FIU, which is 3-28 all-time on the road, is in need of a fast start against conference foe Louisiana-Monroe.
The road has never been kind to Florida International.
In their five-plus years of existence, the Golden Panthers are 3-28 away from home.
With the stigma of the nation's longest losing streak of 18 games in tow, FIU returns Saturday to the site of its first Division I victory when it meets Louisiana-Monroe. The Golden Panthers defeated the Warhawks in November 2005 -- coincidentally, it was FIU's last road victory.
Besides Louisiana-Monroe, FIU's other two road victories were in 2004 against then-No. 5 Stephen F. Austin (Division I-AA) and Youngstown State (Division I-AA).
Yet, the success the Golden Panthers had three years ago on the road and at Malone Stadium two years ago has not carried over to other opponents' venues.
''This year, we've gone on the road and we've been thinking and doing a lot of stuff wrong in the first and second quarters,'' said junior defensive lineman Jonathan Betancourt, one of the few players who has been at FIU for the three road victories.
Although the Golden Panthers did grab their first lead in a first half this season in their game against Troy two weeks ago, getting off to fast starts has not been their style.
FIU has been outscored 140-20 in the first half this season, and on the road, it has combined to fall behind 104-3 in the first 30 minutes.
''It seems like the slightest little change,'' coach Mario Cristobal said. ``Getting away from home, get on an airplane, alter the time you're eating a meal, whatever it may be, we've been thrown off. . . . What we're trying to do is make sure we emphasize at all costs no matter what happens the focus, the emphasis is strictly on the particular game, on our assignment, on our part of the process.
``Being a young football team, you have to overemphasize that.''
Against the Warhawks on Saturday, the Golden Panthers must accomplish two objectives to assure a positive beginning: stop the nation's No. 16 rushing offense and score early to avoid getting in a hole in unfamiliar territory.
The Warhawks, led by Calvin Dawson, the Sun Belt Conference's leading rusher, are averaging 208.7 rushing yards a game. The Golden Panthers are allowing 207.5 rushing yards a game.
''It's a matter of us not doing our assignments,'' Betancourt said. ``It's fundamental stuff: running to the ball, biting on the ball, tackling . . . all the stuff we do in practice we have to take toward the game.''
The road has never been kind to Florida International.
In their five-plus years of existence, the Golden Panthers are 3-28 away from home.
With the stigma of the nation's longest losing streak of 18 games in tow, FIU returns Saturday to the site of its first Division I victory when it meets Louisiana-Monroe. The Golden Panthers defeated the Warhawks in November 2005 -- coincidentally, it was FIU's last road victory.
Besides Louisiana-Monroe, FIU's other two road victories were in 2004 against then-No. 5 Stephen F. Austin (Division I-AA) and Youngstown State (Division I-AA).
Yet, the success the Golden Panthers had three years ago on the road and at Malone Stadium two years ago has not carried over to other opponents' venues.
''This year, we've gone on the road and we've been thinking and doing a lot of stuff wrong in the first and second quarters,'' said junior defensive lineman Jonathan Betancourt, one of the few players who has been at FIU for the three road victories.
Although the Golden Panthers did grab their first lead in a first half this season in their game against Troy two weeks ago, getting off to fast starts has not been their style.
FIU has been outscored 140-20 in the first half this season, and on the road, it has combined to fall behind 104-3 in the first 30 minutes.
''It seems like the slightest little change,'' coach Mario Cristobal said. ``Getting away from home, get on an airplane, alter the time you're eating a meal, whatever it may be, we've been thrown off. . . . What we're trying to do is make sure we emphasize at all costs no matter what happens the focus, the emphasis is strictly on the particular game, on our assignment, on our part of the process.
``Being a young football team, you have to overemphasize that.''
Against the Warhawks on Saturday, the Golden Panthers must accomplish two objectives to assure a positive beginning: stop the nation's No. 16 rushing offense and score early to avoid getting in a hole in unfamiliar territory.
The Warhawks, led by Calvin Dawson, the Sun Belt Conference's leading rusher, are averaging 208.7 rushing yards a game. The Golden Panthers are allowing 207.5 rushing yards a game.
''It's a matter of us not doing our assignments,'' Betancourt said. ``It's fundamental stuff: running to the ball, biting on the ball, tackling . . . all the stuff we do in practice we have to take toward the game.''
