If you beat them, join them.
Former FIU Panthers kicker Jose Borregales is taking his talents to the University of Miami Hurricanes.
The Panthers stunned their crosstown rival Hurricanes 30-24 at Marlins Park in late November.
Borregales was significant in the win. Borregales kicked three field goals – from 29, 50, and 53 yards – in the win over the Hurricanes.
All that is behind him now, especially after one of his kicks, he put his hands together in an upside-down “U” shape, a favorite sign of disrespect by Miami opponents.
Borregales announced in a tweet that he’s enrolling at “The U” as a graduate transfer.
Borregales made it known in his high school days that he wanted to play at Miami; the Hurricanes recruited elsewhere, so he committed to FIU in 2015.
The past is the past, and there are no hard feelings on both sides.
When Borregales announced that he was entering the transfer portal, Miami connected with the kicker on social media; Hurricanes’ assistant coach and special teams coordinator Jonathan Patke sent him an emoji of two eyeballs to get the conversation started.
One D.M. later, Borregales is at his dream school. His brother, Andres Borregales, is committed to Miami and is scheduled to be part of the school’s 2021 recruiting class.
The Hurricanes will need both of them. The Hurricanes used three kickers this past season, lost at least three games in large part because of kicking miscues and missed eight field goals from 40 yards or closer. Borregales across town with the Panthers connected on 19 of his final 23 field-goal attempts.
He owns a bachelor’s degree in recreation and sports management; at Miami, he’ll pursue a master’s degree in liberal studies.
The story continues for the young man who came to the U.S. from his family’s native Venezuela when he was 6, started playing football by when he was 9.
He will have moments when the pressure will be high, especially since the Hurricanes are coming off a shut out loss to Louisiana Tech in the Independence Bowl, 6-7 overall record and 4-4 in ACC conference play.
If he thought winning with the Panthers was valuable now, he will carry a load at The U; hopefully, his dream school is all that is dreamt of.
Photo/JoseBorregales/twitter
