Scouting the Enemy: FIU Golden Panthers

Record: 0-1 (L 40-10 at Kansas last week) 2007 Record: 1-11 Head Coach: Mario Cristobal (2nd season, 1-12 at FIU) Florida International is picked again to be one of the worst teams in all of Division 1 football this season. Last year, FIU posted a record of 1-11 winning their only game in the last week of the season against North Texas at home. The Golden Panthers lost 59-0 to Penn State and 55-3 to Kansas in non-conference play in 2007. This season they opened the year last week at Kansas and lost 40-10. Most projections have FIU finishing last again in the Sun Belt conference in 2008. With Maine out of the way and the Hawkeyes 1-0, it is now time to scout this Saturday’s enemy. OFFENSE Last season FIU had the worst offense in all of Division 1 football averaging only 15.1 points per game. Nine starters return from last year’s offensive unit including senior tailback A’mod Ned. Ned has led FIU in rushing the past two seasons and rushed for 43 yards on 12 carries in their loss to Kansas. Junior quarterback Paul McCall started his first game for FIU in Week 1 and threw for only 73 yards on 10 of 28 passing with 2 interceptions at Kansas. The biggest threat on FIU is definitely freshman phenom returner T.Y. Hilton. Hilton was a big time recruit from Miami, Florida who returned the first punt of his career 74 yards for FIU’s only touchdown last week. In high school Hilton drew some comparisons another Florida native, Devin Hester. Keep an eye on Hilton and how Iowa’s special teams try to cover him. DEFENSE The Golden Panther defense was also one of the nation’s worst in 2007. FIU’s opponents scored on average 39 points per game and racked up just under 450 yards per game. One of the few bright spots on defense is returning cornerback Robert Mitchell. The senior led FIU with 13 tackles against Kansas and also recorded a sack. The Golden Panthers did force a fumble and intercept one pass against the JayHawks, but also allowed KU quarterback Todd Reesing to throw for 250 yards and 3 touchdowns. Iowa will face their second straight opponent for the first time as Saturday marks the first meeting ever between the Hawkeyes and Florida International. FIU joined Division 1 and the Sun Belt Conference in 2005 and have finished last in each of the past two seasons. The Golden Panthers have had only one win in their past 25 games and don’t expect Saturday to be the second. Florida International will probably be the weakest opponent Iowa plays all year and should provide an easy victory before the hated Iowa State Cyclones come to town in two weeks.