FIU special teams coach had deep connection with victims of Virginia shooting

Walter Villa

FIU’s football team will play Saturday’s game at Texas-El Paso with a heavy heart.

Following the murder of three University of Virginia football players, FIU coach Mike MacIntyre started his weekly press conference on Tuesday with his condolences.

FIU has a deep connection to the Virginia massacre that claimed the lives of Lave Davis Jr., Devin Chandler and Miami’s D’Sean Perry, who played at Gulliver Prep.

MacIntyre’s special teams coach, Ricky Brumfield, served in the same capacity at Virginia the past four years, and he knew the victims well. His son, FIU defensive back Ryan Brumfield, also knew the Virginia players.

“There aren’t any words that can express what has happened at Virginia,” MacIntyre said. “Our team is praying for them. It’s a tough situation.”

This is the second time this season that tragedy has struck at or near the FIU football family. In August, FIU linebacker Luke Knox died. No cause of death has been released.

“We had a situation at the beginning of the year that happened to us,” said MacIntyre, referencing Knox. “We’re extremely understanding of what (Virginia’s) going through.”

FIU special teams coach Ricky Brumfield previously coached at Virginia and had a deep connection to the victims of the Virginia shooting that claimed the lives of three students including former Gulliver Prep star D’Sean Perry.
FIU special teams coach Ricky Brumfield previously coached at Virginia and had a deep connection to the victims of the Virginia shooting that claimed the lives of three students including former Gulliver Prep star D’Sean Perry.

Unlike Virginia – which has understandably cancelled its game against Coastal Carolina – FIU will play the UTEP Miners on Saturday at 4 p.m. Both teams are 4-6 overall and 2-4 in Conference USA.

FIU beat visiting UTEP, 32-17, the last time the teams played each other, which was in 2019.

UTEP, 3-2 at home this season, will enter Saturday on a two-game losing streak.

However, UTEP beat Florida Atlantic 24-21 on Oct. 22. For perspective, FIU lost 52-7 to Florida Atlantic last week.

Then again, FIU beat Louisiana Tech, 42-34, in double overtime. UTEP lost to Louisiana Tech, 41-31.

UTEP has been listed as a 14-point favorite over FIU, which needs to win both its remaining regular-season games to become bowl eligible.

THIS AND THAT

▪ MacIntyre said FIU’s lack of depth has shown at several spots: offensive line, wide receiver, defensive back and special teams.

▪ FIU is 1-4 this season against quarterbacks who are in at least their fourth collegiate season. On Saturday, FIU will face fourth-year QB Gavin Hardison, who has started 30 college games. FIU second-year QB Grayson James has started just nine games.

▪ Hardison set a school single-season record last year with 3,218 passing yards. But he has been intercepted 21 times the past two seasons, including eight this year. Hardison has also completed just 53.3 percent of his passes for his career, 52.1 this year.

▪ MacIntyre said UTEP defensive end Jadrian Taylor is “probably the best pass-rusher in our league.” Taylor has eight sacks. UTEP also has linebacker Cal Wallerstedt, who has 6½ sacks and leads the team with 11 tackles for losses.

▪ UTEP’s Gavin Baechle is one of 20 kickers named Lou Groza Award semifinalists. Baechle leads the nation with 20 field goals, including his walk-off 27-yarder in a 27-24 victory over FAU on Oct. 22. He has also made 20 straight field goals, including a 54-yarder against Oklahoma.

▪ It will be Senior Day for UTEP, and MacIntyre said the Miners have “a lot of older guys” on their roster.

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