTSA/Oct. 14 & Louisiana Tech/Oct. 28) and one on Stadium (FAU/Nov. 12). These appearances were added as a part of the upcoming season’s Conference USA broadcast package. 

This is a huge step for the program as it will give them a chance to gain more national recognition, something new Athletic Director Scott Carr has been pushing for since taking the job. . 

“We are excited now to have three home national television broadcasts for the 2022 season,” Carr said in a FIU Athletics release about the schedule. “The opportunity to showcase FIU to a national audience three times is huge for us!”

The Panthers open up the season at home against FCS opponent Bryant University, a first ever matchup between the schools. If FIU comes out with a win it’ll be a step in the right direction for the upcoming season. 

The FIU football team recently assembled an entire new coaching staff, including the head coach. FIU named two-time national coach of the year Macintyre as the sixth head coach of the football program. New offensive and defensive coordinators who have a superb resume over two decades of coaching experience have been added to the staff.

There seems to be a sense of urgency to flip the script on the FIU football program in a positive direction. FIU coaches were calling fans and former alumni to purchase season tickets as they push for higher attendance for the revamped squad.

The Panthers’ roster currently sits at 88 players, with all 14 transfer signees on campus and have already taken part in the 15 spring practices. 

Some game-breaking players are set to return this 2022 season, with names such as wide receiver Tyrese Chambers and defensive back Pierce Withers. Last season, Chambers broke the FIU single-season records for receiving yards and touchdown receptions, once held by Indianapolis Colts wide receiver T.Y. Hilton

Among the transfers to the FIU program, one stand out seems to be former Duke quarterback Gunnar Holmberg. Holmberg was the primary starter for the Blue Devils last season, showing for 2.358 yards with seven touchdowns and eight interceptions, along with rushing for six touchdowns.

The Panthers had a rough 2021 season and finished with a record of 1-11 along with 0-8 in conference play. 

Coach Macintyre and the football program look to leave that history in the rear view and prove their worth as a Division 1 football program in the upcoming season. 

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