MIAMI – The honeymoon is over at FIU for head coach Butch Davis.
The taste of that coaching champagne barely lasted because of a “turnover chain” (Miami head coach Mark Richt) and a head coach who was having a party in Boca Raton at Florida Atlantic University (Lane Kiffin).
The lack of attention does not diminish how great it was for Davis and his coaching staff to plunge in, come up with eight wins, and get to a bowl – even if it was a disaster of a 28-3 loss to the Temple Owls in the Gasparilla Bowl.
This year, it’s about being more consistent. It’s also making sure that you prove yourself in crucial South Florida games this season against Miami (No. 8; AP Preseason Poll) and defending Conference USA champion FAU (38 votes; AP Preseason Poll).
Now more than ever, the Panthers (8-5 last season) will relish the opportunity to make the term “rivalry” actually mean something.
The beat goes on, even as vital skill players are gone from this team. It always happens in college football, as some will either simply graduate, transfer to another school, or go on to the professional football ranks (NFL, CFL, AFL, etc.).
Offensively, the veterans were extremely valuable last season, as quarterback and now-FIU alum Alex McGough was one of them. But McGough, leading rusher and fellow FIU alum Alex Gardner, and star receiver/FIU alum Thomas Owens are all finished, as new playmakers will be needed to step up more than ever.
It has been a busy offseason at the all-important quarterback position for FIU. Former Bowling Green quarterback James Morgan is more than just some typical football player; he cares about law school and indeed wants to become a lawyer.
“As much as you can you try to learn, you try to visualize, watch the film, draw things up,” Morgan said at FIU Media Day on Aug. 8. “Something that as I get more reps, it will come to me.”
Maurice Alexander has experience, but he’s moving to receiver.
Christian Alexander has a big arm to take over the job, but Morgan is ready to step in and play. His interceptions will raise eyebrows.
With that said, FIU has had time to clear away the confetti and find a way to improve his offense this offseason.
The Panthers could not do anything consistently on offense last season. They scored just 27 more points than the 2016 version, and that’s including the one bowl game played this past December.
Defensively, the Panthers lost five of their top six tacklers. They have to find a way to replace playmaking linebackers Anthony Wint and Treyvon Williams, who combined for 184 stops.
Overall, seven starters are gone, with all four parts of the starting secondary needing to be replaced.
Fermin Silva is expected to be one of the best linebacker/defensive ends in Conference USA.
“The team expectations are to get better,” Silva said. “My goal is just to help my team out and do what the coaches need me to do. It’s all about the team.”
The Panthers have South Florida pride on their roster. This includes a group of players from the heart of Palm Beach County, which includes the following:
RB Shawndarrius Phillips (Delray Beach Atlantic alum)
WR Cadarius Gaskin (Delray Beach Atlantic alum)
RB/ST Josh Powell (Sunocast alum),
DL Milord Juste (Palm Beach Gardens alum)
DL Jamal Gates (Dwyer alum)
DL Noah Curtis (Delray Beach American Heritage alum)
DL Jason Mercier (Delray Beach Atlantic alum).
All seven of our homegrown Palm Beach County players bring a much-welcomed mix of veteran experience and youth to the team. They will have a chance to make a name for themselves and will be essential to FIU’s potential success this season.
BOTTOM LINE: It is bowl game or bust for FIU.
The Panthers will need at least six wins to qualify for a bowl game, but they’ll want to win at least seven total. That’s the foundation.
They cannot lose to the likes of UMass, Rice and Arkansas-Pine Bluff at home. Beating Middle Tennessee and Florida Atlantic at home will help improve their image and give them the attention they lost last season.
FIU’s first game of the season is a non-conference home game against Indiana (Big 10 program/Power 5 school). It’s scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 1 with a kickoff time of 7 p.m. at Riccardo Silva Stadium.
Editor’s Note: West Lamy is the founder/publisher of his own sports website, www.worldwidewest.com. He is a contributor to New Era Prep for college football coverage.
