In the meantime, the football team had a respectable showing in Lawrence, Kansas against the 14th ranked and heavily favored Jayhawks. Unfortunately, if you weren't in Kansas, you didn't get to see any of it. From what I have read, highly touted speed demon punt returner T.Y. Hilton, whose number teammates have gotten to know very well while chasing him down the field all summer long, looked fantastic in returning a Kansas punt 74 yards for the Golden Panthers' only touchdown of the game.
As suspected, Paul McCall was the starting signal caller for FIU and is rumored to have looked very good when the offensive line gave him time. He finished the game 10 of 28 for 73 yards and two picks. He also rushed for 26 yards, showing that those mobility drills that he has been enduring over the past spring and summer have paid off.
The defense supposedly had the Kansas O confused early on, forcing a fumble and a three-and-out punt on the first and second Jayhawk possessions, respectively. Also, the defense held Kansas to 384 total offensive yards. That same Kansas offense torched the FIU defense for 615 total yards en route to putting up 55 points last season. Overall, I remain optimistic for this season. The defense seems to be living up to its hype and the offense can only get better.
In case any of you missed it, the Golden Panthers will hold an open scrimmage in their brand new stadium, which is appropriately being dubbed The Cage, on September 11 at 7 o'clock. The scrimmage is open to the public and admission and parking are free. Also, stay tuned to FIUsports.com to learn when and where there will be a viewing party for this weekend's football game against the Iowa Hawkeyes of the Big Ten. Or, if you are lucky enough to get the Big Ten Network, you can watch it at home (but where is the fun in that).
Now, on to the pride of the Panthers, the women's volleyball team. Right now they have more wins (4) than the other fall sports teams combined. This past weekend, they won the Big Orange Bash in Clemson, S.C., beating the host and 19th ranked Tigers in the process. They were led by preseason Sun Belt Conference Player of the Year Yarimar Rosa, who had a double-double in all three tournament games. On their way back to Miami, the ladies stopped in Greenville, S.C., where they continued to dominate the schools from the Palmetto State by beating Furman. The unbeaten Lady Panthers' first action on their home court will be Friday, September 12, when they host the two-day FIU Tournament. Other teams participating in the tournament include Penn, Oral Roberts and Central Florida.
A quick blurb on my Atlanta trip, I had a lot of fun. We didn't get into the game, there were many more people looking to buy tickets than there were selling and we all know what happens when demand is greater than supply, the price goes upward. We ended up at a small microbrewery/sports bar with a bunch of other Bama fans who were also left ticketless. The group of us had a lot of fun together even though there were a few of them who were beyond the "I drank so much that I have to high five anyone and everyone around me anytime that Bama does something even remotely positive. While I'm at it, I think I'll spray them with saliva, too," stage of inebriation.
I stayed with my cousin Laurae and her husband Jim while there. I enjoy seeing them and their kids and I think Laurae and Jim enjoy having me around since the kids seem to gravitate towards me, giving L and J a moment of peace, if only ever so brief a moment.
That's about all for now. I'll be back tomorrow and Friday with a wonderful method of preparing the perfect chicken wings for tailgating and a look at this weekend's football foe, the Iowa Hawkeyes. I may even try to make a score prediction.
-ELI3
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