2008 FIU Golden Panthers football team

NCAATeamSeason
Mode = football
Year = 2008
Team = FIU Golden Panthers


ImageSize =
Conference = Sun Belt Conference
ShortConference = SBC
Record = 2–3
ConfRecord = 1–0
HeadCoach = Mario Cristobal
OffCoach = Bill Legg
DefCoach = Phil Galiano
OScheme =Spread
DScheme =4-3
StadiumArena =FIU Stadium

The 2008 FIU Golden Panthers football team represents Florida International University in their 3rd season of NCAA Division I FBS football. The team is coached by Mario Cristobal and play their homes games in FIU Stadium.

Schedule

CFB Schedule Start
ranklink=no
time=yes
tv=yes
rank=no
attend=yesCFB Schedule Entry
date = 8/30/08
nonconf = yes
time = 7:00pm
away = yes
opponent = Kansas
rank =no
opprank = 13
site_stadium = Memorial Stadium
site_cityst = Lawrence, KS
tv = -
w/l = l
score = 40-10
attend = 52,112CFB Schedule Entry
date = 9/6/08
nonconf = yes
time = 12:00pm
opponent = at Iowa
rank =no
site_stadium = Kinnick Stadium
site_cityst = Iowa City, IA
tv = Big Ten Network
w/l =l
score =42-0
attend =70,585CFB Schedule Entry
date = 9/20/08
nonconf = yes
time = 5:00pm
opponent = vs #12 South Florida
rank =no
site_stadium = FIU Stadium
site_cityst = Miami, FL
tv = ESPNU
w/l = l
score = 17-9
attend = 16,717CFB Schedule Entry
date = 9/27/08
nonconf = yes
time = 7:00pm
opponent = at Toledo
rank =no
site_stadium = Glass Bowl
site_cityst = Toledo, OH
tv = -
w/l = w
score = 35-16
attend = 19,004CFB Schedule Entry
date = 10/4/08
nonconf = no
time = 7:00pm
opponent = at North Texas
rank =no
site_stadium = Fouts Field
site_cityst = Denton, TX
tv = ESPN Regional TV
w/l = w
score = 42-10
attend = 16,781CFB Schedule Entry
date = 10/11/08
nonconf = no
time = 7:00pm
opponent = vs MTSU
rank =no
site_stadium = FIU Stadium
site_cityst = Miami, FL
tv = -
w/l =
score =
attend = CFB Schedule Entry
date = 10/18/08
nonconf = no
time = 7:00pm
opponent = at Troy
rank =no
site_stadium = Movie Gallery Stadium
site_cityst = Troy, AL
tv = ESPN Regional TV
w/l =
score =
attend =CFB Schedule Entry
date = 11/1/08
nonconf = no
time = 5:00pm
opponent = at University of Louisiana-Lafayette
rank =no
site_stadium = Cajun Field
site_cityst = Lafayette, LA
tv = -
w/l =
score =
attend =CFB Schedule Entry
date = 11/8/08
nonconf = no
time = 7:00pm
opponent = vs Arkansas State
rank =no
site_stadium = FIU Stadium
site_cityst = Miami, FL
tv = -
w/l =
score =
attend =CFB Schedule Entry
date = 11/22/08
nonconf = no
time = 7:00pm
opponent = vs Louisiana-Monroe
rank =no
site_stadium = FIU Stadium
site_cityst = Miami, FL
tv = -
w/l =
score =
attend =CFB Schedule Entry
date = 11/29/08
nonconf = no
time = 4:00pm
opponent = at FAU (Shula Bowl VII)
rank =no
site_stadium = Dolphin Stadium
site_cityst = Miami Gardens, FL
tv = -
w/l =
score =
attend =CFB Schedule Entry
date = 12/6/08
nonconf = no
time = 7:00pm
opponent = vs Western Kentucky
rank =no
site_stadium = FIU Stadium
site_cityst = Miami, FL
tv = -
w/l =
score =
attend =

Regular Season

The 2008 season started off with a humbling loss at a good Kansas team of 40-10. Then an Iowa team that was looking to shock many pounded FIU 42-0. A new FIU Stadium was unveiled against the highest ranked opponent FIU had ever faced, the #12 University of South Florida Bulls. In front of a nearly packed stadium, the Golden Panther offense struggled mightily in the first half. Trailing 17-0 with 2:30 left in the game the defense got a safety which was followed by a touchdown by the offense. TY Hilton made a long catch, and was generally a spark for the team. FIU lost 17-9 but played an exceptional game, causing USF to plummet three spots.

The next game against the University of Toledo became their first non-conference FBS win in the history of the program. The defense forced four turnovers and the FIU football program recorded their first win on the road since 11/5/05 against the University of Louisiana-Monroe.