By Pete Pelegrin
Twitter: @Petepelegrin

It has been an historic 2017 season for FIU. The Panthers have matched the program record for wins in a season, broken all kinds of FIU records and can cap an outstanding first season for FIU coach Butch Davis by defeating Temple in the Gasparilla Bowl on Thursday, Dec. 21.

The Gasparilla Bowl is the third bowl game in FIU's short history and the last time the Panthers were in the postseason was in the same building – Tropicana Field – in the 2011 Beef 'O' Brady's St. Petersburg Bowl.

Today marks 10 days until kickoff between FIU and Temple. Starting today until Dec. 21 we're going to count down the days until the Gasparilla Bowl by re-visiting the Top 10 moments of the 2017 FIU football season.

Of course, the number one moment could happen at the Gasparilla Bowl, but until then there is another number one moment that we'll reveal on Dec. 20. Let's start the countdown:

10. TWO-YARD SPECIAL

For an FIU team coming off a 4-8 season in 2016 and losing its best player to the NFL when tight end Jonnu Smith was drafted by the Tennessee Titans, the Panthers were going to need contributions from every single player on the roster this season if they were going to improve.

Special teams at times is an overlooked part of a football team. The FIU special teams have been instrumental in the success of the Panthers this season.
One of the early glimpses of the crucial role FIU special teams would play this season was on display in the 30-29 comeback win against Charlotte in late September.

With FIU leading by one point and 4:52 left in the game, FIU punter Stone Wilson was called to punt from the Panthers 42. Wilson pooched a 56-yard punt that dropped the football on the 49ers 2 leaving Charlotte with at least 78 to 80 yards to go for a good chance at the winning field goal.

The 49ers kicker, Nigel Macauley was 0 for 3 from 40 yards or more on the season before facing FIU. Charlotte drove to the FIU 31 before Macauley missed a 48-yard field goal that helped FIU improve to 3-1.

If Wilson gets a touchback on the punt or the 49ers got any kind of return there was probably a good chance that Macauley has an easier field goal attempt. Macauley made three of five goals inside 30 yards this season. Wilson assured that wouldn't happen by providing the Panthers defense with the hidden yardage needed to back the 49ers up near their goal line.

Wilson was named Conference USA Special Teams Player of the Week for his performance against Charlotte and is enjoying his best season at FIU. Wilson has a 41.8-yard per punt average, has hit 18 punts inside the 20 and has 13 punts of 50 yards or more.

Wilson also tied the program record with a 71-yard punt against Florida Atlantic in Don Shula Bowl XVI. Former FIU punter Chris Cook established program record with a 71-yard punt against Troy in the Orange Bowl in 2007.