MIAMI (July 27, 2016) – Conference USA held its annual Media Day on July 25-26 at the league offices in Irving, Texas. The league's head coaches and two student-athletes from each school were on hand to preview the upcoming season.  FIU Head Coach Ron Turner, linebacker Anthony Wint and quarterback Alex McGough were on hand for the Panthers.   
 
Ron Turner – Head Coach
On the team's expectations in 2016
"To get better. To take another step and get better. I think we have the group to do it. I think we have the confidence to do it, and I know we have the work ethic to do it. I believe the confidence level is really high right now."
 
On how the offensive side of the ball can improve from a year ago
"Consistency. Doing it every week, not just some weeks and staying healthy. Keeping that offensive line intact. That was a big thing last year. I think we only had the same starting five two games in a row one time all year. Guys are switching positions and moving all around. And then keeping our skill guys healthy. When we lost our top two tight ends, (Ya'Keem) Griner for six and a half games and Jonnu (Smith) for two games, it hurt. So staying healthy there and having some of the young guys step up. Some of our young receivers are going to have to play well. I am also excited about Alex Gardner and Anthony Jones."
 
On the expectations on the defensive side of the ball
"We lost four guys defensively that are in NFL camps right now so they are good football players. We have some young guys that need to step up. I think that our strength is our linebackers. We have six guys back that have starting experience and we are going to take advantage of the depth and the quality of that position and utilize those guys to make some plays. We will have some packages that may get more of them on the field at one time. Our young defensive line, defensive ends especially, need to step up. We are excited about them as they have great potential. Inside, we have some guys with experience and size with Imarjaye Albury, Leonard Washington, Marques Cheeks and Milord Justice. The ends are kind of young and that is where they have to step up."
 
Anthony Wint – Linebacker
On what his expectations are for next year
"My expectations and the expectations for the whole team are just to win. We have goals like getting to a bowl game and to a conference championship. I think this team is ready to win and show the conference and the world what we can really do."
 
On the difference between entering your junior year and your freshman year
"My freshman year I really just wanted to contribute, but I started and played a lot. It's pretty much the same thing. I want to be the best that I can be and utilize my talents to help us get to our goals."
 
On replacing holes on the defense
"We have a lot of holes to fill, two cornerbacks and two defensive ends to the NFL. We have a lot of guys coming back at linebacker and a lot of depth there. For the guys who are starting for the first time, some people see that as a problem, but what I see on the practice field is that they are hungry and ready to play. We have guys who have a lot to prove and they feel like no one respects them. That's how you get the best out of them. They want to start. They want to prove that they earned their spot and did not have it given to them."
 
One word to describe the 2016 Panthers
"Hungry"
 
Alex McGough – Quarterback
On the expectations for the offense
"We are just going to play every game. We want to make a bowl game. That is the ultimate goal of the team and we are going to do everything to make that happen."
 
On how is it different now than as a freshman
"Confidence. I just feel so much more confident going into each practice and each game. I know what to expect. There is not much that can happen that I have not seen before. It feels a lot better than my freshman year and my first game. The nerves are not really there anymore, I can just go play football and have fun."
 
On being a team leader
"Freshman year, I was walking in just trying to gain respect from everybody and I feel like in my third year now I have that. People can depend on me to get the job done and they look up to me. They know that when I am on the field its business and not playtime anymore. It's a good feeling now in my third year that the confidence is in me."
 
One word to describe the 2016 Panthers
"Toughness"
 
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The 2016 FIU football season will kick off on Thursday, Sept. 1, when the Panthers host the Indiana Hoosiers.

FIU's 2016 schedule is highlighted with games against Miami Beach Bowl and 2015 C-USA champion WKU, R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl champion Louisiana Tech, St. Petersburg Bowl champion Marshall, Popeyes Bahama Bowl participant Middle Tennessee, and New Era Pinstripe Bowl participant Indiana. In addition, the Panthers will face Maryland, Massachusetts, UCF, Florida Atlantic, UTEP, Charlotte and Old Dominion. 
 
For FIU football ticket information, contact the University Credit Union Box Office at 305-FIU-GAME (348-4263).
 
For the latest information on Panthers football, follow us on Twitter, @FIUFootball, and check out Pete Pelegrin's in-depth coverage of FIU Athletics on his official blog, The Prowl, at www.FIUSports.com.

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About FIU Athletics: FIU Athletics is home to more than 400 student-athletes in 18 different sports. Athletic events are played in seven different venues on FIU's campuses (Modesto A. Maidique and Biscayne Bay), including FIU Arena and Ocean Bank Field at FIU Stadium.
 
About FIU: Florida International University is recognized as a Carnegie engaged university. It is a public research university with colleges and schools that offer more than 180 bachelor's, master's and doctoral programs in fields such as engineering, international relations, architecture, law and medicine. As one of South Florida's anchor institutions, FIU contributes $8.9 billion each year to the local economy. FIU is Worlds Ahead in finding solutions to the most challenging problems of our time. FIU emphasizes research as a major component of its mission. FIU has awarded over 200,000 degrees and enrolls more than 54,000 students in two campuses and three centers including FIU Downtown on Brickell, FIU@I-75, and the Miami Beach Urban Studios. FIU also supports artistic and cultural engagement through its three museums: the Patricia & Phillip Frost Art Museum, the Wolfsonian-FIU, and the Jewish Museum of Florida-FIU. FIU is a member of Conference USA and has over 400 student-athletes participating in 18 sports. For more information about FIU, visit http://www.fiu.edu/.