I don't blame you guys for thinking the way you do, but I'm going to have to respectfully, and strongly, disagree with you. People don't understand what Mario has done for FIU and the kind of passion he has instilled in the fans who have paid closer attention (we still have a ways to go, but we are well on our way). He is thinking BIG. He is thinking "next level", And he is thinking FIU. We are working to get to that "next level", and that's what Pete Garcia wants. We aren't dealing with mediocrity anymore. Here's a sample of what Mario brings to the table. This was done not long after Mario was brought in as head coach, before the 2007 season began. This is the kind of passion he brings:

http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&VideoID=11546232

FIUJoel said

As for Cristobal, he is no Nick Saban. Mario Cristobal's passion for FIU is clearly evident. Everytime he speaks, everytime he gets on that field, everytime he does something great for our community. I have rarely seen this kind of thing from a coach at any level.

I have to join the chorus of people here who believe a young coach like Cristobal will bolt if he finds success at FIU over the next couple of years. That's just how it works. Every head coach bleeds for their team in the moment. He can be passionate about FIU athletics while coaching somewhere else.

If he feels he can pursue a better opportunity at a higher level for more pay, he will. And that's certainly not the end of the world for you guys: FIU will get another coach and do fine because they have the facilities, the location and hopefully the wins to solidify the sales pitch.

Addendum: You'll do fine as long as you don't hire UNT's head coach as Cristobal's replacement.

Speaking of coaches leaving, do you guys think Urban Meyer will be coaxed away from UF if they repeat as national champs? I can't imagine anything higher than an SEC team with national championship players but I have a co-worker who believes Urban Meyer has always wanted to be the head coach for Notre Dame.

FIUJoel said

I don't blame you guys for thinking the way you do, but I'm going to have to respectfully, and strongly, disagree with you. People don't understand what Mario has done for FIU and the kind of passion he has instilled in the fans who have paid closer attention (we still have a ways to go, but we are well on our way). He is thinking BIG. He is thinking "next level", And he is thinking FIU. We are working to get to that "next level", and that's what Pete Garcia wants. We aren't dealing with mediocrity anymore. Here's a sample of what Mario brings to the table. This was done not long after Mario was brought in as head coach, before the 2007 season began. This is the kind of passion he brings:

http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&VideoID=11546232

I had seen the video and it is very electrifying. Mario has the energy and it is very contagious. That picture he was talking about filling; well, FAU ended up filling that up  :D plus the bowl victory in 2007.
2008 was a good year for us too.
There is no doubt FIU will do great things, but I think FAU is not sitting with its arms crossed watching how the rest of teams improve.
We'll see how it goes this year!
Good luck

owlcountry said

FIUJoel said

As for Cristobal, he is no Nick Saban. Mario Cristobal's passion for FIU is clearly evident. Everytime he speaks, everytime he gets on that field, everytime he does something great for our community. I have rarely seen this kind of thing from a coach at any level.

I have to join the chorus of people here who believe a young coach like Cristobal will bolt if he finds success at FIU over the next couple of years. That's just how it works. Every head coach bleeds for their team in the moment. He can be passionate about FIU athletics while coaching somewhere else.

If he feels he can pursue a better opportunity at a higher level for more pay, he will. And that's certainly not the end of the world for you guys: FIU will get another coach and do fine because they have the facilities, the location and hopefully the wins to solidify the sales pitch.

Addendum: You'll do fine as long as you don't hire UNT's head coach as Cristobal's replacement.

Speaking of coaches leaving, do you guys think Urban Meyer will be coaxed away from UF if they repeat as national champs? I can't imagine anything higher than an SEC team with national championship players but I have a co-worker who believes Urban Meyer has always wanted to be the head coach for Notre Dame.

I don't think Urban will go anywhere. From what the blogs on ESPN.com have said Urban said there's no truth to the Notre Dame thing and he has no desire to ever coach there. I think he will continue to coach at UF, I mean why not? He can keep winning national championships and recruit some of the best players in the country

not to continue the hijacking but Urban will stay in Gville until his kids are done with school…then who knows. Why wouldn't he stay? After you have the success that he's had, the bar is set so freaking high, the fans/boosters begin to get a little…demanding? Then there's the whole mention of Notre Dame being his childhood dream job.

Of course he says he's not going anywhere…so did Mario Cristobal, you'd be an idiot to say you don't like where you are and are always keeping an eye out for a new gig. The only person on the planet that voices his desire to go somewhere is our AD Craig Angelos!!!

Classic!

AlexFAU06 said

There is no doubt FIU will do great things, but I think FAU is not sitting with its arms crossed watching how the rest of teams improve.

So true, that FIU Joel speaks like they have improved so much and we are sitting around watching. Also on their board he harps about the "Ty Hilton, the best receiver in the SB" like he is the savior of the team… well we have a whole receiving corp that is going to make an impact along with the "All-conference QB Smith".

So Joel, yes you guys are getting better, props to giving us a great game last year but know we have improved too with a solid veteran offense!

So… we'll be getting a preview of you guys through the season and see how it goes in December!

Short and sweet preview

2009 Sun Belt Preview
http://www.10starpicks.com/articles/2009-Sun-Belt-Conference-Preview.cfm

"Troy’s got the best offense in the league once again with QB Levi Brown leading the way"

Oh yeah? in what league? Because I KNOW it's not in the Sun Belt. They may be the best team but I'll take FAU offense as best in the belt

In my previous post I stated that FAU has improved too. The owls are not just sitting around watching the rest of the college teams get better. Those guys are hitting the weights and working out over the summer.  There is a lack of funds to bring all the players in the summer so some have gotten jobs to be able to attend. Dedication?

FAU's coaching staff is second to none. Schnellenberger is a proven winner. He produced a #4 ranked D1AA team in its 3rd year of existence. He brought a bunch of D1AA players in to Hawaii and won, which doesn't happen often. He made it to a bowl faster than any other start up. We won the conference in what, our second year in the SBC.

Schnellenberger's ultimate goal is another national championship. Will he get it??  Who knows, but that is his goal. He might not get it, but that is his goal. Only one team a year wins it.

Schnellenberger knows what he is doing.