FIU: (3-7, 3-3 C-USA) (1-5 home)
	Marshall: (3-7, 2-4 C-USA) (0-4 home)

 

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Date: Nov. 19, 2016
 Location: Ocean Bank Field at FIU Stadium (FieldTurf) (20,000) in Miami, Florida.
 Kickoff: 7:00 p.m. ET
 Press Box Phone: 305.348.1898
 Television: American Sports Network - Ron Thulin (play-by-play), Keith Moreland (color analyst) and Hayley Zagacki (sideline) will call the action.
 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.FIUSports.com
 Live Video Streaming: N/A
 Tickets: 305.FIU.GAME (348.4263) -or- www.FIUSports.com
 Records: FIU enters Saturday's game with a 3-7 (3-3 C-USA) record following a 49-21 loss at WKU on Saturday, Nov. 5. Marshall comes into this week's action with a 3-7 (2-4 C-USA) mark after a 42-17 win over Middle Tennessee on Saturday, Nov. 11.
 FIU Interim Head Coach Ron Cooper: Cooper (Jacksonville State, 1983) is in his first season as interim head coach (3-3, .500) and 10th season overall as a head coach (47-59, .440). Cooper is 25-36 as an FBS head coach and 22-23 as an FCS head coach. He has never faced Marshall.
 Marshall Head Coach Doc Holliday: Holliday (West Virginia, 1979) is in his seventh season at Marshall (53-35, .602). Holliday is 4-0 all-time versus the Panthers.
 Series History: Saturday will mark the fifth meeting all-time between the two programs with Marshall holding a 4-0 edge in the series history. The last meeting between the two teams resulted in a 52-0 win for the Thundering Herd on Nov. 14, 2015, in Huntington, West Virginia.

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Game 11 – FIU Hosts Marshall on Senior Day
The FIU football team hosts the Marshall Thundering Herd on Senior Night as the Panthers will honor their senior class prior kickoff at 7 p.m. The game will be televised on the Amercian Sports Network with Ron Thulin (play-by-play), Keith Moreland (color analyst) and Hayley Zagacki (sideline) calling the action. Fans can also listen to the game on Conquista 106.3 FM with Josh Appel (play-by-play) and Wes Carroll (color analyst) in the booth all season long.
 
Saturday will mark the final home game for seniors Imarjaye Albury, Marques Cheeks, Davison Colimon, Josh Glanton, Dieugot Joseph, Sam Medlock, Michael Montero, Trenton Saunders, Edens Sineace, Jonnu Smith, Austin Taylor, Leonard Washington and Deonte Wilson.
 
It will also mark the fifth meeting all-time between Marshall and FIU with the Panthers looking for their first win over the Thundering Herd (0-4). The last time Marshall visited Ocean Bank Field at FIU Stadium, the Panthers fell, 48-10 (Oct. 18, 2014).
 
FIU comes into Saturday's game looking to snap a three-game losing skid and earn the team's fourth conference win of the season. The Panthers are averaging 22.9 points-per-game and 375.5 yards of total offense-per-contest. Junior running back Alex Gardner comes into Saturday's contest with a team-high 758 yards on 157 carries (4.8 yards-per-carry). The Jacksonville, Florida, native is 96 yards shy of becoming the school's all-time leading rusher. Gardner enters Saturday's game with 2,100 yards during his career and is chasing Rashod Smith's (2002-04) mark of 2,195.  Wide receiver Thomas Owens has tallied seven receiving touchdowns this season and is one TD catch shy of tying the school mark in which he and teammate Jonnu Smith hold (8). 
 
On the defensive side of the ball, FIU is allowing 36.2 points-per-game and 431.5 yards of total offense-per-contest entering Saturday's game. Linebackers Treyvon Williams and Anthony Wint lead the team with 92 and 90 tackles, respectively. Both are on the verge of cracking the Top 10 in tackles in a season at FIU. Williams ranks No. 4 in the conference and No. 27 nationally in tackles-per-game (9.2), while Wint sits at No. 6 in the conference and No. 31 nationally (9.0).
  
Saturday will also mark Interim Head Coach Ron Cooper's 107th game overall and first versus the Thundering Herd as a collegiate head coach.
 
Game Notables
-  Saturday will be the final home game for the Panthers this season.
-  FIU will look to improve to 4-7 on the year.
-  FIU will look to improve to 4-3 in C-USA action on the year.
-  FIU will look to improve to 19-31 all-time in the month of November.
-  Saturday will mark the seventh game for Interim Head Coach Ron Cooper at FIU (3-2).
-  Saturday will mark Cooper's 107th game as a college head coach (both FBS and FCS).
-  Saturday will mark the fifth meeting all-time between FIU and Marshall.
-  Marshall leads the series history, 4-0.
-  The Thundering Herd won the last meeting between the two teams with a 52-0 victory on Nov. 14, 2015 in Huntington, West Virginia.
-  FIU is 25-39 all-time versus teams from Conference USA.
-  FIU will look to improve to 1-4 all-time versus teams from the state of West Virginia.
-  Coach Cooper will look to improve to 1-1 all-time versus teams from West Virginia.
-  FIU will be looking to record its 21st road victory all-time on Saturday.
-  Saturday will mark the 177th game in FIU history.
-  Saturday will mark Coach Cooper's first meeting with Marshall.
 
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 107th game as a collegiate head coach (FBS and FCS).
 
Senior Day
On Saturday, FIU will honor 13 seniors who will be playing in their final home game in a Panthers' uniform. Imarjaye Albury, Marques Cheeks, Davison Colimon, Josh Glanton, Dieugot Joseph, Sam Medlock, Michael Montero, Trenton Saunders, Edens Sineace, Jonnu Smith, Austin Taylor, Leonard Washington and Deonte Wilson will each be recognized prior to kickoff versus Marshall.
 
Offensive Explosion
On Saturday, Oct. 29, FIU produced a season-high 517 yards of total offense versus the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders. The total was the ninth-most in school history and the most since the Panthers put up 518 verses UTEP last season (10/10/15).
 
 
Controlling the Clock
During FIU's game versus Middle Tennessee on Oct. 29, 2016, the Panthers held a nearly 20-minute advantage in time of possession. FIU's time of possession in the game was 39:32 – the third-highest TOP in school history. The Panthers have made it a point to control the clock in 2016. Entering Saturday's game with Marshall, FIU ranks second in the conference and 34th in the nation in time of possession, averaging 31:48.
 
Top TD Passer
On Saturday, Oct. 22, junior Alex McGough found tight end Jonnu Smith for a 17-yard touchdown pass with 52 second's left in the second quarter. The TD pass was the 43rd of McGough's FIU career and set the school mark for career touchdown passes previously held by Josh Padrick (2002-2006). McGough enters Saturday's game with 48-career touchdown passes.
 
2,000-Yard Club
On Saturday, Oct. 29, junior Alex Gardner became the third running back in FIU history to reach the 2,000-yard rushing mark. The Jacksonville, Florida, native sits at third on the school's all-time rushers list and is 96 yards shy of breaking the school record held by Rashod Smith (2,195 - 2002-04).
 
1.         2,195    Rashod Smith  - 2002-04
2.         2,156    Kedrick Rhodes  - 2010-12
3.         2,100    Alex Gardner  - 2014-present
 
Consecutive Catches - 41
Senior Jonnu Smith enters Saturday's game with a pass reception in 41-consecutive games. That is the tied for seventh-longest streak in the nation.
 

Robert Davis, Georgia State	47
Corey Davis, Western Michigan	46
Zach Pascal, Old Dominion	46
Zay Jones, East Carolina	45
Nate Phillips, Arizona	43
Taquan Mizzell, Virginia	43
Jonnu Smith, FIU	41
Ronnie Moore, Bowling Green	40
River Carcraft, Washington State	39
JuJu Smith-Schuster, USC	38
Trent Taylor, Louisiana Tech	38
Christian McCaffrey, Stanford	35
Corey Jones, Toledo	35
Josh Reynolds, Texas A&M	35
Jordan Westerkamp, Nebraska	34
KD Cannon, Baylor	34
Victor Bolden Jr., Oregon State	34
Cam Serigne, Wake Forest	33
Allen Lazard, Iowa State	33
Thomas Sperbeck, Boise State	33
Artavis Scott, Clemson	32
Fred Ross, Mississippi State	32
Amara Darboh, Michigan	30
Jaylen Samuels, NC State	30
Tanner Gentry, Wyoming	29
James Washington, Oklahoma State	29
Nicholas Norris, Western Kentucky	29
Keon Hatcher, Arkansas	28
Travis Rudolph, Florida State	28
Ryan Yurachek, Marshall	28
Taywan Taylor, Western Kentucky	28
Jake Butt, Michigan	26
Gabe Marks, Washington State	26
Calvin Ridley, Alabama	25
Phil Mayhue, Memphis	25
Al Riles, UL Lafayette	25
Drew Morgan, Arkansas	24
Ken Golladay, Northern Illinois	24
Drew Wolitarsky, Minnesota	23
Richie James, Middle Tennessee	23
Jamire Jordan, Fresno State	22
Daikiel Shorts Jr., West Virginia	22
Anthony Miller, Memphis	22
Jesus Wilson, Florida State	21
Steven Sims Jr., Kansas	21
Evan Engram, Mississippi	21
KeeSean Johnson, Fresno State	20
Dalvin Cook, Florida State	20

In November
FIU will play three games during the month of November this season. Following a 49-21 loss at WKU on Nov. 5, FIU enters Saturday's game with an 18-31 record all-time during the 11th month of the year.  
           
FIU - Marshall Connections
Below are members of both teams that went to the same high school:
 
Miami Central (Miami, Florida)
FIU - Anthony Jones, Fermin Silva, Olin Cushion III, Jordan Hinojosa
Marshall - Marquis Couch
 
Booker T. Washington (Miami, Florida)
FIU - Maurice Alexander, Darrius Scott, Jose Borregales
Marshall - Booker T. Washington
 
Charlotte (Punta Gorda, Florida)
FIU - Stantley Thomas
Marshall - Ty Tyler
 
First Coast (Jacksonville, Florida)
FIU - Douglas Connell, Dallas Connell
Marshall - Jaylon McClain-Sapp
 
Hialeah (Hialeah, Florida)
FIU - Niko Gonzalez, Jermaine Sheriff, Pol Guzman
Marshall - Simino Walden
 
American Heritage (Plantation, Florida)
FIU - Kyle Pereza, Scott Wade
Marshall - Logan Wakefield
 
Braden River (Bradenton, Florida)
FIU - JoJo Louis
Marshall - Sandley Jean-Felix
 
Below are members of both teams that went to the same junior college:
 
Georgia Military College (Milledgeville, Georgia)
FIU - Julian Williams
Marshall - Corey Neely, Emanuel Byrd
 
 
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.
 
Gardner in the FIU Record Books
Alex Gardner enters Saturday's game ranked in the school's top 10 in career rushing yards (2,100 – 3rd), rushing attempts (480 – 1st), and rushing touchdowns (14 - 3rd).
 
Wint Racking Up the Tackles
Junior Anthony Wint broke into the top 10 in career tackles at FIU last game (226 - 10). The starting linebacker is currently second on the team in tackles this season (90) and has collected double-digit tackles in five games in 2016.
 
 
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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* - W, 27-26
Oct. 22          LOUISIANA TECH – L, 24-44
Oct. 29          MIDDLE TENNESSEE* - L, 35-42
Nov. 5           at WKU* - L, 21-49
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/.