Hitting the road as gameday starts ...

About to hit the road to get down to Miami for today's USF-FIU game at 5, but want to get a few more links up before I'm enjoying a few hours of Interstate 75 ...

-- The Big East has bounced back nicely in the last eight days, with solid wins against BCS opponents for USF (Kansas), Connecticut (Virginia and Baylor) and Louisville (Kansas State). West Virginia's loss at Colorado might not leave the league with only one ranked team -- I think Connecticut could be the team that takes the Mountaineers' vacated position in the polls. If Pittsburgh could beat Iowa today, it would bring a little more interest to USF's Big East opener Oct. 2. Rutgers is at Navy, which has lost to Towson State and Duke, so if the Knights can't win there, it's another hit for the Big East.

-- I've been saying all week that USF should be talking about the 2006 game with FIU if they want to make sure players take this game seriously. Instead, Jim Leavitt's been raving about how well the Golden Panthers played in a 30-point loss to Kansas. The Lakeland Ledger's Tom Zebold writes about how the 2006 win -- only because of a touchdown with three minutes left -- will motivate the Bulls today.

-- One thing we haven't written about this week is how FIU is on NCAA probation and facing scholarship reductions for a variety of rules violations between 2002-07. It's jarring when you look at FIU's media guide, in that the football program has only been playing since 2002, but all results from 2003-05 had to be vacated, so there are no scores for those years.

-- The Miami Herald writes about FIU's big dreams as the Panthers open their new football stadium. The columnist questions whether the vision is brilliant or foolish: "There is the risk that FIU will invest in the very expensive sport of football and be mired in perpetual mediocrity."

Comments

[Miles Lamoureux]

FIU fan,

If you guys can't fill an 18,000 seat stadium now, do you really think that a 45,000 seat stadium will be full when next season starts?

[Windbane]

yes, you should. There are FCS teams that are better. There should be a standard to be in FBS.

[goooomez]

In defense of my school, FIU.

"With an 18k seat stadium, their location would allow them to dominate at the 1-AA ranks."

our stadium is only half way done, hence only 18k seats. the stadium will seat 45,000 for the 2009-2010 season. Remember Rome wasn't built in a day, and neither was any powerhouse 1-A team. I admit we are in our infancy when it comes to football, but should we be scrutinized for getting off on the wrong foot?

[DELdaBULL]

I post on the 'quality' of the IT department and it has since been double posts all the way. I take it back GA the IT depart over there is really bad. They are not up to your standards.

[DELdaBULL]

I post on the 'quality' of the IT department and it has since been double posts all the way. I take it back GA the IT depart over there is really bad. They are not up to your standards.

[DELdaBULL]

Be safe GA.

[DELdaBULL]

Be safe GA.

[FIU 1-A mistake...]

941 is right. FAU and FIU were in a race to see who could secure a small niche in that South FL market behind Miami and the millions of other entertainment options. Who could make a small name for themselves.

FAU beat FIU to the punch. They legitimately won the race fair and square. At the rate FAU is going they're the upper echelon of the Sun Belt, and FIU looks relegated to being the Temple of the conference. Hats off to FAU hiring Schnelly, and for him still having the energy and drive at 76 to push the program. If he sticks around for 2 more years he will move FAU so far ahead of FIU it won't even be funny.

I still can't understand why no school can see the enormous niche that could be served as a dominant 1-AA FL school. You have FAMU, and BCC, but those are prominent minority colleges. Jacksonville gives no schollies. FIU should consider dropping back down if they continue to wallow in obscurity. With an 18k seat stadium, their location would allow them to dominate at the 1-AA ranks. That wouldn't be such a bad thing, or is being bankrupt in 1-A better?

[RR]

I heard Coach Leavitt breaking down the quality of the H2O that FIU's waterboys provide.

They're "awfully good." Going to be a real challenge for USF's waterboys to match that quality.

[Mike Lakeland]

Wow...Rutgers at Navy. Let's hope that the New Jersey people don't curse out our servicemen again...

[941]

I think the FIU article is pretty spot on in that FIU is not filling a vacuum. There is very little chance that they will ever be anything but the 'ugly, step-child' in their market.

[Matthew Yoder]

This calls for a boycott of draft beer sales at the stadium. I hope someone who buys the Glazers overpriced elixir organizes it . . . .