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FIU: (2-4, 2-0 C-USA) (1-1 away) |
 |
Charlotte: (2-4, 1-1 C-USA) (1-2 home) |
Date: Oct. 15, 2016
Location: Jerry Richardson Stadium (turf) (15,314) in Charlotte, North Carolina
Kickoff: 6:00 p.m. ET
Press Box Phone: 704.687.8036
Television: None
Radio: Conquista 106.3 FM - Josh Appel (play-by-play) and Wes Carroll (color analyst) on the call. Fans can listen by tuning into 106.3 on their FM dial
Live Stats: www.Charlotte49ers.com
Live Video Streaming: C-USA TV
Tickets: 305.FIU.GAME (348.4263) -or- www.FIUSports.com
Records: FIU enters Saturday's game with a 2-4 (2-0 C-USA) record following a 35-21 win at UTEP on Saturday, Oct. 8. Charlotte comes into this week's action with a 2-4 (1-1 C-USA) mark after a 28-23 win at Florida Atlantic on Saturday, Oct. 8.
FIU Interim Head Coach Ron Cooper: Cooper (Jacksonville State, 1983) is in his first season as interim head coach (2-0, 1.000) and 10th season overall as a head coach (46-56, .451). Cooper is 24-33 as an FBS head coach and 22-23 as an FCS head coach. He has never faced Charlotte.
Charlotte Head Coach Brad Lambert: Lambert (Kansas State, 1987) is in his fourth season at Charlotte (14-26, .350). Lambert is 0-1 all-time versus the Panthers.
Series History: Saturday will mark the second meeting all-time between the two programs with FIU holding a 1-0 edge in the series history. The last meeting between the two teams resulted in a 48-31 win for the Panthers on Nov. 7, 2015, in Miami, Florida.
Game 7 – Panthers Make First Trip to Charlotte on Saturday
Looking for its third-straight victory, FIU will hit the road for the second-straight week to take on the Charlotte 49ers on Saturday, Oct. 15. Kickoff is set for 6:00 p.m. ET with the game being streamed on C-USA TV. Fans can also listen to the game on Conquista 106.3 FM. Josh Appel (play-by-play) and Wes Carroll (color analyst) will be in the booth all season long.
Saturday will mark FIU's first trip to Charlotte and only the second game played between FIU and the 49ers with the Panthers owning a 1-0 edge in the series history. FIU, which has won its last two Conference USA games, will look to make it three-straight after defeating UTEP, 35-21, in El Paso, last Saturday.
Buoyed by 100-yard performances from
Alex Gardner,
Anthony Jones,
Thomas Owens and a season-high in touchdown passes by
Alex McGough, FIU turned in its best offensive performance of the season versus the Miners.
Gardner rushed for 141 yards to give him four 100-plus yard rushing games this season and tie the program record of eight held by former FIU running back Kedrick Rhodes. Jones rushed for 128 yards to give FIU two or more 100-yard rushers in the same game for just the second time in program history.
FIU had three rushers go for more than 100 yards each in 2010 against Troy. The Panthers rushed for a program-record 448 yards that day with Darriet Perry, T.Y. Hilton and Darian Mallary all rushing for more than 100 yards in the game.
Owens had 125 receiving yards and scored two touchdowns to lead FIU. McGough finished 21-of-31 for 241 yards and three touchdown passes.
The Panthers enter Saturday's game averaging 20.3 points-per-game and 362.5 yards of total offense-per-game. Over the past two games, FIU has averaged 484 yards of total offense while totaling 528 yards on the ground. FIU is led by Gardner, who has totaled 548 yards on 105 carries and a team-high four rushing touchdowns. Gardner enters Saturday's game ranked third all-time in career rushing at FIU (1,890) and is 110 yards shy of becoming just the third running back in school history to reach 2,000 yards. Joining Gardner in the backfield is Jones, who has totaled 319 yards rushing on 60 carries and two touchdowns this season.
In the passing game, McGough has completed 89-of-160 passes for 988 yards and five touchdowns. The Tampa native is currently second all-time at FIU in career passing yards (5,390) and touchdown passes (40). McGough's top target this season has been senior
Jonnu Smith, who comes into Saturday's contest with 25 catches for 273 yards. Following Smith is FIU's top wide receiver
Thomas Owens, who enters this week with 16 catches for 257 yards and three TDs.
On the defensive side of the ball, FIU has allowed 33.5 points-per-game, while the opposition has averaged 419.3 yards of total offense-per-game. Over the past two games, the defense has improved allowing 329 yards of total offense-per-game, while the Panthers' opponents have average 26 points-per-game. FIU is leading tackler is
Treyvon Williams, who has totaled 66 tackles (41 solo) with 5.0 tackles for loss and 3.0 sacks. The Miami native ranks second in the conference and fifth in the nation in total tackles, averaging 11.0 per-game. Fellow linebacker
Anthony Wint is second on the team with 59 total tackles (33 solo). Wint is No. 5 in the conference and No. 19 nationally in total tackles, averaging 9.8 per-game.
Saturday will mark the third game for FIU under Interim Head Coach
Ron Cooper and Cooper's first meeting with Charlotte.
Game Notables
- Saturday will be the third road game for the Panthers this season.
- Saturday will mark FIU's first trip to Charlotte.
- FIU will look to improve to 3-4 on the year.
- FIU will look to improve to 3-0 in C-USA action on the year.
- FIU will look to improve to 20-37 all-time in the month of October.
- Saturday will mark the third game for Interim Head Coach
Ron Cooper at FIU (2-0).
- Saturday will mark Cooper's 103rd game as a college head coach (both FBS and FCS).
- Saturday will mark the second meeting all-time between FIU and Charlotte.
- FIU leads the series history, 1-0, after defeating the 49ers 48-31 on Nov. 7, 2015, in Miami.
- FIU will look for its first win in the Jerry Richardson Stadium.
- FIU is 24-36 all-time versus teams from Conference USA.
- FIU will look to improve to 3-6 all-time versus teams from the state of North Carolina.
- FIU will look to improve to 1-3 all-time in games played in the Tar Heel State.
- Coach Cooper will look to improve to 1-3 all-time versus teams from Texas.
- Senior
Jonnu Smith will look to extend his streak of consecutive games with a catch to 39.
- FIU will be looking to record its 20th road victory all-time on Saturday.
- Saturday will mark the 173rd game in FIU history.
- Saturday will mark Coach Cooper's first meeting with the 49ers.
Ron Cooper Named Interim Head Coach
On Sunday, Sept. 25,
Ron Cooper was named interim head coach of the FIU football team. Cooper, who entered the year as the team's defensive coordinator also served as the team's defensive backs coach in 2015.
This marks Cooper's fourth head coaching stint (Eastern Michigan – 1993-1994; Louisville – 1995-1997; Alabama A&M – 1998-2001). Saturday will mark his 103rd game as a collegiate head coach (FBS and FCS).
Versus the Tar Heel State
Saturday will mark FIU's fourth trip to the state of North Carolina with the Panthers owning an 0-3 mark in games played in the Tar Heel State. The last time FIU visited North Carolina, the Panthers lost to Duke, 46-26, on Sept. 1, 2012. In all, FIU has registered a mark of 2-6 all-time versus teams from North Carolina with the Panthers winning their last two outings (39-14 win over NC Central - 9/19/15; 48-31 win over Charlotte - 11/7/15).
|
Overall |
In North Carolina |
| Charlotte |
1-0 |
|
0-0 |
|
| Duke |
0-2 |
|
0-1 |
|
| East Carolina |
0-1 |
|
0-0 |
|
| Elon |
0-1 |
|
0-1 |
|
| Gardner-Webb |
0-2 |
|
0-1 |
|
| NC Central |
1-0 |
|
0-0 |
|
|
2-6 |
|
0-3 |
|
Ground and Pound
For the second-straight week, FIU registered over 250 yards on the ground as the Panthers tallied 258 at UTEP on Saturday, Oct. 8. The 258 yards on the ground were the eighth-most in school history. On Saturday, Oct. 1, the Panthers rattled off 270 yards rushing versus Florida Atlantic. Averaging 5.5 yards-per-carry, FIU recorded the fifth-highest rushing total in school history and the most rushing yards since the 2010 season.
In the last two games, FIU is averaging 264 yards-per-game, scoring four rushing touchdowns and rattling off 5.6 yards-per-carry.
Tossin' 'Round the Ole' Pigskin
Junior quarterback
Alex McGough had his best outing of the season at UTEP last Saturday. The Tampa native completed 21-of-31 for 241 yards and three touchdowns. With his numbers versus the Miners, McGough has now recorded the second-most passing yards (5,390) and touchdown passes (40) in FIU history. The top spot is held by Josh Padrick (2002-06), who registered 9,237 yards passing and 42 touchdown passes during his career.
Consecutive Catches - 38
Senior
Jonnu Smith enters Saturday's game with a pass reception in 38-consecutive games. That is the seventh-longest streak in the nation.
| Player, School |
Games |
| Robert Davis, Georgia State |
42 |
| Corey Davis, Western Michigan |
42 |
| Zach Pascal, Old Dominion |
42 |
| Zay Jones, East Carolina |
41 |
| Nate Phillips, Arizona |
39 |
| Taquan Mizzell, Virginia |
38 |
| Jonnu Smith, FIU |
38 |
| Ronnie Moore, Bowling Green |
36 |
| River Carcraft, Washington State |
34 |
| JuJu Smith-Schuster, USC |
34 |
| Trent Taylor, Louisiana Tech |
33 |
| DaeSean Hamilton, Penn State |
32 |
| Christian McCaffrey, Stanford |
31 |
| Jordan Westerkamp, Nebraska |
31 |
| KD Cannon, Baylor |
30 |
| Corey Jones, Toledo |
30 |
| Cam Serigne, Wake Forest |
30 |
| Robert Lewis, Washington State |
29 |
| Allen Lazard, Iowa State |
29 |
| Victor Bolden Jr., Oregon State |
29 |
| Thomas Sperbeck, Boise State |
28 |
| Artavis Scott, Clemson |
28 |
| Fred Ross, Mississippi State |
27 |
| Amara Darboh, Michigan |
26 |
| Jerico Richardson, Nevada |
25 |
| Tanner Gentry, Wyoming |
25 |
| James Washington, Oklahoma State |
25 |
| Travis Rudolph, Florida State |
24 |
| Nicholas Norris, Western Kentucky |
24 |
| Keon Hatcher, Arkansas |
24 |
| Ryan Yurachek, Marshall |
23 |
| Taywan Taylor, Western Kentucky |
23 |
| Jake Butt, Michigan |
22 |
| Phil Mayhue, Memphis |
21 |
| Jesus Wilson, Florida State |
20 |
| Drew Morgan, Arkansas |
20 |
| Ken Golladay, Northern Illinois |
20 |
100-Yards Rushers x2
During the Panthers' 35-21 in at UTEP, FIU had two running back with 100+ yards rushing (
Alex Gardner – 141;
Anthony Jones – 128). It was the first time the Panthers had two-or-more rushers of 100 yards-or-more in the same game since Nov. 13, 2010 when FIU rushed for 448 yards at Troy (Darriet Perry, T.Y. Hilton and Darian Mallary all rushing for more than 100 yards in the game)
Dynamic Duo
Linebackers
Anthony Wint and
Treyvon Williams have combined for 125 total tackles through the team's first six games. That is the most by any pair of players from a Conference USA team this season as they are the only teammates that rank in the top five among all league players. Williams, who had nine tackles versus the Miners, leads FIU with 66 tackles. The Miami native ranks No. 2 in the conference and No. 5 nationally in tackles-per-game (11.0). Wint, who registered four total tackles versus UTEP, is second on the team with 59. The Homestead, Florida, product is No. 5 in the conference and No. 19 nationally in tackles-per-game (9.8).
Under Cooper
FIU will play its third game under Interim Head Coach
Ron Cooper this Saturday. Since taking over the reigns, Cooper has led the Panthers to a 2-0 mark, averaging 32.0 points-per-game and 484.0 yards of total offense-per-game, while the defense has allowed 26.0 points-per-game and 329.0 yards of total offense-per-game.
|
First 4 Games |
|
Under Cooper (last 2) |
| Offense |
|
|
|
| PPG |
13.5 |
|
32 |
| Total Offense (Avg.) |
301.8 |
|
484 |
| Rushing Yards (Avg.) |
120.5 |
|
264 |
| Passing Yards (Avg.) |
181.2 |
|
220 |
| Defense |
|
|
|
| PPG Allowed |
37.2 |
|
26 |
| Total Offense Allowed (Avg.) |
464.5 |
|
329 |
| Rushing Yards Allowed (Avg.) |
219.5 |
|
187.5 |
| Passing Yards Allowed (Avg.) |
245.2 |
|
141.5 |
In October
FIU will play five games during the month of October this season. Following the team's 35-21 win at UTEP on Oct. 8, FIU enters Saturday's game with a 19-37 record all-time during the 10th month of the year.
Back-to-Back
With FIU's 35-21 win at UTEP on Saturday, Oct. 8, the Panthers won back-to-back games for the first time since the 2014 season (defeated UAB 34-20 and Florida Atlantic 38-10). FIU will look to make it three-straight; something the Panthers have not done since the 2011 season.
3-0 in Conference Play?
Entering this week's action with a 2-0 record in Conference USA play, FIU will look to improve to 3-0 in league action for the first time in program history.
FIU - Charlotte Connections
Below are members of both teams that went to the same high school:
Miami Carol City (Miami, Florida)
FIU -
Tyree Johnson
Charlotte - Ed Rolle
Freedom (Orlando, Florida)
FIU -
Dieugot Joseph
Charlotte - Daniel Rose
100-Yard Rusher
Junior
Alex Gardner notched his eighth 100-yard game, registering 141 yards on 21 carries versus UTEP. The eight 100-yard games rank tied for first in the FIU record books for the most 100-yard games by a Panther.
Offensive Explosion
Over the past two weeks, FIU has amassed over 450 yards of total offense in each of its contests, notching 469 versus Florida Atlantic (Oct. 1) and 499 at UTEP (Oct. 8). It marked the first time the Panthers had back-to-back games of 450 yards of total offense or more since the 2011 season (568 vs. Duke - Oct. 1, 2011 and 524 at Akron - Oct. 8, 2011).
Putting Pressure on the QB
During FIU's 35-21 win at UTEP, the Panthers front seven recorded a season high five quarterback hurries versus the Miners. The Panthers came into the game having recorded just four through the first five games.
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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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2016 FIU Football Schedule
Sept. 1 INDIANA – L, 13-34
Sept. 9 MARYLAND – L, 14-41
Sept. 17 at UMass – L, 13-21
Sept. 24 UCF – L, 14-53
Oct. 1 FLORIDA ATLANTIC* - W, 33-31
Oct. 8 at UTEP* – W, 35-21
Oct. 15 at Charlotte*; 6:00 p.m.
Oct. 22 LOUISIANA TECH* [ESPN3] (Homecoming); 7:00 p.m.
Oct. 29 MIDDLE TENNESSEE* [ESPN3]; 7:00 p.m.
Nov. 5 at WKU* [beIN]; 5:30 p.m.
Nov. 19 MARSHALL* [ASN]; 7:00 p.m.
Nov. 26 at Old Dominion* [ESPN3]; 3:30 p.m.
* denotes Conference USA Games
Home games at Ocean Bank Field at FIU Stadium are capitalized and bolded;
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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/.
