Did I ever say that you guys were sitting on your hands? Of course not. We all know how good of a coach Schnelly is. We all know what you guys have accomplished in the past few years and it has been impressive for a program at our early stages. But looking at the past couple years, I would make the argument, respectfully, that we have made greater leaps and bounds as a team.

Let's start in 2007… at this point we are in our first season without Don Strock, Cristobal inheriting a program in shambles. You guys have been steadily rising. We struggle and wind up 1-11 and you guys wind up with a 8-5 record, a conference championship and bowl win, and you guys beat us 55-23 in the Shula Bowl. At the end of 2007, you guys are clearly ahead of our program. No doubt.

Fast forward to 2008… at this point, the second season under Cristobal. You guys have Schnelly and are going in trying to defend your conference championship, and favored to repeat. We both started off slow; after six games we were 3-3 and you guys were 1-5. You guys came roaring back and by the time our two teams met, we were 4-6 and you guys were 5-6. Let's pause for a quick second: BOTH of our teams were talking bowl game. The winner would likely go to a bowl game, the loser's season would be virtually over. FIU was up by two touchdowns TWICE in the fourth quarter, at one point with 3 minutes left. THAT is how close we were to going to a bowl game and how close you were to watching the bowl season from home. Of course, you guys came back to win and went on to win a bowl game again. We finished 5-7, a four-game improvement over 2007 with a team primarily led by freshmen and sopomore talent and three minutes away from a bowl game when many had predicted us to finish with 1 or 2 wins. You guys finished the season 7-6, 2nd in the conference, and barely managed to make it to a bowl game despite returning many of the players from the conference championship campaign.

Hopefully that illustrates a bit more clearly how much the gap has closed within the past couple years, and the kind of momentum we are carrying going into 2009. Scout and Rivals has our recruiting classes ranked above yours for the past two seasons (I know that these ratings mean little, but they point to something tangible). Our facilities are currently ahead of yours (stadium-wise). These are just the facts of the matter and what we have right now, at this moment, in July 2009. Come December these things might change… maybe we'll be on the hunt for a bowl game, or maybe we'll backtrack (which I doubt). But right now, with the picture I've painted here, it is hard to deny that FIU is currently on more of an upswing than FAU is.

Please don't kill me, haha, I'm just trying to spark conversation and friendly intelligent debate here!

FIUJoel said

Did I ever say that you guys were sitting on your hands? Of course not. We all know how good of a coach Schnelly is. We all know what you guys have accomplished in the past few years and it has been impressive for a program at our early stages. But looking at the past couple years, I would make the argument, respectfully, that we have made greater leaps and bounds as a team.

Let's start in 2007… at this point we are in our first season without Don Strock, Cristobal inheriting a program in shambles. You guys have been steadily rising. We struggle and wind up 1-11 and you guys wind up with a 8-5 record, a conference championship and bowl win, and you guys beat us 55-23 in the Shula Bowl. At the end of 2007, you guys are clearly ahead of our program. No doubt.

Fast forward to 2008… at this point, the second season under Cristobal. You guys have Schnelly and are going in trying to defend your conference championship, and favored to repeat. We both started off slow; after six games we were 3-3 and you guys were 1-5. You guys came roaring back and by the time our two teams met, we were 4-6 and you guys were 5-6. Let's pause for a quick second: BOTH of our teams were talking bowl game. The winner would likely go to a bowl game, the loser's season would be virtually over. FIU was up by two touchdowns TWICE in the fourth quarter, at one point with 3 minutes left. THAT is how close we were to going to a bowl game and how close you were to watching the bowl season from home. Of course, you guys came back to win and went on to win a bowl game again. We finished 5-7, a four-game improvement over 2007 with a team primarily led by freshmen and sopomore talent and three minutes away from a bowl game when many had predicted us to finish with 1 or 2 wins. You guys finished the season 7-6, 2nd in the conference, and barely managed to make it to a bowl game despite returning many of the players from the conference championship campaign.

Hopefully that illustrates a bit more clearly how much the gap has closed within the past couple years, and the kind of momentum we are carrying going into 2009. Scout and Rivals has our recruiting classes ranked above yours for the past two seasons (I know that these ratings mean little, but they point to something tangible). Our facilities are currently ahead of yours (stadium-wise). These are just the facts of the matter and what we have right now, at this moment, in July 2009. Come December these things might change… maybe we'll be on the hunt for a bowl game, or maybe we'll backtrack (which I doubt). But right now, with the picture I've painted here, it is hard to deny that FIU is currently on more of an upswing than FAU is.

Please don't kill me, haha, I'm just trying to spark conversation and friendly intelligent debate here!

It's all good FIUJoel we're just passionate but you're welcome anytime to post how you feel and unlike visitors from other schools we do appreciate your view and you have been very respectful.

Just a few things about what was written. Last season in the 1st game of the season Rusty had separated his shoulder so for most of the season he was throwing with a bad shoulder. I know that's a poor excuse but it seems as if once he got the shoulder situation straight our season turned around.

Correction on the FAU/FIU game as well. If you had beaten us you would have had 5 wins which means you would have had to beat WKU just to become bowl eligible. You are not guaranteed a bowl game just because you have 6 wins. Don't mean to rain on your parade but had FIU beaten us and WKU and finished with 6 wins they would not be going to any bowl games.

The only reason we went to Motor City was because we played in Michigan already once that season and Howard is a big name. In fact Craig Angelos (AD) flew to Detroit to meet with them. Arkansas State had 6 wins as well and they beat us but they weren't invited to a bowl

Of course you on more of an upswing you couldn't go any lower also you need to get this stright if you would have beat us and finished 6-6 you would have not gone to a bowl game the only reason we got in was becuase of the year before and becuase of Howard.

Jab979 said

Correction on the FAU/FIU game as well. If you had beaten us you would have had 5 wins which means you would have had to beat WKU just to become bowl eligible. You are not guaranteed a bowl game just because you have 6 wins. Don't mean to rain on your parade but had FIU beaten us and WKU and finished with 6 wins they would not be going to any bowl games.

The only reason we went to Motor City was because we played in Michigan already once that season and Howard is a big name. In fact Craig Angelos (AD) flew to Detroit to meet with them. Arkansas State had 6 wins as well and they beat us but they weren't invited to a bowl

Exactly. We barely got into that game. To say that FIU would have just taken our spot had OT gone differently is speculation at best. You could have very easily finished bowl eligible and heard, "better luck next year."

That is true that there would have been a possibility of us not going to a bowl game if we had finished with a 6-6 record, but even if we hadn't we would have been able to say we finished 6-6 while you finished 5-7. ;D

And who knows? Pete Garcia has a lot of connections from his days at UM, he might have been able to pull some strings. But it didn't happen so it's kind of futile to really think about that. And yeah we couldn't go any lower, but the fact I was trying to point to is that not only have we been on an upswing, but that we have arguably "caught up" with FAU and only going higher thanks to a number of different factors, including our new athletic director, head coach, and stadium facilities.

"Upswing" it was one better season. Every team goes up and down, better one year worse the other, do better this year and we'll say upswing, prove something, have a winning season, get a bowl game, just do something.

You could always win only 2-3 games, the whole belt is getting better and your OOC schedule is pretty tough.

FIUJoel said

That is true that there would have been a possibility of us not going to a bowl game if we had finished with a 6-6 record, but even if we hadn't we would have been able to say we finished 6-6 while you finished 5-7. ;D

And who knows? Pete Garcia has a lot of connections from his days at UM, he might have been able to pull some strings. But it didn't happen so it's kind of futile to really think about that. And yeah we couldn't go any lower, but the fact I was trying to point to is that not only have we been on an upswing, but that we have arguably "caught up" with FAU and only going higher thanks to a number of different factors, including our new athletic director, head coach, and stadium facilities.

Joel! your points are valid and I hope things turn around in a positive way for your team because this really helps the sunbelt conference.
Everything we are discussing here will mean nothing on 05/12/09.
We are very excited this year and I hope FAU/FIU offer a great spectacle and start pushing away the UM bandwagon/mafia.
These are much bigger schools sitting on recruiting hotbeds making every effort to improve facilities and the fan base.
We are public institutions more affordable that offer decent programs surrounded by nice facilities.
There is no doubt that players will be over looking UM in the future and considering FAU/FIU as their 1st option.

AlexFAU06 said

FIUJoel said

That is true that there would have been a possibility of us not going to a bowl game if we had finished with a 6-6 record, but even if we hadn't we would have been able to say we finished 6-6 while you finished 5-7. ;D

And who knows? Pete Garcia has a lot of connections from his days at UM, he might have been able to pull some strings. But it didn't happen so it's kind of futile to really think about that. And yeah we couldn't go any lower, but the fact I was trying to point to is that not only have we been on an upswing, but that we have arguably "caught up" with FAU and only going higher thanks to a number of different factors, including our new athletic director, head coach, and stadium facilities.

Joel! your points are valid and I hope things turn around in a positive way for your team because this really helps the sunbelt conference.
Everything we are discussing here will mean nothing on 05/12/09.
We are very excited this year and I hope FAU/FIU offer a great spectacle and start pushing away the UM bandwagon/mafia.
These are much bigger schools sitting on recruiting hotbeds making every effort to improve facilities and the fan base.
We are public institutions more affordable that offer decent programs surrounded by nice facilities.
There is no doubt that players will be over looking UM in the future and considering FAU/FIU as their 1st option.

Alex, in America we use 12/5/09 lol  ;D  :D

NCowl said

"Upswing" it was one better season. Every team goes up and down, better one year worse the other, do better this year and we'll say upswing,proof something, have a winning season, get a bowl game, just do something. You could always win only 2-3 games, the whole belt is getting better and your OOC schedule is pretty tough.

First off, hope you all are having a great summer. This is the time of the year most of us get all excited about the future of our teams, and are yearning for ANY type of info we can find out about our teams.

Just wanted to state some comments on this last one.  Opinions are opinions, so we all have our own, and given the fact we are passionate fans of our schools, it is normal for all of us to see "the future" in a better light than most outside would…it's only natural…just the same that some fans of "rivals" schools will see the future of that other school in a less than desired light…maybe because that is what they would really like to happen….

It has been actually two seasons with improvement, if you take the 0-12 under Strock's last season, and I would say that most people, even most FAU fans, would admit FIU football under Cristobal is on an upswing from where he took over.  Of corse, as someone here mentioned, it really couldn't get worse after that nightmarish season.  However, going from 0 wins to 5 in two seasons, just inaugurating our new on campus stadium, now finishing the state of the art fiedlhouse, plus the obvious success Cristobal is having in recruiting the last couple of seasons, are considered good indicators for FIU football's future under Cristobal.  If that means we are or not on the "upswing", depends on who  is analyzing, but the facts are there for each individual to reach their conclusions.

As for Mario staying at FIU if he has the success we are all hoping for at FIU….I kind of disagree with Joel.  If he wins, and keeps winning, including going to Bowl game(s), Mario will being  become a hot commodity, and it wil  be very hard to keep him.  It's only natural, and as some folks have mentioned here, it happens all the time, with coaches leaving for "greener" pastures to coach..  Now, that doesn't mean that if he wins 6 games this season, major programs will be all over Mario to leave, and that he will leave automatically.  I don't think so.  Actually, I kind of expect Mario to fulfill his contract years (until 2012), and then it will be up to FIU to come with enough $$$$ to have Mario stay at FIU (that is, if he keeps improving the program), although it wouldn't shock me if he left prior to that.  I do agree that  Mario has some reasons to stay at FIU that other coaches might not, with him being born and raised, gone to college, and coached for most of his professional career in Miami.

Finally, what alex just said in his last post, is so very true.  Great post, AlexFAU06!

FIUFanatic said

However, going from 0 wins to 5 in two seasons, just inaugurating our new on campus stadium, now finishing the state of the art fieldhouse, plus the obvious success Cristobal is having in recruiting the last couple of seasons, are considered good indicators for FIU football's future under Cristobal.

They're certainly good indicators.

As an aside, phrases like "world class" and "state-of-the-art" really bother me. The latter is redundant, I think: if you're building a new facility, you always meet or exceed the existing standards and technology.