You hate to see it.
A college football team goes winless.
A college football team goes winless during a global pandemic.
The FIU Panthers have concluded their 2020-21 football season. The Panthers finished 0-5, detailing four postponements and two cancellations.
The Panthers have not gone winless since 2006.
The Panthers’ 0-5 finish is the worst in head coach Butch Davis’ career. His previous worst on-field record was 3-8 with the Cleveland Browns in 2004.
The Covid-19 pandemic has played a grueling toll on sports across the globe. The Panthers are no different since there were outbreaks on the team leading to postponements. However, their progress since Davis’s arrival on campus set the program back a bit and can hurt recruitment.
The Panthers combined 23-16 with three bowl appearances and a win over the Miami Hurricanes from 2017 to 2019.
Hello Covid-19.
The Panthers’ quarterback play was not consistent. Three QBs played this season with no one considered the real starter: Maryland transfer Max Bortenschlager, redshirt junior Kaylan Wiggins and second-year freshman Stone Norton all gained playing time.
To add salt to the wound.
Norton, who was named Mr. Tennessee in 2018 after throwing for more than 3,000 yards as a high school senior, has entered his name in the transfer portal and is already back in Nashville.
The beat goes on. National signing day is approaching. Covid-19 caught the world by surprise; now, Coach Davis will have to use the time and lessons to prepare for next season, where improvement will need to be made across the board, starting with a win.
The Panthers are the only winless football program in the 13-team Conference USA this season, finishing ninth in the league in points allowed (32.4) and 10th in scoring (22.4). The Panthers were also 12th in third-down conversions and last in passing yards and first downs.
The panthers can only go up from here next season.
