Thursday, August 7, 2003

Strock paints optimistic picture at FIU Football Media Day

• 2003 FIU Football Schedule

our days before the start of practice and head football coach Don Strock stood before a large Media Day audience talking about team strengths and, for the first time in three years, leadership.

“We really know our football team well. We have nearly 40 returnees who are entering their third year in our system. We’ll be counting on these guys to be our leaders and teach the younger ones. Already this summer, it’s been a lot easier transition with the new freshmen who have come in,” Strock said.

Unlike the first two years when Strock brought in anywhere from 40 to 75 new faces to fill a roster, this past year, he and his staff recruited only 19 newcomers to fill in areas of weakness.

But today, Strock concentrated on his team’s strengths.

“Jamie Burke (Sarasota, Fla.) had a solid year as our starting quarterback and he should only get better. David Tabor (Kissimmee, Fla.) played well when we needed him and Josh Padrick (Merritt Island, Fla.) will be pushing for some playing time,” he said.

“At running back, Diamos Demerrit (Miami/Norland) is healthy again (after tearing his ACL last fall) and Rashod Smith (Miami/Northwestern) is back after leading the team in rushing and being named MVP. Then, we went out and brought in a couple more big backs in Marcus Jones (Miami/Gulliver) and Chidi Nwadike (Miami/Palmetto) who should help us immediately and make us stronger there.

“After being so thin at tight end, freshmen Samuel Smith (Miami/Gulliver) and James Williams (Ft. Myers, Fla.) should really solidify us there. And our offensive linemen have all been working very hard. They are all much stronger and faster.”

Defensively, Strock plans on extensive use of the 3-4 formation and he went out and brought in three talented linebacker recruits and three more defensive backs who should be able to help right away.

“There is no doubt that we improved ourselves as far as an overall football team is concerned,” Strock said.

But all those improvement could prove necessary as this year’s schedule has been ranked among the toughest in I-AA. FIU, which put together the second-best record (5-6) among I-AA inaugural schools in the past decade, will play a pair of I-A opponents this season on the road--Troy State (Oct. 18) and Louisiana-Lafayette (Nov. 8)--and meet three others who competed in last year’s I-AA playoffs and a fourth that was ranked in the top-25.

The Golden Panthers will play on 12 consecutive weekends, beginning at Indiana State (Sept. 6) and at perennial I-AA power Maine the next Saturday.

Camp Strock opens Monday morning, Aug. 11 at 9:30 a.m. Practices are open to the public the first week. Thereafter, spectator admission will be by invitation only.

2003 Fall Practice Schedule
(Practices are open to the public, Aug. 11-16.
Practices are closed from Aug. 18-Sept. 5 with spectator admission by invitation only.)
Monday, Aug. 11: 9:30-11:30 am (Shorts & Helmets)
Tuesday, Aug. 12: 9:30-11:30 am (Shorts & Helmets)
Wednesday, Aug. 13: 9:30-11:30 am (Shorts & Shoulder Pads)
Thursday, Aug. 14: 9:30-11:30 am (Shorts & Shoulder Pads)
Friday, Aug. 15: 9:30-11:30 am (Full Gear)
Saturday, Aug. 16: 9:30-11:30 am and 3:30-5:30 pm (Full Gear)
Sunday, Aug. 17: Off Day
Monday, Aug. 18: 9:00-11:00 am (Full Gear)
Tuesday, Aug. 19: 9:30-11:30 am (Shorts & Shoulder Pads) and 3:00-5:15 pm (Full Gear)
Wednesday, Aug. 20: 9:00-11:30 am (Full Gear)
Thursday, Aug. 21: 9:30-11:30 amand 3:30-5:35 pm (Full Gear)
Friday, Aug. 22: 9:00-11:30 am (Full Gear)
Saturday, Aug. 23: 9:30-11:30 am (Shorts & Shoulder Pads) and Scrimmage, 3:30 pm
Sunday, Aug. 24: Off Day
Monday, Aug. 25-Friday, Aug. 29: 3:30-5:15 pm
Saturday, Aug. 30: 10:00-11:30 am (Shorts & Shoulder Pads)
Sunday, Aug. 31: Off Day
Monday, Sept. 1-Thursday, Sept. 4: 3:30-5:15 pm
Friday, Sept. 5: 1:30-2:30 pm (Shorts & Helmets)
Saturday, Sept. 6: Season opener at Indiana State, 4:00 pm ET
Schedule subject to change without notice.