FIU football a real threat to go winless in 2022 under Mike MacIntyre

Mike MacIntyre takes over the FIU football program this fall. Can the Panthers be competitive in 2022 with their new head coach?

The question looming over the FIU football program is essential: “Does the Florida International University administration genuinely care about having a good football program?” If the answer is no, then there is no long-term rebuild. It won’t matter who the head coach is; the program will cycle through coaches.

Outgoing coach Butch Davis thinks the university doesn’t care about football. Jones felt that the administration was sabotaging the program. He said the staff could not recruit, and he could not offer his assistant coaches contract extensions due to financial constraints because of the pandemic.

If the answer is yes, then there is something to build. FIU is in Miami, and there are plenty of good players in Dade county to play at the Group of Five level.

Mike MacIntyre takes over for Jones with one of the biggest building projects in the FBS. The Panthers are abysmal and have been for the last couple of years. However, this is a program that has not always been this bad. Jones led the Panthers to three consecutive bowls from 2017-2019.

Mario Cristobal got the Panthers to two bowls before he was unceremoniously fired. MacIntyre takes over a program that has won one game in two years, and most of its significant contributors have graduated or transferred.

This season is going to be a long one in south Florida. Here is a look at the Panthers’ offense, defense, and schedule.