FIU Panthers Archives - uSports.org https://usports.org/tag/fiu-panthers/ Sports News & Views Tue, 15 Nov 2016 22:40:26 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.8.3 ESPN’s Butch Davis, Former UNC Football Coach, Hired As New FIU Coach https://usports.org/espns-butch-davis-former-unc-coach-hired-new-fiu-coach/ https://usports.org/espns-butch-davis-former-unc-coach-hired-new-fiu-coach/#respond Tue, 15 Nov 2016 22:40:26 +0000 http://usports.org/?p=28886 Former UNC, Miami Coach Butch Davis Hired as FIU Head Coach
Former Miami and North Carolina coach Butch Davis told ESPN on Monday that he is leaving the network immediately to become head football coach at Florida International University. ESPN’s Butch Davis, Former UNC Football Coach, Hired As New FIU Coach FIU Panthers athletic director Pete Garcia confirmed the news Monday. The University signed Davis, 64, to a five-year contract. Salary […]

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Former UNC, Miami Coach Butch Davis Hired as FIU Head Coach

Former Miami and North Carolina coach Butch Davis told ESPN on Monday that he is leaving the network immediately to become head football coach at Florida International University.

ESPN’s Butch Davis, Former UNC Football Coach, Hired As New FIU Coach

FIU Panthers athletic director Pete Garcia confirmed the news Monday.

The University signed Davis, 64, to a five-year contract. Salary details were not released, but a Tuesday press conference was called to introduce the new head coach.

“To say we are excited to have Butch Davis as our head coach at FIU is an understatement,” Garcia said. “There is no doubt that he will take FIU football to new heights.”

Davis, who hasn’t been a full-time coach since he was fired by UNC in July 2011, is currently working as a college football analyst for ESPN2.
Davis had reportedly attempted to get back into coaching previously, but his age and past allegations at North Carolina– which included improper benefits and academic misconduct– apparently dissuaded other athletic directors from hiring him.
Garcia, nevertheless, has a relationship with Davis dating back to their days at the University of Miami.
The FIU head coaching job, currently held on an interim basis by Ron Cooper, had been considered open since Ron Turner was fired following an 0-4 start.
Cooper, who has gone 3-3 as interim coach, will remain in place for the final two games of this season.
Davis spent six seasons as Miami’s coach from 1995 to 2000, then left for the Cleveland Browns– thus stepping away from a Hurricanes team that dominated its way to the 2001 national championship under Larry Coker.
FIU went to bowl games in 2010 and 2011 under Mario Cristobal, who was fired in 2012 and is now an Alabama assistant. The Panthers have not been bowl-eligible since, going 16-42 since Cristobal’s dismissal.
Some Miami fans lobbied openly last year for the Hurricanes to hire Davis, who stated that he wanted to be considered.
Former wide receiver Tony Gaiter III, who played for Davis at Miami, said last week that he believes his old coach will do a great job at FIU.

“I would love [to bring Davis here],” said Gaiter, who son, Gaiter IV, is an FIU freshman wide receiver.

“Give Butch some time, and he will turn things around.”

ATLANTA – SEPTEMBER 04: Head coach Butch Davis of the North Carolina Tar Heels against the LSU Tigers during the Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game at Georgia Dome on September 4, 2010 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

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https://usports.org/espns-butch-davis-former-unc-coach-hired-new-fiu-coach/feed/ 0 uSports.org ATLANTA - SEPTEMBER 04: Head coach Butch Davis of the North Carolina Tar Heels against the LSU Tigers during the Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game at Georgia Dome on September 4, 2010 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
FIU Panthers TE Jonnu Smith’s Season Over After Girlfriend Dumps Boiling Water On Him https://usports.org/fiu-panthers-te-jonnu-smiths-season-girlfriend-dumps-boiling-water/ https://usports.org/fiu-panthers-te-jonnu-smiths-season-girlfriend-dumps-boiling-water/#respond Mon, 14 Nov 2016 19:31:24 +0000 http://usports.org/?p=28722 FIU Panthers TE Jonnu Smith Fight with Girlfriend
Florida International University tight end Jonnu Smith has been a powerful force on the Golden Panthers’ offense this year, but unfortunately for him, his season has come to an end. FIU Panthers TE Jonnu Smith’s Season Over After Girlfriend Dumps Boiling Water On Him The cause stems from a domestic dispute between Smith and his pregnant girlfriend. Mary […]

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FIU Panthers TE Jonnu Smith Fight with Girlfriend

Florida International University tight end Jonnu Smith has been a powerful force on the Golden Panthers’ offense this year, but unfortunately for him, his season has come to an end.

FIU Panthers TE Jonnu Smith’s Season Over After Girlfriend Dumps Boiling Water On Him

The cause stems from a domestic dispute between Smith and his pregnant girlfriend. Mary Gaspar, who is five months pregnant with Smith’s child, dumped a pot of boiling water on the football star in his dorm room on Halloween, according to the Miami Herald.

Smith suffered severe burns to his head, neck, back, shoulder and arm. Gaspar was charged with aggravated battery and has since been released on a pre-trial release order.

Gaspar told police she and Smith had been arguing throughout the day about the attention Smith was paying to her and their relationship. She claimed she was “feeling extremely emotional and stressed” when she decided to boil a pot of water in the tight end’s dorm room and pour it on him.

Gaspar also told authorities that when Smith did not react to the boiling water as strongly as she thought he would, she began hitting him with her hands.

Gaspar’s attorney declined to comment when contacted by The Associated Press.

Although the full extent of the damage done to Smith by the burns isn’t know, he will not play again for the Panthers this season. He could further his career at the professional level, however, as he is expected to be a late-round draft pick or coveted undrafted free agent.

Smith, a four-year starter, ends his career with 175 catches for 1,936 yards and 17 touchdown catches. He made the midseason John Mackey Award (best college tight end) watch list in 2014 and 2015 and the preseason Mackey Award watch list in 2015 and 2016.

MIAMI, FL – OCTOBER 29: Jonnu Smith #87 of the Florida International Golden Panthers runs for a touchdown past the attempted tackle by Darryl Randolph #29 of the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders on October 29, 2016 at FIU Stadium in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Joel Auerbach/Getty Images)

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https://usports.org/fiu-panthers-te-jonnu-smiths-season-girlfriend-dumps-boiling-water/feed/ 0 uSports.org MIAMI, FL - OCTOBER 29: Jonnu Smith #87 of the Florida International Golden Panthers runs for a touchdown past the attempted tackle by Darryl Randolph #29 of the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders on October 29, 2016 at FIU Stadium in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Joel Auerbach/Getty Images)