Should be a fun event, FIU is trying to increase those attendance numbers and get the word out about our football program.



<a href='http://www.fiusports.com/football/releases/062804.htm' target='_blank'>http://www.fiusports.com/football/releases/062804.htm</a>

[quote]Monday, June 28, 2004

Florida A&M University and Florida International University
Announce Return of the Orange Blossom Classic

Florida A&M University and Florida International University announced Monday the return of the historic Orange Blossom Classic. The Nov. 27 match-up was finalized during a symbolic Signing Luncheon held at Don Shula’s Golf Club in Miami Lakes.

FAMU President Fred Gainous and FIU President Modesto A. Maidique, were joined by their athletic directors and head football coaches, Miami area dignitaries, Orange Bowl Committee officials and alumni for the event.

"This partnership between Florida A&M, Florida International and the Orange Bowl Committee is one that we believe will be very fruitful,

sounds like a good plan

Swamphound, thanks for inviting us Golden Panther fans over into this forum/discussion board.

I will spread the word to the other FIU fans in an attempt to create a buzz. :wave:

P.S. When you finally find some FAU fans, give me a buzz :laugh:

ARod Wrote:Swamphound, thanks for inviting us Golden Panther fans over into this forum/discussion board.

I will spread the word to the other FIU fans in an attempt to create a buzz. :wave:

P.S. When you finally find some FAU fans, give me a buzz :laugh:

Welcome aboard, and bring all the FIU fans you can, the more the merrier.

I think the OB Classic is a FANTASTIC idea; this has the potential to create a good rivalry and get some great exposure for the SBC. Who knows we might have the FAMU band in the SBC someday; yeah, they can bring their football team along!

Go FIU!!!
Go SBC Football!!!

I LOVE the idea, and I hope it does bring out the best for the FIU program in the near future. I would love it if USF, UCF, FAU, FAMU, and FIU all created more rivalry 'classics' between each other. The OB Classic and the Shula Bowl are awesome for you guys. Can't wait to finally meet USF in 2005 :monty: They can only avoid us for so much longer.

Hey moloch_322,

Why isn't USF Bulls considered your rivals in which you guys can play them on a yearly basis? Do you know
And our rivals to the north, FAU, almost shocked you guys last year. You guys have a pretty difficult schedule to begin with this year and your QB Schneider is gone. Who's filling his place?

ARod Wrote:Hey moloch_322,

Why isn't USF Bulls considered your rivals in which you guys can play them on a yearly basis? Do you know
And our rivals to the north, FAU, almost shocked you guys last year. You guys have a pretty difficult schedule to begin with this year and your QB Schneider is gone. Who's filling his place?

We've been pursuing USF since they began play in '97, but they always turned us down. Until last year when we were having an off year did they accept a 2 game series beginning in 2005 with the first game in Tampa. We play them regularly in baseball, very rarely in basketball. Starting QB in '04 is Steven Moffett, young but with lots of potential. Overall training reports for the team have been really good. O'Leary has been bringing this program in the right direction. This is the last season we open with a killer opening schedule, Id love to pull an upset versus Wisconsin or West Virginia though.

Don't take this as a flame, but I really didn't know FIU had a football team. Do they play all sports in sun belt? Is their football D1-AA?

FIU plays all sports in the Sun Belt and currently are in the process of moving up to 1-A. They have only be around for 3 years, I believe football wise.

Yes this upcoming season will be our 3rd season of football. We were I-AA independants the first two years and this year we are in our transition year to play I-A in the Sun Belt.

One thing I admire about FIU is something that UCF, USF, and FAU don't have...an on-campus stadium, though no very big, its a start.

moloch_322 Wrote:One thing I admire about FIU is something that UCF, USF, and FAU don't have...an on-campus stadium, though no very big, its a start.

Yep, having our own stadium is something that helps, especially when it comes to revenue. We can pretty much keep the money to ourselves rather than renting a place. There are plans in the works to expand the stadium to 33,000 seats. Hopefully that will happen sooner rather than later.

MaXx Wrote:

moloch_322 Wrote:One thing I admire about FIU is something that UCF, USF, and FAU don't have...an on-campus stadium, though no very big, its a start.

Yep, having our own stadium is something that helps, especially when it comes to revenue. We can pretty much keep the money to ourselves rather than renting a place. There are plans in the works to expand the stadium to 33,000 seats. Hopefully that will happen sooner rather than later.

That's going to take alot more money, and the school is going to make sure that FIU can actually field 30K fans. Most MAC schools have stadiums in the 25K range.

With FIU's current stadium being just 7K and 3 million, it was simply a drop in the bucket and very easy to produce. I think a 20K stadium would be reasonable, given FIU can put 20K in the stadium every often or so.

The Knight Time Wrote:

MaXx Wrote:

moloch_322 Wrote:One thing I admire about FIU is something that UCF, USF, and FAU don't have...an on-campus stadium, though no very big, its a start.

Yep, having our own stadium is something that helps, especially when it comes to revenue. We can pretty much keep the money to ourselves rather than renting a place. There are plans in the works to expand the stadium to 33,000 seats. Hopefully that will happen sooner rather than later.

That's going to take alot more money, and the school is going to make sure that FIU can actually field 30K fans. Most MAC schools have stadiums in the 25K range.

With FIU's current stadium being just 7K and 3 million, it was simply a drop in the bucket and very easy to produce. I think a 20K stadium would be reasonable, given FIU can put 20K in the stadium every often or so.

Actually, depending on the setup, our current stadium can hold anywhere from 12,000 to 17,000. The first year we had the 17,000 setup and last year we had the 12,000 setup. I'm pretty sure this year will be the 12,000 setup again which removes the corner endzone seats. However, our athletic director has said that a 33,000 seat stadium is what they are pushing for.