It's been a while since FIU played a team for the first time. FIU takes on South Alabama in football for the first time Saturday afternoon from Mobile, Alabama. Panthers versus the Jaguars, Dazzlers vs. Prowlers (that's the name of the South Alabama dance team) -- imagine the possibilities. Time to play The Other Game featuring FIU vs. South Alabama.
FIU vs. South Alabama -- The Other Game
-- Miami, where FIU is located, is the birthplace of the street festival, Calle Ocho. Mobile, where South Alabama is located, is the birthplace of Mardi Gras (below right). Yes, that Mardi Gras, that New Orleans became famous for. The first Mardi Gras took place in Mobile, Alabama in 1703. See you at Mardi Gras. SA 1, FIU 0.
-- Different Strokes brothers: FIU has receiver Willis Wright. SA has linebacker Alvin Arnold. Willis was the big brother to Arnold. SA 1, FIU 1.
-- At FIU in 2003 a live panther got away from then-FIU coach Don Strock during a photo shoot for the Miami Herald's preseason football preview. At South Alabama in the 1960's a live jaguar lived on campus as the school's mascot. The jaguar escaped when someone mistakenly left the door open to the animal's pen. Both animals were eventually caught with no one or the animal harmed. PUSH. SA 1, FIU 1, PUSH 1.
-- World Series rings: FIU's Mike Lowell won World Series rings with the Boston Red Sox (2007) and the Florida Marlins (2003). South Alabama's David Freese won a 2011 World Series ring with the St. Louis Cardinals. Lowell (below left) has actually three World Series rings to Freese's one World Series ring. Lowell got his first WS ring when he was a member of the New York Yankees' 40-man roster in 1998 when New York defeated San Diego to win the World Series. FIU 2, SA 1, PUSH 1.
-- Mosquitos are an issue in Miami during most of the year. The red fire ant came to the United States via the port of Mobile. You could always walk around the fire ants. You have to keep swatting or using OFF to get rid of the mosquitos. FIU 2, SA 2, PUSH 1.
-- Mobile, Alabama is home to the American Academy of Hypnosis. If you ask fans around the Sun Belt Conference and anywhere else FIU plays, the Dazzlers are a traveling academy of hypnosis. FIU 3, SA 2, PUSH 1.
-- Jimmy Buffett sings songs about Miami and the Florida Keys. Buffett is from Mobile and sings songs about Mobile as well. Who doesn't like Jimmy Buffett? PUSH. FIU 3, SA 2, PUSH 2.
-- NFL teams: The Carolina "Panthers" have been to a Super Bowl losing to the New England Patriots. The Jacksonville "Jaguars" have been to an AFC Championship Game losing to the Patriots as well. FIU 4, SA 2, PUSH 2.
-- Musicians: FIU has Prince as in offensive lineman Prince Matt. SA has Rush and Hendricks as in tight end Rush Hendricks. Yes, I know Hendricks is not spelled like Jimi Hendrix, but anything is better than listening to the Artist Formerly Known As. FIU 4, SA 3, PUSH 2.
-- FIU's big festival is the South Beach Wine & Food Festival. South Alabama's big festival is Junk the Jungle, where toilet paper and streamers are used to cover all the trees in the schools central traffic circle. FIU 5, SA 3, PUSH 2.
