Scott Bryant News

Published: Saturday, December 19, 2009 at 12:35 a.m. Last Modified: Saturday, December 19, 2009 at 12:34 a.m. Flip through the TV channels on any given Saturday during the college football season and you're bound to come across a name that used to play at a local high school.

FIU's film session this past Sunday began with the disappointing ending of last year's loss to Florida Atlantic, and it resurrected some painful memories.

In an old fashioned shootout last December, the Golden Panthers could not hold on to a lead in a late season loss to FAU.

The Florida Gators are undefeated, are ranked No. 1 in the Bowl Championship Series standings, and boast a senior Heisman Trophy hopeful as they gear up for a national title run.

Beat North Texas 35-28 on Nov. 14 in Miami. On offense: The Panthers only average 322.6 yards per game, which includes 100.8 rushing.

A season that many billed as a possible breakout campaign for Florida International has instead become more of a letdown.

T.Y. Hilton , FIU's top playmaker, played Saturday when the Golden Panthers took on Troy.

Several Golden Panthers made their first career starts in Saturday's game against Louisiana-Monroe. Freshman Wayne Times , a former Miami Northwestern standout, started in FIU's four-wide receiver set along with regular starters T.Y. Hilton , Greg Ellingson and Ty Frierson .

It was these types of games last season that ULM would have walked off the field in disappointment.

Throw out the fact that Florida International only returns five starters on defense.

Player to watch: Rutgers must be aware of Florida International sophomore T.Y. Hilton, who was third nationally in all-purpose yards, at 180.25 yards per game last season, and began this season with a 96-yard kickoff return against Alabama as FIU lost to the Tide, 40-14. He started his freshman season with a 74-yard punt return against Kansas.

Up to now, Florida International University's biggest headline as a football program came as the result of an ugly postgame brawl with the Miami Hurricanes in 2006.

The mess Mario Cristobal inherited on Dec. 19, 2006 wasn't an inviting opportunity for any young coach.

For Florida International to take that next step and compete for the Sun Belt Conference title and a bowl berth in year two under coach Mario Cristobal, the Golden Panthers must be steady again this season defensively.

Having attended FIU sporting events for nearly 25 years, Robert Valcarce initially was not surprised one November night last season.

COACH: Mario Cristobal, 6-18, third season . CRITICAL CAMP FOCUS: The Panthers have some rebuilding to do on a defense that loses five starters, three of them on the line.

Having attended FIU sporting events for nearly 25 years, Robert Valcarce initially was not surprised one November night last season.

COACH: Mario Cristobal, 6-18, third season . CRITICAL CAMP FOCUS: The Panthers have some rebuilding to do on a defense that loses five starters, three of them on the line.

As a player and assistant coach at the University of Miami, Mario Cristobal learned what it took to build a successful college football program.