FAYETTEVILLE — Impatience is not discouraged at Florida International.
Few underclassmen are waiting their turn when it comes to playing for the Panthers, and nobody is asking them to wait.
Coach Mario Cristobal has instituted what amounts to on-the-job training in his first season at the school. Cristobal has relied heavily on first- and second-year players as part of his building process at the Miami-based school.
Florida International has 44 freshmen, redshirt freshmen or sophomores making significant contributions this season. Of 30 spots available on the two-deep roster, only six are occupied by seniors as the Golden Panthers (0-7) get ready to play Arkansas (4-3) on Saturday at 1 p.m. at Reynolds Razorback Stadium.
Cristobal hopes the immediate playing time will have his players better seasoned in the next few years. They are certainly paying the price in the short term, hoping for longterm gains.
"You've got to build it," Cristobal said. "You've got to build it from the ground up, and we feel like our young guys are the guys that will have a chance to present some good opportunities for us in the future. ... There is a recruiting gap in there that we have to make up for."
Cristobal served on staffs at Miami and Rutgers. He was hired from Miami last December to replace Don Strock, the only coach in Florida International history. Strock was 14-41 with the Panthers over five seasons.
What Cristobal inherited was a mess.
Florida International was one of two winless programs in the Football Bowl Subdivision for 2006. That losing streak has carried over into this season, meaning the Panthers have lost 19 consecutive.
Cristobal is encouraged, though. Florida has long been a fertile recruiting ground, so Cristobal doesn't have to go far searching for talent.
The Panthers' struggles over the years also give Cristobal a ready-made recruiting pitch: Looking for immediate playing time? Interested in building something from the ground up? Florida International is the spot.
"I think kids are startingto wake up and realize it's not about that one particular emblem or the logo you rooted for growing up," Cristobal said. "It's about the best situation for the player. They are realizing you can be a guy that helps build it as opposed to just sitting there and watching. It's a pretty lucrative offer. I think a lot of young men are starting to realize that. It does give them an opportunity to set them up for a fantastic future."
Targeting prospects will be easier this year. Cristobal had his staff together three weeks before signing day, and of the 18 players signed, 14 are either playing orstarting.
Until that recruiting pitch pays off, Florida International has to focus on improving the talent already on the roster. So far this season, the Panthers have been awful on both sides of the ball.
Florida International is deadlast in scoring offense (8.29) and pass efficiency (76.05). The Panthers are ranked No. 114 in scoring defense (38.86) and No. 102 in run defense. Their best offensive mark comes from running the ball, where they rank 110th.
Individual play hasn't been much better, although there are a few bright spots. Redshirtfreshman quarterback Wayne Younger ranks 87th in total offense at 171.29 yards per game, and sophomore punter Chris Cook is tied for 54th with a 41.47 average. Kick returner Lionell Singleton is 64th with 23.53 yards per return and is one of the few seniors to contribute for the Panthers.
With those sorts of struggles, improvement is being measured in ways not found in a box score or on the scoreboard, Cristobal said. Simply making strides fundamentally is crucial.
Florida International isn't likely to win this weekend, but the remainder of the schedule provides a glimmer of hope.Through six weeks, the Panthers played five bowl teams from last season, programs that have a combined 33-19 record this season. Over the final six weeks, Florida International faces teams with a combined 13-23 record.
"We're inching there," Cristobal said. "[Players] smell what we're cooking. We've got to continue to stir that pot up and get ourselves the victory that we need."
Sports, Pages 17, 21 on 10/23/2007