Questions hover around head coach, National Signing Day as FIU approaches season finale vs. MTSU
FIU’s Mike MacIntyre might be coaching for his job on Saturday.
The Panthers (3-8, 2-5) will play their 2024 season finale against visiting Middle Tennessee (3-8, 2-5) in a Conference USA game. Kickoff is set for 2 p.m.
An FIU victory would give MacIntyre three straight 4-8 seasons. That would surely be below MacIntyre’s own expectations, but at least the season would end with a feel-good victory at home.
A loss, however, would make this the worst season of the MacIntyre Era. It would also mean three straight defeats to close out the season.
To be sure, it would be expensive for FIU to dismiss MacIntyre, who has three years left on his contract.
But, beyond the losses, there have been numerous comments on X — including several from former FIU players — that have called for MacIntyre to be replaced.
FIU’s administration acknowledged as much Tuesday as it issued the following statement:
“[We] are aware of issues raised surrounding the football program. They are being taken very seriously. The matter is being addressed following the university’s standard procedures.
“Therefore, we have no further comment at this time.”
MacIntyre, at FIU’s weekly news conference Tuesday, was asked what he would do differently if he had a chance at a “do-over” this season.
“You can look at every game and find things you’d do differently,” MacIntyre said. “But I’ve never been through a season in which you lose six games by [nine] or less points.”
Indeed, FIU has won just one game this season decided by single digits.
The Panthers are also 0-6 on the road, but MacIntyre said his players have been resilient.
“It’s hard to come back [after close losses],” MacIntyre said. “But [FIU’s players] keep coming back and fighting. They have shown a lot of grit. They have inspired me.”
As for the negative vibes on X, MacIntyre indicated that he is handling this as well as could be expected.
“It’s part of the business,” he said. “In our business, you are either a hero or a zero. There is no in between.
“As a [coach], you keep believing, keep pushing, keep inspiring.”
With the early signing day for the Class of 2025 set for Wednesday, this next week is huge for FIU, even beyond the MacIntyre situation.
“You are working 24 hours a day, every day, it feels like,” MacIntyre said when asked about recruiting. “It never ends.
“You want to trust kids who tell you [they are signing with FIU]. There are always kids that break your heart [by signing elsewhere]. But there are also kids who make you happy.”
THIS AND THAT
▪ Middle Tennessee has the second-worst offense in CUSA (17.5 points per game) and the second-worst defense (34.2).
▪ Middle Tennessee quarterback Nicholas Vattiato leads CUSA in passing yards per game (257.8). A native of Plantation who played at Davie University School, Vattiato has 28 career starts at Middle Tennessee.
▪ Vattiato got a 40-6 win over FIU last year, completing 18 of 25 passes for 275 yards, four TDs and no interceptions.
▪ As a freshman in 2021, Vattiato beat FIU 50-10. He completed 20 of 24 passes for 147 yards, two TDs and no interceptions.
▪ FIU wide receiver Eric Rivers leads CUSA in receiving yards (1,055) and TDs (11). He is in position to break the FIU single-season receiving yards record of 1,118 set by Kris Mitchell last year.
▪ FIU sophomore quarterback Keyone Jenkins has improved his completion percentage (58.4 to 61.0) and TD percentage (3.3 percent to 6.9 percent). He has also lowered his interception percentage (3.3 to 2.9).
▪ Linebacker Travion Barnes leads CUSA with 120 tackles. In FIU history, only Sage Lewis (132) and Donovan Manuel (121) have ever had more single-season tackles.