Florida International Football

When the Florida International Golden Panthers arrived in Detroit late Thursday, they were mostly known for two things: Having had a 23 game losing streak between 2005-2007, and their much publicized brawl with the University of Miami in 2006.

They left Detroit as Little Caesars Bowl Champions.

Making its first ever bowl appearance, FIU got on the plane with a lot more hardware than when the team arrived. Along with the bowl trophy, FIU's T.Y. Hilton brought home the MVP trophy and defensive end Jarvis Wilson was Lineman of the Game.

Coach Mario Cristobal stated, "What these young men have achieved is historical, but they have also set the bar very high."

Cristobal went on to say, "This will be the standard of FIU football, to play and win bowl games."

Having only been in the FBS since 2005, the Golden Panthers have made historical strides in validating their program.

Coming into the game the only FIU player with bowl experience was quarterback Wes Carroll, who was the starter for Mississippi State in the 2007 Liberty Bowl, the whole bowl experience was brand new for nearly the entire team.

But this win is something that they can pass down to future players, letting them know what it is like to go to a bowl game and instilling a desire to get there for new players.

Coach Cristobal is no stranger to big time bowls, having won National Championships with the University of Miami in '89 and '91.

I asked him if his bowl experience as a player helped prepare his team for this, Cristobal said, "I just wanted to make sure that they had enough food, I remember being a player and coming back from an event and having to go to the corner store to get a dried danish and a diet Pepsi. So these guys always had, within the rules, something to eat. They were well rested. They played more Playstation this weekend than most kids will in their entire lifetimes."

The Golden Panthers have made strides this season; they were Sun Belt Champions, Hilton was Sun Belt Player of the Year and they finished as the Little Caesar's Bowl winner. These are the types of foundations that a newer team can build on either in recruiting or national recognition.

Coach Cristobal will not let any of these opportunities to strengthen the program pass.

For a first time bowl team, FIU looked more than comfortable at Ford Field on Sunday night and with this staff and returning players next year, bowl experiences may start becoming a habit.

Either the world has ended, or Barack Obama's message of change has taken on a brand new meaning in the annals of college football. I say it's a dead heat.

In this, the 2010 college football bowl season, a little-known conference in the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (gee, that was a mouthful) has made skeptics out of believers.

Regardless of what happens in the laughably named GoDaddy.com Bowl between Miami (OH) and Middle Tennessee State, the Sun Belt Conference will finish its bowl season with a winning record.

In short, the Sun Belt Conference, long-considered the weakest of the weak, the doormat of all the mid-major conferences, the butt of every joke...is relevant.

The conference began to argue its case with flying colors at the New Orleans Superdome over a week ago, on Dec. 18, when the Troy Trojans took on the Ohio Bobcats in the R&L Carriers New Orleans Bowl.

Surely Frank Solich had what it took to end the Bobcats' bowl hoodoo, right? After all, the Mid-American Conference was supposed to be stronger. After all, Northern Illinois took Fresno State to school, so you know the possibility was there.

Wrong.

Corey Robinson torched the Ohio defense with 387 yards passing and four touchdowns, while DuJuan Harris ran roughshod for 105 and a score. And it didn't help the likes of poor Boo Jackson to know that big and beefy Jonathan Massaquoi hounded him for 2.5 sacks in a Trojan ambush.

602 yards of total offense told the story as Troy flattened Ohio 48-21.

You know, I am accustomed to seeing the Trojans win bowl games—I associated those Trojans with a certain university from Los Angeles. Problem is, they are on probation because Reggie Bush disgraced his own kind a la Terrell Pryor...and some.

I did not expect these Trojans to win a bowl game, but they did and they deserve all the credit people give them. (And they did give Oklahoma State a test in their 41-38 defeat.)

But it didn't stop there. The Sun Belt's argument for relevancy continued.

Enter Sunday, Boxing Day, Dec. 26, 2010 and the hilariously-named Little Caesars Pizza Bowl (pizza! pizza!) featuring the Toledo Rockets, and the Florida International Golden Panthers.

FIU was making their first-ever trip to a bowl game. Granted, the name of this bowl makes you think of inferior cheese and gas explosions, but that's beside the point. Oh, digressions.

This was a Florida International team that stood tall against Rutgers and Texas A&M while testing Maryland.

An FIU squad that was a few years removed from an ill-fated scuffle against the University of Miami that resulted in an 0-12 season and Mario Cristobal taking the helm.

A Golden Panther squad that finished with a 6-2 conference record and a 6-6 regular season record this year in spite of losing to rivals Florida Atlantic and ending their conference season in disappointing fashion to the Blue Raiders.

The Rockets were expected to rout FIU and spare the now-disgraced Mid-American Conference of its blushes. They were unsuccessful, embarrassing the MAC and delivering the Sun Belt slices of oven-baked vindication in a 34-32 win for the Golden Panthers.

Toledo quarterback Terrance Owens had a nightmarish performance against Florida International, throwing for 131 yards, a touchdown and three interceptions. While tailback Adonis Thomas ran for 194 yards and two touchdowns, his efforts will go into Little Caesars Pizza Bowl history as mere footnotes.

Owens's counterpart, Wesley Carroll, a transfer out of Mississippi State, didn't fare any better—throwing for just 140 yards, and a touchdown and pick apiece—but at least he did one completion better (16/27, Owens was 15/27).

People watching this game probably now know who Darriet Perry and Kreg Bown are. Perry rushed for 131 yards and two touchdowns, while Brown helped himself to two of FIU's interceptions on the night.

And that T.Y. Hilton...man, can he run. Hilton had five kickoff returns for 174 yards, a new bowl record.

But this night belonged to Jack Griffin. Unlike Boise State's Kyle Brotzman, Griffin can actually convert field goals when the game is on the line.

His game-winning 34-yard attempt with time running out came off a successful hook-and-lateral play that just passed the first-down line at the Toledo 42...with some help from the Atlantic Coast Conference officials, who Toledo fans may have irreparable animosities towards.

Griffin may go down as the school's first great gridiron hero for his on-the-money kick. And because of his conversion, the Sun Belt Conference will end the 2010 college football bowl season with a winning record.

Now granted, these bowl matches the Sun Belt participate in all involve Mid-American teams. But the possibility that I bring here is that the Sun Belt may be better than people think.

As it continues to be successful in the postseason, the respect is going to keep coming. And more quality recruits will look to play in a conference like the Sun Belt. It becomes a viable alternative because it just knows how to win.

Obama was right. Change has indeed come to America. The Sun Belt Conference gaining relevancy is just one example of that.

The suspect who police believe stabbed Florida International running back Kendall Berry Thursday night on the Maidique campus has surrendered to police, according to the university.

According to the Miami Herald, that suspect has been identified.

Quentin Wyche, a former teammate of Berry's and a student at Florida International University, gave himself up before 8:30 p.m Friday.

According to a source familiar with the investigation, an argument between Berry's girlfriend and Wyche caused her to call Berry over to the area.

After a verbal altercation ensued, witnesses say Wyche stabbed Berry at least once with an unknown object.

The crime took place just after 9 p.m. Thursday right outside the front doors of the rec center.

Many of the students using the fitness center on the second floor of the rec center witnessed the stabbing while they gathered at the glass walls.

Doryham Almendarez, a 19-year old student commented on what he saw, "He was getting kicked.", the nursing major claimed. He couldn't recall if there was more then one assailant.

Wyche has been charged with second-degree murder with a deadly weapon.

A junior college transfer from Daytona State, he played defensive back for the Golden Panthers during last year's spring game.

According to Miami-Dade police, Berry died on the way to the hospital.

"Kendall had an infectious personality. He was loved and respected by everyone who had the privilege of knowing him. It was truly an honor to have known and coached Kendall," Coach Mario Cristobal said in a statement.

Follow us on Twitter to get Breaking Sports News first!

Click here for more information on the murder.

Update: An Arrest has been made, click to read more...

MIAMI, Fla. - Florida International University is mourning the loss of junior running back Kendall Berry, Thursday night. He was stabbed to death just outside the doors of the Miami campus recreational center after an argument.

Miami-Dade police say that Berry, 22, was stabbed to death just after 9 p.m. on Thursday night, after a verbal argument took place just outside the front doors of the rec center.

His death comes less than a week before the football team's annual spring game.

Although police are still looking for suspects in the homicide, they do not believe the campus is in any immediate danger.

"Our thoughts and prayers go out to Kendall’s family," Florida International President Mark B. Rosenberg said in a statement after he heard the news about the student's death, "We are here to support them and our entire university community as all of us come to terms with this tragedy."

Berry sat out his sophomore season with a knee injury but showed some improvement after coming back this past year.

His best performance came in a 48-21 loss to the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders on November 11th, 2009.

Berry's 19 carries for 103 yards and three touchdowns were a team season high, but FIU couldn't make up for the 34 points that their defense initially gave up.

The next week Berry put up another decent performance recording 82 yards on 14 carries and scoring an additional two touchdowns.

He finished the 2009 season with 63 attempts for 264 yards and six touchdowns. His career numbers totaled 345 yards on 77 attempts and six touchdowns.

*UPDATE* 9:30 PM ET - March 26, 2010

Miami Police say they have made an arrest in the stabbing case of Kendall Berry.

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/369462-police-arrest-suspect-in-florida-international-rb-kendall-berrys-murder

Daniel Kablack is a founder of mySportsChat.com and a writer for Whotheman.com

You can follow mySportsChat on Twitter

Paris Hilton is a famous model, singer, author, fashion designer, and actress. Actually, Hilton doesn't seem to really excel at any of those things.

She is just famous for no apparent reason at all.

T.Y. Hilton is a sophomore wide receiver at Florida International University whose immense talent is surpassed sadly by his lack of notoriety in the world of college football.

Last season, Hilton was one of only three freshmen receivers that had over 1,000 yards catching in the FBS. Hilton caught 41 passes for 1,013 yards for an incredible 24.7 yards per catch.

Along with seven touchdowns receiving, Hilton ran for two touchdowns.

Due to his blazing speed and the lack of play makers on the Golden Panthers' roster, Hilton was utilized as the team's return specialist. Hilton averaged 23.4 yards on 36 kick returns and 14.8 yards on 18 punt returns.

Hilton's 2,162 all-purpose yards set the single season record at FIU.

Because of his tremendous skill set, Hilton was selected the Freshman of the Year by the Sun Belt Conference. He was named to the All-SBC First Team as a kick return specialist and all-purpose player.

The only tasks Hilton didn't perform for the Golden Panthers last season were to park cars before the game and sell popcorn at halftime.

In 2008, it didn't take long for Hilton to achieve success. In FIU's first game versus Kansas, Hilton scored a touchdown the first time he touched the ball on a 74-yard punt return.

Against Louisiana-Lafayette, Hilton returned the opening kickoff 90 yards for a touchdown.

In a losing effort, Hilton caught four passes for 99 yards, giving him a season-best 295 all-purpose yards for the game.

An FIU single-game record for receiving yards was set when Hilton had 199 receiving yards on six receptions versus Arkansas State.

To make that game especially memorable for Hilton, he threw the game-winning 38-yard touchdown pass to fellow wide out Junior Mertile.

Hilton showed last year that even at 5'10'', 175 pounds, he can more than handle the punishment that all-purpose players take.

Hilton's impact on the offense may even increase this year as FIU looks for ways to get more passes thrown in his direction.

At Florida International, Hilton is majoring in sports broadcasting. Don't be surprised if Hilton starts doing voice-overs for his own highlight films.

When Mario Cristobal took over Florida International in 2007, he took one small baby step and they won one game.

To most, one game isn't a lot, but to a program that has only been in existence since 2002 and at the FBS level for four years and a first-year head coach, one win was a good step in the right direction.

The second year under Cristobal, that small step turned into a leap forward as one win turned into five. The offense, which ranked 118th in the nation, turned into 96th. The defense went from 105th to 71st.

FIU is no longer one of the teams the Sun Belt opponents look at as an easy win but rather a team that can win, as they also had a couple near-miss losses.

As for the prospects of the 2009 season, a bowl might not be out of the question, but it isn't any sort of sure thing, either.

 

Offense

While the offense finished last in the Sun Belt last season, they also return the second most starters in the conference.

The passing game is the strength. Starting quarterback Paul McCall and his six leading receivers from 2008 are all back along with the entire starting offensive line.

McCall threw for over 2,300 yards and 15 touchdowns but had nine interceptions and only completed 52.5 percent of his passes.

His leading receiver is T.Y. Hilton. His yardage total was over 1,000 and he pulled in seven touchdowns to lead the team. Hilton also serves as a return man and ran back both a punt and kickoff for touchdown last season.

He should again be the main target, but McCall will have plenty of options.

The line is now all seniors an juniors. The experience they have acquired will hopefully translate in to on-field success. Any one of the players here could garner all conference honors by season's end.

The lone dark spot could be the running game. I actually have optimism because, well, I think it probably couldn’t get much worse than it was in 2008. The running game finished at 107th in the nation and last in the conference.

The leading rusher from a year ago is gone but he only had less than 500 yards and six touchdowns. The second leading rusher is actually gone too.

Sophomore Darriet Perry would appear to be the leading candidate to take over the running duties. Perry was a two-star recruit coming out of high school.

He had offers from a number of Sun Belt schools, along with Central Michigan and Illinois. Look for Perry to become a playmaker for FIU and in the Sun Belt.

 

Defense

Under Cristobal and defensive coordinator Phillip Galiano, the defense has been the part of the team that has taken huge bounds.

I question if the defense will improve much more over the next season with six returning starters spread out throughout the different levels of the defense.

Only one starter returns along the line, which makes this my biggest question mark. Only end Armond Willis is back with significant starts. I should mention that at least eight players along the line have some starting experience and playing time.

At the second level, Scott Bryant could very well be an all-conference selection. He led FIU with 89 tackles last season and seven tackles for loss.

Coming out of the spring, redshirt freshman Winston Fraser may have earned a starting spot, or at least significant playing time.

Leading the backs is Anthony Gaitor who led the team in interceptions with five. He took two of those back for scores.

The defensive backs are all over the place in terms of experience. Free safety Ashlyn Parker was Sun Belt honorable mention in 2007.

In 2008, he started the season but was injured in game one and received a redshirt for the season. He is healthy and back for 2009.

Jeremiah Weatherspoon played in all 11 games in 2005 as a freshman and started all 12 in 2006. For some reason, I can't find it, he missed all of 2007 and received a redshirt. He came back in 2008 and started almost the whole season.

With these three back, along with a senior coming in at the other corner, either Dezeriah Johnson or Peter Riley, the secondary could easily be one of the best in the conference.

 

Schedule

The schedule is not friendly to start the season, as they open up with two road games with teams that may very well be candidates to win their respective conferences in Alabama and Rutgers.

It doesn’t get much better towards the end, as they have to travel to Florida before closing with Sun Belt contender FAU.

The middle part, however, provides enough games that could leave FIU with the six wins they need to improve upon last season and become bowl eligible.

If you are betting college football this Saturday, Nov. 29, be sure to visit Touthouse.com for updated college football betting odds, expert college football picks, and NCAA predictions. Click Here to Buy Winning College Football Picks.

Florida International +5.0 (-110): Saturday, Nov. 29, 4:00p

This is a double revenge spot for the Florida International Golden Panthers, who have lost this rivalry matchup each of the last two years including an embarrassing 55-23 defeat at home last season.

Very little separates these teams this season, however, as FIU is averaging 21.9 points per game and giving up 28.0 points per contest, while FAU is scoring 22.3 and allowing 27.5. With numbers this close, this game should come down to intangibles, so the huge revenge motive becomes even more significant here.

Also note that this game is on a neutral field, and FIU has been the more competitive of these teams away from home this season.

The Golden Panthers are averaging a respectable 21.7 points per game on the road, and while they are losing their road games by an average of -10.0 points, that is only because they lost at Iowa 42-0 and at Kansas 40-10. They have more than held their own with teams that are on the same level.

Conversely, FAU has struggled on the road, averaging just 13.3 points while losing by an average of -14.7 points per game. They also looked awful in a 28-14 loss at Arkansas State last week, as the game was not as close as the score would indicate. In fact, the Owls were outgained by a total of 223 yards.

All things considered, this game should be a lot closer to a Pick, so we see good value with Florida International at this price.

CFB Free Pick: Florida International +5 (-110)—Courtesy of LT Profits

Bookmark this page...stay tuned for more free picks coming soon...

FIU has been a doormat in the Sun Belt Conference since they first arrived on the scene.

No longer will that be the case.

FIU has new life in their program with a fiery head coach in Mario Cristobal, a beautiful new stadium, and a flashy freshman in T.Y. "Goodbye" Hilton.

Hilton leads the nation in all-purpose yards with 198.67 yards per game, just ahead of Jeremy Maclin. He is also seventh in the nation in punt return average, 31st in average per kick return, and 25th in average per reception.

In FIU's latest game against Arkansas State, Hilton had over 280 all-purpose yards, including the game-winning 38-yard touchdown pass to Junior Mertile.

Oh yeah, the four wins help too. FIU students are taking notice of the team's improvement, and so are some of Florida's finest recruits.

Currently committed to FIU is Hallandale's very own Korvic Neat. Standing at 5'10" and 170 pounds, his size is not what makes him the biggest threat on the field. Instead he relies on speed—4.3 speed to be exact—shiftiness, and vision to rack up his yards and touchdowns.

If he does sign with FIU, you would be looking at the fastest receiving unit in the Sun Belt. Hilton and fellow true freshman Junior Mertile run 4.3 40s as well.

FIU has found a winning formula, and Cristobal's recruiting is going to keep them winning for years to come.

FIU is looking at becoming bowl eligible for the first time in the history of the program. FIU, now sitting at 4-5 (3-2), would need two wins in their next three games to do so. FIU rounds out the season with games against UL-Monroe at home, Florida Atlantic at Dolphin Stadium, and against Western Kentucky at home for the season finale.

Watch out, Sun Belt. This young Golden Panther squad is only going to get better, much better, in the years to come.

Failure: it's not a pretty thing. The following ten teams, players, and other people have been deemed the worst of the worst for Week Two.

10. Maryland Terrapins

It couldn't get much worse, could it? It's embarrassing enough to barely escape with a win over an FCS team while being predicted to be a seven- or eight-win team, but to lose to Middle Tennessee State University is sad.

MTSU controlled the ball for 40 minutes and completely outplayed Maryland. Kind of funny to think that a team was supposed to be an 7-5, 8-4 team and that was supposed to be able to play with any team in the ACC can lose to and be completely outplayed by a mediocre Sun Belt team.

9. Washington State Cougars

66-3.

A 66-3 loss at home to Cal.

What has happened to the once-good Washington State team? Paul Wulff has had about the worst start possible as the Cougars' head coach, getting whooped by Oklahoma State 39-13 and then this. What is happening in Pullman?

8. Army Black Knights

There's not too big of a problem with losing to Temple if you're Army. Temple is an improving team and might even make it to .500 this year.

But losing to FCS team New Hampshire 28-10?

People gave San Diego State heck for losing to Cal Poly, an FCS team, but SDSU didn't lose to Cal Poly by 18 points. They lost to them by 2.

What a pathetic effort. An 0-12 season is definitely possible now. Maybe they can beat Eastern Michigan. Maybe.

7. The New Arkansas Uniforms

http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd261/cedarpoint13/theseuniformsareterrible.jpg

If I have to see much more of these they could become No. 1 on this list.

6. Virginia Cavaliers

First, you lose 52-7 to USC. Oh, I guess you guys didn't get the notice that you were supposed to put up a little bit of a fight. Then, you score a whopping 16 points (16!) against FCS team Richmond and only get 91 rushing yards on 38 carries.

If you're keeping score at home, that's a pathetic average of 2.4 yards per carry. You only led 3-0 going into the fourth quarter and you didn't even make it a two-possession game until midway through the fourth.

Richmond even got a good drive on you late until you got a lucky interception to stop it. Granted, Virginia will be at best a 4-8 team this year, but this is still pretty sad.

5. Tyler Lorenzen

I'm confused as to how you played so well last year. You have started off the season by throwing four picks and no TDs against two teams that are overly tough to play: FCS team Hofstra and Temple.

You threw three of the picks against Hofstra. You only completed 10 of 22 passes against Temple for a whopping 86 yards. Temple's defense isn't that tough, is it?

4. North Texas Not-So-Mean Green

Look, seriously consider changing your name because lately you haven't even been close to mean. You've been downright polite and nice in allowing teams to rack up yards and points on you.

You've allowed an average of 513 yards in the first two games to Kansas State and Tulsa. You've allowed an average of 51.5 points in the first two games. You've scored an average of 16 points.

If LSU left their starters in the whole game against you coming up this week, they could win 84-3. It's a good thing for you that they'll only score 50 by halftime, just so they won't embarrass you too badly.

3. Idaho Vandals

Good news: They won a game, 42-27.

Bad news: It was against FCS opponent Idaho State, who isn't exactly an FCS power.

2. Florida International Golden Panthers

FIU has been anything but golden since they entered Div. I-A. They shocked me by actually scoring against Kansas (they put up 10 points, losing 40-10). But they went back to their normal ways and got shut out by Iowa, 42-0.

1. Pac-10 Officials

I've already ripped them in another column, but the reason why they're No. 1 is that this is just another bad call in a string of terrible calls over the past few years. I'd honestly rather have Sun Belt officials calling the game.

Honorable mentions

Wyoming's uniforms (team and band), San Diego State, Utah State, Arkansas, Urban Meyer's decision to kick the field goal with 30 seconds left while up by 20, SMU, and Central Florida's overtime playcalling against South Florida.