FIU Panthers (1-0; 1-0 SBC)
vs.
Louisville Cardinals (1-0; 0-0 BIG EAST)
Friday, September 9, 2011 • 7:00 p.m. (ET)
Papa Johns Cardinal Stadium (55,000) • Louisville, Ky.
Series: First Meeting
Radio: WHIM-1080 AM (Tony Calatayud, pbp & Rick Sanchez, color)
TV: ESPN (Bob Wischusen, pbp & Bob Davie, color)
GAMEDAY CENTRAL
THE GAME – Coming off an exhilarating 41-16 season-opening victory over Sun Belt Conference rival North Texas, the Panthers will travel to Louisville, Ky. to face the Louisville Cardinals of the BIG EAST. The Panthers and Cardinals have never met on the football field, but FIU is no stranger to BIG EAST competition.
Last season, FIU opened the season against Rutgers, and played another BIG EAST team, Pittsburgh in the fourth game of the year. The meeting with the Cardinals will mark the sixth time in program-history that FIU will meet a team from the BIG EAST.
The Cardinals will welcome the Panthers to Papa Johns Cardinal Stadium having dispatched the Murray State Racers, 21-9, last week.
Both teams will be well-rested coming into this contest as both squads got their season started last Thursday, and will have had an extra day of rest.
The contest will present a rare opportunity for FIU as the Panthers will play on ESPN's main network for just the second time in program history; the first being last season's LIttle Caesars Pizza Bowl victory over Toledo.
Hilton4Real – After an offseason filled with accolades, much pressure and expectations were placed on FIU's Heisman hopeful T.Y. Hilton. The senior from Miami delivered in his first game of the season against North Texas (9/1), racking up nation-best 283 all-purpose yards, 12 shy of his own school record.
Hilton wasted no time showing why he was named the Co-Preseason Sun Belt Conference Player of the Year as he took the opening kickoff 62 yards to set up the FIU offense with a short field. On FIU's next drive, Hilton scored on the first play when he left a defender in the dust for a 60-yard touchdown catch. Hilton finished the contest with 132 receiving yards on seven catches, 49 rushing yards on two attempts, 92 yards on two kickoff returns, and 10 yards on a pair of punt returns.
For his efforts, Hilton was named the Sun Belt Conference Offensive Player of the Week, and also the Sun Belt Player of the Week by Rivals.com. Hilton was also awarded a Helmet Sticker by ESPN.com and was named a CollegeFootballPerformance.com Honorable Mentiion WR performer.
KICKOFF WITH A BANG – For the first time since 2004 (at Youngstown St.), and the first time as an FBS (Division I) program, FIU opened its season with a victory. The Panthers blasted the North Texas Mean Green on September 1 to open the season with a W and in the process set a program record for points in a season opener by putting 41 points on the board.
DP's RUN FOR THE RECORDS – Darriet Perry's 16 rushing touchdowns in 2010 are not only the most single-season rushing touchdowns in FIU history, but they are the most single season touchdowns ever by a Panther. In 2011, DP will make a run at the all-time record in both categories. After scoring two touchdowns against North Texas (9/1) Perry now has 23 rushing touchdowns, which is just one behind Rashod Smith's school record for rushing TDs (24) and four behind teammate T.Y. Hilton for the most touchdowns ever at FIU (27).
THUNDER AND LIGHTNING – Running backs Darriet Perry and Kedrick Rhodes posses different skillsets, Perry being a power back and Rhodes possessing more speed, but both were extremely effective against North Texas (9/1), combining for 171 rushing yards and four touchdowns on 31 carries. Rhodes earned the start, and immediately made an impact, scoring two of FIU's first three touchdowns. Perry came off the bench, and made his mark, scoring a pair of touchdowns to give him 23 for his FIU career.
DEFENSIVE SHUTOUT – Even though North Texas scored 16 points in FIU's season opener (9/1), none of them came at the expense of the defense as the Mean Green scored off two fumble returns and a safety.
WINSTON'S TURN – The linebacker position has always been one of strength for the Panthers. In 2011, redshirt-junior Winston Fraser is the veteran of the group and if the season opener against North Texas (9/1) is any indication, he's ready to step up. The 2010 Honorable Mention All-Sun Belt Conference selection opened the season with 11 tackles against the Mean Green, eight of them unassisted and one for loss.
HICKMAN GETS ANOTHER EARLY START – As a freshman last season, defensive end Greg Hickman got off to a quick start, picking up sacks in his first two games as a Panther. This season Hickman is off to yet another scorching start as he had two sacks in the opener against North Texas (9/1), including one that forced a fumble.
CYP IT UP – Junior safety and All-Conference selection Jonathan Cyprien had a good start to his 2011 campaign, recording six tackles against North Texas (9/1) and breaking up three passes. The three breakups give him 12 for his career, which ranks fourth all-time at FIU.
IMPACT FRESHMEN – FIU is no stranger to having freshmen make an impact right away. After one game in 2011, it seems like the youngsters will be at it again. In the opener against North Texas (9/1), freshman Richard Leonard earned a start and went on to record five tackles, break up a pass and return one kickoff 21 yards. Linebacker Luis Rosado had one of the biggest hits of the night as he crushed the Mean Green quarterback for a sack that forced a fumble.
