2002 FIU Golden Panthers football team

American college football season February 2026 August 2023 2002 FIU Golden Panthers football Independent 5–6 Don Strock 1st Greg Briner 1st Pro-style 4–3 FIU Stadium none The 2002 FIU Golden Panthers football team represented Florida International University (FIU) as an independent during the 2002 NCAA Division I-AA football season. Led by first-year head coach Don Strock, the Panthers compiled a record of 5–6.Independents The Pantagraph (Bloomington, Illinois) November 26, 2002 B4 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/17528679/independents_2002/ Newspapers.com February 17, 2018 The team played home game at FIU Stadium in Miami. FIU played its first-ever game on August 29, 2002 against 2002 Saint Peter's Peacocks Saint Peter's, winning 27–3. Schedule 2002 NCAA Division I-AA The Sports Network August 29 w 2002 Saint Peter's Peacocks Saint Peter's FIU Stadium Miami, FL 27–3 17,314 September 7 l y Elon Rhodes Stadium Elon, NC 22–23 5,580 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-miami-herald-an-inevitable-first-for/177904687/ The Miami Herald An inevitable first for FIU: taste of defeat September 8, 2002 July 31, 2025 Newspapers.com September 14 w 2002 Butler Bulldogs Butler FIU Stadium Miami, FL 42–0 9,110 September 21 l y Bethune–Cookman 24 Lockhart Stadium Fort Lauderdale, FL 0–31 16,386 Bethune-Cookman 31, FIU 0: B-CC shuts out FIU South Florida Sun Sentinel September 22, 2002 15C https://www.newspapers.com/clip/30129835/bethunecookman_31_fiu_0_bcc_shuts/ Newspapers.com September 28 w Georgetown FIU Stadium Miami, FL 27–2 6,084 FIU's Hot-House Effect; Golden Panthers Wilt Georgetown 27-2 at Home Manny Navarro September 29, 2002 5C The Miami Herald Miami, Fla. Newspapers.com https://www.newspapers.com/clip/60716066/2002-georgetown-fiu/ October 12 l y Western Kentucky L. T. Smith Stadium Bowling Green, KY 7–56 6,000 October 19 l Maine 8 FIU Stadium Miami, FL 7–33 5,303 October 26 l y Gardner–Webb FIU Stadium Miami, FL 14–17 6,733 https://www.newspapers.com/article/south-florida-sun-sentinel-panthers-cha/177901083/ South Florida Sun Sentinel Panthers' chances to win slip away October 27, 2002 July 30, 2025 Newspapers.com October 31 Thursday w Jacksonville FIU Stadium Miami, FL 39–6 5,221 November 9 w 2002 Albany Great Danes Albany FIU Stadium Miami, FL 35–26 4,588 November 23 l y Florida Atlantic Pro Player Stadium Miami Gardens, FL Shula Bowl 21–31 10,224 Florida International Panthers Schedule 2002 https://www.espn.com/college-football/team/schedule/_/id/2229/season/2002 ESPN July 29, 2025 2002 Football Schedule https://fiusports.com/sports/football/schedule/2002 Florida International University Athletics July 29, 2025 Year-By-Year Records FIUsports.com 2015 FIU Football Media Information Guide 143 January 10, 2016 http://www.fiusports.com/documents/2015/7/23//Pages_094_168_2015FBMG_historyandrecords_.pdf?id=1729 PDF Game summaries Saint Peter's FIU Panthers white ;text-align:center; autocollapse Saint Peter's Peacocks at FIU Golden Panthers – Game summary August 29 7:30 p.m. EDT Peacocks 0 0 3 0 Golden Panthers 13 14 0 0 FIU Stadium, Miami, Florida 17,314 Partly cloudy, 83 F C Box score First quarter FIU – Jerrid Lundstedt 5-yard pass from Jamie Burke (Adam Moss kick), 8:18. Golden Panthers 7–0. Drive: 5 plays, 36 yards, 2:54. FIU – Jamie Burke 6-yard run (kick failed), 1:47. Golden Panthers 13–0. Drive: 7 plays, 34 yards, 3:05. Second quarter FIU – Rashod Smith 2-yard run (kick failed), 9:27. Golden Panthers 19–0. Drive: 6 plays, 69 yards, 2:58. FIU – Cory McKinney 52-yard pass from Jamie Burke (Jamie Burke pass to Rashod Smith), 2:31. Golden Panthers 27–0. Drive: 5 plays, 75 yards, 1:32. Third quarter SPC – James Galea 32-yard field goal, 1:51. Golden Panthers 27–3. Drive: 12 plays, 46 yards, 4:33. Fourth quarter No scoring plays Statistics SPCFIU First downs 14 10 Total yards 197 236 Rushing yards 121 69 Passing yards 76 167 Turnovers 3 2 Time of possession 32:31 27:10 Team Category Player StatisticsSaint Peter's Passing Mike Seber 4/10, 48 yards Rushing Derek Clayton 18 rushes, 61 yards Receiving Chris Eckhart 1 reception, 20 yardsFIU Passing Jamie Burke 10/13, 115 yards, 2 TD Rushing Rashod Smith 11 rushes, 45 yards, TD Receiving Cory McKinney 3 receptions, 104 yards, TD At Elon FIU Panthers white ;text-align:center; autocollapse FIU Golden Panthers at Elon Phoenix – Game summary September 7 7:00 p.m. EDT Golden Panthers 7 9 6 0 Phoenix 7 6 7 3 Rhodes Stadium, Elon, North Carolina 5,580 Clear, 79 F C Flemon Williams Box score First quarter FIU – Rashod Smith 6-yard run (Doug Jones kick), 12:27. Golden Panthers 7–0. Drive: 5 plays, 31 yards, 2:20. ELON – Rashaud Palmer 1-yard run (Anthony Turowski kick), 6:48. Tied 7–7. Drive: 10 plays, 74 yards, 5:39. Second quarter FIU – Adam Moss 33-yard field goal, 9:42. Golden Panthers 10–7. Drive: 11 plays, 64 yards, 5:08. FIU – Harold Leath 23-yard pass from David Tabor (kick failed), 8:47. Golden Panthers 16–7. Drive: 3 plays, 27 yards, 0:33. ELON – Rashaud Palmer 1-yard run (kick blocked), 0:40. Golden Panthers 16–13. Drive: 5 plays, 63 yards, 2:00. Third quarter ELON – Arketa Banks 4-yard pass from C. W. Singletary (Anthony Turowski kick), 8:54. Phoenix 20–16. Drive: 6 plays, 25 yards, 2:55. FIU – Harold Leath 68-yard pass from Jamie Burke (kick failed), 6:00. Golden Panthers 22–20. Drive: 6 plays, 86 yards, 2:54. Fourth quarter ELON – Anthony Turowski 23-yard field goal, 2:52. Phoenix 23–22. Drive: 19 plays, 72 yards, 9:26. Statistics FIUELON First downs 14 23 Total yards 335 405 Rushing yards 46 377 Passing yards 289 28 Turnovers 2 5 Time of possession 25:23 34:37 Team Category Player StatisticsFIU Passing Jamie Burke 13/26, 257 yards, TD, INT Rushing Rashod Smith 17 rushes, 81 yards, TD Receiving Harold Leath 4 receptions, 141 yards, 2 TDElon Passing C. W. Singletary 4/9, 28 yards, TD, INT Rushing Rashaud Palmer 20 rushes, 94 yards, 2 TD Receiving Arketa Banks 2 receptions, 10 yards, TD Butler FIU Panthers white ;text-align:center; autocollapse Butler Bulldogs at FIU Golden Panthers – Game summary September 14 3:30 p.m. EDT Bulldogs 0 0 0 0 Golden Panthers 21 14 7 0 FIU Stadium, Miami, Florida 9,110 Humid and sunny, 87 F C J. Rider Box score First quarter FIU – Rashod Smith 25-yard run (Adam Moss kick), 14:12. Golden Panthers 7–0. Drive: 2 plays, 50 yards, 0:48. FIU – Julius Eppinger 23-yard pass from Jamie Burke (Adam Moss kick), 13:53. Golden Panthers 14–0. Drive: 1 play, 23 yards, 0:19. FIU – Rashod Smith 39-yard run (Adam Moss kick), 8:24. Golden Panthers 21–0. Drive: 3 plays, 66 yards, 1:38. Second quarter FIU – Cory McKinney 58-yard pass from Jamie Burke (Adam Moss kick), 11:00. Golden Panthers 28–0. Drive: 3 plays, 52 yards, 0:56. FIU – Rashod Smith 16-yard run (Adam Moss kick), 0:47. Golden Panthers 35–0. Drive: 9 plays, 65 yards, 2:47. Third quarter FIU – Harold Leath 9-yard pass from Jamie Burke (Adam Moss kick), 9:37. Golden Panthers 42–0. Drive: 7 plays, 50 yards, 2:10. Fourth quarter No scoring plays Statistics BUTFIU First downs 13 20 Total yards 212 455 Rushing yards 94 197 Passing yards 118 258 Turnovers 3 1 Time of possession 32:35 27:25 Team Category Player StatisticsButler Passing Travis Delph 9/21, 101 yards Rushing Justin Campbell 10 rushes, 65 yards Receiving Adam Lafferty 4 receptions, 56 yardsFIU Passing Jamie Burke 13/19, 258 yards, 3 TD, INT Rushing Rashod Smith 14 rushes, 116 yards, 3 TD Receiving Cory McKinney 4 receptions, 107 yards, TD Vs. No. 24 Bethune–Cookman 2002 Bethune–Cookman Wildcats football team FIU Panthers white ;text-align:center; autocollapse FIU Golden Panthers vs. No. 24 Bethune–Cookman Wildcats – Game summary September 21 5:00 p.m. EDT Golden Panthers 0 0 0 0 No. 24 Wildcats 10 14 0 7 Lockhart Stadium, Fort Lauderdale, Florida 16,386 Hot, 86 F C Preston Harding Box score First quarter BCC – Rodney Johnson 20-yard run (Daniel King kick), 8:18. Wildcats 7–0. Drive: 10 plays, 75 yards, 4:30. BCC – Daniel King 24-yard field goal, 0:05. Wildcats 10–0. Drive: 11 plays, 59 yards, 6:00. Second quarter BCC – Rashean Mathis 26-yard fumble return (Daniel King kick), 14:06. Wildcats 17–0. BCC – Lamont Finnie 3-yard run (Daniel King kick), 0:13. Wildcats 24–0. Drive: 3 plays, 22 yards, 0:17. Third quarter No scoring plays Fourth quarter BCC – Allen Suber 1-yard run (Daniel King kick), 4:37. Wildcats 31–0. Drive: 7 plays, 89 yards, 3:55. Statistics FIUBCC First downs 10 24 Total yards 68 496 Rushing yards -16 317 Passing yards 84 179 Turnovers 4 4 Time of possession 24:38 35:22 Team Category Player StatisticsFIU Passing Jamie Burke 9/18, 84 yards, INT Rushing Rashod Smith 14 rushes, 58 yards Receiving Julius Eppinger 2 receptions, 25 yardsBethune–Cookman Passing Allen Suber 10/15, 179 yards, 2 INT Rushing Rodney Johnson 7 rushes, 80 yards, TD Receiving Unri Thomas 1 reception, 74 yards Georgetown 2002 Georgetown Hoyas football team FIU Panthers white ;text-align:center; autocollapse Georgetown Hoyas at FIU Golden Panthers – Game summary September 28 1:00 p.m. EDT Hoyas 2 0 0 0 Golden Panthers 6 21 0 0 FIU Stadium, Miami, Florida 6,084 Partly cloudy, 90 F C A. Riveron Box score First quarter GU – Doug Jones blocked punt out of own end zone, 13:14. Hoyas 2–0. FIU – Adam Gorman 17-yard pass from Jamie Burke (kick blocked), 2:34. Panthers 6–2. Drive: 11 plays, 59 yards, 4:55. Second quarter FIU – Joe Struyf 38-yard pass from Jamie Burke (Adam Moss kick), 13:04. Panthers 13–2. Drive: 4 plays, 73 yards, 1:56. FIU – Rashod Smith 28-yard run (Adam Moss kick), 7:23. Panthers 20–2. Drive: 5 plays, 38 yards, 3:10. FIU – Cory McKinney 39-yard pass from David Tabor (Adam Moss kick), 0:38. Panthers 27–2. Drive: 6 plays, 58 yards, 2:20. Third quarter No scoring plays Fourth quarter No scoring plays Statistics GUFIU First downs 12 19 Total yards 196 433 Rushing yards 76 210 Passing yards 120 223 Turnovers 1 0 Time of possession 27:07 32:53 Team Category Player StatisticsGeorgetown Passing Andre Crawford 9/21, 120 yards Rushing William Huisking 7 rushes, 33 yards Receiving Walter Bowser 4 receptions, 61 yardsFIU Passing Jamie Burke 8/11, 126 yards, 2 TD Rushing Rashod Smith 8 rushes, 76 yards, TD Receiving Cory McKinney 3 receptions, 76 yards, TD At Western Kentucky 2002 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers football team FIU Panthers white ;text-align:center; autocollapse FIU Golden Panthers at Western Kentucky Hilltoppers – Game summary October 12 5:30 p.m. EDT/4:30 p.m. CDT Golden Panthers 0 0 0 7 Hilltoppers 21 21 0 14 L. T. Smith Stadium, Bowling Green, Kentucky 6,000 77 F C Bill Etzler Box score First quarter WKU – Jason Michael 7-yard run (Peter Martinez kick), 9:53. Hilltoppers 7–0. Drive: 8 plays, 48 yards, 3:13. WKU – Jon Frazier 3-yard run (Peter Martinez kick), 7:10. Hilltoppers 14–0. Drive: 4 plays, 45 yards, 1:48. WKU – Jason Michael 8-yard run (Peter Martinez kick), 1:59. Hilltoppers 21–0. Drive: 6 plays, 42 yards, 2:58. Second quarter WKU – Jerome Reaves 25-yard pass from Jason Michael (Peter Martinez kick), 10:53. Hilltoppers 28–0. Drive: 7 plays, 50 yards, 3:40. WKU – Jason Michael 1-yard run (Peter Martinez kick), 7:18. Hilltoppers 35–0. Drive: 7 plays, 49 yards, 3:21. WKU – Patrick Reynolds 1-yard fumble return (Peter Martinez kick), 5:42. Hilltoppers 42–0. Third quarter No scoring plays Fourth quarter WKU – Maurice Bradley 3-yard run (Wilson Wickerham kick), 13:45. Hilltoppers 49–0. Drive: 9 plays, 80 yards, 4:23. FIU – Cory McKinney 2-yard pass from David Tabor (Adam Moss kick), 11:02. Hilltoppers 49–7. Drive: 3 plays, 2 yards, 0:49. WKU – Alex Dukes 1-yard run (Matt Lange kick), 3:19. Hilltoppers 56–7. Drive: 13 plays, 69 yards, 7:43. Statistics FIUWKU First downs 7 28 Total yards 65 498 Rushing yards -7 401 Passing yards 72 97 Turnovers 5 3 Time of possession 23:13 36:47 Team Category Player StatisticsFIU Passing Jamie Burke 5/14, 75 yards, 4 INT Rushing Rashod Smith 6 rushes, 21 yards Receiving Harold Leath 2 receptions, 38 yardsWestern Kentucky Passing Jason Michael 6/10, 97 yards, TD, INT Rushing Jon Frazier 15 rushes, 126 yards, TD Receiving Jeremi Johnson 2 receptions, 45 yards No. 8 Maine 2002 Maine Black Bears football team FIU Panthers white ;text-align:center; autocollapse No. 8 Maine Black Bears at FIU Golden Panthers – Game summary October 19 3:30 p.m. EDT No. 8 Black Bears 3 14 6 10 Golden Panthers 0 0 0 7 FIU Stadium, Miami, Florida 5,303 Sunny, 83 F C Perry Havener Box score First quarter ME – Mike Mellow 41-yard field goal, 4:13. Black Bears 3–0. Drive: 6 plays, 14 yards, 1:00. Second quarter ME – Jake Eaton 1-yard run (Mike Mellow kick), 12:13. Black Bears 10–0. Drive: 7 plays, 74 yards, 2:47. ME – Ryan Waller 4-yard pass from Jake Eaton (Mike Mellow kick), 4:39. Black Bears 17–0. Drive: 7 plays, 48 yards, 3:20. Third quarter ME – Ryan Waller 9-yard pass from Jake Eaton (kick failed), 7:35. Black Bears 23–0. Drive: 7 plays, 54 yards, 4:03. Fourth quarter ME – Marcus Williams 1-yard run (Mike Mellow kick), 8:54. Black Bears 30–0. Drive: 5 plays, 62 yards, 2:05. ME – Mike Mellow 28-yard field goal, 1:40. Black Bears 33–0. Drive: 4 plays, 3 yards, 2:09. FIU – Tori Robinson 1-yard run (Adam Moss kick), 0:12. Black Bears 33–7. Drive: 4 plays, 68 yards, 1:28. Statistics MEFIU First downs 24 10 Total yards 412 209 Rushing yards 218 28 Passing yards 194 181 Turnovers 1 5 Time of possession 32:06 27:54 Team Category Player StatisticsMaine Passing Jake Eaton 18/28, 187 yards, 2 TD Rushing Marcus Williams 22 rushes, 156 yards, TD Receiving Ryan Waller 6 receptions, 66 yards, 2 TDFIU Passing Jamie Burke 9/18, 106 yards, 2 INT Rushing Tori Robinson 5 rushes, 54 yards, TD Receiving Cory McKinney 5 receptions, 111 yards Gardber–Webb FIU Panthers white ;text-align:center; autocollapse Gardner–Webb Runnin' Bulldogs at FIU Golden Panthers – Game summary October 26 3:30 p.m. EDT Runnin' Bulldogs 7 3 0 7 Golden Panthers 0 14 0 0 FIU Stadium, Miami, Florida 6,733 Humid, 88 F C M. Lewis Box score Statistics GWUFIU First downs Total yards Rushing yards Passing yards Turnovers Time of possession Team Category Player StatisticsGardner–Webb Passing Rushing Receiving FIU Passing Rushing Receiving Jacksonville FIU Panthers white ;text-align:center; autocollapse Jacksonville Dolphins at FIU Golden Panthers – Game summary October 31 8:00 p.m. EST Dolphins 0 6 0 0 Golden Panthers 3 10 26 0 FIU Stadium, Miami, Florida 5,221 Partly cloudy, 82 F C A. Riveron Box score Statistics JUFIU First downs Total yards Rushing yards Passing yards Turnovers Time of possession Team Category Player StatisticsJacksonville Passing Rushing Receiving FIU Passing Rushing Receiving Albany FIU Panthers white ;text-align:center; autocollapse Albany Great Danes at FIU Golden Panthers – Game summary November 9 3:30 p.m. EST Great Danes 7 13 0 6 Golden Panthers 0 0 28 7 FIU Stadium, Miami, Florida 4,588 Partly cloudy, 85 F C S. Frederickson Box score Statistics ALBFIU First downs Total yards Rushing yards Passing yards Turnovers Time of possession Team Category Player StatisticsAlbany Passing Rushing Receiving FIU Passing Rushing Receiving At Florida Atlantic 2002 Florida Atlantic Owls football team FIU Panthers white ;text-align:center; autocollapse FIU Golden Panthers at Florida Atlantic Owls – Game summary November 23 3:00 p.m. EST Golden Panthers 0 2 6 13 Owls 7 14 3 7 Pro Player Stadium, Miami Gardens, Florida 10,224 Sunny and mild, 73 F C A. Riveron Box score Statistics FIUFAU First downs Total yards Rushing yards Passing yards Turnovers Time of possession Team Category Player StatisticsFIU Passing Rushing Receiving Florida Atlantic Passing Rushing Receiving Roster 2002 FIU Golden Panthers y Everett Mitchell 2 WR Fr y Rashod Smith 4 RB So y Tori Robinson 6 RB Fr y Harold Leath 9 WR So y David Tabor 10 QB Fr y Jamie Burke 13 QB Fr Titorian Freeman 15 WR Fr Josh Padrick 16 QB Fr Rod Baldwin 17 WR Fr Bill Grant 26 RB Fr Adam Radno 32 FB Fr Aston Wilson 34 RB So O. J. Price 35 RB Jr y Diamos Demerritt 36 RB Fr y Jerrid Lundstedt 38 RB Jr y Adam Gorman 44 RB Fr y Ed Wenger 50 OL Fr y Ronny Silva 61 OL Fr Carlos Ruiz 62 OL So y Patrick Lewin 63 OL Fr y Patrick Mullen 66 OL Fr Larry Leon 69 OL Fr y Glen Fox 70 OL Fr Ali Samara 71 OL Fr y John Shanahan 72 OL Fr Josh Gravitt 73 OL Fr Victor Cernius 75 C Fr y Tim Dierks 76 OL Fr Danny O'Neal 78 OL Fr Matt Mathews 79 OL Fr Andre Rollins 80 WR Fr y Joe Struyf 81 TE Fr y Ernesto Guevara 82 WR Jr Julius Eppinger 83 WR Fr Dan Landrau 84 WR Fr Edwin Pierre 85 TE Fr y Cory McKinney 86 WR Fr y Lagrant Perry 87 WR Fr Dannon Monroe 88 TE So y Lenorris Hester 89 WR Fr y Ed Leverenz 90 TE Fr Randy Arnold 1 DB Fr Gerrod Bodie 5 DB Fr y Greg Moss 8 DB So y Jermell Weaver 11 LB Jr y Gentry Jackson 18 DB Fr Nick Turnbull 21 DB Fr y Kris Thomas 22 DB Fr y T. J. Singletary 24 LB Fr y Travis Brown 25 DB Fr Kevin Timothee 27 DB So y Everett Baker 28 DB Fr Terran Bell 29 DB Fr y John Haritan 31 DB Fr y Matt Castillo 37 DB Fr y James Knapp 42 DB Fr y Lance Preston 43 LB Fr y Kyle Salas 45 LB Fr y James Black 46 LB Fr Geurby Mertil 48 LB Jr y Marquis Manuel 49 LB Fr John Kelly 52 LB Fr y Jonathan Sturrup 53 LB Fr y Ethan Cherasia 54 LB Fr y Shaun Dudney 55 LB Fr y Dane Ireson 56 LB Fr y Terrence Allen 58 DL Fr George Gonzalez 59 DL Fr y Brandon Higdon 64 DL Fr Nick Carreño 77 DL Fr y Grant Moule 91 DE Fr y Josh Alexander 92 DL Fr y Daunte Foster 93 DE So y Chris Horne 97 DL Fr y Ira Turner 98 DL So y Payton Williams 99 DE Fr y Doug Jones 7 P So y Adam Moss 14 K Fr y https://fiusports.com/sports/football/roster/2002 September 2, 2024 Don Strock Greg BrinerOffensive coordinator/Quarterbacks References FIU Category:FIU Panthers football seasons FIU Golden Panthers football