The Beacon, September 2, 2004 Florida International University
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Florida International University FIU Digital Commons The aP nther Press (formerly The Beacon) Special Collections and University Archives 9-2-2004 The Beacon, September 2, 2004 Florida International University Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.fiu.edu/student_newspaper Recommended Citation Florida International University, "The Beacon, September 2, 2004" (2004). The Panther Press (formerly The Beacon). 138. https://digitalcommons.fiu.edu/student_newspaper/138 This work is brought to you for free and open access by the Special Collections and University Archives at FIU Digital Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in The aP nther Press (formerly The Beacon) by an authorized administrator of FIU Digital Commons. For more information, please contact [email protected]. The Student Newspaper of Florida International University THE BEACON Vol. 17, Issue 2 WWW.BEACONNEWSPAPER.COM September 2, 2004 THE BOYS ARE BACK It is hard to believe that FIU But, the biggest move FIU play or two had gone right. will be no different. They will COMMENTARY is the fastest university to apply is doing is providing a free con- The offense has a talented duo face I-A schools, which are to I-A. Lots of people question cert for fans during the Western of receivers in Harold Leath and no joke. the move by Athletic Director Kentucky game. None other Cory McKinney. The defense has Strock knows wins are what Rick Mello to pursue I-A so than famous rappers Method a linebacker in Antwon Barnes eventually will draw fans to quickly but in the long run, FIU Man and Redman will be the who could be the first Golden the stadium, not bobble heads needed to do this. highlights at the concert. Panther drafted into the NFL. or FIU visors. He knows the With Florida Atlantic Univer- The Golden Panthers will also This is an exciting team with team is no longer young and By HARRY COLEMAN sity moving to I-A this year and play a home game at a bigger players that are hungry for suc- being young is no longer an Sports Editor with the University of Miami venue, the Orange Bowl. The cess. Everyone knows Miami is excuse for losing. in town, FIU had to make this team will face FAMU in the a win driven town and the only FIU will open the season It was just yesterday when move to avoid falling behind. Orange Bowl Classic, which way FIU will attract large crowds today in hopes of drawing fans the Golden Panthers played The biggest question will be should draw over 20,000 fans. will be if the team can start win- and showing the community their first football in front of a whether the team can average FIU has some very talented ning more games. they belong in Division I-A. sold out crowd at “The Cage.” 15,000 fans per game. players and if fans want football The team won four games The players are hungry, the Fast forward three years and The university is making all to stay here they will need to the inaugural season and two giveaways are set to be handed now the team will open its the right moves by giving tons come out to the stands. games the following season, out, and Method Man and third season with games at of giveaways including Don Last year FIU had a losing but this doesn’t mean the team Redman are on their way; higher stakes – Division I-A Strock bobble heads and FIU record but four of the losses regressed. The Panthers faced the question is, will you show football. seat cushions. could have been a victory if a talented teams and this year up? Golden Panthers to make Dolphins their first prey VS By ANDRES CORDERO mobility and fresh legs. (5-10, 180) and Leighton Henderson (5- game should be their most dominant per- Staff Writer JU features a D-line rotation with as 10, 175) will have to contend with FIU formance of the season. Adam Gorman’s many as 10 players. The linebacker corps, receivers Harold Leath and Cory McKin- 138 yards and Diamos Demerritt’s 121 The Golden Panthers will open the led by senior Tim Hasse, is experienced ney, both of which possess a 5-inch height made up the bulk of the 391 yards FIU football season at FIU Stadium today at but lacks depth. If the offensive line advantage on the JU tandem. ran for against Jacksonville’s horrid run 8 p.m. facing the visiting Dolphins for the can hold, the holes should be there for The primary concern for the FIU defense last year. third time in the school’s three seasons. Rashod Smith, who rushed for a career defense should be to stop the Dolphins FIU also enjoyed success in the air The two previous contests saw the JU best 262 yards and 2 touchdowns against air attack. Jacksonville executes a mul- against the Dolphins. Quarterback Josh Dolphins routed by a combined score of the Dolphins in 2002. tiple “I” formation, but their game plan Padrick, playing for the injured Jamie 94-18. Both games featured the highest The graduation of seniors Charlton relies heavily on the arm of junior Mike Burke, completed 10-of-14 passes for 232 point totals in school history with the Williams and Emile Duvernois leaves a Sturgill. yards and 3 touchdowns. Golden Panthers posting 39 in 2002 and definite lack of experience on the Jack- Last season Sturgill threw for 2,060 This might be a sign that this year’s a school record 55 in 2003. sonville secondary. yards and 20 touchdowns. However, he game might not be much of a contest Jacksonville comes into its seventh The Dolphins will count on Drew managed just one touchdown against either. A good performance here says a season of I-AA football with just 5 return- Stafford (missed last season with knee the Golden Panthers and it was facing lot less about the team than a bad one ing starters on offense, 5 on defense and a injury) and Mathew Kampfe (converted back-ups, in the final minutes, while on would. lot of question marks. The team is noto- QB) starting at free and strong safety the short end of a blowout. Perhaps the biggest question concern- riously undersized on the defensive line respectively. Given that this year’s schedule is the ing the game is: Will more than 3,512 and tries to compensate with quickness, Returning cornerbacks Bryan Flowers toughest for FIU thus far, the opening people show up for this one? 9/2/04 1 9/1/04 12:46:24 PM 2 The Beacon – September 2, 2004 SPORTS www.beaconnewspaper.com Smith returns strong from tendon injury By NATALIE SABIA throughout the season, Smith During his freshman year at Despite a frustrating season, Dean’s List, came to FIU as s Staff Writer continued to get healthy in Bryant College in Rhode Island, Smith headed home to Miami sophomore and was non-other hopes for another try. Smith was already a talented for a fresh start. than team MVP after leading the He rushes down the field “I tried to get back and play, player, who rapidly became a “I wanted to get back home Golden Panthers with 784 yards protecting the football that he but I couldn’t run,” said Smith glimpse in people’s eyes. to keep playing, especially for a over nine games and averaging 6 holds tightly to his body while who had gained over 1,000 He averaged more than 60 new program like FIU had to yards per carry. passing defenders as they latch yards on 194 carries, before his yards in his first two games of offer,” said Smith. As FIU’s leading scorer in out towards him. He looks up injury while averaging 5.5 yards the year, but after breaking a The Sports Management 2002, with nine touchdowns, ahead in hopes to see the end- per run. toe he was unable to return. major, who is no stranger to the sitting out in 2003 was a major zone near; this year, look for upset for Smith. him to be there, look out for “I had to learn how to running back Rashod Smith. walk again, but I’m ready to This season, it will be his get back into the swing of number four jersey sprinting things,” said Smith. down the field, celebrating As far as Smith is con- his rushing yards, along with cerned, the Golden Panthers touchdowns. Standing at are ready for action. Their 5- feet-8-inches and carrying days have been consumed by 188 pounds of muscle, Smith daily practices on the field, is ready for his comeback; the while getting focused for the question is, are opponents season. ready for him? “Right now were taking Recovering from an injury one step at a time and one play last year, after slicing a tendon at a time,” said Smith. “Were in his foot from a run in with a getting ready for Thursday piece of glass, the senior run- [season opener].” ning back is anxiously awaiting Despite Smith’s nag- his return to the field after an ging injuries he has endured injury was more serious than and the fact that he hasn’t initially thought. played a full season in a while, “I stepped on glass in the he is prepared to get back on cafeteria, but I didn’t know it the field and do what he is was that serious,” said Smith.