FIU Panthers Prowl

FIU at NCAA Track Regionals; T.Y. Hilton at OTAs; FIU Sand Volleyball on TV

The FIU track and field team will have two athletes competing at the NCAA East Regional beginning today when Aubrey Smith participates in the long jump. On Friday, Kim Dekrey (above) goes for the hammer throw title. Dekrey, a senior, has thrown the hammer for just one year and qualified for the regional. CLICK HERE to read a story on her by yours truly.

T.Y. HILTON AT OTAs

FIU's all-time leading receiver T.Y. Hilton is participating at the Indianapolis Colts OTAs this week. Apparently, Hilton has had a good week and is looking like he added some muscle. Take a look at this photo with Andrew Luck and CLICK HERE for a brief story on the two Colts.

FIU SAND VOLLEYBALL ON TV

On Tuesday, May 28, CBS Sports Network will televise action from the AVCA Collegiate Sand Volleyball Pairs Championships, including FIU's Jessica Mendoza and Maryna Samoday’s semifinal match.

The Panthers pair will be in action on May 28, at 8:30 p.m. ET, with encores of the airing set for May 31 (4:30 p.m. ET), June 5 (8:30 p.m. ET), June 12 (8:30 p.m. ET), and June 15 (5:30 p.m. ET). For more information on CBS Sports Network, including a full programming schedule and channel finder, visit www.cbssportsnetwork.com.

Mendoza (above left) and Samoday (above right) were selected to the championship’s ‘Best of the Rest’ field before going a perfect 4-0 in pairs pool play to reach the championship bracket. Mendoza and Samoday ended the season with an overall pairs record of 22-5.

FIU's CONFERENCE USA LOGO

If you haven't seen it yet here is what FIU's logo along with the C-USA logo will look like.

PANTHER STATUE PREVIEW

Here are some clay moldings of the Panther statue that you would receive if you renew your FIU football season tickets before May 31. I've been told this isn’t the final product. This clay model will then be used to create a mold, which will then be dipped in a bronze colored material to replicate the bronze statue look. 

Here are some notes about the statue: 1 replica statue per account is available to fans who renew their football season tickets by Friday, May 31. There is a limited availability. Replicas are expected to be available for distribution in September and for more information, call 305-FIU-GAME.

   

Talking with New Miami Dolphins Fullback Rupert Bryan

   

Last week Rupert Bryan became the third former FIU Panther to sign with the Miami Dolphins after the late Chandler Williams and Andy Leavine. Currently, Bryan is participating in the Dolphins OTAs (organized team activities -- technical term for practice) this week. But before Rupert got going in Davie, I had a chance to catch up with him and this is what he had to say.

PP: You were invited to the Dolphins rookie mini-camp a couple of weeks ago, how did it go and what were you told after the camp?

RB: I felt like I did pretty good. I worked exclusively at fullback and I thought I had a strong camp. I talked to general manager Jeff Ireland after the camp and he said I would placed be on a list of players that the team would keep in mind. I stayed in shape since the camp and I kept myself ready if I were fortunate enough to get the opportunity to be a part of the Miami Dolphins.

PP: What did you do at the mini-camp and what did you take away from it?

RB: I went through the playbook as much as I could. I had a good feeling after the camp that I would get a shot. After the camp was over I couldn't keep the playbook since I wasn't yet on the team. But I tried to remember the plays as best as I could by memory and when I would get home each day I would write the plays down off memory.

The mini-camp was like a regular practice. I ran routes, blocked and I worked on special teams as well. I didn't drop any passes throughout the camp. If you remember I caught four of the five passes at FIU Pro Day, but I caught them all at the rookie mini-camp. I kind of surprised myself with that. I still have a lot of work to do on catching the ball so I look smoother.

PP: Did you stay after each mini-camp practice to work extra since you are playing a new position? 

RB: Oh, yeah. After each practice, quarterback Aaron Corp and I would stay and I would run routes and he would throw to me. I also worked a lot with the Jugs machine catching balls from there.

PP: Your main competition at fullback this summer will be a guy you are familiar with, Jorvorskie Lane, who you played against when FIU played at Texas A&M in 2010. How well do you know Lane?

RB: Not that well since he was a fullback in college and I played on the offensive line. He kind of went in the opposite direction moving from running back to fullback in the NFL whereas I'm going from the offensive line to full back. He's a solid 270 pounds. I'm at 245 pounds, but I want to get to a solid 250 pounds in order to compete with the defensive linemen and defensive ends.

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.

 

Rupert Bryan Signs with Miami Dolphins; 7 FIU Panthers Now in the NFL

After a tryout with the Miami Dolphins last week, Rupert Bryan signed with the Dolphins today. Bryan, who was an offensive lineman at FIU, will compete at fullback with Jorvorskie Lane. Ironically, Bryan and Lane have met before on a football field when FIU played at Texas A&M in 2010. Lane played for the Aggies.

Bryan began training as a fullback shortly after his final season at FIU last fall. Bryan had never played fullback or any offensive skill position before, but had a nice showing at FIU Pro Day in March when he caught four of five passes thrown his way during drills in front of NFL scouts. The Dolphins were well-represented at FIU Pro Day with six scouts and Dolphins general manager Jeff Ireland in attendance.

Bryan showed his pass catching skills in the Don Shula Bowl last season at FAU Stadium when he caught a five-yard touchdown pass (photos above and below). Bryan becomes third former FIU Panther to sign with the Dolphins following the late Chandler Williams and Andy Leavine.

With Bryan's signing that brings the total number of FIU players currently in the NFL to 7: Antwan Barnes (New York Jets), Anthony Gaitor (Tampa Bay Buccaneers), T.Y. Hilton (Indianapolis Colts), Johnathan Cyprien (Jacksonville Jaguars), Tourek Williams (San Diego Chargers), Caylin Hauptmann (Cleveland Browns) and Junior Mertile (New York Giants).

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 & Johnathan Cyprien at NFL OTAs

The FIU sports year is winding down with the Panthers baseball team the only FIU team still in action. FIU hosts Florida Atlantic in a three-game series starting Thursday at 6 p.m. at the FIU ballpark. The FIU track and field team might have a few athletes making NCAA regionals, which are announced later this week.

Other than those two sports, FIU sports will be quiet until August when football camp opens. However, I will have my review later this week from judging the Golden Dazzlers auditions last Saturday. But until then here is some FIU/NFL stuff for you.

    
The San Diego Chargers and Jacksonville Jaguars both started OTAs (organized team activities) today where their rookies get to practice with each respective team's veterans. Both Tourek Williams (Chargers) and Johnathan Cyprien (Jaguars) are back on the practice field today. CLICK HERE for a video interview with Tourek from chargers.com. And then CLICK HERE to read about the strong first impression Cyprien is making in Jacksonville.

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.

    

Sporting News: Johnathan Cyprien an NFL Impact Rookie

As NFL teams begin their rookie mini-camps this weekend, the Sporting News has come out with a list of 2013 NFL Impact Rookies and former FIU and new Jacksonville Jaguars safety Johnathan Cyprien is among the 13 rookies that the publication expects to make an impact this fall.

CLICK HERE to see Cyprien and the other 12 rookies from the 2013 draft class. Below is the Jaguars poster promoting their rookie mini-camp.

Four other FIU Panthers begin their NFL rookie careers this weekend: Tourek Williams (Chargers), Caylin Hauptmann (Browns), Jose Cheeseborough (Ravens) and Junior Mertile (Giants).

5 FIU Panthers & Counting into the NFL in 2013

   
    
FIU defensive end Tourek Williams joined Johnathan Cyprien as the second FIU player drafted into the NFL in 2013 when the San Diego Chargers selected Williams in the sixth round today. Cyprien was the first player drafted in the second round on Friday by the Jacksonville Jaguars.

  
FIU left tackle Caylin Hauptmann signed a free agent deal with the Cleveland Browns today and Panthers defensive back Jose Cheeseborough signed a free agent deal with the Baltimore Ravens and defensive back Junior Mertile signed a free agent deal with the New York Giants on Sunday.

  

  
The five Panthers join former Panthers: Antwan Barnes (Jets), Anthony Gaitor (Buccaneers), T.Y. Hilton (Colts) and Nick Taylor (Vikings) in the NFL to give FIU nine players currently in the NFL.