Today In College Football History (Aug. 29): A Golden Debut For FIU
By Kyle Kensing
Florida International’s wild Lil’ Caesars Pizza Bowl win over Toledo set the momentum for FIU to be a non-automatic conference darling this season. The Golden Panthers are the favorite to win the Sun Belt Conference, boast a Detmer Award nominee and one of the most exciting players in the nation, TY Hilton, and have marquee non-conference opportunities against Louisville and UCF. The road to national respectability has been relatively short, not surprising given FIU sits amid a prep football hotbed. But that road certainly hasn’t been without bumps.
FIU’s wins in 2003, 2004 and 2005 were vacated for what the NCAA called “ineligible participation, misapplied financial aid rules and a lack of institutional control.” The former two seasons were primarily against Division I-AA opponents, but in ’05 FIU won a respectable three games in the Sun Belt. It would take three years for FIU to again obtain such a mark.
The following season, 2006, the Golden Panthers had no wins to vacate after finishing 0-12. That season was a double black eye on the fledgling program, not only finishing winless, but engaging in an ugly brawl with Miami.
The next season, it took a final week defeat of North Texas to avoid another 0-for campaign. Trying times indeed, but Mario Cristobal has admirably got FIU back on the track it intended when it officially kicked off football nine years ago today.
The Golden Panthers’ NCAA debut was a Thursday night tilt against Division II Saint Peter’s (NJ). Over 17,000 came to FIU Stadium to watch the brand new team rout its overmatched visitor, 27-3. FIU scored all 27 of its points in the first half, using the second to play reserves. Quarterback Jamie Burk led the Golden Panthers with two passing touchdowns, including a 52-yarder to Cory McKinney. Burk also rushed for a third score.
Like a business’s first one-dollar bill, the victory can hang on the proverbial wall of FIU history, unvacated and untarnished as what could be the first of many wins to come. Cristobal is unlocking the potential of that program, and it all started there.