2021 FIU Football October 23 Game Program

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F I U PA N T H E R S

T O N I G H T ,S G A M E : W K U Welcome to Homecoming 2021! The FIU Panthers open the second half of the season tonight against the visiting Hilltoppers of WKU. FIU and WKU have met a total of 14 times with the Hilltoppers holding a slight 8-6 advantage all-time. Tonight’s game can be exclusively streamed on ESPN+ and listened to on 105.5 FM and on the iHeartRadio App. FIU enters tonight’s matchup with 1-5 record after falling to Charlotte 45-33 on October 8 inside of FIU Stadium. The WKU Hilltoppers bring a 2-4 record to The Cage and are coming off a 43-20 victory over division foe Old Dominion on October 16. WKU arrives in Miami with a 1-2 record on the road in 2021. Last time out, the electrifying passing attack, led by quarterback Max Bortenschlager and Tyrese Chambers, was the only bright spot for the Panthers against Charlotte. Borthenschlager set a new program record with 466 passing yards and tied the record for most touchdown passes in a game with four. Chambers, on the receiving end of things, tied T.Y. Hilton’s record for most receiving yards in a game with 201 yards on three catches.

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INFORMATION ABOUT RICCARDO SILVA STADIUM

F I U PA N T H E R S

PLEASE STAY OFF THE FIELD For the safety of participants and spectators alike, at no time before, during and after a game shall spectators be permitted to enter the playing field. Access will be limited to participating student-athletes, coaches, officials, support personnel and properly credentialed individuals. While we love the enthusiasm of our fans, serious injury can occur to fans, coaching staff and student-athletes. For more information, contact Riccardo Silva Stadium Managers Office at 305-348-4327

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INFORMATION ABOUT RICCARDO SILVA STADIUM ACCESS - All guests must have a ticket for admittance to Riccardo Silva Stadium. Children ages two (2) and under are not required to have a ticket - they may attend free of charge provided that they sit on an adult’s lap during the game. The FIU students entrance is free with a valid student I.D. only. Student guests must purchase a game ticket for admittance.

F I U PA N T H E R S

CLEAR BAG GUIDELINES – Each ticket holder, including children, may carry one approved clear bag, such as a one-gallon clear plastic storage bag (Zip lock bag or similar), plus a small purse about the size of a hand. The following bags will be permitted inside FIU athletic facilities and are subject to search.

TICKETS - Assistance with any ticket issues can be obtained by contacting the FIU Athletics Ticket Office, located on the west side of Riccardo Silva Stadium at the University Credit Union Box Office and by calling 305-348-4263.

• A clear plastic bag that does not exceed 12” by 6” by 12”. • Clutch or small purse, with or without a strap that does not exceed 6.5” by 4.5”. • Equipment bag for necessary medical items.

ALCOHOL GUIDELINES - Alcoholic beverages are not permitted to be brought into Riccardo Silva Stadium. Beer can be purchased at designated concession stands inside the stadium. Fans must be 21 years of age or older with a valid I.D. to purchase alcohol. There is a limit of two beers that may be purchased at a time (limit of four during the event) and the sale of alcohol will conclude at the end of the third quarter. Sections 102 and 109 are alcohol free sections and the consuming of alcoholic beverages is prohibited in these sections.

• Diapers and wipes can be carried in a clear bag for age-appropriate children accompanied by an adult. Prohibited bags include, but are not limited to: large purses, coolers, briefcases, backpacks, fanny packs, mesh bags, or any bag larger than the permissible size. Tinted or printed-pattern plastic bags are not clear, so they will not be permitted. Fans can wear or carry items such as binoculars, hand-held electronic devices, and cameras (with lenses shorter than four inches) without carrying cases. Fans may carry in seat cushions that will be screened upon entry.

DISABLED SEATING - Seating for guests with disabilities is located throughout Riccardo Silva Stadium on the first and second level concourses with ramps and elevator access. Customers who require special assistance are urged to make all ticket arrangements well in advance by contacting the FIU Athletics Ticket Office at 305-348-4263.

FIU is committed to maintaining a safe environment at all athletic events. This is an important step in achieving that. PROHIBITED ITEMS - Items prohibited from all Riccardo Silva Stadium events include: any outside food/beverages, illegal drugs, playing balls, umbrellas, pets (except for certified service dogs for disabled patrons), bottles, cans, flasks, thermoses, ice bags, ice chests, coolers, picnic baskets, boom boxes, firearms, incendiary devices (fireworks, smoke bombs, etc.), artificial noisemakers, musical instruments, flag poles, confetti, weapons, hover boards, laser pointers, drone-type aircraft or any item deemed hazardous by FIU Stadium management personnel. Those with illegal drugs or incendiary devices are subject to ejection and/or arrest. Authorities are allowed to inspect patrons, and their bags, upon entering Riccardo Silva Stadium for the

GATES OPEN - All admission gates open 60 minutes prior to kick-off. At that time, all concession stands will be operational and all security and ushers will be in place. For the purpose of spectator safety, authorities are allowed to inspect patrons and their bags upon entering Riccardo Silva Stadium. PARKING - For quick and convenient access to and from Riccardo Silva Stadium, there are several free parking lots on the FIU Modesto A. Maidique Campus. Lot 7 has now been designated as a Pay Lot. Please remember if you park at a meter, you must pay for your stay. Please go to parking.fiu.edu/tailgating for more information on FIU football game day parking. 5


INFORMATION ABOUT RICCARDO SILVA STADIUM

purpose of spectator safety. No backpacks will be allowed into FIU Stadium. Baby strollers need to be kept clear of all aisle ways and must be checked upon entering the Stadium. All items (packages) are subject to search. No sitting in the aisles. No standing on the bleachers/seats. Ushers will restrict entrance to the field and premium areas allowing only credentialed personnel access. FIU staff reserves the right to prohibit any additional items.

LOST AND FOUND - All lost items found are brought to the University Credit Union Box Office located in the Kirk R. Landon Field House and will be held for thirty days. All individuals can call 305-348-4263 or visit the University Credit Union Box Office to see if your item(s) has been found.

GUEST SERVICES - FIU is committed to provide fans the ultimate game day experience. Should you have any questions or need assistance, Guest Services centers are located inside Riccardo Silva Stadium at Gates 3 and 4, and Gates 8 and 9, for your convenience.

SMOKING POLICY - FIU’s Modesto A. Maidique Campus is a smoke-free campus. Smoking anywhere in the stadium or on campus is prohibited.

RE-ENTRY - There is no re-entry into the stadium for all Riccardo Silva Stadium ticketed events.

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COVID 19 UPDATE FOOTBALL GAME DAY PROTOCOLS

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A S M I A M I ’ S O N LY P U B L I C R E S E A R C H U N I V E R S I T Y, F I U I S I N S E R V I C E T O T H E C O M M U N I T Y. For more than four decades, FIU has been one of South Florida’s anchor institutions, working to solve some of the greatest challenges of our time. Designated a toptier research institution, FIU emphasizes research as a major component of the university’s mission. Preeminent Programs such as the Center for Children and Families and the Extreme Events Institute actively enhance FIU’s ability to set new standards. FIU also supports artistic and cultural engagement through its three museums: Patricia & Phillip Frost Art Museum, The Wolfsonian-FIU and the Jewish Museum of Florida-FIU. The university has collectively graduated more than 270,000 alumni, 120,000 alumni staying to live and work in Florida.

58,000 ENROLLMENT

270,000+ ALUMNI AROUND THE WORLD

TOP 100

PUBLIC UNIVERSITY IN THE COUNTRY, U.S. NEWS & WORLD REPORT

2010

THE YEAR THE PANTHERS CAPTURED THEIR FIRST BOWL WIN IN SCHOOL HISTORY—DEFEATING THE UNIVERSITY OF TOLEDO 34-32 AT THE LITTLE CAESAR’S PIZZA BOWL IN DETROIT, MICHIGAN

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TOP OF THE CLASS FIU PROGRAMS ACROSS THE ACADEMIC SPECTRUM ARE RANKED IN THE TOP 50 AMONG PUBLIC UNIVERSITIES, ACCORDING TO U.S.NEWS & WORLD REPORT RANKINGS RELEASED IN 2021.

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CATEGORY OF HURRICANE WINDS PRODUCED BY FIU’S WALL OF WIND (WOW), THE LARGEST AND MOST POWERFUL UNIVERSITY RESEARCH FACILITY OF ITS KIND


R1

CARNEGIE CLASSIFICATION FOR HIGHEST RESEARCH ACTIVITY

WHO WE SERVE FIU’s dynamic student body reflects the vibrant diversity of South Florida:

4%

Asian or Pacific Islander

7%

Other Minority Groups

63

NUMBER OF FEET BELOW THE SURFACE WHERE FIU’S AQUARIUS REEF BASE IS LOCATED. IT IS THE WORLD’S ONLY UNDERWATER OCEAN LABORATORY.

2020

THE CHRONICLE OF HIGHER EDUCATION NAMED FIU ONE OF THE “GREAT COLLEGES TO WORK FOR” THE FIFTH YEAR!

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13% 61

%

Hispanic

Black

15%

White Non-Hispanic




BUTCH DAVIS HEAD FOOTBALL COACH

F I U PA N T H E R S

BUTCH DAVIS HEAD FOOTBALL COACH while coaching the University of Miami (1995-00). In that span, Davis recruited and/or coached more than 120 players that made it to the NFL, 35 of which were firstround draft picks. Davis coached in the NFL for 10 years and is still the only head coach to take the expansion Cleveland Browns to the playoffs in 2002, while winning a pair of Super Bowl rings as an assistant coach with the Dallas Cowboys in the early 1990s. During his 14-year collegiate coaching career, Davis guided his teams to 10 bowl games, winning six of them, including a 37-20 victory over the Florida Gators in the 2001 Sugar Bowl.

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n Nov. 15, 2016, Butch Davis was named the fourth head coach of the FIU football program, returning to South Florida where he made a name for himself as one of the premier minds in football. A man with a proven record of success and an unyielding commitment to excellence, Davis has brought an identity and a swell of energy to the FIU football program. Davis will enter his fifth season at FIU in 2021. Davis has compiled a 102-64 overall record in 14 years as a college head coach, including three BIG EAST Championships 14

In just three seasons, Davis has transformed the football program and has instilled a winning tradition at FIU after taking the Panthers to three-straight bowl appearances and setting a school-record for wins (9) in 2018. Davis has also won 23 games in his first three seasons at the helm, which is the most by any Panther football coach in a three-year span. Davis is also responsible for the program’s biggest victory, after defeating the Miami Hurricanes 30-24 at Marlins Park in 2019. Three players have been taken in the NFL Draft under Davis, with two of those being quarterbacks in Alex McGough and James Morgan. FIU joined Oklahoma, LSU and Washington State as the only schools in the country to have multiple quarterbacks drafted from 2018-2020. Furthermore, FIU has had more quarterbacks selected during the 2018-20 span than all other Florida FBS schools (Florida, Florida State, FAU, Miami, UCF and USF) combined in their last five drafts.


BUTCH DAVIS HEAD FOOTBALL COACH

The 2019 season was one of resiliency, as the Panthers bounced back from an 0-2 start and injuries to earn another bowl bid to end the year. FIU finished the year with a 6-7 mark and closed out the season with a first-time trip to the Camellia Bowl in Montgomery, Alabama. The Panthers lost a high-scoring affair to Arkansas State but not without setting numerous individual offensive records in the process. The 2019 season was highlighted by a 30-24 victory over the Miami Hurricanes at Marlins Park in late November, as the Panthers pulled off the biggest win in program history. In addition to claiming bragging rights for the city of Miami, the win also made the Panthers bowl eligible for the thirdstraight season. In 2018, the Panthers capped the season with a 35-32 victory over Toledo at the Makers Wanted Bahamas Bowl as FIU finished the year with a school-best 9-4 mark. Additionally, the Panthers earned a 6-2 record in C-USA action, which was also a school record. The Panthers broke records statistically as well, most notably on the offensive side as FIU set new season marks in points (450), touchdowns (58), total offense (5,480), yards per play (6.38), passing touchdowns (27), passing yards (3,194), passer efficiency (154.7), completion percentage (65.5), yards per pass (8.3), rushing touchdowns (27), yards per rush (4.80) and sacks allowed (8). Nationally, the Panthers ranked in the Top 10 among FBS schools for sacks allowed (3rd overall, 8 allowed), tackles for loss allowed (4th overall, 3.77), fumbles lost (9th overall, five lost) and turnovers lost (9th overall, 13 lost) in 2018. The FIU air attack was also highly ranked nationally, with the Panthers’ passer efficiency of 154.7 ranking 12th in the country, while FIU’s 34.6 points per game ranked 27th overall. Davis also saw a school-record 17 Panthers earn All-CUSA honors, highlighted by first team selections Sage Lewis and Maurice Alexander.

F I U PA N T H E R S

Much of 2018’s success on offense was due to quarterback James Morgan, who Davis coached to a C-USA Newcomer of the Year honor in his first season with the Panthers. Morgan set single-season records for touchdowns responsible for (27), total offense (2,708), passing touchdowns (26), passing yards (2,727) and passer efficiency (157.6). In Davis’ first season at FIU, the Panthers matched a school record in wins (8), before later breaking the mark in 2018. The Panthers also earned the school’s first bowl berth since the 2011 season as FIU played Temple in the Bad Boy Mowers Gasparilla Bowl. The 8-5 mark during the regular season was the best record of any firstyear head coach at FIU. FIU finished the 2017 regular season leading the nation in red zone scoring offense converting 98 percent of its redzone chances (39-of-40), which includes 30 touchdowns. Davis’ 2017 FIU squad not only matched the school record in wins, but the 2017 Panthers finished the regular season throwing for the second-most yards (3,031) and rushing for the third-most yards (2,069) in school history. The offense also totaled the third-most yards (5,100) and FIU scored the third-most points (333) in a season. Defensively, the Panthers’ 28.0 sacks ranked third in a single-season and the 75 tackles for loss tied for seventh overall. Davis also saw 12 Panthers earn All-CUSA honors highlighted by first team selection Thomas Owens. Davis came to FIU after serving as a college football studio analyst, while also contributing to coverage on College Football Live, ESPN Radio, ESPN.com and SportsCenter since 2014. Before joining ESPN, Davis served as a consultant to the head coach for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the 2012 and ‘13 seasons. Prior to that, Davis had a long successful coaching career, including head 15


BUTCH DAVIS HEAD FOOTBALL COACH

coaching positions with the University of North Carolina (2007-10), the Cleveland Browns (2001-04) and the University of Miami (1995-00). Davis spent four seasons at North Carolina, taking the Tar Heels to three-straight bowl games to end his tenure in Chapel Hill. Davis’ UNC teams earned eight wins in his final three years, while capping the 2010 season with a thrilling, 30-27 victory over Tennessee in the Music City Bowl. Davis was head coach for six seasons at Miami (1995-2000) and led the Hurricanes to a 51-20 record, three Big East Conference championships and four postseason bowl wins in as many appearances. His Hurricane teams finished ranked in the Associated Press Top 25 on four occasions, including No. 2 in the nation in 2000, when the Canes went 11-1 and beat Florida, 37-20, in the Sugar Bowl. Davis left Coral Gables following the 2000 season to join the Cleveland Browns. In his first season in Cleveland in 2001, Davis led his young team to an impressive 7-9 record, exceeding by two the expansion club’s combined victories from 1999 and 2000 (5-27). His second season as head coach resulted in the Browns earning their first playoff appearance and best regular season mark since 1994, despite 34 of the 53 players on the team’s final active roster having four years of NFL experience or less. Cleveland was Davis’ second stint in the NFL. While with the Cowboys from 1989-94, Davis helped Dallas post one of the most spectacular turnarounds in sports history as the Cowboys went from a lowly 1-15 squad in 1989 to one of the most dominant NFL programs in the 1990s. He was the defensive line coach in the Cowboys’ 52-17 win over Buffalo in Super Bowl XXVII and served as defensive coordinator in the Cowboys’ 30-13 win over Buffalo in Super

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F I U PA N T H E R S

Bowl XXVIII. Davis was also defensive coordinator during Barry Switzer’s first season as head coach in 1994 and helped Dallas reach the NFC Championship Game, where eventual Super Bowl champion San Francisco denied its bid for a three-peat. He coached three Pro Bowl starters while with the Cowboys – future Hall of Famer Charles Haley, Leon Lett and Darren Woodson. From 1979-94, Davis had a successful 15-year association with Jimmy Johnson, first as a receivers and tight ends coach at Oklahoma State University (1979-83), then as a defensive line coach at the University of Miami and ending with the Dallas Cowboys, where he started as a defensive line coach and was promoted to defensive coordinator. His coaching career began as a volunteer assistant in 1973 at Fayetteville High School in Arkansas. He had stints in Oklahoma at Pawhuska High School (1974-75) and Sand Springs High School (1976-77) as an assistant coach and at Tulsa Rogers High School (1978) in his first head coaching assignment before joining Johnson’s staff at Oklahoma State in 1979. In addition to coaching, Davis also spent 1973-78 as a biology and anatomy teacher on the high school level. A native of Bixby, Oklahoma, Davis earned a bachelor’s degree in biology and life science from the University of Arkansas in 1974, where he played tight end and defensive end for the Razorbacks under Head Coach Frank Boyles.


THE BUTCH DAVIS FILE

F I U PA N T H E R S

Davis Yearly Coaching History

1998 (UM) 9-3 Ranked #20 AP, #21 coaches

2017-present FIU - head coach

1997 (UM) 5-6

2007-10 University of North Carolina head coach

1996 (UM) 9-3 Ranked #14 in both polls Big East co-champions

2001-04 Cleveland Browns - head coach

1995 (UM) 8-3 Ranked #20 AP Big East co-champions FIU (5 yrs) 23-21 UNC (4 yrs) 28-23 UM (6 yrs) 51-20

1995-2000 University of Miami - head coach 1989-94 Dallas Cowboys - assistant (defensive line 1989-92, defensive coordinator & linebackers 1993-94)

Total 102-64

1984-88 University of Miami - assistant (defensive line)

Pre- or Postseason History

1979-83 Oklahoma State University assistant (tight ends, receivers)

FIU (head coach) 2020 FIU (0-5) Season shortened 2019 FIU (6-7) Defeated Miami at Marlins Park, earned third-straight bowl berth 2019 Camellia Bowl vs. Arkansas State 2018 Makers Wanted Bahamas Bowl vs. Toledo 2017 Bad Boy Mowers Gasparilla Bowl vs. Temple

1978 Tulsa Rogers (Okla.) High School head coach 1976-77 Sand Springs (Okla.) High School assistant (offensive line, outside linebackers) 1974-75 Pawhuska (Okla.) High School assistant (offensive, defensive lines)

North Carolina (head coach) 2010 Music City vs. Tennessee 2009 Meineke Car Care vs. Pittsburgh 2008 Meineke Car Care vs. West Virginia

1973 Fayetteville (Ark.) High School volunteer assistant (receivers)

Miami (head coach) 2001 Sugar vs. Florida 2000 Gator vs. Georgia Tech 1999 Kickoff Classic vs. Ohio State 1998 Micron PC vs. NC State 1996 Carquest vs. Virginia

Year-by-Year Collegiate Head Coaching Record 2019 FIU (6-7) Defeated Miami at Marlins Park, earned third-straight bowl berth 2018 (FIU) 9-4 Won Makers Wanted Bahamas Bowl, broke school record with 9 wins

Miami (assistant coach) 1989 Orange vs. Nebraska 1988 Orange vs. Oklahoma 1987 Fiesta vs. Penn State 1986 Sugar vs. Tennessee 1985 Fiesta vs. UCLA

2017 (FIU) 8-5 Bad Boy Mowers Gasparilla Bowl first FIU Bowl bid since 2011; School record 8 wins 2010 (UNC) 8-5 First bowl victory for Carolina in nine seasons

Oklahoma State (assistant coach) 1983 Bluebonnet Bowl vs. Baylor 1981 Independence Bowl vs. Texas A&M

2009 (UNC) 8-5 Carolina made back-to-back bowl games for first time in a decade

Super Bowls

2008 (UNC) 8-5 Carolina returned to rankings for the first time since 2001

Dallas Cowboys, Super Bowl XXVII vs. Buffalo (assistant coach)

2007 (UNC) 4-8

Dallas Cowboys, Super Bowl XXVIII vs. Buffalo (defensive coordinator)

2000 (UM) 11-1 Ranked #2 in both polls Big East champions 1999 (UM) 9-4 Ranked #15 in both polls 17


THE BUTCH DAVIS FILE

F I U PA N T H E R S

First-round draft picks coached or recruited by Davis as head coach Miami or North Carolina

Mike Rumph (CB), Andre Johnson (WR), Jerome McDougle (DE), Willis McGahee (RB), William Joseph (DT), Sean Taylor (S), Kellen Winslow (TE), Jonathan Vilma (LB), D.J. Williams (LB), Vernon Carey (OT), Vince Wilfork (DT), Antrel Rolle (CB), Kelly Jennings (CB)

Miami (28): Ray Lewis (LB), Yatil Green (WR), Kennard Lang (DE), Kenny Holmes (DE), Duane Starks (CB), Edgerrin James (RB), Bubba Franks (TE), Dan Morgan (LB), Damion Lewis (DT), Santana Moss (WR), Reggie Wayne (WR), Bryant McKinnie (OT), Jeremy Shockey (TE), Phillip Buchannon (CB), Ed Reed (S),

North Carolina (7): Kentwan Balmer (DT), Hakeem Nicks (WR), Robert Quinn (DE), Quinton Coples (DE), Jonathan Cooper (OG), Sylvester Williams (DT), Eric Ebron (TE)

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2021 FOOTBALL COACHING STAFF

Butch Davis Head Coach

Everett Withers Assistant Coach Defensive Coordinator/Safeties

Drew Davis Assistant Coach Tight Ends/Pass Game Coordinator

Randall McCray Assistant Coach Linebackers

Andrew Breiner Assistant Coach Offensive Coordinator/ Wide Receivers

Tim Harris, Jr. Assistant Coach Cornerbacks

Bryn Renner Assistant Coach Quarterbacks

Max Rodriguez Graduate Assistant a

Casey Horny Assistant Coach Special Teams Coordinator

Joel Rodriguez Assistant Coach Offensive Line

Habby Contreras Graduate Assistant 22

Deke Adams Assistant Coach Defensive Line/Run Game Coordinator

Sean Binckes Graduate Assistant Offense

Robert Delaney Graduate Assistant


2021 FOOTBALL SUPPORT STAFF

F I U PA N T H E R S

Jed Keime Director of Football Operations

Joe Hausman Assistant Director of Operations/Social Media Coordinator

JT Hill Director of Recruitment/Player Personnel/Pro Liaison

Tia Withers Assistant Director of Football Operations/Executive Assistant to the Head Coach

Micheal Lombardo Football Video Coordinator

Ricky Walterman Head Equipment Manager

Max Zilberberg Assistant Equipment Manager

Amanda McCall Football Administrative Specialist

Dustin West Associate Athletic Trainer

John Johnson Assistant Athletic Trainer 23

Andreu Swasey Director of Strength and Conditioning


PANTHER ATHLETIC FUND

F I U PA N T H E R S

Dear Panther Fans, As we reflect on this past year, we are incredibly proud of our student-athletes’ successes on and off the field. A few noteworthy highlights include the following: •

The FIU Athletic Department continues to maintain a level of academic excellence, posting the highest term grade point average on record (3.53) this past spring. It marks the 10th-straight semester in which FIU has posted a department GPA of 3.0-or-better.

A total of 282 student-athletes earned Conference USA honor roll distinctions, with the Panthers leading the league for the second-straight year for that category.

Additionally, FIU posted a department-record 66 student-athletes with a 4.0 or higher for the last term.

The FIU football team earned a school-record thirdstraight trip to a bowl game, as the Panthers faced Arkansas State in the Camellia Bowl. The highlight of the football team’s 2019 season came in the 30-24 victory over the Miami Hurricanes at Marlins Park.

FIU had two football players selected in the 2020 NFL Draft, James Morgan went in the fourth round to the New York Jets and Stantley Thomas-Oliver III taken in the seventh round by the Carolina Panthers. FIU is one of just four schools in the nation to have multiple quarterbacks taken in the draft since 2018, joining Oklahoma, LSU and Washington State.

The FIU swimming and diving program won its sixthstraight Conference USA title to highlight the 201920 season. Following the 2019-20 season, Jasmine Nocentini was named co-Swimmer of the Year and Freshman Swimmer of the Year, while Maha Gouda was tabbed Diver of the Year, Mandy Song earned Freshman Diver of the Year and Julia Miranda garnered Newcomer of the Year laurels.

The FIU swimming and diving trio of Nocentini, Gouda and Song all qualified for NCAAs in their respective events.

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PANTHER ATHLETIC FUND

F I U PA N T H E R S

The FIU men’s basketball team earned 19 wins and opened the C-USA Tournament with an 85-76 win over Rice, before the season was cancelled due to the COVID-19 outbreak.

After leading the nation in blocks (122) and blocks per game (3.81), Osasumwen Osaghae was named C-USA Defensive Player of the Year.  As a team, the Panthers led the country in blocks (210) and blocks per game (6.6).

Following their stellar play for the FIU men’s soccer team on the pitch, Andrew Booth was named the Conference USA Midfielder of the Year, while Nick O’Callaghan earned Conference USA co-Defensive MVP honors. Alessandro Campoy earned the C-USA Golden Boot Award, which is given to the top goal-scorer in C-USA play.

A trio of Panthers for the men’s soccer team were taken in the 2020 MLS SuperDraft as Daniel Gagliardi, Nick O’Callaghan and Andrew Booth were selected. The three selections in one year were a new high for the men’s soccer program, while FIU has had at least one player taken in the MLS SuperDraft in the past three seasons.

Prior to the season being cut short due to the COVID-19 outbreak, the FIU baseball team was off to its best start since 2014. Following the conclusion of the season, Logan Allen was selected by the Cleveland Indians in the second round of COVIDshortened MLB Draft, becoming the third-highest pick in program history.

This would never have been possible without the generous support of our Panther Athletic Fund (PAF) members. Through your philanthropic gifts, you are investing in the future of FIU Athletics and our exceptional student-athletes. Your gift will be used to propel our athletic program and enhance our ability to recruit high-caliber athletes. The following pages provide information about our Football Leadership Fund (FLF) and our PAF. We hope you will consider assisting us in continuing to build a first-class athletic program for our deserving community and dedicated student-athletes. Thank you for your support of FIU Athletics and we look forward to seeing you at our next athletic event! Go Panthers! Sincerely,

Pete Garcia FIU Executive Director of Sports & Entertainment 25


FOOTBALL LEADERSHIP FUND

PENDING UPDATE

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FOOTBALL LEADERSHIP FUND

F I U PA N T H E R S

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THE PANTHER ATHLETIC FUND

F I U PA N T H E R S

The PAF is the primary fundraising initiative that provides our alumni, donors, parents and friends the opportunity to directly support FIU Athletics. Your donations to the PAF ensure that philanthropic gifts make a positive and immediate impact on the lives of our 425+ student-athletes and 18 teams. This effort also improves our ability to recruit high-caliber student-athletes who will continue to raise the profile of FIU Athletics on a national stage. Mission: The mission of the Panther Athletic Fund is to ensure that we recruit and develop studentathletes who will perform successfully in the classroom and compete at a championship level in every sport. Our donors can partner with FIU Athletics for the advancement of the program and have the satisfaction of knowing that their gifts are an investment in the lives of our student-athletes. These generous gifts provide the necessary resources for the academic foundation and character building traits learned through the optimal collegiate athletic experience. Vision: The PAF is vital to the success of FIU Athletics. With the ever-increasing cost of education and competing at the Division I level, a dynamic donor base is critical to showcasing our strongest teams. Your support will guarantee that our coaches and student-athletes have everything they need to compete for Conference USA and national championships. Members of the PAF enhance the FIU student-athlete’s experience on the field, in the classroom and throughout the community. Goals of the Panther Athletic Fund: • Enhancing the level of athletic and academic support provided to all 425+ student-athletes • Increasing the level of competition for all 18 athletic programs • Improving the practice and training facilities and resources available to all student athletes • Attracting and retaining the best possible coaches, assistants and administrators • Improving and enhancing current technology, equipment and tools to allow our student athletes to have the greatest opportunity for success Ways to Give: • Gifts in support of the general PAF • Make a gift to a specific sport and/or project • Refer a friend to give to the PAF • Purchase of football and basketball season tickets (donation component) • Company matching programs • Create an endowment • Leave your legacy with an estate or planned gift For more information regarding PAF benefit levels, please visit www.FIUSports.com/ PAF or contact us at PAF@fiu.edu.

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GIVE TO THE PANTHER ATHLETIC FUND

F I U PA N T H E R S

Support FIU Athletics and our student-athletes today! Choose your amount: o $50 o $100

o $500

o Other amount: _____________________

Designation: o Athletics Scholarships o Women’s Campaign o Individual Sport: _______________________________________________________________ Contact Information: Name: __________________________________________________________________________ Address: ________________________________________________________________________ City, State, Zip: __________________________________________________________________ o This is my preferred mailing address Phone:___________________________________________________________________________ o This is my preferred phone number Email: __________________________________________________________________________ o This is my preferred email address Twitter: @________________________________________________________________________ Are you an FIU Alumnus? o Yes o No If yes, please provide the following information: College/School: ___________________________________Graduation Year: _______________ Are you a former student-athlete?

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Payment Information: Credit Card Name as it appears on card: _______________________________________________________ Card Number: ___________________________________________________________________ Expiration Date: _____________ CVV Code: ____________ ZIP Code: ____________________ Billing Address: o Same as above If billing address is different from address listed above, fill out the information requested below. Name: __________________________________________________________________________ Address: ________________________________________________________________________ City, State, Zip: __________________________________________________________________ Signature: _______________________________________________________________________ Check Make check payable to The FIU Foundation, Inc. All donations to the PAF are tax deductible. Please consult a tax professional for details. We encourage you to give online by visiting: FIUSPORTS.COM/PAF 29


2020-21 PANTHER ATHLETIC FUND DONORS Academy Bus, LLC Adalio T. Sanchez Aguaviva TMLLC Albert Lorenzo Alexander J. Kelley Alexandra C. Mayhew Alissa R. Dasse Allen L. Cueli Alyssa R. Whitehead Ana J. Pineda Ana M. Price Andrew B. Auguste Andrew C. Walker Andrew H. Davis Angelina Roque Anna M. Price Annette Francis Barnett Anthony A. Rionda Arnaldo Rodriguez Art-Tech Promotionals, Inc. Austin Shenton Berman J. Lezama Bernardo B. Fernandez Bernnon Artola Betsy G. Stephenson Betty H. Cortelli Boulevard Management Bradley Saxton Brandon Ballard Brandy Norton Brian A. Raue Brianna J. Finch Bryn K. Renner C & C Insurance. Inc. Camilo Motta Carlos A. Becerra Carlos A. Duart Carole Black Catharine D. Vale CenterState Bank Charlyn Cooper Chelsey L. Grenier Christina L. Anderson Christina Wilcoxson Christopher R. Ponce

Clare Frantz Claudia Puig Clinton Stewart Cory O. Nelms Crystal Sutton-Bullington Damione R. Lewis Daniel A. Merida Daniel Denis Daniel P. Stinson Daniel Wendt Daron Forbes David A. Hondal David H. Cason III David H. Snider David Hollywood DigitalEra Group, LLC Donald G. McCarthy Dru Walters Eduardo A. Gamarra Eduardo A. Lombard Eduardo Del Riego Eduardo Merille Eduardo R. Ferrer El Pagnier K. Hudson Elysia Handy Emilio A. Vazquez Emily Cordovi Envision Physician Services Erick Diaz Estefania C. Eiroa Ester F. Mesa Felecia D. Vines Townsend Fidelity Investments Charitable Services First Horizon Bank Francisco G. Cabrera Gabriel Rodriguez Gamaliel Melendez-Robles George E. Daubert Gipsy Velez Gordon C. Murray Guillermo GonzalezMiranda Gus Guardiola Heath L. Glick 30

F I U PA N T H E R S

Henry D. Castillo Herzen Cortes Constandse Howard J. Spiegel Humberto Cabañas Hunter T. Allen Ignacio Gayo Iris R. Breitner-Varona Jacob I. Barendregt James P. Vollono Javier I. Marques Jean M. Byron Jeanie M. Gillespie Jeanmarie Madison Jeanne Lufkin Jedidiah T. Keime Jeffrey D. Copp Jenelle M. Cunningham Jennifer Brown Jennifer L. Bell Jeremy K. Ballard Jeremy M. Leak Jerod L. Kruse Jesse K. Bopp Jessica A. Jones Jessica L. Reo Jesyka Burks-Wiley Jhonasyd I. Machado Jianhao Zhang Jill Hunnewell Jodi Voy Jody E. Glassman Joel P. Rodriguez John Lowell John P. Montgomery John R. Parmenter Jonathan J. Warech Jorge J. Del Corral Jorge J. Gallo Jorge R. Villacampa Jose H. Rodriguez Joseph A. Hausman Joseph Silvestri Joshua A. Glanton Juan Barquero Juan Figueroa


2020-21 PANTHER ATHLETIC FUND DONORS Julia Zubkova Kabat, Schertzer, De La Torre, Taraboulos & Co. Kaity R. Healy Karen E. Schmahl Kathy Elliott Kelly Daniels Kenneth A. Jessell Kenneth Delucia Kenzie L. Perry Kevin J. Zuchorski Kevin Kendrick Kevin P. O’Neill KS Grundbau GmbH & C. KG Lars Tomas Indinge Left Field Holdings, LLC Lemar T. White Lillian M. Dearman Linda H. Beard Luis H. Santos Malcolm W. Brown Manuel J. Becerra Manuel S. Castillo Margarita Zabalo Maria A. Sydnor Maria L. Mejia Marina Ribi Mario L. Fernandez Riera Mark W. Adkins Martin L. Scheckner Mary Besterfield-Sacre Mary Boucher Mary Perez De Corcho Matthew B. Atkins Matthew P. Gebert Maxim Diaz Melissa Hernandez Mercy Dorta Mervyl Melendez Mervyl S. Melendez Michael A. DiBiase Michael A. Hernandez Michael Gonzalez Michael J. Hogan Michael P. Maher

Michael R. Mendez Michael T. Owens Michele M. Kamicka Michelle M. Palacio Miguel Rodriguez Mike Pintado Moss & Associates, LLC Natasha G. Lowell Nick P. Toole Nika M. Salemi Nina Q. Rose Northern Trust, N.A. Ocean Bank Olga Barral Ondine Easson Paloma Sanchez Patrick J. Fleming Paul H. Davis Paul Pomerantz Paula A. Alger Paula S. Lopez PayCargo LLC Pedro A. Garcia Pete E.C. E. Markowitz Rafael Dacal Rafael E. Romero Rafael G. Prohias Rafael Vale Ramon J. Lopez Randy C. Horner Raul Cortes Raul V. Velez Raymond J. Clamens Reinier Guerra Riccardo Silva Richard J. Kelch Richard J. Skrosky Rita L. Buck-Crockett Robert M. Namoff Roberto Valcarce Robyn Scherr Rodolfo T. Martinez Rogelio B. Figueroa Roxanna Troche Ryan Darst 31

F I U PA N T H E R S

Ryan Durrence Ryan J. Heberling Sandra M. Duran Sean Gilmore Sean P. Gazitua Sergio Allende Sergio M. Fumero Sharbel Torres Sharon K. Fuentes Silvia J. La Villa Stephen M. Fain Steven D. Norris Steven M. Clein Steven McFadden Steven V. Moll Stewart L. Appelrouth Sylvia M. Fumero Tanya Bowley The Biltmore Hotel The National Christian Foundation The Orange Bowl Committee, Inc. Thomas B. Jelke Thomas G. Prescott Tim Sylver Tyson G. Rodgers United Way of Miami-Dade Valeria P. Espina Valerie Inghels Van Wagner Sports & Entertainment, LLC Victoria Cantu William Collazo Xi Yang Yandro Diaz Yolande D. Flores


32



WESTERN KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY No.

H I L LT O P P E R S

Name

Pos.

Ht.

Wt. Class Hometown

No.

0 Jeremy Darvin

DT

6’1

300

37 Cardavion Myers

DB

Ht.

Wt. Class

Hometown

5’11

180 r-So.

Piedmont, Ala.

1 Antwon Kincade

DB

5’11

205 Sr.-4L Jacksonville, Fla.

38 Desmond Johnson

2 A.J. Brathwaite, Jr.

DB

6’1

195 r-So.

Miami, Fla.

39 Devvan Darden

DB

6’1

185

Valdosta, Ga.

DB

5’11

180 Fr.-CV

2 Craig Burt, Jr.

WR

6’4

205 Jr.-1L

Columbus, Ohio

40 Chase Tidmore

K

5’9

195 Fr.-CV Franklin, Tenn.

3 Jakairi Moses

RB

5’9

195 r-So.

3 Lichon Terrell

DT

6’1

290 r-So.

Palm Beach, Fla.

40 B.J. Wagner

DB

6’1

200 Fr.-CV Orlando, Fla.

Hogansville, Ga.

42 Aaron Key

LB

6’1

4 Niko Cooper

DE

6’5

230 Fr.-CV Decatur, Ga.

240 r-So.

Memphis, Tenn.

43 Michael Pitts

DE

6’3

4 Bailey Zappe

QB

230 g-Sr.

Stone Mountain, Ga.

6’1

220

Victoria, Texas

44 Brayden Narveson

K

6’1

205 r-So.

5 Nicholas Days

Scottsdale, Ariz.

LB

6’3

235 r-So.

Miami, Fla.

44 David Ndukwe

DT

6’6

300 Fr.-1L Decatur, Ga.

5 Mitchell Tinsley

WR

6’1

205 Jr.-1L

Lee’s Summit, Mo.

45 Nathan Griffin

LB

6’1

230 Fr.-HS St. Leon, Ind.

6 Joshua Simon

TE

6’5

240 So.-2L Dalzell, S.C.

46 Cory Munson

K

6’2

205 So.-2L Warner Robins, Ga.

6 T.J. Springer

DB

6’1

190

Nashville, Tenn.

47 John Haggerty III

P

6’5

225

r-Sr.

Sydney, Ausralia

7 Adam Cofield

RB

5’11

215 g-Sr.

Lee’s Summit, Mo.

49 DeMarquez Trotter

DB

5’10

200

r-Jr.

Nashville, Tenn.

7 Tre Shaw

DB

5’11

185

Jr Ellenwood, Ga.

50 Wesley Horton

OL

6’3

270 Fr.-CV Atlanta, Ga.

8 Jerreth Sterns

r-Sr.

g-Sr

r-Fr. r

Nashville, Tenn.

Name

Pos.

r-Fr.

Hendersonville, Tenn.

WR

5’9

195 Jr-TR

Waxahachie, Texas

50 Bryson Washington

LB

6’1

235 r-So.

9 Dominique Bradshaw DB

6’1

180

Dallas, Texas

52 Marshall Jackson

OL

6’6

250 Fr.-HS Brandenburg, Ky.

9 Josh Sterns

WR

5’8

180 Fr.-TR

Waxahachie, Texas

53 Rusty Staats

OL

6’4

310 r-So.

Watertown, Tenn.

10 Carson Baker

QB

6’3

210 r-So.

San Diego, Calif.

54 Matt Baldeck

LS

6’1

215

r-Jr.

Lewiston, Idaho

10 DeAngelo Malone

DE

6’4

240 Sr.-4L Atlanta, Ga.

55 Dante Walker

DE

6’2

290

r-Fr.

Riverdale, Ga.

11 Malachi Corley

WR

5’11

200 Fr.-1L Orange City, Fla.

56 Boe Wilson

OL

6’3

305 g-Sr.

Lee’s Summit,Mo.

11 Jaden Hunter

LB

6’2

240

Atlanta, Ga.

58 Matthew Flint

LB

6’1

240 r-So.

Huntsville, Ala.

12 Kahlef Hailassie

DB

6’1

195 r-So.

Elk Grove, Calif.

59 Jake Bowman

LS

6’1

215 Fr.-CV Nashville, Tenn.

12 Drew Zaubi

QB

6’4

225 r-So.

Crestwood, Ky.

65 Jack Randolph

OL

6’3

305

13 Miguel Edwards

DB

5’11

175 r-So.

Ft Lauderdale, Fla.

68 Colt Jackson

OL

6’3

290 Fr.-CV Bowling Green, Ky.

13 Darius Ocean

QB

6’1

190 Fr.-CV Raleigh, N.C.

70 Cole Spencer

OL

6’4

300

14 Chance McDonald

QB

6’1

210 Fr.-HS Steilacoom, Wash.

71 Stone Roston

OL

6’3

280 Fr.-CV Brentwood, Tenn.

14 Davion Williams

DB

6’1

190 r-So.

73 Wes Dorsey

OL

6’7

305

r-Fr.

Knoxville, Tenn.

15 Dezmion Roberson

LB

6’2

200 Fr.-CV Elba, Ala.

74 Michael Ondelacy

OL

6’7

320

r-Fr

North Richland

15 Dakota Thomas

WR

6’1

195 Fr.-1L

Hills, Texas

16 Grady Robison

QB

6’1

195 Fr.-CV Sammamich, Wash.

75 Gunner Britton

OL

6’6

305 r-So.

Conway, S.C.

16 Kendrick Simpkins

DB

6’1

210 Fr.-1L

76 Mark Goode

OL

6’6

300 Fr.-CV Hodgenville, Ky.

17 Travis Collier

DB

6’1

200 Fr.-1L Atlanta, Ga.

77 Mason Brooks

OL

6’6

305 Jr.-3L

17 Dalvin Smith

WR

6’3

190

Glasgow, Ky.

78 Quantavious Leslie

OL

6’3

310 Fr.-1L Rome, Ga.

18 Talique Allen

DB

6’1

205 Fr.-1L

Fort Valley, Ga.

79 Cameron Stage

OL

6’3

300 r-So.

18 Daewood Davis

WR

6’2

195

r-Jr.

Broward Cnty, Fla.

80 Kyle McNamara

WR

5’8

185 Fr.-CV Reno, Nev.

19 C.J. Marria

TE

6’4

255

r-Sr.

Jonesboro, Ga.

81 Dane Saltarelli

TE

6’3

255 r-So.

Belleair Bluffs, Fla.

20 Kaleb Oliver

DB

6’4

220

r-Jr.

La Vergne, Tenn.

83 Alex Williams

TE

6’4

230 Fr.-HS

Geneva, Ill.

20 Noah Whittington

RB

5’10

190 Fr.-1L

Fort Valley, Ga.

85 B.K. Smith

WR

5’10

185

r-Jr.

Louisville, Ky.

21 Beanie Bishop

DB

5’10

175 r-So.

Louisville, Ky.

86 TeeJay Taylor

WR

6’1

200

r-Fr.

McDonough, Ga.

21 Jamale Carothers

RB

5’9

200 r-So.

Bowling Green, Ky.

87 River Helms

TE

6’4

235 Fr.-HS Lester, Ala.

22 Ben Ratzlaff

San Diego, Calif.

r-Jr.

r-Jr.

r-Fr.

Belleville, Mich. Snellville, Ga. Montgomery, Ala.

r-Fr. r-Sr.

Franklin, Ky. Louisville, Ky.

Cedar Park, Texas Ft Lauderdale, Fla.

WR

6’2

195 g-Sr.

88 Matthew Smith

WR

6’2

195

23 Kendall Abdur-Rahman WR

6’1

190 So.-TR Edwardsville, Ill.

89 Joey Beljan

TE

6’3

250 r-So.

23 Will Ignont

LB

6’1

240

90 JaQues Evans

DE

6’2

245 Fr.-1L Dublin, Ga.

24 Tysean Jefferson

RB

5’5

150 Fr.-HS Nashville, Tenn.

91 Chase Jones

DT

6’2

265 Fr.-CV Glasgow, Ky.

24 Malik Staples

LB

6’1

230

r-Sr.

Lawrenceville, Ga.

92 Terrion Thompson

DT

6’1

295 Fr.-CV Bowling Green, Ky.

25 C.J. Jones

RB

5’10

195

r-Jr.

Cypress, Texas

93 Wes Pahl

P

6’5

200 Fr.-CV Columbus, Ga.

27 Omari Alexander

DB

5’10

185

r-Sr.

Louisville, Ky.

95 Jarett Lucombe

DE

6’2

245 Fr.-HS

Hendersonville, Tenn.

28 Demetrius Cain

LB

6’1

240

r-Sr.

Princeton, Ky.

97 Darius Shipp

DT

6’1

305 Jr.-1L

Olive Branch, Miss.

29 Rony Bourdeau

WR

5’6

175 Fr.-HS Hollywood, Fla.

98 Marcus Bragg

DE

6’4

260

r-Jr.

North Miami, Fla.

30 Xavier Shaw

DB

6’1

170 Fr.-HS Nashville, Tenn.

99 Brodric Martin

DT

6’5

320

r-Jr.

Tuscaloosa, Ala.

31 DeAngelo Wilson

WR

5’9

175 g-Sr.

33 Will Arthur

DB

6’3

190 Fr.-HS Memphis, Tenn.

33 Kye Robichaux

RB

6’1

215 Fr.-HS Columbus, Ga.

34 Juwuan Jones

DE

6’3

275

r-Jr.

Sugar Hill, Ga.

35 Mike Allen

DT

6’5

290

r-Jr.

Sugar Hill, Ga.

35 Javy Bunton

RB

6’1

195 Fr.-HS Bowling Green, Ky.

36 Christian Gomez

LB

6’1

240

r-Jr.

r-Jr.

Huntsville, Ala.

Bowling Green, Ky.

Pembroke Pns, Fla.

34

r-Sr.

Louisville, Ky.

Louisville, Ky. Frenchtown, N.J.


NEUROINFLAMMATION PROTEIN LINKED TO WORSE SURVIVAL IN MEN WITH GLIOBLASTOMA

TSPO-PET Image, Adapted from Su et al. 2015

it’s 1.6 times more likely to affect males. The median survival time is 12 to 14 months, and less than 7% of patients survive more than five years. Thus, better treatments and strategies for improving prognosis are urgently needed. Researchers analyzed the blood samples of 441 glioblastoma patients to evaluate the correlation between the TSPO polymorphic variant rs6971, one of the most frequent polymorphisms (variants) found in humans, with the clinical outcomes of glioblastoma patients. Compared with female glioblastoma patients, males with the TSPO variant had shorter overall and progressionfree survival times. There was no association between the variant and survival time in females. The study suggests that, as a predictor of poor prognosis, the variant has potential for use as a prognostic biomarker in glioblastoma patients.

S

cientists have discovered a new link that could bring the scientific and medical community closer to understanding why glioblastoma, the most common malignant brain tumor, is deadlier in males than females.

“We have been thinking about sex differences in glioblastoma in terms of immune responses and this collaborative study provides an unexpected example of a polymorphism that shows a sex difference, suggesting that there are likely others that function in a similar manner,” said Justin D. Lathia, vice chair of the Department of Cardiovascular & Metabolic Sciences at Cleveland Clinic’s Lerner Research Institute and one of the study’s senior authors.

A new study by FIU’s Robert Stempel College of Public Health & Social Work, Cleveland Clinic Lerner Research Institute and the National Cancer Institute, part of the NIH, reveals a connection between translocator protein 18 kDa (TSPO), a widely used biomarker of neuroinflammation, and survival outcomes in glioblastoma patients. Findings suggest that a variation in the protein’s structure correlates with worse survival outcomes in males.

“I’ve studied TSPO for more than 20 years and knew that it was highly expressed in glioblastomas. This outstanding research team is beginning to uncover its role in one of the deadliest cancers,” said Tomás Guilarte, scientist, professor and dean of Stempel College, who was a senior author of the study.

“This is a fascinating observation because glioblastoma has sex-specific differences,” said Diana Azzam, assistant professor at Stempel College, who was corresponding author of the study. “In the future, this can potentially help patients receive personalized treatments for the disease.”

The study was funded by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences and FIU’s Office of Research & Economic Development.

Each year, approximately 12,000 people in the U.S. are diagnosed with glioblastoma; 35


FIU PANTHERS ROSTER No.

Name

F I U PA N T H E R S

Pos.

Ht.

Wt. Class Hometown

No.

Pos.

Ht.

0 Tyrese Chambers

WR

6’1

185

So.

Baltimore, Md.

43 Jabril Muhammad

Name

DB

5’11

170

R’Fr.

0 Dorian Hall

DB

6’4

190

R’Jr.

Hollywood, Fla.

44 Aj Mathis

LB

6’2

200

Fr.

Largo, Fla.

1 Shemar Thornton

WR

5’11

182

Sr.

Miami Fla.

45 Rocky Jacques’Louis

LB

6’3

205

Jr.

Fort Myers, Fla.

1 Tommy Heatherly

P

5’11

210

Sr.

Grove, Okla.

46 Jakovi Bryant

DB

6’0

180

Fr.

Kissimmee, Fla.

2 Bryce Singleton

WR

5’11

193

R’Jr.

Hilton Head Isld, S.C. 47 Gio Richardson

DB

6’1

200

R’Fr.

Wellington, Fla.

2 Eric Mitchell

LB

6’2

238

R’Sr.

Miami, Fla.

LB

6’1

210

Fr.

Hallandale, Fla.

3 Shaun Peterson Jr.

RB

6’3

215 R’So.

Fort Lauderdale, Fla. 49 Shykieim Pace

DL

6’4

220

Fr.

3 Richard Dames

DB

5’11

185

Sr.

Miami, Fla.

51 Dontae Keys

OL

6’4

300

R’Sr.

4 Haden Carlson

QB

6’3

192

Fr.

Lutz, Fla.

52 Donovan Georges

LB

6’1

240 R’So.

Hialeah, Fla.

4 Rishard Dames

DB

5’11

175

R’Jr.

Miami, Fla.

53 Tevin Jones

DL

6’4

220

R’Jr.

Miami, Fla.

5 Katravis Greter

RB

5’10

194

Fr.

Miami, Fla.

54 Kristoff Pollas

OL

5’9

260

Fr.

5 Kevin Oliver

DL

6’4

263

Sr.

Davie, Fla.

55 Baba Conate

LB

6’2

230

R’Jr.

6 Nate Jefferson

WR

5’11

170

R.Fr.

Longwood, Fla.

56 Tamarick Best

LB

6’1

225

Fr.

7 Kaylan Wiggins

QB

6’2

200

R’Jr.

Sanford, Fla.

57 Nick Donahue

DL

6’2

270

Fr.

Coconut Creek, Fla.

7 Josh Valentine’Turner

DB

6’0

188

R’Jr.

Delray Beach, Fla.

58 Api Mane

OL

6’3

334

R’Sr.

East Palo Alto, Calif.

8 Lexington Joseph

RB

5’9

185

So.

Miami, Fla.

59 Wyatt Lawson

OL

6’3

290

Fr.

9 Jamal Gates

LB

6’2

225

Sr.

Palm Beach Gdn, Fla. 60 Clayton Senior III

DL

6’3

230

Fr.

9 Artez Hooker

WR

5’9

160

Fr.

St. Petersburg, Fla.

61 Joey Maya

LB

6’0

210

R’Fr.

Apex, N.C.

10 Daniel Jackson

LB

6’2

228

Sr.

Apex, N.C.

63 Noah Quier

OL

6’4

310

R’Fr.

Bradenton, Fla.

10 Grayson James

QB

6’1

200

Fr.

Duncanville, Texas

64 Trevor Arnett

OL

6’6

240

Fr.

Lakeland, Fla.

11 Isaiah Velez

QB

6’3

193

R’Fr.

Miami, Fla.

65 Julius Pierce

OL

6’5

265

R’Fr.

Sanford, Fla.

11 Josh Powell

LB

5’11

194

Sr.

Riviera Beach, Fla.

66 Jahmari Sylvester

OL

6’5

317

Fr.

Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

12 Max Bortenshlager

QB

6’3

205

R’Sr.

Fishers, Ind.

67 Jake Aguirre

OL

6’0

265

Fr.

Miami, Fla.

13 Rivaldo Fairweather TE 6’5

245

68 Sebastien Laraque

OL

6’6

320

Fr.

Miami, Fla.

14 Joe Hocker

TE

6’5

245

R’Fr.

Cincinnati, Ohio

69 Ming Tjon

OL

6’4

325

Fr.

Plantation, Fla.

15 Teddy Richardson

WR

5’11

185

Fr.

Miami, Fla.

70 Miles Frazier

OL

6’5

304

Fr.

Camden, N.J.

15 Pierce Withers

DB

5’11

195

R’Jr.

Austin, Texas

72 Sione Finau

OL

6’3

300

So.

Keller, Texas

16 Randall St. Felix

WR

6’3

206

R’Jr.

Miami, Fla.

74 Rey Burnett

OL

6’5

290

So.

Edmond, Okla.

17 Caleb Lynum

WR

6’2

215 R’So.

Leesburg, Fla.

75 Rashad Colson

DL

6’5

310

R’Jr.

18 Jay Barry Jr.

WR

6’2

185

Fr.

Boulder, Colo

77 Lyndell Hudson Jr.

OL

6’6

300 R’So.

Brooksville, Fla.

18 Demarcus Robinson

DB

6’3

210

Sr.

Pensacola, Fla.

78 Shamar Hobdy’Lee

OL

6’5

290

R’Fr.

Tampa, Fla.

19 Daniel Pilgrim

TE

6’2

215

Fr.

North Fort Myers, Fla. 79 Logan Gunderson

OL

6’5

318

R’Jr.

Jacksonville, Fla.

19 Deuce Dunbar

DB

6’2

185

Fr.

Port St. Lucie, Fla.

80 Kris Mitchell

WR

6’1

175

R’Fr.

Jacksonville, Fla.

20 Kejon Owens

RB

5’10

185

Fr.

Miami, Fla.

81 Dean Patterson

WR

6’2

200

R’Fr.

Lutz, Fla.

21 EJ Wilson Jr.

RB

6’0

210

Fr.

Tampa, Fla.

82 Jordan Underwood

WR

6’0

180 R’So.

22 Benny McCray

DB

6’2

185

R’Jr.

Clermont, Fla.

83 Carson Kaleo

WR

5’9

170

R’Jr.

23 Andrew Volmar

DB

6’1

170

Fr.

Plantation, Fla.

84 David O’Meara

TE

6’5

245

Jr.

24 D’vonte Price

RB

6’2

215

Sr.

Punta Gorda, Fla.

85 Jackson McDonald

25 Daton Montiel

KRB 5’11

189

R’Fr.

25 Joel Felder

ATH 5’10

195

27 Henry Gray

DB

6’0

175

28 Jesson Walker

DB

6’1

29 Jamal Potts

DB

6’2

30 Joe Perkins

DB

31 Tommy Zozus 32 Maleek Williams

48 Gaethan Bernadel

Fr. Lauderhill, Fla.

Wt. Class Hometown St. Petersburg, Fla.

Opa’Locka, Fla. Fayetteville, N.C.

Miramar, Fla. Auburn Hills, MI Pahokee, Fla.

Plant City, Fla. Jacksonville, Fla.

Miami, Fla.

Apopka, Fla. Lutz, Fla. Tallahassee, Fla.

TE

6’5

220

R’Fr.

Pompano Beach, Fla. 86 Keegan Davis

DL

6’3

235

Fr.

Fr.

Fort Lauderdale, Fla. 87 Kamareon Williams

TE

6’3

240

So.

Delray Beach, Fla.

Fr.

Hollywood, Fla.

88 Sterling Palmer

TE

6’6

235

Jr.

Midlothian, Va.

170 R’So.

SW Brevard Cty, Fla.

89 Ty Danzy

DL

6’5

235

R’Fr.

Anderson, S.C.

185

Fr.

Delray Beach, Fla.

90 Travonte O’Neal

DL

6’3

240

Fr.

6’0

196

Fr.

Jackson, Miss.

91 Jeramy Passmore

DL

6’3

263

R’Fr.

LS

6’2

224

R’Jr.

Punta Gorda, Fla.

92 Jason Mercier

DL

6’3

262

Jr.

RB

5’11

223

R’Jr.

Punta Gorda, Fla.

94 Jordan Guerad

DL

6’3

295

Fr.

32 Matthew Enriquez

K

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190

Fr.

Coral Gables, Fla.

95 Jeremy Moore

DL

6’3

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33 Nasir Carter

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96 David Reynolds

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2021 FIU FOOTBALL ROSTER (NUMERICAL)

F I U PA N T H E R S

Tyrese Chambers 0 | WR

Dorian Hall 0 | DB

Shemar Thornton 1 | WR

Tommy Heatherly 1|P

Bryce Singleton 2 | WR

Eric Mitchell 2 | LB

Shaun Peterson Jr. 3 | RB

Richard Dames 3 | DB

Haden Carlson 4 | QB

Rishard Dames 4 | DB

Katravis Greter 5 | RB

Kevin Oliver 5 | DL

Nate Jefferson 6 | WR

Kaylan Wiggins 7 | QB

Josh Valentine-Turner 7 | DB

Lexington Joseph 8 | RB

Jamal Gates 9 | LB

Artez Hooker 9 | WR

Daniel Jackson 10 | LB

Grayson James 10 | QB

Isaiah Velez 11 | QB

Josh Powell 11 | LB

Max Bortenshlager 12 | QB

Rivaldo Fairweather 13 | TE

Joe Hocker 14 | TE

Teddy Richardson 15 | WR

Pierce Withers 15 | DB

Randall St. Felix 16 | WR 37

Caleb Lynum 17 | WR

Jay Barry Jr. 18 | WR


2021 FIU FOOTBALL ROSTER (NUMERICAL)

F I U PA N T H E R S

Demarcus Robinson 18 | DB

Daniel Pilgrim 19 | TE

Deuce Dunbar 19 | DB

Kejon Owens 20 | RB

EJ Wilson Jr. 21 | RB

Benny McCray 22 | DB

Andrew Volmar 23 | DB

D’vonte Price 24 | RB

Daton Montiel 25 | KRB

Joel Felder 25 | ATH

Henry Gray 27 | DB

Jesson Walker 28 | DB

Jamal Potts 29 | DB

Joe Perkins 30 | DB

Tommy Zozus 31 | LS

Maleek Williams 32 | RB

Matthew Enriquez 32 | K

Nasir Carter 33 | LB

Chance Coleman 34 | LB

Ross Fournet 34 | WR

Lucas Matias 35 | K

Ah’Mahri McCray 36 | LB

Chase Gabriel 37 | K

Hosea Robinson 38 | RB

Demetrius Hill 40 | DB

D’Mor Jean-Baptiste 41 | DB

Reggie Peterson 42 | LB

Jabril Muhammad 43 | DB 38

Aj Mathis 44 | LB

Rocky Jacques-Louis 45 | LB


2021 FIU FOOTBALL ROSTER (NUMERICAL)

F I U PA N T H E R S

Jakovi Bryant 46 | DB

Gio Richardson 47 | DB

Gaethan Bernadel 48 | LB

Shykieim Pace 48 | DL

Dontae Keys 51 | OL

Donovan Georges 52 | LB

Tevin Jones 53 | DL

Kristoff Pollas 54 | OL

Baba Conate 55 | LB

Tamarick Best 56 | LB

Nick Donahue 57 | DL

Api Mane 58 | OL

Wyatt Lawson 59 | OL

Clayton Senior III 60 | DL

Joey Maya 61 | LB

Noah Quier 63 | OL

Trevor Arnett 64 | OL

Julius Pierce 65 | OL

Jahmari Sylvester 66 | OL

Jake Aguirre 67 | OL

Sebastien Laraque 68 | OL

Ming Tjon 69 | OL

Miles Frazier 70 | OL

Sione Finau 72 | OL

Rey Burnett 74 | OL

Logan Gunderson 79 | OL

Kris Mitchell 80 | WR

Rashad Colson 75 | DL

Lyndell Hudson Jr. 77 | OL

Shamar Hobdy-Lee 78 | OL 39


2021 FIU FOOTBALL ROSTER (NUMERICAL)

F I U PA N T H E R S

Dean Patterson 81 | WR

Jordan Underwood 82 | WR

Carson Kaleo 83 | WR

David O’Meara 84 | TE

Jackson McDonald 85 | TE

Keegan Davis 86 | DL

Kamareon Williams 87 | TE

Sterling Palmer 88 | TE

Ty Danzy 89 | DL

Travonte O’Neal 90 | DL

Jeramy Passmore 91 | DL

Jason Mercier 92 | DL

Jordan Guerad 94 | DL

Jeremy Moore 95 | DL

David Reynolds 96 | DL

Savion Collins 98 | DL

Davon Strickland 99 | DL

40


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MARK B. ROSENBERG

F I U PA N T H E R S

FIU PRESIDENT producer of graduates in priority national and state areas focused on science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). The university has been named as a Carnegie “Highest Research” as well as an “Engaged” institution, and has developed pathbreaking partnerships with the Miami Dade County Public Schools, JP Morgan Chase, Florida Power & Light and Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. Research expenditures have grown by more than 120 percent to nearly $226 million, and more than 100 new student advisers and counselors have been hired for a restructured and expanded student graduation initiative. Mark B. Rosenberg is the fifth president of Florida International University. Among the top 100 public universities, according to U.S. News & World Report—FIU is the face of the country’s future in higher education demographics: it is a majorityminority institution that leads the country in the production of minority degrees in the sciences and engineering. Dr. Rosenberg has served as the president of FIU since 2009. A political scientist specializing in Latin America, Dr. Rosenberg is the first FIU faculty member to ascend to the university’s presidency. Under his leadership, FIU has increased enrollment to almost 58,000 students, improved graduation rates by 23 percent and hired more than 400 new full-time faculty members. As President, Dr. Rosenberg has provided leadership to grow the institution’s budget, improve student retention and graduation rates, expand internships for enrolled students, and coordinate FIU’s emergence as a leading

From 2005 to 2009, Dr. Rosenberg served as the second Chancellor (he was the first that was formally selected by the Board of Governors) for the State University System (SUS) of Florida, which includes all of Florida’s public universities – more than 325,000 students and an allaccounts budget of nearly $9 billion. As chancellor, Dr. Rosenberg led the system’s strategic development and financial planning and policy initiatives, working closely with Governors Jeb Bush and Charlie Crist and the state legislature to secure support for SUS priorities. During this era, major new strides were made in research support for the system, more than $1 billion was provided for new facility construction, and a new SUS strategic plan was developed, approved and launched. Prior to becoming chancellor, Dr. Rosenberg was integrally involved in the expansion and development of FIU into a major public research university. As Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs from 1998 to 2005, Dr. Rosenberg spearheaded the establishment of a law school in 2002 and a 44


MARK B. ROSENBERG

F I U PA N T H E R S

medical school in 2006. Under his leadership, FIU increased enrollment, implemented major campus construction projects, and was invited to join the select national honor society Phi Beta Kappa. Dr. Rosenberg was also instrumental in moving FIU into the top tier of Carnegie Foundation research universities.

to the Department of State and the U.S. Agency for International Development. Firmly committed to service with national and local educational impact, Dr. Rosenberg serves as Immediate Past-Chair of the Association of Public Land-Grant University’s (APLU) Coalition of Urban Serving Universities (USU) and its Commission on Access, Diversity, and Excellence (CADE); Co-Chair of the Board on Science Education’s (BOSE) Roundtable on Systemic Change in Undergraduate STEM Education and as a member of the American Council on Education’s (ACE) Transfer Task Force. He also served Chair of the National Academies’ Committee on Developing Indicators for Undergraduate STEM Education, and as a member of the national Task Force of Apprenticeship Expansion.

Dr. Rosenberg’s academic career began at FIU in 1976 as an assistant professor of political science. In 1979, he founded the FIU Latin American and Caribbean Center, which today is one of the nation’s premier federally supported research and teaching centers focusing on the region. Dr. Rosenberg subsequently served as the Founding Dean of the College of Urban and Public Affairs and Vice Provost for International Studies. He has also been a Visiting Distinguished Research Professor at The Peabody College of Vanderbilt University, and a Visiting Professor at the Instituto Tecnologico de Monterrey (ITESM) in Mexico. Dr. Rosenberg earned a B.A. in 1971 from Miami University of Ohio and a Ph.D. in Political Science with a graduate certificate in Latin American and Caribbean Studies from the University of Pittsburgh in 1976. He has written or co-edited seven books and numerous scholarly articles in leading journals. His latest book, The United States and Central America: Geopolitical Realities and Regional Fragility (2007), is a Harvard University project coauthored with Luis Guillermo Solis of Costa Rica. Governmental and media organizations have frequently sought Dr. Rosenberg’s expertise on Latin America. He is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations, has testified before Congress numerous times, and has served as a consultant 45

Within Miami-Dade County, Dr. Rosenberg was the 109th Chair of the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce (GMCC), one of Florida’s leading business associations; served a 5-year term as Chair of the Academic Leaders Council (ALC) for the Beacon Council, MiamiDade County’s official economic development organization and is currently on the Board of Directors for the South Florida Business Council (SFBC). He serves on the Board of Directors of City National Bank of Florida and is active in a variety of other civic organizations, including the Holocaust Memorial Miami Beach, Florida Council of 100, and the United Way of Miami-Dade County. Dr. Rosenberg is a first-generation college graduate whose two children, Ben and Ginelle, are both graduates of FIU. He and his wife of more than 45 years, Rosalie, are members of Temple Menorah in Miami Beach.


PETE GA RCIA

F I U PA N T H E R S

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF SPORTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

On May 4, 2012, FIU President Mark B. Rosenberg and Director of Sports & Entertainment Pete Garcia hosted an on-campus community engagement event to accept an all-sports invitation to join Conference USA for the 2013-14 academic year. The invitation would be symbolic of the tremendous strides the FIU Athletics program has gained under Garcia’s direction since 2006.   The C-USA invitation provided the athletics program increased national television visibility and aligned the school’s academia with other like institutions across a vast geographical footprint. FIU would go on to join a conference whose schools stretch across the Gulf States and into Texas and north into the United States’ Mid-Atlantic region.   During Garcia’s tenure, FIU teams have enjoyed 21 conference championships, 34 postseason appearances and over two dozen student-athletes have garnered All-America selections. Under Garcia,

the Panthers hired legendary head coach Butch Davis, who has guided the football program to three-straight bowl games in his three seasons at the helm. Garcia also hired FIU swim and dive’s Randy Horner, who has led the Panthers to a record-setting six consecutive C-USA titles to become one of the nation’s best programs for their respective sport. In 2018, Garcia hired one of men’s basketball’s best young coaches in the country, after bringing on Jeremy Ballard to lead the program. In his first season, Ballard took the Panthers to their second postseason berth in team history, before coaching FIU to its first postseason win in program history.   On the academic side, the StudentAthlete Academics Center (SAAC) has been bolstered with increased advisors, tutors and computers. The compliance office staff has grown as well. Most recently, Garcia oversaw an athletic department that claimed its first-ever Conference USA Institutional Excellence Award and SAAC Cup for the 2018-19 school year. The C-USA SAAC Cup is awarded to the institution with the highest overall point total among member schools. The areas of emphasis for the SAAC Cup include academic excellence, career development, financial literacy and community service. FIU’s student-athletes had a conference-high 282 members on the C-USA Honor Roll in 2020, marking back-to-back years the Panthers have led the league in that category. The Panthers posted the highest GPA on record for the department after student-athletes earned a 3.53 for the 2020 spring semester. The previous best GPA was a 3.28 earned last spring, while FIU student46


PETE GARCIA

F I U PA N T H E R S

athletes have posted 12-straight semesters with a department GPA of 3.0 or better.

of a throwing cage for the men’s and women’s track and field program helped the Panthers continue to perform at a high level.   Over at the FIU Baseball Stadium, renovations have been made to the home locker room, press box, as well as the creation of a player’s lounge and field-level suite. The baseball program also had a new indoor batting facility installed, as well as new stadium lighting, while renovating the outdoor batting facility and restoring the bullpen areas.   The football program has seen the building of FIU’s on-campus football stadium, football field and the R. Kirk Landon Fieldhouse, which houses the Doctors Hospital Center for Orthopedics and Sports Medicine Athletics Training Complex. After enclosing the football stadium’s north side in 2012, the Riccardo Silva Stadium saw the addition of a new HD Video Board, artificial turf and improvements to the WiFi throughout the venue. The football program also had the addition of a player’s lounge as well, adding to the studentathlete experience.   Garcia first worked at the University of Miami from 1990 through 2000, and it was in 1992 that he became the football program’s recruiting coordinator. In 2001, Garcia joined the Cleveland Browns as director of football development. Two years later, Garcia was promoted to vice president.

With the release of the NCAA’s annual Academic Progress Rate (APR) in 2020, FIU had all of its athletic programs post above the required multi-year score of 930. Additionally, 10 teams beat their sport’s national average to further FIU’s commitment to academic excellence. A total of 10 programs at FIU beat the national average in their respective sports for Division I teams, with baseball, men’s basketball, men’s cross country, football, men’s soccer, women’s basketball, women’s cross country, women’s golf, softball and volleyball bettering their peers. The men’s soccer program finished 22 points ahead of its sport’s national average to lead the way at FIU.  Over the past 10 years, the FIU Athletic Department has made several improvements to its facilities that has pushed the total commitment over $70 million. Most recently, the Panthers have seen the construction of a new multi-purpose building for the softball and women’s golf teams, along with renovations to the baseball, football, women’s tennis, women’s golf and beach volleyball locker rooms. At the Convocation Center, upgrades have been made with new chair back seating and a new court. The addition of two practice fields adjacent to the Convocation Center has also provided additional space for athletic teams, with a grass and turf field installed, while the north practice field for the soccer program has also received renovations. A new scoreboard was installed at the Biscayne Bay Aquatic Center as well, while the construction 47


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SPORTS MEDICINE

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Dr. Julio Pardave Jr. Chiropractor

F I U PA N T H E R S

Dr. George Munoz M.D. Internist Sports Medicine

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Dr. Esther Levin Cardiologist

Dr. Marco Leyte-Vidal Dentist

Dr. Michael Robinson Dentist

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The Panthers Athletic Training Department would like to express gratitude to the following medical specialists for all of their time and support: Student Health Services

Doctors Hospital Nelson Lazo and Staff

Drs. Marco Leyte-Vidal and Michael Robinson

College Optical

Miami Orthopedics and Sports Medicine Institute (MOSMI)

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2021 ATHLETIC TRAINING STAFF

F I U PA N T H E R S

A dedicated group of both certified athletic trainers and athletic training students work daily to prevent injury and provide care, treatment and rehabilitation of student-athletes’ sport-related injuries. Kelsey Greenwald Head Athletic Trainer Women’s Basketball/ Dazzlers

Mara-Paige Rincher Assistant Athletic Trainer Softball

Dustin West Associate Athletic Trainer Football

Alina Verdeja Assistant Athletic Trainer Women’s Soccer

John Johnson Assistant Athletic Trainer Football

Michael Walker Assistant Athletic Trainer Men’s Basketball/Golf

Jeff Birchell Assistant Athletic Trainer Baseball

Yoshi Abe Doctoral Student of Athletic Training Volleyball/Beach Volleyball

Luke Akande Graduate Assistant Athletic Trainer Track & Field/Cross Country Najeeb Emmanuel Graduate Assistant Athletic Trainer Men’s Soccer John Linforth Graduate Assistant Athletic Trainer Football Ally Montero Graduate Assistant Athletic Trainer Football 50

Kelsy Pacheco Graduate Assistant Athletic Trainer Swim & Dive Joyce Castro Insurance Coordinator


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NCAA COMPLIANCE

F I U PA N T H E R S

DON’T BE SIDELINED: Ask Before You Act Florida International University (FIU), as a member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and Conference USA, is responsible for ensuring that its various constituencies (i.e., University staff and faculty, student-athletes, alumni and friends) abide by NCAA and Conference USA rules and regulations. Under these rules, alumni and friends can be categorized as “representatives of Florida International University’s athletic interests” (otherwise known as “Boosters’). This brief summary of NCAA rules is intended to give basic guidelines for all individuals associated with FIU. Please call the Athletics Compliance Office if you have specific questions or need clarification. We appreciate your interest and support but remind you that inappropriate contact or an inadvertent action can jeopardize the eligibility of our student-athletes and prospects and compliance of the University with NCAA regulations. Who Do I Contact? If you have any questions about contact with a prospective or enrolled student-athlete, please direct these questions to: Modesto A. Maidique Campus

The NCAA stipulates that once you have become a “Representative of FIU’s Athletic Interest/Boosters” you retain that identity forever, even if you no longer meet one of the criteria listed.

Ocean Bank Convocation Center, Room 154 305-348-2843

Who is a Prospective Student-Athlete?

The Athletics Compliance Office

A prospective student-athlete is anyone who:

Am I a “Representative of FIU’s Athletic Interests/Booster?”

• Has started classes for the ninth grade (seventh grade for men’s basketball and women’s softball);

YES, if you: • Are a graduate of FIU;

• Is enrolled in a two-year college;

• Are or ever have been a member of the Golden Panther Club/Panther Athletic Club;

• Has officially withdrawn from a four-year college; or

• Have ever made a donation to the Florida International University athletic programs;

• Has not started ninth grade but has received financial assistance or other benefits from the institution.

• Have ever helped to arrange or have provided summer employment for enrolled student-athletes;

Who is Permitted to Recruit? Only coaches and authorized athletics department staff members are permitted to be involved in the recruiting process. Representatives of FIU’s athletics interests

• Have ever been involved in any way with the FIU athletic program; or • Have ever been an FIU student-athlete.

52


NCAA COMPLIANCE

F I U PA N T H E R S

are prohibited from making in-person, on- or off-campus contacts or written or telephone communications with a prospective student athlete or the prospective student-athlete’s relatives or legal guardians. In addition, please be careful of social media posts that may give the appearance of recruiting.

• Accept telephone calls from prospective student-athletes and their family members as long as you do not discuss FIU or its athletics programs (must refer them to the Department of Intercollegiate Athletics); • Provide summer employment to prospective student-athletes who have signed a National Letter of Intent after contacting the Athletics Compliance Office and receiving approval from the Head Coach;

Representatives of FIU’s Athletics Interests/Boosters MAY NOT: • Be involved in the recruitment of prospective student-athletes, which includes contacting a prospective student-athlete or their parents, legal guardian(s) or relatives by letter, telephone or in-person (on or off campus) for the purpose of soliciting their participation in the athletics program; • Provide extra benefits (i.e., discounts, gifts, transportation) to prospective student-athletes, enrolled studentathletes or their parents, legal guardian(s), relatives or friends; • Provide any financial assistance to prospective student-athletes, enrolled student-athletes or their parents, legal guardian(s), relatives or friends; or • Use a student-athlete’s name, picture or appearance to promote sales or advertise the use of a commercial product or service.

• Employ at any time an enrolled studentathlete after contacting the Athletics Compliance Office and receiving approval from the Head Coach and the Athletics Compliance Office. What is an Extra Benefit? An extra benefit is any arrangement by an institutional staff member or a representative of the institution’s athletics interests to provide a student-athlete and/or his/her family with a benefit not specifically authorized by NCAA regulations. Extra benefits that are not authorized by the NCAA would include, but are not limited to: • Cash or loans of any amount; • Co-signing or authorizing a loan; • Gifts or free services (e.g., airline tickets, restaurant meals, use of an automobile, etc.);

Representatives of FIU’s Athletics Interest MAY: • Attend a prospective student-athlete’s contest, avoiding all contact with the prospect and/or his/her relatives; • Send newspaper clippings, e-mails, and other information about prospective student-athletes to coaches; • Continue established family relationships with friends and neighbors that have prospective student-athlete aged children (please contact the Athletics Compliance Office if you have questions determining this);

• Rent-free or reduced-cost housing; or • Employment of a student-athlete at a rate higher than the wages paid for similar work, or payment to a student-athlete for work not performed. Compliance with NCAA regulations is of the highest priority for our athletic program and institution. We need your assistance in complying with NCAA rules. If you are faced with a situation and unsure, as to how to respond, contact The Athletics Compliance Office at 305-348-2843. 53


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FIU HEA D COACHES

F I U PA N T H E R S

Butch Davis Football

Mervyl Melendez Baseball

Jeremy Ballard Men’s Basketball

Jesyka Burks-Wiley Women’s Basketball

Joe Vogel Women’s Golf

Kyle Russell Men’s Soccer

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55


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FALL 2021 SEASON SCHEDULE

FOOTBALL

F I U PA N T H E R S

(Overall 1-5, Home 1-2 Away 0-3)

September 2nd| vs Long Island......................... W, 48-10 September 11th | vs Texas State.................. L, 17-23 OT September 18th | at Texas Tech.......................... L, 21-54 September 25th | at Central Michigan............... L, 27-31 October 2nd | at Florida Atlantic.......................... L, 21-58 October 8th | vs Charlotte..................................... L, 33-45 October 23rd | vs WKU.................................................. 7pm October 30th | at Marshall...................................... 3:30pm November 6th | vs Old Dominion................................. 7pm November 13th | at Middle Tennessee................. 3:30pm November 20th | vs North Texas................................. 7pm November 27th | at Southern Miss............................. 3pm

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