(06-12-2013 11:27 AM)49erlew Wrote:  

(06-11-2013 05:53 PM)workingodu Wrote:  Fiu panther let's not use nsu as a benchmark. They too are in trouble.

I guess this is why the big push for jmu. If fiu goes down jmu can move in. Don't like that but it would make sense.

I'd love to see JMU get in, for the purely selfish reason that they'd be the closest C-USA school to me. Same for Delaware.

I'll never get the rationale behind adding both FIU and FAU. To me, FAU is and was light years ahead of FIU in terms of facilities and stature, and there's no way C-USA didn't know about this mess. Every other school that C-USA has added has made sense, but FIU is still a head scratcher to me.

I think FIU is an excellent addiction to CUSA, as well as all other additions.

As long as FIU gets its affairs in order and turns the page on this to meet NCAA standards, they will continue to be a quality contribution to the league.

With that said, I think CUSA very much wanted to get the Sun Belt Conference out of the state of Florida. It was a smart strategic move IMO.

(06-12-2013 11:27 AM)49erlew Wrote:  

(06-11-2013 05:53 PM)workingodu Wrote:  Fiu panther let's not use nsu as a benchmark. They too are in trouble.

I guess this is why the big push for jmu. If fiu goes down jmu can move in. Don't like that but it would make sense.

I'd love to see JMU get in, for the purely selfish reason that they'd be the closest C-USA school to me. Same for Delaware.

I'll never get the rationale behind adding both FIU and FAU. To me, FAU is and was light years ahead of FIU in terms of facilities and stature, and there's no way C-USA didn't know about this mess. Every other school that C-USA has added has made sense, but FIU is still a head scratcher to me.

They realized they made a mistake and did a 360 and started invited well respected athletic programs that get it done on the field and in the classroom like WKU that is not based on a myth of people caring in Miami and the number of TV sets they have turned on...My prediction is FIU will be back in Sun Belt in 4 years..

Did you send Tulsa a fruit basket. They're the only reason you are in C-USA. My prediction, farm animals beware, wku is coming to town.

(06-12-2013 11:36 AM)WKUFan518 Wrote:  

(06-12-2013 11:27 AM)49erlew Wrote:  

(06-11-2013 05:53 PM)workingodu Wrote:  Fiu panther let's not use nsu as a benchmark. They too are in trouble.

I guess this is why the big push for jmu. If fiu goes down jmu can move in. Don't like that but it would make sense.

I'd love to see JMU get in, for the purely selfish reason that they'd be the closest C-USA school to me. Same for Delaware.

I'll never get the rationale behind adding both FIU and FAU. To me, FAU is and was light years ahead of FIU in terms of facilities and stature, and there's no way C-USA didn't know about this mess. Every other school that C-USA has added has made sense, but FIU is still a head scratcher to me.

They realized they made a mistake and did a 360 and started invited well respected athletic programs that get it done on the field and in the classroom like WKU that is not based on a myth of people caring in Miami and the number of TV sets they have turned on...My prediction is FIU will be back in Sun Belt in 4 years..

HERALD ARTICLE

FIU basketball receives ban for poor academics

BY DAVID J. NEAL
DNEAL@MIAMIHERALD.COM

FIU men’s basketball’s first season in Conference USA will end with the regular season after the NCAA officially banned the team from 2013-14 postseason play because of a low multiyear academic progress rate.

The NCAA also put a limit on the men’s basketball team’s activity time to five days and 16 hours. New FIU coach Anthony Evans worked under similar limitations at Norfolk State and produced a 26-win season while turning around the APR.

The Tuesday announcement had been anticipated at FIU for more than a year. Indeed, in last week’s meeting of the Board of Trustees athletic committee, FIU athletic director Pete Garcia told the committee the school definitely would receive such a ban and needed to correct academic shortcomings before football suffered a bowl ban and $300,000 assessment.

The NCAA can deliver the ban if the four-year APR is under 900 or the two-year APR is under 930. The APRs announced Tuesday represent the 2008 to 2012 academic years. Along with eight wins, an 833 2010-11 single-season APR prompted the firing of Isiah Thomas in April 2012.

Transfers and more academic stumbles in the wake of Thomas’ firing led to the 2011-12 single season APR plunging even further to 750. FIU’s four-year APR was 858.

At last week’s committee meeting, Garcia and Student-Athlete Academic Center director Phil Moses said better technology and more staff at the SAAC would help turn around academic issues facing men’s basketball and football. Football has a 930 multi-year APR, but had a poor 2012-13 year.

No such issues besmirch swimming and diving and tennis. Multiyear APRs of 986 and 992, respectively, led all FIU teams.

Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/2013/06/12/34...rylink=cpy

(06-12-2013 11:33 AM)paintedblue Wrote:  Have any thoughts, or responses from incoming Coach Evans regarding academics in general, or this story specifically, been reported locally?

(06-12-2013 11:43 AM)FIU Panther Fan Wrote:  Did you send Tulsa a fruit basket. They're the only reason you are in C-USA. My prediction, farm animals beware, wku is coming to town.

(06-12-2013 11:36 AM)WKUFan518 Wrote:  

(06-12-2013 11:27 AM)49erlew Wrote:  

(06-11-2013 05:53 PM)workingodu Wrote:  Fiu panther let's not use nsu as a benchmark. They too are in trouble.

I guess this is why the big push for jmu. If fiu goes down jmu can move in. Don't like that but it would make sense.

I'd love to see JMU get in, for the purely selfish reason that they'd be the closest C-USA school to me. Same for Delaware.

I'll never get the rationale behind adding both FIU and FAU. To me, FAU is and was light years ahead of FIU in terms of facilities and stature, and there's no way C-USA didn't know about this mess. Every other school that C-USA has added has made sense, but FIU is still a head scratcher to me.

They realized they made a mistake and did a 360 and started invited well respected athletic programs that get it done on the field and in the classroom like WKU that is not based on a myth of people caring in Miami and the number of TV sets they have turned on...My prediction is FIU will be back in Sun Belt in 4 years..

FACTS: FIU needs to clean up this mess and do it ASAP. No excuses, no blames, no denials just results. They aren't the first C-USA to have a poor academic record in this conference's history (Louisville was once known as being extremely uncaring of it's academic portion in sports, but have since improved and turn up in the ACC since) and won't be the last.

My advice just admit to it and don't try to make excuses, or come up with some attack because in this only FIU is responsible and should have pride and integrity enough to address it. I am also aware Southern Univ. has claimed the standards are unfair, but the fact is it is the one you have to live by and so all schools must find a way to meet or excel the standards.

USM had a mixed bag with the golf program at near to perfect scores, while the basketball was not impressive. Football seem to be below what USM normally does, but not below the national average in anything from my understanding. I am not pleased with that and hope we can improve on the weaker areas, and under our new President and coach, I do expect better results. I blame no other school and only USM for not being better although, once again, USM met the national average.

Thanks FIU Panther Fan.

Facts: read post 58 on this thread to see how I feel about the APR issue. There are no excuses. However, if anyone else wants to veer away from that issue to others then I will gladly do the same.

....Reading is fundamental, not just to the FIU Men's Basketball Team....

(06-12-2013 12:08 PM)SgtGoldenEagle Wrote:  

(06-12-2013 11:43 AM)FIU Panther Fan Wrote:  Did you send Tulsa a fruit basket. They're the only reason you are in C-USA. My prediction, farm animals beware, wku is coming to town.

(06-12-2013 11:36 AM)WKUFan518 Wrote:  

(06-12-2013 11:27 AM)49erlew Wrote:  

(06-11-2013 05:53 PM)workingodu Wrote:  Fiu panther let's not use nsu as a benchmark. They too are in trouble.

I guess this is why the big push for jmu. If fiu goes down jmu can move in. Don't like that but it would make sense.

I'd love to see JMU get in, for the purely selfish reason that they'd be the closest C-USA school to me. Same for Delaware.

I'll never get the rationale behind adding both FIU and FAU. To me, FAU is and was light years ahead of FIU in terms of facilities and stature, and there's no way C-USA didn't know about this mess. Every other school that C-USA has added has made sense, but FIU is still a head scratcher to me.

They realized they made a mistake and did a 360 and started invited well respected athletic programs that get it done on the field and in the classroom like WKU that is not based on a myth of people caring in Miami and the number of TV sets they have turned on...My prediction is FIU will be back in Sun Belt in 4 years..

FACTS: FIU needs to clean up this mess and do it ASAP. No excuses, no blames, no denials just results. They aren't the first C-USA to have a poor academic record in this conference's history (Louisville was once known as being extremely uncaring of it's academic portion in sports, but have since improved and turn up in the ACC since) and won't be the last.

My advice just admit to it and don't try to make excuses, or come up with some attack because in this only FIU is responsible and should have pride and integrity enough to address it. I am also aware Southern Univ. has claimed the standards are unfair, but the fact is it is the one you have to live by and so all schools must find a way to meet or excel the standards.

USM had a mixed bag with the golf program at near to perfect scores, while the basketball was not impressive. Football seem to be below what USM normally does, but not below the national average in anything from my understanding. I am not pleased with that and hope we can improve on the weaker areas, and under our new President and coach, I do expect better results. I blame no other school and only USM for not being better although, once again, USM met the national average.

No problem...here is what Coach Evans expects for next season...spoiler (not pretty for us)....

FIU basketball coach Anthony Evans faces many obstacles in first season
BY WALTER VILLA
SPECIAL TO THE MIAMI HERALD

New FIU men’s basketball coach Anthony Evans is asking Panthers fans for at least one year’s worth of patience, and that’s understandable given the obstacles he is facing.

For starters, the team is ineligible for the postseason in 2014 because of poor academic progress made under former coach Isiah Thomas. FIU is waiting for the NCAA to release its latest Academic Progress Report before that becomes official.

FIU is also moving up in class next season from the Sun Belt to Conference USA.

In addition, when previous FIU coach Richard Pitino bolted after just one year, the Panthers lost at least six players they had been counting on for 2013-14.

Three of those players ended up at major-conference schools.

Guard Malik Smith, who led FIU in three-pointers (96) and was second in scoring (14.1), followed Pitino to the University of Minnesota.

Daquein McNeil, a 6-3 shooting guard from Baltimore who has been compared to former Miami Hurricanes star Jack McClinton, signed with FIU in the fall but asked for his release after Pitino resigned. He also ended up at Minnesota.

Another former FIU recruit, 6-8 forward Jonathan Holton, signed to play for coach Bob Huggins at West Virginia. Holton was ranked No. 13 among the nation’s top junior-college transfers.

Jaquan Lynch, a 6-0 point guard from New York City, also signed with FIU but then backed out. He may end up at a junior college.

“They asked for their release when I got here,” Evans said of the recruits. “They were not kids I had recruited, and I wanted to honor that.”

As for other departures, FIU lost sophomore guards Deric Hill and Juan Ferrales both transferred to Division II Barry University. Hill started 15 games and led the team in assists (105) and steals (75). Ferrales started just once, but led the team in three-point percentage (.383).

Graduation took three role players: Cameron Bell, who started seven games and averaged 8.9 points; Tola Akomolafe, who started 22 games and averaged 4.4 points; and Gaby Belardo, who started 12 games and averaged 4.1 points.

Evans, who was hired away from Norfolk State on April 16, was brought in too late to get much done for the 2013 recruiting class.

But he did sign one player he had recruited while at Norfolk State — 6-10 freshman forward Daniel Robinson from Chesapeake, Va.

“He’s a shot-blocker with long arms who will be very disruptive in the back of our press,” Evans said.

FIU also returns 6-5 senior forward Tymell Murphy, who led the team in scoring (14.6) and rebounding (6.8), and 6-6 sophomore forward Jerome Frink, who was third in scoring (10.2) and second on the boards (6.2).

The Panthers have a ready-made point guard in 5-6 senior Ray Taylor, who starred at Florida Atlantic University and sat out last season as a transfer.

(06-12-2013 12:25 PM)paintedblue Wrote:  Thanks FIU Panther Fan.

(06-12-2013 11:27 AM)49erlew Wrote:  

(06-11-2013 05:53 PM)workingodu Wrote:  Fiu panther let's not use nsu as a benchmark. They too are in trouble.

I guess this is why the big push for jmu. If fiu goes down jmu can move in. Don't like that but it would make sense.

I'd love to see JMU get in, for the purely selfish reason that they'd be the closest C-USA school to me. Same for Delaware.

I'll never get the rationale behind adding both FIU and FAU. To me, FAU is and was light years ahead of FIU in terms of facilities and stature, and there's no way C-USA didn't know about this mess. Every other school that C-USA has added has made sense, but FIU is still a head scratcher to me.

I dont think JMU would be CUSA's first choice of an FCS school. If any FCS school would be considered I would have to think it would be Delaware.

DAMMIT, QUIT THAT SH!T FIU Panther Fan. LRN HOW 2 THRD POST

(06-12-2013 11:36 AM)WKUFan518 Wrote:  

(06-12-2013 11:27 AM)49erlew Wrote:  

(06-11-2013 05:53 PM)workingodu Wrote:  Fiu panther let's not use nsu as a benchmark. They too are in trouble.

I guess this is why the big push for jmu. If fiu goes down jmu can move in. Don't like that but it would make sense.

I'd love to see JMU get in, for the purely selfish reason that they'd be the closest C-USA school to me. Same for Delaware.

I'll never get the rationale behind adding both FIU and FAU. To me, FAU is and was light years ahead of FIU in terms of facilities and stature, and there's no way C-USA didn't know about this mess. Every other school that C-USA has added has made sense, but FIU is still a head scratcher to me.

They realized they made a mistake and did a 360 and started invited well respected athletic programs that get it done on the field and in the classroom like WKU that is not based on a myth of people caring in Miami and the number of TV sets they have turned on...My prediction is FIU will be back in Sun Belt in 4 years..

You do know this is not the English league? There are no automatic promotions and relegation.

Although it must have hurt like hell to watch two young Florida programs and a bunch of start ups get an invited before big red.

Remember to send Tulsa that thank you gift card.

Ragin Cajun 2011-2012 All sports scores:
avg 967.3125
Min 945
Max 994
Growing Market loaded with capital, $114MM Sports facility plan with phase 1 and 2 funded, Campus wide $100MM + academics facility improvements already under way and almost finished. Football team on the rise on the field and in the stands, baseball team back to excellence with a consistant top 20 attendence , softball team lives in the top 10 to 20 year after year in an already new facility that rivals big conferences. Tennis, Track, soccer and volleyball on the rise. Basketball finding its player mix but great kids in the classroom. Growing enrollment with increased admissions standards. And a large traveling fan base....

Would love to see USM, LaTech back on our regular schedule. Just saying.. (yes I'm pandering but what the heck)

(06-12-2013 12:57 PM)FIU4Ever Wrote:  

(06-12-2013 11:36 AM)WKUFan518 Wrote:  

(06-12-2013 11:27 AM)49erlew Wrote:  

(06-11-2013 05:53 PM)workingodu Wrote:  Fiu panther let's not use nsu as a benchmark. They too are in trouble.

I guess this is why the big push for jmu. If fiu goes down jmu can move in. Don't like that but it would make sense.

I'd love to see JMU get in, for the purely selfish reason that they'd be the closest C-USA school to me. Same for Delaware.

I'll never get the rationale behind adding both FIU and FAU. To me, FAU is and was light years ahead of FIU in terms of facilities and stature, and there's no way C-USA didn't know about this mess. Every other school that C-USA has added has made sense, but FIU is still a head scratcher to me.

They realized they made a mistake and did a 360 and started invited well respected athletic programs that get it done on the field and in the classroom like WKU that is not based on a myth of people caring in Miami and the number of TV sets they have turned on...My prediction is FIU will be back in Sun Belt in 4 years..

You do know this is not the English league? There are no automatic promotions and relegation.

Although it must have hurt like hell to watch two young Florida programs and a bunch of start ups get an invited before big red.

Remember to send Tulsa that thank you gift card.

FIU has to measure up regardless of WKU, Tulsa, USM or any other program in order to stay in good standing as a division one team. I am pulling for them to get it done since they are important to our conference's success and hope USM will find them a great rival one day as our conference grows. However, regardless of the fairness of the standard, my view, your view, the fact is ALL of us must meet the standard and only our schools we support will be responsible for doing so. Truth is things aren't always fair (being a disabled Vietnam Era Veteran I certainly understand that too well) but the bottomline is the school must reach the standards or face the results of not doing so. WKU, and no other school has anything to do with it, it falls fully on the shoulders of FIU and I think all of us who wants this conference to grow supports FIU to do so. Attacking others in this conference, or will be in it, is foolish and doesn't make good sense when we all offer FIU our hopes for them. You can actually kill the goodwill by making statements that lower that goodwill.

(06-12-2013 01:15 PM)garmen Wrote:  Ragin Cajun 2011-2012 All sports scores:
avg 967.3125
Min 945
Max 994
Growing Market loaded with capital, $114MM Sports facility plan with phase 1 and 2 funded, Campus wide $100MM + academics facility improvements already under way and almost finished. Football team on the rise on the field and in the stands, baseball team back to excellence with a consistant top 20 attendence , softball team lives in the top 10 to 20 year after year in an already new facility that rivals big conferences. Tennis, Track, soccer and volleyball on the rise. Growing enrollment with increased admissions standards. And a large traveling fan base....

Would love to see USM, LaTech back on our regular schedule. Just saying.. (yes I'm pandering but what the heck)

Just sayin!

(06-12-2013 01:19 PM)ark30inf Wrote:  

(06-12-2013 01:15 PM)garmen Wrote:  Ragin Cajun 2011-2012 All sports scores:
avg 967.3125
Min 945
Max 994
Growing Market loaded with capital, $114MM Sports facility plan with phase 1 and 2 funded, Campus wide $100MM + academics facility improvements already under way and almost finished. Football team on the rise on the field and in the stands, baseball team back to excellence with a consistant top 20 attendence , softball team lives in the top 10 to 20 year after year in an already new facility that rivals big conferences. Tennis, Track, soccer and volleyball on the rise. Growing enrollment with increased admissions standards. And a large traveling fan base....

Would love to see USM, LaTech back on our regular schedule. Just saying.. (yes I'm pandering but what the heck)

Just sayin!

just saying

(06-12-2013 01:15 PM)garmen Wrote:  Ragin Cajun 2011-2012 All sports scores:
avg 967.3125
Min 945
Max 994
Growing Market loaded with capital, $114MM Sports facility plan with phase 1 and 2 funded, Campus wide $100MM + academics facility improvements already under way and almost finished. Football team on the rise on the field and in the stands, baseball team back to excellence with a consistant top 20 attendence , softball team lives in the top 10 to 20 year after year in an already new facility that rivals big conferences. Tennis, Track, soccer and volleyball on the rise. Basketball finding its player mix but great kids in the classroom. Growing enrollment with increased admissions standards. And a large traveling fan base....

Would love to see USM, LaTech back on our regular schedule. Just saying.. (yes I'm pandering but what the heck)

http://www.cbssports.com/collegefootball...sion-pause

(06-12-2013 01:19 PM)ark30inf Wrote:  

(06-12-2013 01:15 PM)garmen Wrote:  Ragin Cajun 2011-2012 All sports scores:
avg 967.3125
Min 945
Max 994
Growing Market loaded with capital, $114MM Sports facility plan with phase 1 and 2 funded, Campus wide $100MM + academics facility improvements already under way and almost finished. Football team on the rise on the field and in the stands, baseball team back to excellence with a consistant top 20 attendence , softball team lives in the top 10 to 20 year after year in an already new facility that rivals big conferences. Tennis, Track, soccer and volleyball on the rise. Growing enrollment with increased admissions standards. And a large traveling fan base....

Would love to see USM, LaTech back on our regular schedule. Just saying.. (yes I'm pandering but what the heck)

Just sayin!

PS: Bring stAte with us. Or visa-versa....

(06-12-2013 01:16 PM)SgtGoldenEagle Wrote:  

(06-12-2013 12:57 PM)FIU4Ever Wrote:  

(06-12-2013 11:36 AM)WKUFan518 Wrote:  

(06-12-2013 11:27 AM)49erlew Wrote:  

(06-11-2013 05:53 PM)workingodu Wrote:  Fiu panther let's not use nsu as a benchmark. They too are in trouble.

I guess this is why the big push for jmu. If fiu goes down jmu can move in. Don't like that but it would make sense.

I'd love to see JMU get in, for the purely selfish reason that they'd be the closest C-USA school to me. Same for Delaware.

I'll never get the rationale behind adding both FIU and FAU. To me, FAU is and was light years ahead of FIU in terms of facilities and stature, and there's no way C-USA didn't know about this mess. Every other school that C-USA has added has made sense, but FIU is still a head scratcher to me.

They realized they made a mistake and did a 360 and started invited well respected athletic programs that get it done on the field and in the classroom like WKU that is not based on a myth of people caring in Miami and the number of TV sets they have turned on...My prediction is FIU will be back in Sun Belt in 4 years..

You do know this is not the English league? There are no automatic promotions and relegation.

Although it must have hurt like hell to watch two young Florida programs and a bunch of start ups get an invited before big red.

Remember to send Tulsa that thank you gift card.

FIU has to measure up regardless of WKU, Tulsa, USM or any other program in order to stay in good standing as a division one team. I am pulling for them to get it done since they are important to our conference's success and hope USM will find them a great rival one day as our conference grows. However, regardless of the fairness of the standard, my view, your view, the fact is ALL of us must meet the standard and only our schools we support will be responsible for doing so. Truth is things aren't always fair (being a disabled Vietnam Era Veteran I certainly understand that too well) but the bottomline is the school must reach the standards or face the results of not doing so. WKU, and no other school has anything to do with it, it falls fully on the shoulders of FIU and I think all of us who wants this conference to grow supports FIU to do so. Attacking others in this conference, or will be in it, is foolish and doesn't make good sense when we all offer FIU our hopes for them. You can actually kill the goodwill by making statements that lower that goodwill.

How is WKU fans offering "goodwill" with statements like "My prediction is FIU will be back in Sun Belt in 4 years.." or " Every other school that C-USA has added has made sense, but FIU is still a head scratcher to me"?

We know what we need to do and we know it needs to be done now. As Pantherfan posted, this was one of the primary topics at the BOT athletic committee meeting recently and a plan of action proposed on how to address it immediately. The BOT also told the AD to update them more frequently on the state of the APR. So, no we don't take this lightly and we are trying to correct it.

Also on the bubble but for football bowl eligibility next year....

FAU needs a 938 (932 highest score the past 3 seasons)
ODU needs a 947 (933 highest score the past 3 seasons)
UTEP needs a 963 (918 highest score the past 3 seasons)

(06-12-2013 01:28 PM)FIU4Ever Wrote:  

(06-12-2013 01:16 PM)SgtGoldenEagle Wrote:  

(06-12-2013 12:57 PM)FIU4Ever Wrote:  

(06-12-2013 11:36 AM)WKUFan518 Wrote:  

(06-12-2013 11:27 AM)49erlew Wrote:  I'd love to see JMU get in, for the purely selfish reason that they'd be the closest C-USA school to me. Same for Delaware.

I'll never get the rationale behind adding both FIU and FAU. To me, FAU is and was light years ahead of FIU in terms of facilities and stature, and there's no way C-USA didn't know about this mess. Every other school that C-USA has added has made sense, but FIU is still a head scratcher to me.

They realized they made a mistake and did a 360 and started invited well respected athletic programs that get it done on the field and in the classroom like WKU that is not based on a myth of people caring in Miami and the number of TV sets they have turned on...My prediction is FIU will be back in Sun Belt in 4 years..

You do know this is not the English league? There are no automatic promotions and relegation.

Although it must have hurt like hell to watch two young Florida programs and a bunch of start ups get an invited before big red.

Remember to send Tulsa that thank you gift card.

FIU has to measure up regardless of WKU, Tulsa, USM or any other program in order to stay in good standing as a division one team. I am pulling for them to get it done since they are important to our conference's success and hope USM will find them a great rival one day as our conference grows. However, regardless of the fairness of the standard, my view, your view, the fact is ALL of us must meet the standard and only our schools we support will be responsible for doing so. Truth is things aren't always fair (being a disabled Vietnam Era Veteran I certainly understand that too well) but the bottomline is the school must reach the standards or face the results of not doing so. WKU, and no other school has anything to do with it, it falls fully on the shoulders of FIU and I think all of us who wants this conference to grow supports FIU to do so. Attacking others in this conference, or will be in it, is foolish and doesn't make good sense when we all offer FIU our hopes for them. You can actually kill the goodwill by making statements that lower that goodwill.

How is WKU fans offering "goodwill" with statements like "My prediction is FIU will be back in Sun Belt in 4 years.." or " Every other school that C-USA has added has made sense, but FIU is still a head scratcher to me"?

We know what we need to do and we know it needs to be done now. As Pantherfan posted, this was one of the primary topics at the BOT athletic committee meeting recently and a plan of action proposed on how to address it immediately. The BOT also told the AD to update them more frequently on the state of the APR. So, no we don't take this lightly and we are trying to correct it.

I am sure you will find some who claim to be USM fans who might say something like that as well, but most USM will support FIU to fix the problem. One thing I have learned in my coaching experiences is that to reply to such statements only hurts because it makes it look like the old stupid excuse, "well, everybody does it." It is far better to admit the problem and take the blows in a mature manner (which I must admit that I find seems to be a problem in our society these days) and instead do as Bear Bryant told his people, always show your class. You will fair better and gain your school more respect if you will not attack, but just admit there is a problem and you know your school will fix it. The other guy will be looked at as an immature person and you will gain respect for being the adult in the conversation and will gain respect for your school as well.