MONROE, La. -- Ever since the Panthers went on their long winning streak to close out the regular season, the team started growing beards or at least those on the team that could grow beards, grew them.
Before we get more into the beards, let me tell you a story about the biggest FIU Panthers fan in Union City, Tennessee.
Dave Stewman (photo above) is a native of Detroit, Michigan [FIU won the Pizza Bowl there] and later moved to Union City, Tennessee and has lived there for more than 30 years. Dave loves the game of baseball, but never really had a favorite team until last May in Murfreesboro, Tennessee.
One year ago in Murfreesboro at the Sun Belt Conference Tournament, Dave saw the FIU Panthers for the first time and liked the way they played. Actually, we'll let Dave tell you about it:
"I never really associated myself with any college baseball team until I saw you guys play in Murfreesboro last season," said Dave on Friday afternoon after FIU shutout South Alabama 11-0. "Last year when I saw you guys play for the first time I just really liked the hard-nosed, never let up attitude that Coach Turtle Thomas has instilled in these kids. They are never out of a game and they play each out like if it was their last. And that Wittels kid last year showed me that he's got the heart and guts to play baseball at any level. With the 56-game hitting streak and coming in to pitch two different innings against FAU in that tournament game. I just enjoy the hell out of how this team plays. Since I'm loud at the FIU games, people ask me, "Which one is your son?" and I tell them they are all my sons. This is my team."
Dave has become such a big fan of the Panthers that he traveled down to FIU for the season-opening series against Southeastern Louisiana. Dave also went down to North Florida to watch the Panthers' two-game series against the Ospreys in late March this season. And this week he came down here to Monroe, Louisiana to watch his beloved Panthers in the Sun Belt Conference Tournament.
If you are in Monroe, you can't miss Dave. He has been in the stands for FIU's first two games yelling at the umpires when they blow a call against the Panthers, yelling at Panthers baserunners to get back when pitchers try to pick them off at first base and cheering on each Panther by their first name.
Dave did not know about the Panthers Championship Beard growth. He's had his beard for as long as he could remember. As you can tell by the photo above, Dave dyed his beard blue on Friday in honor of FIU.
Dave will be back at Warhawk Field for FIU's games on Saturday and Sunday and will travel to whichever regional the Panthers are assigned to.
Back to the Championship Beards, most of the Panthers are sporting beards. According to the General Jeremy Patton, Mike Martinez will grow the biggest beard on the team. Before the regular-season ending series with Florida Atlantic, I told the team if they won the series I would join in. The Panthers took two of three games from the Owls so this photo on the right is one week without shaving.
SCENES FROM FIU'S WIN OVER SOUTH ALABAMA on FRIDAY
R.J. Fondon in control in the seven-inning shutout . . . . so the rest of the pitching staff can kick back and enjoy a chamber of commerce afternoon in Monroe. As you can see in these two photos, R.J., Bryam Garcia and Phil Haig are all rocking the championship beards.
"Hey T.J." "Yeah, Mike." "Watch Patton go 3 for 3 today."
FIU fan and The Prowl dedicated reader Cleo Chiapanther Mercado and FIU assistant coach Scott Pittenger will re-open the Psychic Friends Network. Both men called Jabari Henry's two-run home run one batter before it happened.
Everybody stop growing your beards. I, Mike Martinez, am No. 1 when it comes to growing beards on this team.
Sun Belt MVPs: 2011 Sun Belt MVP and 2010 Sun Belt Tournament MVP
CLICK HERE for highlights of Friday's 11-0 rout of the Jaguars.
Check back here on The Prowl at 7:49 p.m. on Saturday night for FIU vs. Louisiana in the Panthers final game of pool play before the Sun Belt Championship Game on Sunday against UALR at 2 p.m.
