FIU coach Mike MacIntyre’s team reminds him of San Jose State 10 years ago
Eight days, three games, three states.
That’s the daunting schedule for FIU football coach Mike MacIntyre.
His journey began on Friday, when host FIU beat Louisiana Tech, 42-34, in double overtime.
On Saturday morning, MacIntyre flew to California to watch his former team, San Jose State, defeat Nevada in a game played later that evening. MacIntyre was invited to San Jose for the 10-year reunion of the 2012 team he coached to an 11-2 record.
MacIntyre, who flew back to Miami on Sunday, will travel with his FIU squad this week as they get set to visit North Texas (5-4, 4-1) at 4 p.m. Saturday for a Conference USA game.
Following the win over Louisiana Tech, MacIntyre was moved to tears as he told his current players about the San Jose State trip.
“I can’t wait to tell them about you guys,” MacIntyre told them.
There are similarities between the two teams -- or at least it is possibly trending that way.
At San Jose State, MacIntyre inherited a 2-10 team. Three years later, they went 11-2 for their most wins in 72 years.
“I’m going to meet with a group of guys that 10 years ago saved the program,” MacIntyre said prior to his trip. “They were going to drop football (at San Jose) when I got there – a bunch of people told me that.
“(The San Jose State players) remind me so much of these guys (at FIU).”
Indeed, MacIntyre inherited a 1-11 FIU team, and his squad has already exceeded expectations with a 4-4 record overall, including 2-2 in Conference USA.
In fact, FIU has the same overall and league records as its inner-city rivals, the Miami Hurricanes.
But while the Canes entered the season as a top-15 team, failing to deliver to that standard, FIU has overachieved, especially with its current two-game win streak.
North Texas, though, will provide a major test for FIU. The Mean Green threw the ball just 12 times against FIU last year, but they still managed to rout the Panthers, 49-7.
That’s because North Texas finished fifth in the nation in rushing last season, averaging 233.5 yards.
Several stars from North Texas’ win over FIU have returned this season, including running backs Ikaika Ragsdale and Ayo Adeyi; wide receiver Roderic Burns; and quarterback Austin Aune.
Ragsdale rushed 19 times for 102 yards, a 5.4 average and one touchdown against FIU. Adeyi rushed nine times for 81 yards and a 9.0 average.
Burns caught three passes for 106 yards and one touchdown. And Aune completed 6-of-12 passes for 219 yards, two touchdowns, no sacks and no interceptions.
As for his trip to San Jose, MacIntyre said he’s glad he went.
“I got to see a lot of former players and coaches,” he said. “It was an exciting day – a lot of great memories.”
THIS AND THAT
▪ FIU is 0-2 this season against teams from Texas, home state of quarterback Grayson James.
▪ Aune presents quite a contrast from James, who is just 19 years old. Aune, a former pro baseball player, is 29 and is married and the father of a daughter. Aune is also third in the league in passing yards (233.9). But his nine interceptions rank second-worst in C-USA.
▪ The Mean Green have two of the top-five rushers in C-USA: Adeyi (70.1 yards per game) and Oscar Adaway (64.8).
▪ North Texas has scored at least 40 points three times this season and at least 27 points seven times.
▪ The Mean Green are coming off a 40-13 win over Western Kentucky, the same squad that beat FIU 73-0.
▪ North Texas defensive back Ridge Texada, a transfer from McNeese State, leads C-USA with 17 passes defensed, including three interceptions. North Texas defensive back Logan Wilson is the reigning C-USA Defensive Player of the Week.
