FIU Panthers Prowl

The 7th Annual FIU Sports at the Movies

The 2012-13 FIU sports season is finished and the new FIU sports season is another two months away. So it's time to recap the past FIU sports season by taking you good people to the movies for our 7th Annual FIU Sports at the Movies.

The following is a look back at what happened in FIU sports in the past 10 months by referring to movies released from August 2012 through May 2013. If you missed the first six installments of FIU Sports at the Movies, then CLICK HERE and CLICK HERE and CLICK HERE.

And now your feature presentation . . . . 

Rios Named Freshman All-American; Inaugural FIU Football Video Wins Award

FIU freshman shortstop Edwin Rios was named Freshman All-American second team today. Rios led the Panthers this past season with a .332 average and 52 RBI. Rios had 20 doubles and nine home runs. Rios also led the Panthers with a .548 slugging percentage and in OPS with .960.

Rios follows former Panther Jabari Henry as a Freshman All-American. Henry earned the honor in 2010. Recently, Henry was named a Midwest League All-Star for the Clinton LumberKings (Seattle Mariners Class A team). Henry is batting .339 with four home runs and a team-high on-base percentage of .453 for Clinton.

 

INAUGURAL FIU FOOTBALL VIDEO WINS AWARD

The inaugural FIU football video put together by FIU's External Relations last year celebrating 10 years of FIU football won a National Circle of Excellence CASE (Council for the Advancement of Secondary Education) Award. The football video won in the News & Research category. CASE is the professional organization of communications/advancement/media/marketing at all universities in the U.S. and several international universities.  

If you missed the video here it is.

 

FIU Baseball MLB Draft Wrap-up; Images of Completed Mini-Panther Statue

I know the Major League Baseball Draft was last week, but I was on vacation so in case you missed who else from FIU was drafted besides Tyler Alexander, here you go.

Alexander was the lone current FIU player drafted in last week's MLB Draft. Alexander was taken in the 27th round by the Milwaukee Brewers. Alexander may have flinched when his name came up in the 23rd round, but that was another Tyler Alexander taken by the Detroit Tigers. That Tyler Alexander was drafted out of Carroll High in Texas.

As for FIU signees drafted last week, the Panthers had four incoming freshmen drafted. Infielder/outfielder Brandon Diaz was selected by the Brewers in the eighth round. Right-handed pitcher Cody Crouse, who stands 6-6, was taken by the New York Mets in the 19th round. Infielder J.C. Escarra was also picked by the Mets in the 32nd round and left-handed pitcher Nestor Cortes was drafted by the New York Yankees in the 36th round. Now we'll have to wait and see who signs and who comes to FIU.

SEASON TICKETS PANTHER STATUE

Here is the completed Panther statue that you will receive if you renewed your FIU football season tickets before May 31.

Aramis Garcia Named Johnny Bench Award Semifinalist; Inaugural FIU Football Video

FIU catcher Aramis Garcia was named one of the 15 semifinalists for the Johnny Bench Award, which is given to the nation's best catcher in Division I baseball.

Garcia leads the Panthers in batting (.337), home runs (11), RBI (49), hits (69), slugging (.551) and OPS (.942). The three finalists for the award will be announced June 4 and the winner is announced June 27.

 

INAUGURAL FIU FOOTBALL VIDEO

Thanks to news.fiu.edu for unearthing this early footage of the first FIU football game in 2002.

 

FIU/Florida Atlantic Baseball Time Change; T.Y. on Colts Front Page; C-USA Hoops to Sunrise?

The start time for game two of the FIU/Florida Atlantic baseball series has been changed from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Game two of the series takes place on Friday, for which 6 p.m. would be the normal start time for an FIU home game.

The series between the Panthers and the Owls begins on Thursday at 6 p.m. and concludes on Saturday at 1 p.m. The reason for the Thursday start to the series is because the Sun Belt Conference Tournament begins next Tuesday in Lafayette, La.

Currently tied for fifth with WKU at 13-14 in the conference, FIU could secure as high as the No. 4 seed at the SBC Tournament. For that to happen the Panthers have to sweep the Owls and have WKU lose one game this weekend to Middle Tennessee. If all that falls into place then FIU would play either FAU or WKU in the first round of the double elimination conference tournament next week.

If you can't make it out to the FIU ballpark this weekend then you can watch all three games of the series on PantherVision on FIUSports.com. I will have the call to all three games for you. CLICK HERE to access PantherVision.

 

T.Y. on COLTS.COM WALLPAPER

Apparently, the Indianapolis Colts think very highly of their second-year receiver out of FIU. T.Y. Hilton, FIU's all-time leading receiver, has been placed on the wallpaper of the team's website: colts.com. Hilton joins quarterback Andrew Luck, receiver Reggie Wayne and three other Colts on the page.

Have a look by CLICKING HERE, Hilton is on the upper left hand corner of the page catching a pass.

 

C-USA BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT TO SUNRISE?

Florida Panthers beat writer George Richards from the local newspaper wrote an article yesterday on the new scoreboard for the hockey arena in Sunrise. In the article Panthers president Michael Yormark says he would like to bring big events to the arena in the near future and two of those events that Yormark hopes to get are the Conference USA men and women's basketball tournaments and you all know which local college basketball team plays in C-USA starting in November. CLICK HERE to read the story.

Tourek Williams Chargers Interview; Stepanova Sand Volleyball All-American; FIU vs. Jacksonville Baseball Series

Former FIU defensive lineman and new San Diego Chargers linebacker Tourek Williams did an interview with BoltBlitz.com, a San Diego Chargers blog. CLICK HERE to read what Tourek had to say.

 

1st FIU SAND VOLLEYBALL ALL-AMERICAN

Kate Stepanova became FIU’s first-ever sand volleyball All-American this past weekend, as she completed her final collegiate campaign at the 2013 AVCA Collegiate Sand Volleyball Championships in Gulf Shores, Ala.

Stepanova combined with junior Ksenia Sukhareva to post an overall record of 21-5, as the duo was selected to the AVCA Collegiate Sand Championships ‘Best of the Rest’ field, and went a perfect 4-0 in pool play before advancing to the quarterfinals of pairs championship action.

CLICK HERE for more.

 

FIU/JACKSONVILLE BASEBALL SERIES

The Panthers are back home for a two-game midweek series against the Jacksonville Dolphins. The first pitch for tonight's game is at 6 p.m. On Wednesday, the two teams will play a matinee beginning at 3 p.m. If you can't make it out to the FIU ballpark, then you can watch both games LIVE and for FREE on PantherVision at FIUSports.com.

I will have the call for both games. CLICK HERE to access PantherVision.

Bari Bashing in Minors; Cyprien at Jags Mini-Camp

Former FIU outfielder Jabari Henry has gotten off to a terrific start with the Clinton Lumberjacks (Seattle Mariners, Class A). Henry is currently third in the Midwest League with a .370 average and also has a team-leading four home runs and 18 RBI.

 

CYPRIEN MAKES GREAT FIRST IMPRESSION

Former FIU safety Johnathan Cyprien opened up a lot of eyes at the Jacksonville Jaguars rookie mini-camp this past weekend. CLICK HERE for details and a video interview with Cyprien, who will be wearing No. 37 in the NFL. Below is one of Cyprien's rookie cards.

    

FIU vs. Florida Gulf Coast Baseball Doubleheader on Wednesday

FIU hosts Florida Gulf Coast in a doubleheader on Wednesday afternoon. The first pitch is at 1 p.m. from the FIU ballpark. The second game will begin 45 minutes after the first game ends.

Due to the March 20 rainout in Fort Myers, the Eagles agreed to come to FIU to play two games. At the start of the season the teams were scheduled to play one game in Fort Myers and one game in Miami.

If you can't make it out to the FIU ballpark on Wednesday, then you can watch both games on PantherVision at FIUSports.com. I will have the call of both games for you beginning at 12:55 p.m.

CLICK HERE for the LIVE and FREE video broadcast.

FIU vs. Louisiana Baseball Series

  
FIU hosts Louisiana in a three-game series this weekend at the FIU ballpark. The Panthers and Ragin' Cajuns begin the series tonight with a first pitch of 6 p.m. Saturday's game is at 4 p.m. and Sunday is a special start time of 10 a.m. because of the Cajuns' travel plans. FIU will provide free coffee and doughnuts at Sunday's game.

The Panthers and Cajuns are currently tied for third place in the Sun Belt Conference. Both teams are 10-8 and just two games back of first place South Alabama (12-6) in a tightly-bunched conference. Florida Atlantic, Troy and WKU are tied for second place with each team at 11-7.

If you can't make it out to the FIU ballpark this weekend, you can watch all three games of the series on PantherVision at FIUSports.com. CLICK HERE to access PantherVision.

One note to the live video broadcasts this weekend. There will be NO audio play-by-play for Friday's game because I will be at Johnathan Cyprien's place doing a video and a story on he becoming the highest drafted Panther into the NFL.

FIU Baseball to Play Doubleheader vs. Florida Gulf Coast on May 1

The FIU baseball team will play a doubleheader against Florida Gulf Coast on May 1 from the FIU Baseball Stadium. The doubleheader between the Panthers and the Eagles will begin at 1 p.m.

FIU and FGCU were scheduled to play earlier this season, March 20, in Fort Myers but the game was postponed due to inclement weather.

On May 1, the Panthers and the Eagles will start the first game at 1 p.m. with the second game starting 45 minutes after the first game ends.

FIU returns to the diamond this weekend with a three-game home series against Louisiana from the FIU Baseball Stadium. The Panthers and the Ragin Cajuns begin the series at 6 p.m. Friday. The first pitch for Saturday's game is at 4 p.m. and Sunday's first pitch is at a special time of 10 a.m. due to the Cajuns travel plans.

The Panthers and Cajuns are currently tied for fifth place in the Sun Belt Conference. Both teams have records of 10-8 and currently trail first place South Alabama (12-6) by two games.

Fans can watch all FIU home baseball games on PantherVision on FIUSports.com.