STROCK
TALK By
Don Strock
In
the past few weeks, the FIU football program has taken
on a life of its own. Our guys are here, they are
on the field, and they are looking great. We’ve
started our practices and are getting ready for our
first scrimmage on Saturday, Sept. 29. We’re
making sure these guys are fully prepared for the
exciting challenge of their first game, which is less
than one year away.
I look forward to seeing you all out at the FIU Community
Stadium on the 29th for this first scrimmage. The
scrimmage will be a practice session between two units
of the team. We will go over plays and key moves as
well as repeat drills that the team will need to master
prior to the first game.
The scrimmage will be the first time the community
will be able to come out and enjoy the team in action.
So spend a Saturday afternoon with us. We look forward
to having your support.
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New
look, new team, new attitude
 From
the tall Everglades grass emerges a dark, furious hunter,
and he’s wearing blue and gold. The Florida International
University Golden Panther got a makeover, and the result
is a meaner, leaner predator ready for a fight.
FIU
students, faculty, staff and alumni love it.
“We
felt that the university’s maturing athletic program–especially
now that football is coming on line–deserves a
more intimidating mascot,” said Rick Mello, FIU
athletic director. “It’s a modern look that
will stand the test of time.”
The
FIU athletics logo was redesigned this summer by Zebradog
Studios in Madison, Wisconsin, at a cost of approximately
$16,000. The company has been involved in several mascot
redesigns including the Green Bay, Lambeau Field project.
FIU
administrators believe that the new logo will be fully
phased into the university by summer of 2002, prior
to the first football game on Aug. 31, 2002.
“The
new logo is a much more true-to-life representation
of the Golden Panther,” said Terry Witherell, director
of advertising and brand management. “The teal
foliage represents the grasses of the Everglades, the
panther’s habitat. The shadows on the panther’s
face and body suggest the time of day most likely to
be seen as it is a dusk and dawn feeder. Overall, the
new look speaks to the maturity and level of sophistication
FIU has achieved.”
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Freshmen on the field
August
27 marked the start of a special year at FIU. More than 30
FIU student athletes began their careers as Golden Panther
football players, and the team engaged in the first football
practice at FIU.
“It’s
great to finally see these guys on the field,” said FIU
Football Head Coach Don Strock. “It took a lot of planning
and hard work to get here – for us and for these guys.
I hope they will enjoy the ride as much as I will.”
The team
will now settle into a routine of classes, meetings, training
sessions and practices. They will all be preparing for their
first public scrimmage on Sat., Sept. 29 at 3:30 p.m. at the
FIU Community Stadium and for their first game ever on Sat.,
Aug. 31, 2002.
Save
the date!
FIU has
scheduled four public
scrimmages during the Fall semester:
Sat.,
September 29, 2001
University Park
FIU Community Stadium
3:30 p.m.
Wed., October 17, 2001
Biscayne Bay
North Miami Stadium
TBA
Sat., October 27, 2001
University Park
FIU Community Stadium
3:30 p.m.
Sat., November 10, 2001
Blue/Gold Game-University Park
FIU Community Stadium
3:30 p.m.
StrockTalk
on the air
 Don’t
forget to join Don Strock for the StrockTalk radio show. StrockTalk
airs every Wednesday, 6-8 p.m. on WAXY 790 AM. You can also
watch the show–live at Shula’s Steak II at Don Shula’s
Hotel on Main Street in Miami Lakes. For more information, call
305-820-8047. |
Calling the
shots Coach’s
Profile – Carmen Grosso, FIU Assistant Football Coach
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Carmen
Grosso
FIU Assistant Football Coach
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Carmen Grosso,
assistant FIU football coach, brings more than 23 years of football
experience to the FIU football program.
A 1967 graduate
from the University of Miami, Grosso has coached locally since 1970.
He joined the staff at UM as an assistant coach and served under
coaches Howard Schnellenberger, Jimmy Johnson and Dennis Erickson.
Grosso also
served as tight ends’ coach for the University of Pittsburgh
(1983-84), with the Dallas Cowboys as assistant coach (1993-94)
and as the assistant football coach at St. Thomas Aquinas High School
in Ft. Lauderdale (1995-2000).
At FIU, Grosso is responsible for the linebackers.
Grosso holds
a Master of Science degree from Barry University in Guidance and
Counseling and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Physical Education from
the University of Miami. He was also a member of the armed forces
as First Lieutenant (Special Forces) Signal Officer in the Green
Berets of the U.S. Army.
Grosso is married
to Jacklyn, and they have two children: Rachelle and Robyn.
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