FIU Panthers Prowl

Aramis Garcia Named to Johnny Bench Award List

FIU sophomore catcher Aramis Garcia was named to the 2013 Johnny Bench Award Initial Watch List. Garcia is one of 48 catchers nominated for the award given to the top Division I catcher.

Garcia is hitting .355 this season with a team-leading three home runs and 14 RBI. Behind the plate, Garcia has thrown out six of nine would-be base stealers for a 60 percent clip.

The Bench Award watch list will be narrowed down to the semifinalists, whom will be announced May 16, 2013. Ballots will be sent to the national voting panel at the end of May for a vote to determine the three finalists. The finalists will be announced June 4, 2013. A final vote among the national committee will occur during the College World Series. All finalists will be brought to Wichita and the winner will be announced at the 15th Annual Greater Wichita Sports Banquet on June 27, 2013. The Bench Award is named after Hall of Fame catcher Johnny Bench.

Garcia and the Panthers return to the diamond Tuesday to open a two-game series with South Florida at the FIU Baseball Stadium. First pitch for Tuesday's game is at 6 p.m. Wednesday's series finale begins at 3 p.m. You can catch all FIU home baseball games on PantherVision here on FIUSports.com.

FIU Basketball SBC Championship Watch Party

Come on out to Cadillac Ranch tonight in Kendall to see FIU win its first Sun Belt Championship in basketball. Details above.

Talking SBC Tournament with Richard Pitino

I had the chance to catch up with FIU basketball coach Richard Pitino on Friday afternoon before the Panthers left for the Sun Belt Conference Tournament in Hot Springs, Ark. FIU enters the tournament as the No. 4 seed and earned a first round bye. The Panthers play against UALR, a team they split two games with this season, at 7 p.m on Saturday night. Here is what the FIU coach had to say:

PP: Your thoughts on your team as they enter the tournament?

RP: We had some great practices this week. I think they are going to be ready. I think this time of year everybody is going to physically give it their all. More than anything now I think you have to have an advantage mentally. Hopefully, we have done a good job of preparing them for that.

FIU Basketball on Free SBC Videostream; Sand Volleyball Debuts

All of FIU's basketball games at the Sun Belt Conference Tournament this weekend in Hot Springs, Ark. will be available via a FREE videostream at the Sun Belt website. CLICK HERE to access it.

The Panthers men's team led by All-Sun Belt forward Tymell Murphy takes on UALR on Saturday at 7 p.m. FIU split two games with UALR this season. I'll have more on this matchup from FIU coach Richard Pitino later today.

The FIU women open against Arkansas State on Saturday at 12:30 p.m. You can see that game by clicking the link above.

 

FIU SAND VOLLEYBALL'S FIRST SERVE

 

The Panthers sand volleyball team is in California this weekend to open their inaugural season of sand volleyball. FIU plays Grand Canyon University at 3 p.m. today. The Panthers take on NCAA national champion Pepperdine on Saturday. After their California trip, the Panthers go to play at Hawaii next weekend.

The FIU ladies, including FIU's first-ever sand volleyball signee Emily Podschweit, play their first home match on March 23 against Webber International at the FIU Sand Courts.

FIU Pro Day 2013

A plethora of NFL scouts and some front office personnel descended on FIU Stadium on Thursday afternoon to watch FIU Pro Day featuring several Panthers that could be working on Sundays this fall at an NFL stadium nearby.

All 32 NFL teams were represented, some with multiple scouts, including six Miami Dolphins scouts and general manager Jeff Ireland. Hall of Fame receiver Cris Carter and Chicago Bears receiver Brandon Marshall also were in attendance.

You kind of had an idea whom most scouts were here to see when the NFL folks gathered around FIU safety Johnathan Cyprien throughout the weight room portion of pro day. And later on how several scouts pulled Tourek Williams aside to ask him to play coverage in pass defense. Upon one Dolphins scout's arrival, he immediately asked me where Williams was. FOX Sports also was at FIU Pro Day. CLICK HERE for a story.

The times and numbers in this blog are from what some of the scouts I spoke to gave me. The majority of the scouts on Thursday did not want to talk about their numbers, but some spoke about the FIU players on the condition of anonymity. I will have photos of Pro Day on Friday right here.

FIU vs. Stetson -- LIVE GAME BLOG

DELAND -- The Panthers (7-5) look to get back on the winning track tonight with a road game at Stetson before hosting No. 19 Rice over the weekend at the FIU ballpark. The first pitch for tonight's game from Melching Park in Deland, Fla. is at 6:30 p.m. I'll get the LIVE GAME BLOG underway at 6:25 p.m.

 

Special Teams Coach Kevin Wolthausen Story; FIU Baseball vs. Stetson LIVE BLOG Wednesday

For the second time in the 11-year history of FIU football there will be a coach dedicated exclusively to coaching special teams. Former Purdue defensive line coach Kevin Wolthausen will be that man in 2013. Former FIU assistant coach Apollo Wright was the program's first-ever exclusive special teams coach in 2007 before he added running backs coach to his job title in 2009.

CLICK HERE for a story on Wolthausen and his thoughts on the Panthers special teams as spring practice approaches March 19.

 

FIU BASEBALL vs. STETSON LIVE BLOG

FIU baseball's game at Stetson on Wednesday night will be videostreamed for free on the Stetson website. CLICK HERE to access it.

Since Stetson will have the free videostream, I will not be doing radio play-by-play of the game, but I will have a LIVE GAME BLOG -- yes, for those of you who have been clamoring for a LIVE BLOG, it's back right here for Wednesday's game. Join me then.

Former Panther to Workout at FIU Pro Day

FIU football will hold its NFL Pro Day on Thursday at 3:30 p.m. at FIU Stadium but the event is closed to the public and the media. However, you can follow along on Twitter: @PetePelegrin.

A number of former Panthers will audition for NFL scouts. Last year all 32 NFL teams turned out to watch T.Y. Hilton, who would be taken in the third round of the 2012 NFL Draft by the Indianapolis Colts. Former FIU basketball player Nick Taylor also stood out at last year's Pro Day earning him a free agent contract with the Minnesota Vikings.

A similar turnout from all 32 NFL teams is expected on Thursday to watch several Panthers including Johnathan Cyprien, Tourek Williams and Caylin Hauptmann. Also on Thursday, a former Panther will be trying a comeback into football.

Offensive lineman Andy Leavine, who played at FIU from 2006-09, is going to give pro football another try. After attending training camp with the Miami Dolphins in 2010 and later the Tampa Bay Storm, Leavine will workout for NFL scouts on Thursday.

"I've never stopped training since my football playing days," Leavine said. "I'm a competitor and if I have to switch to the defensive line or start out playing in Canada or the arena league then that's what I'll do." 

Leavine, who last played on the defensive line at Springstead High in Brooksville, Fla., has been in Puerto Rico the last nine months wrestling in the WWC, a developmental league. Leavine is currently weighing between 310 and 315 pounds and says he is in the best shape of his life. During the past few months, Leavine has been training for drills he will encounter Thursday such as the broad jump. He recently bench pressed 225 pounds 43 times.

"I've got nothing to lose in trying to get back into football," Leavine said. "I read the Nick Taylor article last year on the FIU Sports website and I said what the heck. Why not go for it. I'm bigger, stronger and faster than I've ever been."

FIU vs. #8 Ole Miss Baseball Series

  
The Panthers return to the diamond this weekend for a three-game series against No. 8 Ole Miss at the FIU ballpark. First pitch for tonight's game is at 6 p.m. Saturday's first pitch is at 4 p.m. and Sunday's series finale is at 1 p.m.

All three games will be broadcast on PantherVision. I'll have the call for each game. You can join me for tonight's game at 5:55 p.m. CLICK HERE TO ACCESS PANTHERVISION

As always you can be part of the broadcast by tweeting @PetePelegrin and/or @FIUBaseball.

The Rebels come to Miami ranked No. 8 in the nation and will throw right-hander Bobby Wahl (2-0, 0.79 ERA) tonight. Wahl led returning SEC pitchers in strikeouts last season and is expected to be an early round MLB Draft pick this June.

This is the first meeting between FIU and Ole Miss. FIU is 9-26 all-time against the SEC.

FIU Basketball Clinches 1st Round Bye at Sun Belt Tournament

Buoyed by a 17-0 run at ULM last night, Richard Pitino's FIU basketball team defeated the Warhawks 67-58 and clinched a first round bye at the Sun Belt Conference Tournament next week, March 8. The Panthers (16-12) also secured a winning record for the first time since the 1999-2000 season. 

A win at Florida Atlantic on Saturday would give FIU 17 wins, which would be the most by a Panthers basketball team since the 1997-98 season when FIU won 21 games.

Should the standings remain the same through Saturday, then the Panthers would be the No. 4 seed and play UALR next Saturday, March 9 from Hot Springs, Arkansas.