Beginning of a beautiful rivalry ?

[MeanGreen61]

COLLEGE FOOTBALL | UM VS. FIU

Beginning of a beautiful rivalry?

UM and FIU coaches say their two-game series at the Orange Bowl, starting Oct. 14, is a win-win for their teams and in South Florida.

BY PETE PELEGRIN

ppelegrin@MiamiHerald.com

AL DIAZ/MIAMI HERALD STAFF

READY TO PLAY: Hurricanes coach Larry Coker discuses his upcoming game against the Golden Panthers in the fall.

When they take to the Orange Bowl field Oct. 14 to mark the beginning of what they hope is a lasting, crosstown rivalry, the University of Miami and Florida International will be adversaries.

But on Thursday morning at Bernie Kosar's Steakhouse in South Miami, the two schools and their coaches worked in concert to promote the first of their two games.

''I think this is going to be a great football game,'' said Hurricanes coach Larry Coker, whose team will host the Golden Panthers again in 2007. ``It will be a great series for both schools and great for the city. Selfishly, it gives us a seventh home game, and it's going to be a home game for Florida International fans.

``It's only going to get bigger and better.''

The Golden Panthers had to maneuver this year's schedule and their 2007 slate to get a chance to play the Hurricanes.

FIU athletic director Rick Mello moved the Middle Tennessee game, which originally was scheduled for October, to the opener Aug. 31. Mello also had to reschedule Kansas in 2007 and 2008 to get the two-game set with Miami. Mello would have done just about anything to play UM.

''I would have moved all 11 games this season if I had to, just to play Miami,'' joked Mello, whose athletic department will receive $150,000 from Miami for the game.

Said FIU coach Don Strock: ``The local exposure and national exposure of two universities playing in the hometown was going to happen sooner or later. I'm glad it happened sooner.''

Both schools would like the series to continue beyond the 2007 game, but that will depend on a few factors.

''You play two years, and you see how it works out,'' UM athletic director Paul Dee said. ``You see what kind of crowds we draw. I think, potentially, on a regular but maybe not annual basis, the series will continue. Over time, the community would like to see this series played.''

UM and FIU collaborated to dub their Oct. 14 meeting, ''Salute to Florida High School Football Day.'' The programs plan to send invitations to various Florida high school football teams to attend the game for free.

FULL ARTICLE INCLUDING MIAMI & FUI NOTES

http://www.bradenton.com/mld/bradenton/spo...mi/15139775.htm

[untwillrise]

a beautiful rivalry?

this is like if we played TWU in football at ryan stadium every year. miami is going to dominate every game for a long time.

[MeanGreenBuzz]

a beautiful rivalry?

this is like if we played TWU in football at ryan stadium every year. miami is going to dominate every game for a long time.

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I dunno man. The T-Dub women's football team looks pretty mean this year.

[FirefightnRick]

The programs plan to send invitations to various Florida high school football teams to attend the game for free.

http://www.bradenton.com/mld/bradenton/spo...mi/15139775.htm

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What a novel concept?

Rick

[UNTLifer]

What a novel concept?

Rick

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Yes, but is it legal in the eyes of the NCAA or does this equate to giving free benefits?

[Mean'n'Green07]

I've been asking this question from day one: What in the hell kind of name is Florida International University? Is it part school part airport?

[H-towngreen]

It's like saying we have a rivalry with Texas. It's never gonna happen.