Posted on the CUSA board by Tallgrass FIU RELEASES 2009 FOOTBALL SCHEDULE By Pete Pelegrin Miami Herald, December 20, 2009 "On Friday, FIU football announced the date for its 2009 season opener at Alabama." "The Golden Panthers will visit the Crimson Tide on Sept. 12 after opening the season with a bye week." "Among the other nonconference games in 2009, FIU plays at South Florida in September and takes a loate November trip to Gainsville to play Florida." "The Golden Panthers host Toledo in their other nonconfernce game. The rest of the 2009 schedule, which includes eight Sun Belt games, has not been set by the conference." "The 2009 nonconference schedule is the final season FIU will play guarantee games. Beginning in 2010, the Golden Panthers will start play home and home nonconference games." "With its new nonconference schedule, FIU is the first Sun Belt team to exclusively schedule home and away games wtih BCS conference teams." "The top recruits want to play the best competition," FIU Athletic Director Pete Garcia said. "By playing the Alabamas, Floridas, and Texas A&Ms, we are sending the message that we are committed to playing the best programs."