Post by FIUPride on Jul 31, 2004 2:57:33 GMT -5
It's official folks, heres the info:
Friday, July 30, 2004
NCAA Approves FIU’s Division I-A Football Application
Florida International University received written notification from the NCAA this week that the university’s application for Division I-A football status has been approved.
The Golden Panthers will now begin a two-year reclassification period where FIU must comply with all applicable I-A membership criteria, which includes averaging 15,000 in actual attendance, awarding 200 full athletic scholarships (at least 76 in football) and fielding 16 intercollegiate sports teams.
The condition of having five I-A home games on the schedule will be waived during the first year of reclassification, while the attendance requirement is currently under review, with implementation time and penalties still being debated by the NCAA board of directors.
“Obviously I am very pleased with the news from the NCAA,” said FIU Athletic Director Rick Mello. “Even though we’ve made a rapid move to I-A, I believe the university has been very engaged in the process and thoughtful in its approach from a financial standpoint and otherwise. I’m just looking forward to a successful two years of transition and joining the Sun Belt Conference.”
The 2004 FIU schedule, which begins Thursday, Sept. 2 at home with a statewide television contest against Jacksonville, includes three I-A programs, all from the Sun Belt Conference, and four I-AA schools who finished last season ranked among the Top-25 nationally.
Plans call for the Golden Panthers to play a full slate of Sun Belt Conference games in 2005 and be a I-A bowl eligible league member in 2006. In football, the Sun Belt is one of only 11 conferences to sponsor football at the I-A level.
Current SBC football institutions include Arkansas State, the University of Idaho, the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, the University of Louisiana at Monroe, Middle Tennessee State University, New Mexico State University, the University of North Texas, Troy University and Utah State University, with FIU and Florida Atlantic becoming football members in 2005.
Season tickets for the 2004 home slate are now on sale. For information, call the FIU Athletic Ticket Office toll free at (866) FIU-GAME or (305) 348-4263 in Miami-Dade County.
Friday, July 30, 2004
NCAA Approves FIU’s Division I-A Football Application
Florida International University received written notification from the NCAA this week that the university’s application for Division I-A football status has been approved.
The Golden Panthers will now begin a two-year reclassification period where FIU must comply with all applicable I-A membership criteria, which includes averaging 15,000 in actual attendance, awarding 200 full athletic scholarships (at least 76 in football) and fielding 16 intercollegiate sports teams.
The condition of having five I-A home games on the schedule will be waived during the first year of reclassification, while the attendance requirement is currently under review, with implementation time and penalties still being debated by the NCAA board of directors.
“Obviously I am very pleased with the news from the NCAA,” said FIU Athletic Director Rick Mello. “Even though we’ve made a rapid move to I-A, I believe the university has been very engaged in the process and thoughtful in its approach from a financial standpoint and otherwise. I’m just looking forward to a successful two years of transition and joining the Sun Belt Conference.”
The 2004 FIU schedule, which begins Thursday, Sept. 2 at home with a statewide television contest against Jacksonville, includes three I-A programs, all from the Sun Belt Conference, and four I-AA schools who finished last season ranked among the Top-25 nationally.
Plans call for the Golden Panthers to play a full slate of Sun Belt Conference games in 2005 and be a I-A bowl eligible league member in 2006. In football, the Sun Belt is one of only 11 conferences to sponsor football at the I-A level.
Current SBC football institutions include Arkansas State, the University of Idaho, the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, the University of Louisiana at Monroe, Middle Tennessee State University, New Mexico State University, the University of North Texas, Troy University and Utah State University, with FIU and Florida Atlantic becoming football members in 2005.
Season tickets for the 2004 home slate are now on sale. For information, call the FIU Athletic Ticket Office toll free at (866) FIU-GAME or (305) 348-4263 in Miami-Dade County.
BLUE & GOLD