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This is FIU
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General Information .................................. 1 Baseball Quick Facts ................................ 1 This is FIU .............................................2-3 Greater Miami ........................................4-5 The Beaches .........................................6-7 University Park Stadium ........................8-9 Baseball Facilities Upgrades ............. 10-11 FIU Football Stadium .........................12-13 FIU In The Pros .................................14-15 Academic Services ............................16-17 Athletic Training .................................18-19 Strength and Conditioning ...................... 20 Compliance ............................................ 21 Head Coaches/Administration ................ 22 The Sun Belt Conference ....................... 23 Media Information ................................... 24
Outlook/Staff
25-36
2009 Outlook ...................................26-257 Rosters ................................................... 28 Pronunciation Guide ............................... 28 Squad Breakdown .................................. 29 Turtle Thomas ...................................30-31 Sean Allen .............................................. 32 Scott Humes ........................................... 33 Frank Damas .......................................... 34 Baseball Support Staff ............................ 35 President Dr. Modesto A. Maidique ........ 36 Athletic Director Pete Garcia .................. 36
The Team
37-62
Returners ...........................................38-48 Newcomers .......................................50-58
2009 Opponents
59-64
Non-Conference Opponents .................. 60 Sun Belt Conference Opponents ............ 61 Opponent SID Directory ......................... 61 2009 Opponent All-Time Series.........62-63 Postseason Tournaments ....................... 64
2008 Season Review
65-75
2008 Overall Statistics ............................ 66 2008 Sun Belt Statistics ......................... 67 2008 Results .......................................... 68 2008 Game-by-Game Batting ................ 69 2008 Game-by-Game Pitching ............... 70 2008 Starting Lineups ............................ 71 2008 Starting Defense ............................ 72 2008 Miscellaneous Statistics ................ 73 2008 Superlatives ................................... 74 Career Statistics of Players Lost ............ 75 2008 Sun Belt Review ............................ 76
Records
77-82
Annual Leaders ...................................... 78 Individual Records .................................. 79 Team Records ........................................ 80 Single-Season Top Five.......................... 81 Career Top Five ...................................... 82
History
83-98
Yearly Results......................................... 84 Coaching Records .................................. 84 Year-By-Year Results ........................85-93 FIU In The NCAA Tournament ................ 94 Retired Number - #3 Oriol Perez ............ 95 Retired Number - #15 Mike Lowell ......... 95 Retired Number - #21 Danny Price ........ 96 Retired Number - #23 Toti Mendez......... 96 Award Winners ....................................... 97 All-Time Letterwinners .......................98-99
Index
B A S E B A L L
Athletic Media Relations Contact
FIU General Information
Baseball SID ............................. Iván R. Irizarry Office phone ............................(305) 348-6666 Cell phone ...............................(787) 248-3061 E-Mail .................................... iiriz001@fiu.edu SID Fax....................................(305) 348-2963 Assistant AD/Media Relations ........ Rich Kelch Office phone ...........................(305) 348-3164 Press box phone......................(787) 248-3061 Overnight Address ............. 11200 SW 8 Street US Century Bank Arena, Room 211 Miami, FL 33199
School.......................................................FIU City/Zip .............................. Miami, Fla. 33199 Founded .................................................1965 Opened ...................................................1972 Enrollment ...........................................38,000 Nickname.............................Golden Panthers School Colors ..... Blue/PM 288 and Gold/109 Home Field/Capacity ... University Park/2,000 Surface/Dimensions ................Natural grass/ ...................................................325-400-325 Affiliation ............................... NCAA Division I Conference ....................................... Sun Belt President ................ Dr. Modesto A. Maidique Alma Mater, Year ............................MIT, 1962 Athletic Director ...........................Pete Garcia Alma Mater, Year ................ Miami, Fla., 1984 Ticket Office Phone ............... (305) 348-4263
Directions To University Park Stadium From Miami International Airport – Take SR 836 West (Dolphin Expressway) to NW 107 Avenue exit. Go south on 107 Avenue to SW 8 Street (Tamiami Trail). Turn right on SW 8 Street, go two traffic lights to SW 112 Avenue. Turn left onto campus and go right at the first stop sign. Follow the road until you reach the FIU Football stadium and make a right. The baseball stadium will be on your right. From I-95 – Exit at SR 836 West (Dolphin Expressway). Continue to NW 107 Avenue exit. Go south on 107 Avenue to SW 8 Street (Tamiami Trail). Turn right on SW 8 Street, go two traffic lights to SW 112 Avenue. Turn left onto campus and go right at the first stop sign. Follow the road until you reach the FIU Football stadium and make a right. The baseball stadium will be on your right. From SR 826 (Palmetto Expressway) – Exit at SW 8 Street (Tamiami Trail), heading west. Proceed to SW 112 Avenue. Turn left onto campus and go right at the first stop sign. Follow the road until you reach the FIU Football stadium and make a right. The baseball stadium will be on your right.. From the Florida Turnpike – Exit at SW 8 Street (No. 25-Tamiami Trail). Turn right on SW 8 Street (SR 41-Tamiami Trail) to SW 112 Avenue. Follow the road until you reach the FIU Football stadium and make a right. The baseball stadium will be on your right. Credits The official 2009 FIU Baseball Media Guide is published by the FIU Athletic Department. FIU Miami, FL 33199. This guide has been edited and designed by the FIU Athletic Media Relations Department.
Baseball Quick Facts History First year of baseball ..............................1973 Overall all-time record ......... 1,276-764 (.625) NCAA Regionals/last .........................13/2002 Opponent ..........................Bethune-Cookman Result .................................. lost, 7-4 (6/1/02) Coaching Staff Head Coach................Henry “Turtle” Thomas Record at FIU (yrs.) .......20-36 (Second Year) Career record (yrs.) .......20-36 (Second Year) Baseball office phone ............ (305) 348-7403 Assistant Coaches: Sean Allen ....Recruiting Coordinator/Pitching (Houston, 2001) Frank Damas .......................... Outfiled/Hitting (St. Thomas, 2003) Scott Humes Volunteer Assistant. ........ Infield (Miami, Ohio, 2003) Nike Sheffer .................. Baseball Operations Chris Altieri .........................Student Assistant Gabe Casanova .....................Athletic Trainer Team Information 2008 Record ....20-36/13-18 home/7-16 away Sun Belt ...............12-18/7-8 home/5-10 away Conference finish.......................................9th Letterwinners returning/lost ...................11/24 Newcomers.................................................21 Website.......................... www.FIUSports.com
Editor: Iván Irizarry Editorial Assistants: Rich Kelch, Brett Rybak, John Angel, Steven Schoon and Susan Frantz Design and Layout: John Angel Cover Designs: John Angel Inside Cover Photos: Courtesy of Berta Meng Ortiz (Lowell high-five), Brian Babineau (Lowell with trophy) and Michael Ivins, Boston Red Sox. Photography: John Angel, Alex J. Hernandez, Sam Lewis, Richard Lewis, FIU Photography & Graphics and special thanks to the Boston Red Sox, New York Mets, Pittsburgh Pirates, Birmingham Barons, Memphis Redbirds , San Diego Padresand Wisconsin Timber Rattlers for supplying photos.
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W W W . F I U S P O R T S . C O M
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B A S E B A L L
THIS IS FIU FIU is Miami-Dade County’s first public, fouryear university. Our powerful record of innovation and research continues to improve the quality of life in our communities. With a nationally renowned faculty recognized for their outstanding teaching and cutting-edge research and a student body from throughout the United States and more than 130 foreign countries, FIU continues to grow and excel, achieving many benchmarks of excellence that have taken other universities more than a century to reach
H IS T OR Y A N D GR O WT H FIU was founded in 1965 and opened for classes in 1972 with 5,667 students - the largest opening day enrollment in U.S. collegiate history. Today it has more than 38,000 students, almost 1,000 full-time faculty and more than 124,000 alumni. FIU is one of the 25 largest universities in the nation, based on enrollment. The University offers more than 200 bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral programs in 21 colleges and schools. P R OGR A M S The University offers more than 200 bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral programs in 22 colleges and schools: College of Architecture and the Arts School of Architecture School of Music College of Arts and Sciences School of International and Public Affairs College of Business Administration School of Accounting College of Education College of Engineering and Computing School of Computing and Information Sciences Honors College College of Law College of Medicine (to welcome its first class in August 2009) College of Nursing and Health Sciences School of Hospitality and Tourism Management School of International and Public Affairs School of Journalism and Mass Communication College of Public Health and Social Work Stempel School of Public Health School of Social Work
FA C U LTY Ninety-five percent of the University’s full-time faculty holds doctorates or the highest degrees in their field. RESEARCH FIU emphasizes research as a major component of its mission. Sponsored research funding (grants and contracts) from external sources for the year 2005-06 totaled $92 million. The University is ranked as a Research University in the High Research Activity category of the Carnegie Foundation’s prestigious classification system. A TH LE TI C S FIU’s intercollegiate athletic teams compete in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I, the nation’s most competitive college sports division, the Sun Belt Conference and Conference USA. Seventeen sports programs are offered, including football (Division I-A), basketball, track & field/cross country, soccer, baseball, volleyball, softball, golf, tennis and swimming & diving. TH E B A N D O F TH E S U N The Band of the Sun is an important member of the FIU School of Music, made up of the best and brightest students from both the University Park and Biscayne Bay campuses. Representing over 30 majors and disciplines, the band is a microcosm of the diverse University and Miami cultures. In only its sixth year of existence, The Band of the Sun has already established itself as one of the premier collegiate marching bands in the State of Florida through a high standard of excellence in performance and entertainment. TH E FI U C H E E R LE A D E R S In 1998, the FIU Cheerleaders received national recognition when they won the National Cheerleaders Association Grand National Championship Award. The FIU cheerleaders squad was the first team from Florida to win the national crown, and the team remains among the best in the nation, placing third at the NCA Championships in 2005. The squad performs at all football and home basketball home games.
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T H E GOL D EN D AZ Z L E RS Formed in 1989, the Golden Dazzlers are FIU’s award-winning dance team. Over the course of its history, the group has won the NCA Dance National Championship and racked up third- and eighth-place finishes. The Golden Dazzlers, who perform at all home basketball and football games, as well as at school pep rallies and other special events, continue to place high annually at the National Dance Alliance Championship. T H E M A SC OT When FIU first opened its doors in 1972 the Sunblazer was its mascot. The Sunblazers represented FIU for 14 years, but in 1987, University President Dr. Modesto A. Maidique promoted a campaign to replace the Sunblazer with the Golden Panther, a mascot that better represented FIU and its ties to Florida’s natural environment. The University also adopted new school colors – blue and gold. This fall, the FIU Golden Panther got a makeover, and the result was a “meaner, leaner” predator. ALUMNI With more than 124,000 alumni, Golden Panthers constitute the fastest growing university alumni group in Miami-Dade County. FIU confers approximately half of all degrees now awarded by universities in Miami-Dade County. N A T I ON A L R ECO G NIT IO N The University is the youngest to have been awarded a chapter of Phi Beta Kappa, the nation’s oldest and most distinguished academic honor society. FIU was recently ranked third in granting bachelor’s degrees to minorities (among the top 100 degree producing colleges and universities), according to Diverse Issues in Higher Education, June 1, 2006. FIU’s College of Law led all universities in the state with the highest pass rate of 94.4-percent on the 2007 Statewide Florida Bar Examination. The second highest pass rate belonged to Florida State University with 88.2-percent. U.S. News & World Report ranks FIU’s undergraduate international business program among the top 15 in the nation and their graduate programs among the top 25. The University has also been named one of the “10 Cool Colleges for Entrepreneurs” by Fortune Small Business magazine. One Executive MBA program was recently ranked #1 in Florida by Financial Times. The School of Hospitality and Tourism Management is one of the nation’s top programs. Other acclaimed programs include Creative Writing and Marine Biology.
B A S E B A L L
B U D G E T & E C O N OMI C I MP A C T The University’s 2006 operating budget was $611.8 million. FIU has more than 4,800 employees. The University has an economic impact of more than $1.7 billion on the South Florida economy. A R TS & C U LTU R E In recent years, FIU has emerged as one of South Florida’s major cultural assets, offering programs to both students and the local community. The Patricia & Phillip Frost Art Museum will celebrate the grand opening of its new facility on the University Park campus in 2008, while the Wolfsonian-FIU museum, located in Miami Beach, promotes the collection, preservation and understanding of decorative art and design from the period 1885-1945. The School of Theatre and Dance produces a wide variety of live student performances, and The School of Music presents an annual fall series of concerts that showcase talent in a variety of genres. The festival features FIU musicians as well as distinguished visiting performers. Under the direction of the Creative Writing Program, the Writers on the Bay lecture series presents noted authors and poets. The School of Hospitality and Tourism Management helps present the annual South Beach Wine & Food Festival, one of the major culinary events in the nation. C A MP U S E S FIU has two campuses, the 344-acre University Park campus in western Miami-Dade County, and the 200-acre Biscayne Bay Campus in northeast Miami-Dade County. The University also has an academic site in Broward County, FIU Broward-Pines Center in Pembroke Pines. A major research facility, the 40-acre Engineering Center is located near the University Park campus. The Downtown Center, located in downtown Miami, offers graduate level business courses for busy professionals. Architecturally distinctive University Park includes lush tropical landscaped grounds, apartment style and traditional residence halls, U.S. Century Bank Arena and FIU Stadium, a state-of-the-art eight-story library, an environmental preserve and other athletic facilities that contribute to a pleasant collegiate atmosphere. Scenic Biscayne Bay features a natural mangrove preserve, direct access to the bay, apartment-style housing, a library, aquatic center and the Roz and Cal Kovens Conference Center.
GREATER MIAMI
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B A S E B A L L
With a year-round tropical climate, exciting attractions, professional and intercollegiate sports teams, art, history, museums and all of the nature parks and education one could ask for, Greater Miami and the Beaches has become a superstar of the world’s travel destinations. Due to its location in a tropical climate, Greater Miami and the Beaches has many activities and attractions that differ from most vacation spots. This tropical cosmopolitan city boasts some of the world’s most beautiful beaches and ecological wonders, such as the Everglades, right next to one of the world’s most vibrant urban centers. Miami, one of the most international cities in the hemisphere, is Florida’s largest urban center and a major transportation and business hub of the southeastern U.S. Greater Miami, which comprises the city of Miami and surrounding MiamiDade County, includes Miami Beach, Coral Gables, Hialeah and many smaller communities.
The Miami of the 21st century is an exciting, dynamic global marketplace. But being a global marketplace does not mean it is just a trading post for goods. Miami is a metropolis that is a major transfer station for peoples and ideas from throughout the world. Miami, once a town of tourists and retirees, has been reinvented into a hemispheric crossroads for trade, travel, culture and communications.
The Miami area’s history dates back to the discovery of the “New World.” Ponce de Leon saw the tip of Key Biscayne in 1513 and named it, more than 100 years before the Pilgrims landed at Plymouth Rock. In the 1850s only about 50 persons lived permanently on Biscayne Bay, and it wasn’t until the 1870s that Bahamian wreckers helped found the area’s first real community, Coconut Grove. Miami was incorporated in 1896, the same year that Standard Oil co-founder and railroad magnate Henry Flagler decided to extend his railroad south from West Palm Beach to Miami.
In Greater Miami, you can spend hours, days or weeks entertaining yourself and your family without having to travel more than a few minutes in any direction. Nighttime entertainment includes music and dance clubs with music ranging from smooth sounding jazz to lively disco, comedy clubs, concerts, theater, opera, symphony and movies. Even with all that to do, virtually no one comes to Miami without taking a stroll along the beach. Come, have fun and enjoy.
During the land boom of the 1920s, Miami’s population swelled and, thanks to its inviting, subtropical climate, it emerged as one of the nation’s great winter resorts. Miami Beach is known for its historic art deco district and the numerous hotels that line its beaches, and the area is filled with marinas and golf courses. Since the 1950s, commercial growth has grown significantly. Miami International Airport is the nation’s largest international cargo hub and third in terms of international passengers. The Port of Miami is the number one cruise port in the world.
You can find affordable accommodations in Miami anytime of the year and while visiting, you’ll never go hungry for quality food. Greater Miami and the Beaches offer lots of great restaurants that will please anyone’s appetite -- everything from seafood to steaks and from Indian to Japanese and do it with a fantastic ocean view.
THE BEACHES If shopping is what you are looking for, Greater Miami offers a multitude of opportunities found few places in the world. High fashion shopping centers portray glamour, while the practical gift shopper may prefer a regional mall that has it all. There is no shortage of the unique as you stroll down the oceanfront filled with handsome antiques, explore one of a kind anti-malls, the hottest beach apparel or the latest retro outfit. Miami has it all for the nature lover. Glorious weather has always been a main attraction here due to South Florida’s sun-kissed days that feature bluer-than-blue skies and an average temperature of 76 degrees Fahrenheit. Guided boat tours and nature parks for all to enjoy are just part of the beautiful sights Miami has to offer. You can hike, bike, boat or take a ride on the tram to enjoy the breathtaking beauty of some of America’s best seascapes and landscapes. Whatever your pleasure Greater Miami is sure to please.
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B A S E B A L L
Miami is a sports enthusiast’s paradise. Fishing, scuba diving and water sport rentals, as well as much more are all on the menu for fun. So if you are looking to get out and enjoy the beautiful weather of South Florida and the fresh air over the Atlantic Ocean, you will find it all in Greater Miami and the Beaches. Above and beyond the much-celebrated spots, Greater Miami has a rich assortment of neighborhoods that offer charming nooks and crannies and off-the-beaten-path excursions. Built in the roaring ‘20s, Coral Gables is a prosperous and dramatically beautiful city, marked by Spanish-style mansions, huge ficus trees, coral rock pools, lush golf courses and a commercial area that’s jam-packed with specialty shops and restaurants. Like most ethnic enclaves, Little Havana and Little Haiti are brimming with immigrant optimism. The Moorish architecture of Opa-Locka, inspired by the Arabian Nights stories, is a stunning innercity collection of minarets, domes and horseshoe arches. South Dade offers a more rural ambiance and features must-see spots such as Everglades and Biscayne National Parks, Miami Metro Zoo, the Homestead Motorsports Complex and more. The waterfront city of Key Biscayne can only be described as an island paradise. It is a peaceful, well-preserved community crowned by the bucolic Bill Baggs State and Crandon Park, two of the most beautiful beaches in the United States. Access to the area is simple and convenient. Miami International Airport, equipped with a sun deck for that last-minute tan, is just a 20-minute drive from FIU-University Park. By land, Greater Miami is accessible via the Florida Turnpike, I-95, U.S. 1 and Amtrak’s rail system. The Port of Miami, the world’s largest cruise port, is a nautical link that connects Miami to the Caribbean and Latin America.
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B A S E B A L L
Florida International plays all its home games at University Park Stadium. The Frank Alonso and Family Locker Room, a fullyequipped training room, spacious dugouts, indoor hitting facilities and full bullpens in the right and left field foul territories creates an ideal setting for student-athletes and coaches. A seating capacity of 2,000 with unmatched sight lines, scoreboard, elevator, concession stands and stadium lighting provide a fan-friendly atmosphere that makes this house a home for the Golden Panthers. While the stadium has the amenities and necessities essential to a successful baseball program, improving the facility is a constant process. In just the last year, the coaches’ offices, alumni lounge and media area was completed on the third floor of the stadium, creating an area for those who helped build the program. Head coach Turtle Thomas and his staff have led a charge to further advance the stadium with new carpeting in the locker room and training room, as well as beginning the initial stages to pad the outfield fences, add a state-of-the art video board, expand the batting cages, construct a new weight room and add a family area in right field.
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The evolution of FIU Baseball Stadium did not happen overnight. The completion of Phase I of a three-phase project that switched the positioning of the field culminated with a 1-0 win against Bethune-Cookman on Jan. 26, 1996 in front of a standing-room crowd. Fireworks and a first-ball ceremony that featured University President Dr. Modesto Maidique and many other dignitaries were part of the festivities. Phase II construction, which increased the stadium’s seating capacity by more than 1,000, forced the Golden Panthers to play in Homestead for some time before returning in 2002. More than $3.5 million was raised from student trust funds to complete the first two phases and former head coach Danny Price raised $100,000 to fund the construction of the batting cages. The expansion enabled FIU to host the 2005 Sun Belt Conference Tournament. Phase III of the project got underway in the spring of 2003 and was completed in 2007 with the finishing of the skybox, alumni lounge and media area. The field’s playing surface is natural grass and symmetrical field dimensions of 325 feet down the lines, 375 feet in the power alleys, and 400 feet to straightaway center field.
B A S E B A L L
BASEBALL FACILITIES UPGRADES Since their arrival at FIU, Turtle Thomas and his staff have made numerous improvements to the baseball stadium and facilities. The biggest improvement to the stadium is the $75,000 project to pad the outfield wall and add decals honoring the four retired numbers in FIU Baseball history. The facilities also feature three full-length batting cages with two portable mounds. The press box has been upgraded by adding leveled seating to provide a better view for the media. The press area has also been sectioned off to separate it from the luxury suite. The suite offers the best accommodations at FIU Stadium, including premium seating, refreshments and even a high-definition television.
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Stadium speakers have been replaced by new, state-of-the-art models, the carpeting has been replaced in the locker and training rooms, the bathroom in the locker room has new floor tiles, and even the dugouts have received a face-lift with a paint-job and the addition FIU & Sun Belt Conference decals. Also, flat-screen TV’s have been installed in the locker room. The outside of the stadium will also be re-painted. Plans are in place to replace the halo around home plate with a navy-blue one to match the outfield fence. Also, the pads on the backstop will be replaced with navy-blue ones. New on-deck circles will also be installed. In addition to the upgrades to the facilities, sine Thomas’ arrival every FIU Baseball home game has been available for viewing via webcast on Panther Pass. This will continue in 2009 as every home game is scheduled to be broadcast on FIUSports.com.
B A S E B A L L
MAY 25, 2007
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JUNE 2 0 07
JULY 2007
FIU Stadium opened on September 20, 2008 against South Florida A new era began on Saturday, September 20 when FIU hosted the University of South Florida. All along, the Golden Panthers have set aggressive goals and have been committed to competing at the highest level. FIU is building this tradition of excellence with Athletic Director Pete Garcia, Head Football Coach Mario Cristobal and a new on-campus stadium opening this fall.
FIU’s new stadium becomes the only Division I on-campus football stadium south of Orlando in Florida. “This puts FIU on an even playing field in terms of facilities,” said Coach Cristobal. “Now, local athletes have
another reason to stay home and help build a championship program while student-athletes from all over the Since breaking ground state and country on May 25, 2007, sta- “This stadium is the crown jewel of FIU Athletics. It dium construction has will be the vehicle that takes our athletic department will have one more reason to attend occurred under the aus- to the next level.” school here. This pices of Coral Gables, will have a huge Fla., based Odebrecht FIU Athletic Director Pete Garcia Construction, Inc. The impact on future stadium’s first phase inrecruiting and will cludes a capacity of 18,000 and features 1,500 club seats, give our students and fans something to rally a 6,500 square foot Stadium Club, an upper concourse and around and it is a great foundation to build upon.” 19 premium suites. Seating includes both chair back and bench seating with backrests for fan convenience. Additional phases of construction will include a student support complex and will bring the stadium’s seating capacity to approximately 45,000.
“This stadium is the crown jewel of FIU Athletics,” said Garcia. “It will is the vehicle that will take our athletic department to the next level.”
Nearly two-thirds of the stadium project will be funded from existing sources like athletic fees, game guarantees and existing vendor contributions. In addition, ticket sales will be applied toward financing improvements. The new stadium complex also opens the door to other sources of revenue like corporate sponsorship packages and naming rights, in addition to concerts, non-intercollegiate sporting events and other community activities that will take place at the stadium.
FIU STADIUM FAST FACTS It is the only Division I on-campus football stadium south of Orlando in Florida The first phase of construction will bring the stadium’s capacity to approximately 18,000 and will include: 1,500 club seats 6,500 square-foot Stadium Club An upper concourse and 19 premier suites Chair back and bench seating all with backrests for fan convenience Additional phases of construction will include a new fieldhouse, state-of-the art weight room, a student-support complex and will bring the stadium’s seating capacity to approximately 45,000.
JUNE 2008
MAY 2008
APRIL 2008
AUG 2007
SEPT 2007
OCT 2007
“This is a win-win: business-wise and student-experience wise,” said FIU Board of Trustee member Albert Dotson who is also the chair of the board’s athletics committee. “The stadium is an important step that speaks directly to university objectives such as creating affinity, developing the FIU brand and adding to the student experience. This will be a venue that will bring alumni back and help build FIU traditions.”
Future phases for the stadium include an adjacent 100,000 square-foot student center that will house undergraduate advising, admissions, financial aid and an alumni welcome center. Most of these services have been located on University Park in the Charles Perry Building. “The student body has more than doubled over the past two decades,” said University President Dr. Modesto A. “Mitch” Maidique. “We are now looking forward to providing these services in a more appropriate, comfortable and attractive environment.”
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DEC 2007
The stadium will also be the home of the brain trust of the FIU Football program with the completion of a two-story, 50,000-square foot fieldhouse in the early 2009.
Highlights of the new fieldhouse include a 12,500-square foot clean span weight room that will be used not only by Golden Panther football players but all FIU student-athletes for their strength and conditioning needs. Visitors will be greeted in a reception area that will also include a Hall of Fame area. The first floor will also contain an equipment room, athletic training complex, ticket office and 8,500-square feet of locker rooms for players and coaches. The fieldhouse’s second floor will feature coaches’ offices, a theater-style team meeting room and six breakout rooms, which overlook the field, for smaller gatherings. Those rooms also open to a deck that will be used for recruiting and game-day entertainment.
President Maidique said the entire complex achieves several objectives that will help to enhance the student experience at FIU. For example, the administrative portion of the complex will spread traffic and pedestrian patterns more evenly around campus. This becomes more critical as the university’s student body pushes well beyond its current 38,000 enrollment. “The new stadium will become a landmark and gathering place for the entire FIU community,” Dr. Maidique said. Odebrecht Construction, which has been operating in Florida for nearly 20 years, has been responsible for building another Miami sports icon—the American Airlines Arena— and the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts of Miami-Dade County. “We have looked forward to building an excellent facility, one that will enhance the campus environment and contribute measurably to FIU athletics, student life and the broader community,” said Gilberto Neves, Odebrecht CEO.
MARCH 2008
FEB 2008
Along with all its other amenities, the opening of FIU Stadium featured 18,000 seats along with 19 air-conditioned premium suites, which offer unobstructed sideline views of all the action.
JAN 2008
DEC 2007
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B A S E B A L L
Year
Name
Franchise
2008 2007
Jorge Castillo Luis Bautista Chris Dunn James McOwen Nick Cadena Yahmed Yema David Asher Dennis Diaz Luis Rivera Matt Rainey Derek DeCarlo Mark Worrell Fernando Alvarez Mario Suarez Josh Banks Ricardo Nanita Andrew Edwards Arthur Santos Brad Eldred Ozzie Lugo Bernie Gonzalez Mike Quintana Willy Collazo Matt Huntingford Eric Miller Gilbert Landestoy Steve Kent Edwin Franco Harold Eckert Raul Garcia Jeff Rodriguez James Molina Sean Mahoney Mike Christensen Jose Rodriguez Danny Alvarez Evan Thomas Shawn Stutz Eduardo Ferrer Francisco Lebron Dorian Speed Jamie Emiliano Mike Lowell Juan Munoz Paxton Stewart Jeff Keith Greg Keagle Kevin Wehn Tim Kester Casey Mittauer Eric Alexander Bryan Garrett Garvin Alston John Fantauzzi Mike Warner Efrain Ventura Kevin Lucero Chris Sinacori Jerry Santos Gregg Mucerino Fausto Tejero Gilberto Torres Paul Anderson
Chicago White Sox Chicago Cubs Florida Marlins Seattle Mariners Texas Rangers Boston Red Sox Seattle Mariners Philadelphia Phillies Chicago Cubs New York Mets Milwaukee Brewers St. Louis Cardinals Chicago White Sox Chicago White Sox Toronto Blue Jays Chicago White Sox New York Yankees Boston Red Sox Pittsburgh Pirates Anaheim Angels Colorado Rockies Cleveland Indians Atlanta Braves San Francisco Giants Montreal Expos Anaheim Angels Seattle Mariners Kansas City Royals Los Angeles Dodgers Kansas City Royals Atlanta Braves St. Louis Cardinals Tampa Bay Devil Rays Anaheim Angels St. Louis Cardinals Cleveland Indians Philadelphia Phillies Tampa Bay Devil Rays California Angels Pittsburgh Pirates Chicago Cubs Colorado Rockies New York Yankees St. Louis Cardinals Toronto Blue Jays San Francisco Giants San Diego Padres Colorado Rockies Houston Astros New York Yankees St. Louis Cardinals Cleveland Indians Colorado Rockies San Diego Padres Atlanta Braves Chicago White Sox St. Louis Cardinals Los Angeles Dodgers St. Louis Cardinals San Diego Padres California Angels St. Louis Cardinals St. Louis Cardinals
2006 2005
2004
2003
2002
2001
2000 1999
1998
1997 1996
1995
1994 1993
1992
1991
1990
Round (Pick) 26th (780) 32nd (966) Free Agent 6th (195) 30th (898) 7th (228) 8th (233) 22nd (724) Free Agent Free Agent 9th (256) 12th (360) 16th (479) 34th (1019) 2nd (50) 14th (412) 27th (814) 34th (1014) 6th (163) 13th (384) 14th (411) 8th (247) 10th (315) 29th (286) 24th (705) 37th (1100) 9th (275) 11th (331) 19th (584) 26th (781) 30th (924) 21st (618) 32nd (972) 36th (1081) 24th (734) 43rd (1296) 10th (286) 13th (394) 24th (715) 51st (1458) 7th (175) 9th (235) 20th (562) 33rd (911) 48th (1320) Free Agent 6th (170) 17th (492) 18th (504) 20th (561) 41st (1152) 67th (1628) 10th (291) 11th (309) 22nd (621) 50th (1408) 16th (416) 16th (430) 39th (1013) Free Agent 14th (383) 50th (1247) Free Agent
Josh Banks pitched 85.1 innings for the San Diego Padres in 2008, posting a 3-6 record with a 4.75 ERA.
Photo Courtesy of: Leah Tobin San Diego Padres
Mark Worrell, the St. Louis Cardinals 12th-Round Draft Pick in 2004 and made his major league debut in 2008. He is now a member of the San Diego Padres.
Photo Courtesy of: Jared Odom St. Louis Cardinals
James McOwen was drafted in the 6th Round by the Seattle Mariners and spent the 2008 with the High-A High Desert Mavericks, hitting .263 with seven homers and nine triples.
Photo: Angie Ceranski Wisconsin Timber Rattlers
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Mike Lowell has won World Titles with the Florida Marlins (2003) and Boston Red Sox (2007).
Year
Name
Franchise
1989
Larry Stanford Jose Vazquez Peter Gietzen Al Pacheco Denny Wiseman Nelson Caraballo Anthony Hicks Mike Grayson Doug Messer Ken Deal Ken Adderley Mark Grater Hernan Adamas Doug Ellis Eddie Gonzalez Mark Lee Alex Ojea Tim Reker Tony Arias Jim Filippi Nestor Valiente Alfred Perez Paul Steinert Ossie Alfonso Rick Ames Steve Petitt Gary Truzzolino Denny Murray Oriol Perez Doug Carpenter Jorge Miyar Rory Brown Ron Chapman Ben Donisi Ric Strasser Pete Post Frank Contreras Jorge Llano Tom Corcoran Mike Reddish Pat Bone Rusty McNealy Joe Hughes Tim Knight Marc Serdar Ron Koenigsfeld Chris Lein Mark Campbell Don Jacoby Joe Kubit Dan Ledduke Rick Jendra Kevin Ruffler Mark Oestreich Lloyd Ard Tom Fitzgerald Scott Winston Bill Curry Jim Pacheco Eddie Rodriguez Larry Hoskins Marty Jacobs Jim Knox Frank Baumgardner
New York Yankees 6th (153) New York Yankees 22nd (569) New York Yankees 23rd (595) St. Louis Cardinals 27th (690) St. Louis Cardinals 30th (768) Pittsburgh Pirates 33rd (858) St. Louis Cardinals 35th (898) Milwaukee Brewers 31st (809) San Francisco Giants 17th (437) St. Louis Cardinals 27th (695) Baltimore Orioles 10th (253) St. Louis Cardinals 23rd (594) Chicago White Sox Free Agent Pittsburgh Pirates Free Agent Los Angeles Dodgers Free Agent Detroit Tigers 15th (392) St. Louis Cardinals 24th (618) New York Yankees 26th (675) Oakland Athletics 8th (194) Chicago White Sox 12th (314) Seattle Mariners 19th (472) Houston Astros 25th (632) Seattle Mariners 27th (662) Minnesota Twins Free Agent Milwaukee Brewers Free Agent St. Louis Cardinals Free Agent New York Yankees Free Agent Toronto Blue Jays 16th (401) Seattle Mariners 17th (425) New York Yankees 32nd (765) Los Angeles Dodgers Free Agent New York Yankees 7th (180) Toronto Blue Jays 10th (238) Milwaukee Brewers 14th (634) Houston Astros 21st (535) New York Yankees 23rd (591) Miami Marlins Free Agent Miami Marlins Free Agent Detroit Tigers 3rd/61-Supplemental) New York Yankees 15th (388) New York Yankees 18th (466) Seattle Mariners 17th (422) Baltimore Orioles 18th (468) New York Yankees 39th (815) Houston Astros Free Agent Milwaukee Brewers 10th (257) New York Yankees 16th (415) Houston Astros 23rd (577) St. Louis Cardinals Free Agent Minnesota Twins Free Agent New York Yankees 10th (260) Cincinnati Reds 24th (590) Houston Astros Free Agent Seattle Mariners 13th (338) Seattle Mariners 18th (466) Seattle Mariners 30th (708) New York Mets Free Agent Baltimore Orioles Free Agent Cleveland Indians Free Agent Chicago Cubs Free Agent Chicago Cubs Free Agent New York Yankees Free Agent New York Mets Free Agent Baltimore Orioles Free Agent
1988 1987 1986
1985
Photo: Brita Meng Outzen Boston Red Sox
1984
Brad Eldred, FIU’s alltime home run leader. Enjoyed a successful tenure with the Pittsburgh Pirates and is now part of the Washington Nationals organization. In 2008 he was third among all AAA players, hitting 35 home runs
1983
1982
1981
1980 Photo: Courtesy of Pittsburgh Pirates/ Dave Arrigo
1979 Willie Collazo made his MLB debut with the New York Mets on Sept. 5, 2007. Collazo was a 10th-Round selection of the Atlanta Braves in the 2001 Draft.
B A S E B A L L
1978
1977
1976 1975 1974
1973
Round (Pick)
Photo: Marc Levine New York Mets
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The Student Athlete Academic Center (SAAC) is located on the west side of the FIU campus, adjacent to the U.S. Century Bank Arena. As Director of Student Athlete Academic Services, Shawn McWashington manages the center and supervises a dedicated group of academic coordinators, a reading and writing specialist, support staff and numerous tutors hired to assist all student-athletes with their academic courses. Shawn McWashington
The role of the SAAC staff is to help the student-athletes develop proper learning habits, as well as to develop learning plans and monitor their progress. The SAAC is an academic environment, where a friendly, academic atmosphere is encouraged. The center is open six days per week (including evenings) to accommodate the needs of the studentathletes. Director Student Athlete Academic Center
The Student Athlete Academic Center has areas for formal, “monitored study” as well as informal study areas. Individual “study carrel” areas are provided as well as a library, classroom, conference room, computer laboratory and open study areas.
A C A D E M IC A D V IS ING Coordinators of Academic Support are assigned to each team and offer assistant and individualized counseling. This includes but is not limited to: academic advising for course selection each semester, personal and career counseling, monitoring academic progress and class attendance, monitoring adherence to study hall assigned hours and serving as a liaison between the athletic and academic community. They meet periodically with each student throughout the semester in order to monitor the academic progress. Weekly meetings are mandatory for students who have proven academic difficulty. The Coordinators work closely with the coaches and keep them apprised of the student-athletes’ academic status while assuring that all academic requirements for FIU and NCAA eligibility are met.
The Student Athlete Academic Center (SAAC) is located on the west side of the FIU campus, adjacent to the FIU Arena. A dedicated group of academic coordinators, a reading and writing specialist, support staff, graduate assistants and numerous tutors are available to assist all FIU’s student-athlete population with their academic courses. The role of the SAAC staff is to help the student-athletes develop proper learning habits, as well as to develop learning plans and monitor their progress. The SAAC is an academic environment, where a friendly, academic atmosphere is encouraged. The center is open six days per week (including evenings) to accommodate the needs of the student-athletes. The Student Athlete Academic Center has areas for formal, “monitored study” as well as informal study areas. Individual “study carrel” areas are provided as well as a library, classroom, conference room, computer laboratory and open study areas.
ACADEMIC ADVISING Coordinators of Academic Support are assigned to each team and offer assistant and individualized counseling. This includes but is not limited to: academic advising for course selection each semester, personal and career counseling, monitoring academic progress and class attendance, monitoring adherence to study hall assigned hours and serving as a liaison between the athletic and academic community. They meet periodically with each student throughout the semester in order to monitor the academic progress. Weekly meetings are mandatory for students who have proven academic difficulty. The Coordinators work closely with the coaches and keep them apprised of the student-athletes’ academic status while assuring that all academic requirements for FIU and NCAA eligibility are met.
T U T OR I N G General and subject-specified tutoring is available in the Student Athlete Academic Center. Core subjects, such as math, English and science are the primary focus of the tutorial services; however, tutoring is also available in advanced level courses such as calculus, accounting or subject areas which are known to cause students difficulty. Graduate students are normally hired as
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tutors in subject areas for which they have expertise. A schedule of tutoring hours is maintained on the SAAC bulletin board and students are urged to sign up in advance for assistance. Students participating in tutoring are required to bring in the course syllabus and text along with the assignments for which they seek assistance. In addition, a trained ESOL specialist provides student-athletes for whom English is a second language with tutoring and assistance.
Individually, 46 percent of the Golden Panthers student-athlete population (161 of 349) made academic honors of 3.0 or better and eight recorded perfect 4.0 GPAs on the semester.
M O N IT O R E D S T UDY HAL L
Another contributor to the success of FIU’s student-athletes is the commitment from the University administration to student-athlete academic excellence. In the past year President Modesto A. Maidique has led the charge to make sure FIU’s student-athletes have the same opportunity to excel in the classroom as they do on the field of competition with a spectrum of improvements:
Freshman and other student-athletes with less than 2.5 GPA are required to attend a monitored study hall weekly. The monitored study hall is open six days a week at times compatible with class and practice schedules. Tutors are available during evening study hall hours to assist student-athletes. A study hall monitor is on premise at all times to make sure student-athletes are making productive use of their time. Student-athletes must sign in and out of study hall through a computerized tracking system.
S A A C M IS S IO N S T AT E ME NT To promote the academic, personal and social growth of FIU student-athletes, encouraging them to become active, independent self-regulated learners, who are vested members of the FIU community.
S A A C S T A F F CRE E D
Women’s swimming and diving and volleyball shared the highest team grade point averages with 3.22 scores. Twelve members of coach Noemi Zaharia’s
The entire University, including the Athletic Department, implemented multi-term registration, allowing students to register for two terms simultaneously, which makes for better planning to fulfill degree requirements. The SAAC was bolstered with increased funding, tutors, computers, graduate assistants and increased opportunities for summer school. The number of student-athlete tutors in the SAAC was doubled from seven to 14 in 2007-08.
All members of the Student Athlete Academic Center (SAAC) must work to safeguard the academic integrity of the institution and to insure compliance with the rules and regulations of the NCAA, the Sun Belt Conference and FIU. We also foster a welcoming environment in which all members of our diverse community receive support, feel valued, are safe and acquire self confidence.
$72,000 was set aside for technological improvements in the SAAC, resulting in the purchase of 20 personal computers and 25 laptops for student use.
F I U A T H L E T ICS MAKE S T HE G RADE
FIU’s student-athletes responded extremely well to increased opportunities to enroll in summer school classes with 95 percent passing their classes, allowing them to move ahead or stay on course to graduate.
After graduating 44 student-athletes at FIU spring commencement ceremonies in the spring of 2008, the Golden Panthers Intercollegiate Athletics Department learned that its semester academic grade point average was the highest in the history of the program. With the posting of spring grades, FIU student-athletes earned a 2.94 GPA for the semester, which was more than one-tenth of a point higher than the 2.82 achieved by the university’s general student population in Fall 2007.
FIU has more than tripled the operating budget of the SAAC from $62,000 to $195,000.
Two graduate assistants were added to the SAAC staff to assist the learning specialist and the SAAC will have a fifth academic coordinator on staff this fall.
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The health and well being of every FIU student-athlete is the primary concern of the university’s fully-staffed athletic training team. All certified by the National Athletic Trainers’ Association, the staff, along with a host of athletic training students, are responsible for the health and care of FIU’s 17 sports teams that includes some 400 student-athletes. Athletic training responsibilities include covering practice sessions and competitions as well as team travel as deemed appropriate. All of FIU’s athletic trainers are responsible for evaluating and assessing athletic injuries, administering first aid and injury care, making medical referrals and establishing treatments, rehabilitation and reconditioning of athletic injuries/illness. The staff also spends a significant amount of time in the education of student-athletes with respect to injury prevention, nutrition and psychological support in dealing with injuries. The treatment and rehabilitation of injured athletes at FIU takes place at three on-campus facilities as well as at the 24-hour University HealthCare and Wellness Center. The crown jewel of the athletic training complex is its state-of-the-art, 6,500 square-foot main center that conveniently located adjacent to U.S. Century Bank Arena. The facility features a hydrotherapy room, which includes custom-built, underground hot and cold plunge pools and a therapy pool with an underwater treadmill, a doctor’s examination room, functional training area, rehabilitation area with 12 treatment tables and an audio-visual system that includes high definition and flat screen televisions. Satellite facilities are located at the baseball stadium and in the softball/ tennis field house.
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KARI L. RIDDLE Head Athletic Trainer
DAVID AHOUSE
JENNIFER SMOYAK
GABE CASANOVA
Assistant Athletic Trainer
Assistant Athletic Trainer
Assistant Athletic Trainer
The athletic training staff works closely with several sports medicine physicians and FIU student-athletes may receive specialized care at any time from Drs. Keith S. Hechtman and John Zvijac, orthopedists; Drs. Mario Leyte-Vidal and Michael Robinson, dentists; Drs. Stephen Morris and Robert Tanner, optometrists; and Dr. Esther Levin, cardiologist, as well as by members of the FIU Health-Care and Wellness Center. The athletic training staff and team physicians are committed to providing the most comprehensive and safest health care possible.
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JOHN STEEL Assistant Athletic Trainer
DENNIS COONAN Assistant Athletic Trainer
The FIU strength and conditioning program is designed to provide every student-athlete with the best and most productive physical training for his or her specific sport. Its goal is to assist student-athletes in minimizing injury risk and enhancing all physical parameters, including strength, speed, power, flexibility and cardiovascular endurance. Head strength and conditioning coach Mick Smith designs both team and individual training programs designed to helping FIU studentathletes reach their full potential. Special detail is taken in differentiating in-season and off-season training protocols, ensuring the student-athletes are fully prepared for the various rigors of their sports and improving their performances. All programs are constantly monitored and documented and every individual is evaluated and tested to determine the results of the training. Team and individual testing is done to ensure continued progress throughout each student-athlete’s career.
With more than 25 years of strength and conditioning expertise at the high school, college, Olympic and professional levels, Mick Smith heads FIU’s strength and conditioning program. Prior to joining FIU in 2007, Smith spent 13 years as the top strength and conditioning coach of two NBA teams and enjoyed stints at the University of Miami, and at Miami’s Christopher Columbus High School. Smith was in charge of all aspects of the Orlando Magic’s strength and conditioning programs from 1997 to 2006, which included evaluation and assessment of strength needs, design and implementation of position-specific programs, assistance in the design of the team’s practice facility, nutritional education and dietary management of players. He served in the same capacity for the Portland Trailblazers from 199397, during which time the team reached the NBA Finals twice. Smith directed strength and conditioning programs for Portland teams that featured NBA great Clyde Drexler and standouts Terry Porter, Buck Williams and Cliff Robinson Prior to embarking on his successful tenures in the NBA, Smith spent six years at the University of Miami. Smith served as the associate director of strength and conditioning for the Hurricanes from 1987-90, assisting with the football, baseball, track, swimming and diving, crew, tennis and golf teams before taking over the strength and conditioning program for baseball team until 1993. Smith first came to Miami as the Director of Physical Education and Strength and Conditioning Coach at Christopher Columbus High School from 1986-87. From 1985-86 Smith was the Olympic Weight lifting Coach/Coordinator of Fitness at the United States Sports Academy in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Smith began his coaching career in the college ranks at Creighton University as the Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach and Instructor in Weight Training - First Aid and tennis from 1982-84 while earning his master’s degree. In addition to his diverse experiences as a strength and conditioning coach, Smith is a nationally and internationally published author. Smith has co-authored three books; Complete Basketball Conditioning Book (Fall, 2006), NBA Power Conditioning Book (1997) and Conditioning The NBA Way Book (1994). In 2004 and 2005, Smith had three articles published in Europe’s largest sports publication, Giganti Del Basketball, which specializes in basketball and volleyball. He has also presented on various strength and conditioning topics at the Association Italiana Prepatory Athletic Sport Squadron (2004) and at the NSCA National Convention in 2000 and 2002. Smith earned a bachelor’s degree in physical education from the University of Nebraska-Omaha in 1980 and returned to earn his master’s degree in exercise science in 1984. He was certified as a Strength and Conditioning Specialist by the NSCA in 1988.
David Feeley begins his first season as the strength and conditioning coach for both the Baseball team after finishing a Master of Education at the University of Nevada in Las Vegas. Feeley comes to FIU after a successful career as a lineman for Plymouth State University’s Football Team. He was a four year letter winner, and received the award for best lineman in 2002. After finishing his bachelor’s degree in Health and Physical Education from Plymouth State in 2004, Feeley became the head strength and training coach at Brick Township High School, in Brick, NJ. There he designed the strength and conditioning programs for the Football, Track and Field and Cross Country Teams. Following his time in Brick,NJ, Feeley became the Strength and Conditioning Consultant at Stockton College. There he planned the strength, power and conditioning program for the Division III Baseball team. In August of 2006, Feeley became a graduate assistant strength and conditioning coach at the University of Nevada-Las Vegas. During his time at UNLV he was directly responsible for the year round strength and conditioning for Baseball, Track and Field, Cross Country and Cheerleading. He was the head assistant and responsible for assisting with the implementation of all aspects of the football strength and condition programs. In December 2007 he was promoted to Assistant strength and conditioning coach. Feeley is a member of the National Strength and Conditioning Association, as well as a member of the Collegiate Strength and Conditioning Coach Association and is a USA Weight lifting Certified Club Coach.
Compliance Information Don’t Be Sidelined: Ask Before You Act FIU, as a member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and the Sun Belt Conference is responsible for insuring that its various constituencies (i.e., university staff, faculty, studentathletes, alumni and friends) abide by NCAA and Sun Belt rules and regulations as well as informing prospective student-athletes of rules for progressing from being a high school athlete to a student-athlete in college. You are a “prospective when ective student-athlete”” w hen you start ninth grade or before that, if a coll college ege gives you, you, your relatives or friends any financial nancia al aid or extra extra benefits generally not provided provide ed to o any other prospective student. ent.
ACADEMICS AND AMATEURISM AM MATEURISM As a prospective student-athlete uden nt-athlete concluding your high school years, it is extremelyy important that you p y maintain the highest academic ic standards while also maintaining your amateur status before entering ing college. If you wish to participate in athletics or receive an athleticc scholarship during your first year, year you must: (a) graduate from high school, (b) earn a minimum required grade-point average in 16 core courses and (c) earn a combined SAT or ACT sum score that matches your core-course grade-point average and test score sliding scale as determined by the NCAA Eligibility Center. You must also meet provisions that verify you have retained you amateur status. Every college-bound student-athlete, both domestic and international, who is attending an NCAA Division I or II institution for the first time, must be certified by the NCAA Eligibility Center. This includes college-bound student-athletes who are transferring from any two- or four-year institutions (including international institutions) that are not members of NCAA Division I or II. Therefore, you want to register with the Eligibility Center as soon as possible. For on-line web access, go to www.ncaaclearinghouse.net.
You become a “recruited prospective student-athlete” at a particular college or university if any coach or representative of that institution’s athletic interest approaches you or your relatives about enrolling and participating in intercollegiate athletics. Some of the activities by coaches or boosters that cause you to become a recruited prospective student-athlete are: • Providing you yo with an official visit vis • Visiting you or other othe ot her members of o your family anywhere other than the college campus cam mpu p s call to you or any • Placing more e than than one o telephone telep member family other memb mber of o your fa • Signing g a National Nation Letter of Intent or written a writte te en offer of athletically related financial financ cial aid.
INDUCEMENTS Any institutional staff memb member ber or b booster is prohibited from offering of providing an ext extra benefits or financial aid to you, your relatives or friends other othe than those specifically authorized by the NCAA. Extra benefits that are not authorized by the NCAA include: • Cash or loans of any amount • Co-signing or authorizing a loan • Gifts or free services (airline tickets, restaurant meals, use of an automobile, etc.) • Rent-free or reduced-cost housing • Employment at a higher rate than wages paid for similar work or payment for work not performed.
Should you have any questions regarding NCAA rules and regulations, please fell free to contact the FIU Compliance Office at (305) 348-1782.
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Melissa Applebaum Tennis
Eric C Campbell Cross Country, Track & Field
Thomas Chestnutt Women’s Soccer
Mario Cristobal Football
M Munga Ek Eketebi bi Men’s Soccer
Beth B th M McClendon Cll d Softball
Sergio S i R Rouco Men’s Basketball
Cindy Ci d R Russo Women’s Basketball
Turtle T tl Th Thomas Baseball
Danijela D ij l T Tomic i Volleyball
J Joe V Vogell Golf
Noemi N i Zaharia Z h i Swimming and Diving
Pete Garcia Athletic Director
Julie J li B Berg Senior Associate AD
Shawn Th Sh Thorimbert i b t Associate AD
Internal Operations/SWA
External Operations
Bill Bryant Associate AD
Jose Sotolongo Associate AD
St Steve Cisco Ci Assistant AD
Derrick Mayfield Mayfield Assistant AD
Compliance
Major Gifts
Ticket Sales and Operations
Facilities and Operations
Jorge Fuentes Assistant AD
Liz Borrell Assistant AD
John O O’Meara Assistant AD
J Jessie i Marks M k Assistant AD
D Drew A Auguste t Assistant AD
Corporate Sponsorships
Student-Athlete Development
Marketing
Development
Event Management/Operations
Alex Duque Al D Associate Director of Finance Stadium Corporation
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While there are 31 NCAA conferences that sponsor multiple sports, the Sun Belt is one of only eleven to participate in the Bowl Championship Series (BCS) and Football Bowl Subdivision. The Sun Belt was formed in 1976 with six members competing in four men’s sports, and today comprises 13 institutions of higher learning while sponsoring 19 championship sports for men and women. The Sun Belt Conference enters its 33rd season in 2008-2009 with a proud history of athletic and academic success. The conference sponsors 10 women’s sports - basketball, cross country, golf, soccer, softball, swimming and diving, tennis, indoor and outdoor track and field, and volleyball; and nine men’s sports – baseball, basketball, cross country, football, golf, swimming and diving, tennis, and indoor and outdoor track and field. Each of the 19 sports has seen numerous team and individual accomplishments, and 12 Sun Belt Conference schools are currently graduating its student athletes at a rate higher than their school’s student body. All Sun Belt schools are committed to excellence in the 21st century, and facility upgrades and expansion are occurring on virtually every campus. During the 2007-08 academic year alone the Sun Belt Conference accomplished numerous feats. In the fall of 2007 Middle Tennessee and Western Kentucky University both represented the league in the NCAA Volleyball Tournament – the first time the Sun Belt has sent multiple teams to the NCAA Tournament in volleyball. Middle Tennessee did not disappoint, as the Blue Raiders advanced to the “Sweet 16” – marking the first time a Sun Belt school has made the round of 16 in volleyball. The Sun Belt momentum continued in the sport of football as Florida Atlantic defeated Memphis in the R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl. The win marked the second consecutive season that a Sun Belt team has defeated its Conference USA opponent as Troy defeated Rice in 2006. In men’s basketball, Western Kentucky University and South Alabama both received bids to the 2008 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament – the first the league has sent two teams to the “Big Dance’” since 1994. WKU’s 101-99 win over 14th ranked Drake followed by a 72-63 win over San Diego made the Hilltoppers the first Sun Belt team to reach the tournament’s “Sweet 16” since 1993. Despite losing more than half of the league’s All-Conference members from 2006-07, Sun Belt women’s basketball ranked in the top half (14th of 31) of the final league RPI rankings for the 10th consecutive year. In six of those ten years, Sun Belt women’s basketball has placed in the national top 10 for RPI. There was no shortage of success in the Sun Belt’s spring sports in 2008 as well. In tennis, FIU and Denver represented the Sun Belt in the NCAA Women’s Tennis Tournament – with the Pioneers advancing to the second round. In men’s tennis, South Alabama and Denver represented the league in the NCAA Tournament with USA advancing to the second round. Sun Belt golf was also well represented in postseason play as Middle Tennessee’s men’s team and Denver’s women’s team both reached the NCAA National Championship. Both the Blue Raiders and Pioneers finished in the top ten of their regionals to advance to the final stage of the NCAAs. The 2008 Sun Belt softball season saw Louisiana-Lafayette reach the Women’s College World Series after defeating Houston in three games in the Super Regionals and winning the NCAA Baton Rouge Regional by defeating East Carolina and in-state rival LSU twice. In baseball, the Sun Belt Conference has sent multiple teams to the NCAA tournament each year since 1988. The 20-year streak of having two or more teams reach NCAA play is matched by only four other conferences (ACC, Big West, SEC, Pac-10). Because of its status as a member of the Division 1-A football coalition, the Sun Belt Conference has a permanent seat on the NCAA’s 17-member Board of Directors. As a result, the conference has a crucial voice on some of the most pressing issues in college athletics and will always have a role in the implementation of any future NCAA legislation and guidelines. The conference continues to utilize television to grow and promote the league. Adding volleyball, baseball and softball to the conference’s television package has resulted in more national and regional television exposure for the league than at any time in its history. The conference’s regional television package enables live telecasts of Sun Belt events to reach over 20 million households. Additionally, ESPN televised the conference’s men’s basketball championship game for the 28th straight season in 2008, marking its longest affiliation with any conference in the country. The Sun Belt Conference has partnered with JumpTV Sports, Inc. to deliver a full-service, customized, public and premium web site to provide fans with a broad range of real-time information and content about the conference’s athletic teams. The Sun Belt is one of the few conferences in the nation to provide video highlights and features on its website from each of the league’s respective championships. This technology serves as a great recruiting tool for schools by enabling anyone in the world with internet access to view the conference’s championship events, and fans in five different countries viewed the conference’s most recent soccer championship. Prominent Sun Belt alumni include United States Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice (Denver), NFL Hall of Fame football player “Mean” Joe Greene (North Texas), Arizona
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601 Poydras Street, Suite 2355 New Orleans, Louisiana 70130 www.sunbeltsports.org Phone: (504) 299-9066 Commissioner Wright Waters Associate Commissioner/Chief Financial Officer Bert Carter Associate Commissioner/Compliance Dr. Kathy Keene Associate Commissioner/Sports Administration Rick Mello Associate Commissioner/Media Relations John McElwain Assistant Commissioner/Sports Administration Bryant Carter Assistant Commissioner/Multimedia/New Media Travis Llewellyn Director of Media Relations Melissa Kristofak Chief Administrative Officer Chauntrell Shelby Diamondbacks All-Star baseball player Luis Gonzalez (South Alabama), former member of the United States Senate and House of Representatives John Breaux (LouisianaLafayette), country music superstar Tim McGraw (Louisiana-Monroe), and Boston Red Sox All-Star and 2007 World Series MVP Mike Lowell, LPGA Hall of Fame member Pat Bradley actor Andy Garcia (FIU). The conference’s first 32 years have also produced numerous individual national champions along with Olympic track medalists including Earl Bell, Tom Hill and Al Joyner (Arkansas State), Hollis Conway (Louisiana-Lafayette), and Tayna Lawrence (FIU). Old Dominion’s Anne Donovan received the Naismith Trophy recognizing the nation’s top women’s basketball player in 1983, helped the United States win the Olympic gold medal in 1984, and helped the Lady Monarchs capture the national championship in 1985 (one of eight women’s Final 4 appearances by Sun Belt schools: Old Dominion - 1983, 1985; WKU – 1985, 1986, 1992; Louisiana Tech – 1994, 1998, 1999). Sun Belt teams have also participated in the men’s NCAA Final 4 (UNC-Charlotte in 1977), the College World Series (Louisiana-Lafayette in 2000), the women’s College World Series (Louisiana-Lafayette in 1993, 1995, 1996, 2003, 2008), and had 10 players selected in the first round of the NBA Draft. The Sun Belt Conference is led by Commissioner Wright Waters, who is in his ninth full year as commissioner. He was named the conference’s fourth commissioner in February of 1999 following the tenures of Vic Bubas (1976-1990), Jim Lessig (1990-1991), and Craig Thompson (1991-1998). The league’s annual all sports champion is awarded the Vic Bubas Cup, named after the conference’s first commissioner. The conference office has been headquartered in downtown New Orleans since 2000 after moving from suburban Metairie, La., where it had been based since 1991. Prior to moving to the “Big Easy,” the league was based in Tampa, Fla., from 1977-1991. The original conference office was located in Charlotte, N.C., from 1976-77.
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IVAN IRIZARRY Media Relations Cooordinator Baseball Contact Office: (305) 348-6666 Cell: (787) 248-3061 E-mail: iiriz001@fiu.edu
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RICH KELCH Assistant AD/ Media Relations Office: (305) 348-3164 Cell: (786) 256-0464 E-mail: kelchr@fiu.edu
MAILING ADDRESS OVERNIGHT ADDRESS FIU University Park FIU Athletics US Century Bank Arena 11200 Southwest 8 Street Miami, FL 33199 Pharmed Arena, Room 211 Miami, FL 33199 WEB SITE www.FIUsports.com IMPORTANT PHONE NUMBERS Media Relations ..................... (305) Media Relations Fax .............. (305) Baseball Office....................... (305) Ticket Office ........................... (866)
348-6666 348-2963 348-7403 348-4263
The Miami Herald One Herald Plaza, Miami, FL 33132 Phone: (800) 866-3375 Fax: (305) 376-2295 The Sun-Sentinel 200 East Last Olas Blvd., Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33301 Phone: (800) 776-6979 Fax: (954) 356-4676 The FIU Beacon FIU University Park, Miami, FL 33199 Phone: (305) 348-1582 Fax: (305) 348-2712
T E L EVI SI ON WFOR (Channel 4, CBS) 8900 NW 18 Terrace, Miami, FL 33172 Phone: (305) 639-4552 Fax: (305) 639-4688 WTVJ (Channel 6, NBC) 15000 SW 27 Street, Miramar, FL 33027 Phone: (954) 622-6357 Fax: (954) 622-6107 WSVN (Channel 7, Fox) 1401 79 N. Bay Causeway, Miami, FL 33141 Phone: (305) 795-2719 Fax: (305) 795-2746 WPLG (Channel 10, ABC) 3900 Biscayne Blvd., Miami, FL 33137 Phone: (305) 325-2485 Fax: (305) 325-2480
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JOHN ANGEL Graphic Designer Office: (305) 348-1357 E-mail: jange003@fiu.edu
The 2009 FIU Baseball Media Guide is designed to assist members of the media covering Golden Panthers baseball. We appreciate your coverage. If there is anything we can do to aid you, please contact the FIU Athletic Media Relations Office at (305) 348-6666. We ask that the following policies and procedures are abided by while covering the Golden Panthers. These are for the benefit of your needs and those of our student-athletes and coaches.
The Athletic Media Relations Office is located on the second floor of US Century Bank Arena in Room 211. Enter the building through the southeast entrance and our office is at the top of the stairs
F I U MEDIA O U TL ETS P R IN T
BRIAN GOLDMAN Associate Director Media Relations Office: (305) 348-1496 Cell: (412) 897-0760 E-mail: bgoldman@fiu.edu
WLTV (Channel 23, Univision) 9405 NW 41 Street, Miami, FL 33178 Phone: (954) 622-6350 Fax: (305) 471-4236 WSCV (Channel 51, Telemundo) 15000 SW 27 Street, Miramar, FL 33027 Phone: (954) 622-6350 Fax: (954) 622-6107
RA DIO 790—The Ticket (790 AM) 20450 NW 2 Avenue, Miami, FL 33169 Phone: (954) 622-6350 Fax: (305) 652-5385 WQAM (560 AM) 20295 NW 2 Street, Miami, FL 33169 Phone: (305) 651-8272 Fax (305) 650-0181 WRGP (95.3 FM) FIU University Park, Miami, Fla. 33199 Phone: (305) 348-307 Fax (305) 348-6665
WIRE SERVICE Associated Press 9100 NW 36 Street, Suite 104, Miami, FL 33178 Phone: (305) 594-5825 Fax: (305) 594-9265
Media credentials are limited to working print and electronic media representatives and others whose duties make necessary the use of press row. Only authorized personnel will be admitted to press row and go on the University Park Field following games. Photography credentials are also available upon request. NO PHOTOGRAPHERS WILL BE PERMITTED TO SHOOT ON THE FIELD WHILE THE GAME IS BEING PLAYED. Radio broadcast requests must be in writing and forwarded to Associate Director Evan Koch at least three weeks in advance. Because of space limitations, visiting broadcast crews will be limited to two people. FIU will provide one business telephone line free of charge for visiting broadcasters. Press Policies: Working space on press row is assigned on a first-come, first-served basis. Credentials will be issued according to the following criteria: 1.) Local and state newspapers by circulation, wire services, national publications, newspapers from opponents’ area and student newspapers from FIU and opponents’ schools; 2.) Other daily newspapers with preference to those that regularly cover FIU;
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BRETT RYBAK Media Relations Intern Office: (305) 348-6024 E-mail: brybak@fiu.edu
STEVEN SCHOON Media Relations Intern Office: (305) 348-2084 E-mail: sschoon@fiu.edu
3.) Radio and television personnel not broadcasting but considered reporting; 4.) Non-daily newspapers, with preference to those that regularly cover FIU; 5.) Scouts. Freelance and/or non-daily writers may be asked to produce copies of actual publications in which their work has appeared. In some cases, these materials will be requested as verification of a writer’s status.
Interviews with FIU student-athletes are encouraged, but must be arranged through the Athletic Media Relations office at (305) 3486666. Players will not be available on game days until the conclusion of games. After a brief NCAA-prescribed postgame cooling-off period, head coach Turtle Thomas will be made available to the media in a designated interview area, usually in the dugout or on the field. Requested FIU players will be brought outside the locker room for postgame comments. THE FIU LOCKER AND ATHLETIC TRAINING ROOMS ARE OFF LIMITS TO EVERYONE EXCEPT TEAM PERSONNEL. Interviews during the week with Coach Thomas and any players should be arranged through the FIU Athletic Media Relations Office. Generally, interviews will be conducted immediately before or after practices. Press guides, rosters, fact sheets and cumulative statistics will be distributed prior to each game.
Wireless Access: University Park Stadium is a wireless facility. Please contact Iván Irizarry for more information.