In a stadium now bearing his name, Pitbull’s iconic “Give Me Everything” anthem seemed to really resonate with the crowd Saturday night, as 17,852 fans flooded the stands for FIU’s first home football game of the season.
Between the commemorative Pitbull pin that the first 10,000 patrons received, the energetic party anthems, and the Panther Pride being displayed in the bleachers, FIU had no trouble dominating from the outset.
FIU rolled out to a 28-8 lead in the first half, eventually taking down the Central Michigan Chippewas, 52-16, evening the Panthers’ record at 1-1. The win marked the first time that FIU held a 21-point lead or better in a game since 2019 vs. Charlotte, and it featured the most points in a game since the Panthers scored 63 vs. UMass in 2018.
Quarterback Keyone Jenkins threw two touchdown passes, giving him three on the season, and he added a third score on a four-yard run in the victory.
“I saw a team that fought adversity coming back from a tough loss last week,” the sophomore quarterback said, a week after the Panthers lost at Indiana. “The defense was fighting today.”
Five different players recorded an interception for FIU, a number that tied a program record for the most picks in a game since a 2005 effort against Florida Atlantic.
A navy blue display with “Dale FIU!” painted in the end zones gave the event a feel of its own, as Mr. 305’s iconography was evident everywhere. But it extended beyond the branding of the stadium and straight into the seats. In fact, Panthers fans in attendance belted out the lyrics to popular hits from the artist, some even going as far as to brandish bald caps and sunglasses.
“There’s an awareness. South Florida definitely knows about it, people nationally know about it,” said Steve Goldstein, the television play-by-play host for the NHL’s Florida Panthers, who also called Saturday’s game vs. the Chippewas. “FIU football is a staple in the 305, in Miami-Dade County. It’s a program on the rise.”
The first home game marked a promising beginning, a .500 record and now, some confidence headed into a rivalry road game Saturday at FAU, which is 0-2 on the season after losing to Army in Boca Raton last weekend.
Some 60 miles south, at Pitbull Stadium, the electric atmosphere left fans and players with plenty of momentum to embrace the opportunities the season ahead holds.
“Renaming the stadium isn’t just about a name change,” Pitbull said during the partnership announcement last month on FIU’s Modesto A. Maidique Campus. “It’s about inspiring the community, creating opportunities and showing the world that with determination and a clear vision, anything is possible.”
As the season unfolds, the spirit of Pitbull’s message may just fuel both the community’s support and the team’s aspirations, inviting them to “Feel This Moment.”
