Monday, September 2, 2002

With Saint Peter's behind them, FIU prepares for road tilt against Elon

ead Coach Don Strock and his FIU Football team went back to work Monday afternoon to begin preparing for another program first-the first-ever road game against Elon University in North Carolina, this Saturday.

After facing Saint Peter's and its wing-T offense, the Phoenix pose another offensive challenge with their wishbone schemes.

Despite going 2-9 a season ago, Elon still finished 18th among NCAA I-AA's 123 football teams in rushing offense, averaging 212.55 yards per contest, so Strock knows it will be another test for his young Golden Panthers.

"The key to the wishbone is that you have to keep your guys home. It thrives on mistakes. We need to teach patience," the coach said. "Physically, I think we can match up with them but they're going to try to take advantage of the fact we only have a week to prepare."

Elon welcomes back all but one starter on offense and two on the defensive side of the ball. Last year, the Phoenix battled seven teams that were nationally ranked at some point during the year, including six while they were in the top-25.

This year, Elon is the preseason favorite to win the newly-created, four-team Big South Conference and has received votes in several of the national polls.

But so have the Golden Panthers. In fact, in the latest The Sports Network I-AA Top 25 poll released Monday, FIU received enough votes to place it No. 45 nationally. Elon, who will play its season opener against the Golden Panthers Saturday, ranked two spots lower at No. 47.

"Our players know that we want to keep this going," said Strock. "We want to keep the enthusiasm and the attitude and if we play hard for 60 minutes this Saturday we have a chance."

FIU Notes: FIU will practice Tuesday through Thursday beginning at 3:40 until about 5:30 p.m. Strock would like to hold practices Wednesday and Thursday on the south recreational fields north of Golden Panther Arena to prepare his team for the natural grass field at Elon. Friday's walkthrough will start at 1 p.m. before the team departs for Elon on a 4:30 p.m. charter airplane out of Ft. Lauderdale …

Quarterback Jamie Burke (Sarasota/Cardinal Mooney) ranks fifth in passing efficiency according to the first I-AA national statistics released by the NCAA. After going 10 for 13 with two touchdowns and no interceptions, Burke's rating stands at 206.74.

After the University of Maine's 52-3 thrashing of Central Connecticut State, the Black Bear's senior Jake Eaton leads I-AA with a rating of 257.93. The two quarterbacks will square off against one another when Maine plays at FIU on Oct. 19.