FAU starter and former UM quarterback N’Kosi Perry returning to Miami to face FIU

The Miami Hurricanes could use N’Kosi Perry right about now.

That’s the irony surrounding this year’s “Shula Bowl” as FIU (4-5 overall, 2-3 Conference USA) will host the FAU Owls (4-5, 3-2) on Saturday night at 7.

Perry, now in his second year as FAU’s quarterback after three years at Miami, would perhaps be the Canes’ starter right now given the injury to Tyler Van Dyke and the lack of an experienced backup.

Instead, Perry – now 24 years old – appears to be quite comfortable playing for FAU and coming back to the 305 as a visitor.

“It’s always fun to compete against those guys down south, going back to where my college career started,” Perry told The Herald this week. “It means a lot.”

Perry said he’s matured since transferring out of Miami.

“My character off the field and my leadership role for the guys around me,” Perry said when asked how he has improved.

“It’s about being unselfish – making sure everyone’s getting better and not only worrying about myself. Putting the team first is my main goal, trying to get a win.”

FAU has done a good job of that in this series, winning five straight Shula Bowls and 15 of 20 all-time.

Perry, who grew up with the Miami-FSU rivalry, said FIU-FAU is just as important to him.

“We want to beat FIU really badly,” Perry said. “This is our Alabama versus Auburn. This is our Iron Bowl. The Shula Bowl is our big rivalry game. I’m used to Miami-Florida State, but I approach FAU-FIU the same way.

“I know what this game means to guys who have been in this program a lot longer than me, and I want to win it for them as well.”

Perry, now going for a double-major in Criminal Justice after earning a Bachelor’s degree at Miami, said his football skills are the same as always -- with one exception.

“I’m more polished,” Perry said. “I make better decisions, take care of the football and get it to the open guys. I try to be a facilitator, making sure everyone eats.”

FAU receivers have been feasting with Perry.

Consider: In 24 games with the Canes, Perry threw 24 touchdown passes and 10 interceptions. In 21 games at FAU, Perry has 40 TD passes and 12 picks.

FIU coach Mike MacIntyre said Perry, who is 6-4 and 200 pounds, is “big and athletic.” MacIntyre indicated Perry is more accurate now, although his completion rate has dropped from 60.7 percent last year to 56.6 percent this season.

“He makes plays on the run, and he makes plays in the pocket,” MacIntyre said of Perry. “He looks very comfortable and has a good command (of the offense).”

Perry’s older-than-normal age for a college player is nothing new to FIU.

In four games this season against quarterbacks who are in at least their fourth college season, FIU is 1-3, beating only Charlotte’s Chris Reynolds.

The three losses against fourth-year QBs were to Texas State’s Layne Hatcher, UTSA’s Frank Harris and North Texas’ Austin Aune, who is 29 years old.

THIS AND THAT

▪ MacIntyre hinted that the Panthers -- who are greatly improved from last year’s 1-11 season – were complacent in Saturday’s 52-14 loss to North Texas.

“The players are listening to too much good stuff (about their four wins) instead of what we need to get done,” MacIntyre said following the loss. “That’s what happened.”

▪ FIU soccer’s Kyle Russell and his assistants on Wednesday were named American Athletic Conference Coaching Staff of the Year.

FIU forward Stephen Afrifa was a unanimous first-team All-AAC selection. Forward Bernando Dos Santos Monteiro and defender Carlos Scheckermann were FIU players on the second team. FIU freshman defender Joao Domingues made the All-Rookie team.