[quote]FIU Announces Plans for Another Ambitious Football Schedule in 2004

Contests against three I-A opponents and four I-AA programs that finished among the top 25 in the nation last year highlight the 2004 FIU Football schedule announced today.

The Golden Panthers will play six of their 11 games at home, starting with the season opener on Thursday, Sept. 2 against Jacksonville in a matchup that will be broadcast live around the state of Florida and across the nation via satellite by Sunshine Network.

Also included on the home slate are contests versus No. 7 Western Kentucky (Sept. 25), No. 8 McNeese State (Oct. 23) and No. 24 Georgia Southern (Nov. 13).

FIU will also take on a I-A opponent at home for the first time ever when the Golden Panthers host Louisiana-Lafayette on Oct. 2.

The third season of intercollegiate play for FIU will conclude on Saturday, Nov. 27 in Miami against Florida A&M.

The Golden Panthers road schedule will be no easy matter, either. After playing Youngstown State on Sept. 11, FIU meets Stephen F. Austin in Nacogdoches, Tex., on Oct. 9 and then takes on I-A foes Louisiana-Monroe (Oct. 16) and New Mexico State (Oct. 30), before the road finale against No. 4-ranked Florida Atlantic on Nov. 20 at Pro Player Stadium.

“We’re playing a bunch of I-AA opponents good enough to be competing in I-A if they wanted to, along with three teams from the Sun Belt Conference,