Know Your Opponent: FIU in Similar Situation as Hoosiers With New Faces
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Photo by Joel Auerbach/Getty Image
Written By Sammy Jacobs (@Hoosier_Huddle)
The Indiana Hoosiers open their season in Miami against the Florida International Golden Panthers. IU is 2-0 against FIU and won the last meeting in Miami 34-13 in 2016. The Hoosiers won 36-22 in 2015 in Bloomington. Their game last season was cancelled due to Hurricane Irma. Here is what IU fans need to know about FIU.
Head Coach: Butch Davis
Overall: 71-48 12th Year
At FIU 8-5 (5-3)
Bowl Appearances at FIU: 1
2017 Record: 8-5 (5-3) Lost Gasparilla Bowl vs. Temple
Bowl Appearances Since 2000: 3 (1-2)
Mascot: Roary the Panther
Colors: Blue and Gold
Outfitter: adidas
National Titles: 0
Conference Titles: 1
Heisman Winners: 0
Talking Points
1. The Panthers are Trying to Figure out Who Their Quarterback Will Be
FIU has a quarterback battle of their own and as of publishing, it is unknown who will start under center against IU. The two candidates are grad transfer James Morgan, who came in from Bowling Green, and Christian Alexander, a player who hasn’t thrown a pass since 2016.
Morgan, was recently named to the Johnny Unitas Award Watch List, has played 19 career games and has thrown for 3,342 yards and 25 touchdowns. The knock on Morgan is he turns the ball over, he has thrown 22 picks in two seasons. Alexander played in four games as a freshman tossing four touchdowns, but has not played since 2016.
2. The Front Seven will be Formidable
FIU returns defensive lineman Anthony Johnson and Fermin Silva, who will switch to linebacker. Both are preseason Athlon Sport’s second team All-CSUA.
Johnson, a six-foot-three, 291-pound lineman was a thorn in the side for opposing offenses last season making 39 tackles, 8.5 tackles for loss including seven sacks. He will be circled in the game plan for the IU offense. Silva, who played defensive end a season ago, will be moved to linebacker. Last season Silva made 50 tackles, 14 tackles for loss including seven sacks and a forced fumble. These two will headline a pretty solid front seven for the Golden Panthers. Junior linebacker Sage Lewis will also be back after posting 55 tackles in 2017.
3. A Brand-New Secondary Will be Tested
Out of the four players who recorded interceptions in 2017 only one returns, junior Olin Cushion, who may not start. FIU will be extremely young on the back end with only one upper classman slated to start (they have some veteran depth though). The Hoosiers have a sneaky good receiving corps that could have a breakout day in Miami if FIU suffers growing pains.
4. Strong Special Teams Could Keep FIU Within Striking Distance
One of the great equalizers in college football can be a team’s performance on special teams. The Golden Panthers have a very good unit. The Golden Panthers have two all-conference caliber specialists in senior punter Stone Wilson who averaged 41 yards per punt and sophomore kicker Jose Borregals who did not miss a field goal under forty yards and finished the year hitting 15-of-18. If they can find a return game, they have a chance to win the field position battle.
5. Do the Golden Panthers Have Enough Weapons on Offense?
With questions still looming at QB, the Golden Panthers could use someone to step up and take the pressure off whoever is playing quarterback. Can Napoleon Maxwell be as explosive as he was in 2017 when he averaged 5.9 yards per carry?
Julian Williams and Austin Maloney both averaged over 13 yards a reception this year and will see their roles increase. Can they become legitimate big play threats? Without explosive plays it'll be very difficult for FIU to score enough to win.