MIAMI (March 25, 2016) – On a humid evening at Ocean Bank Field at FIU Stadium, the FIU football team held its final practice of the week under the lights.
 
The Panthers used this occasion to switch up the feel of practice as the previous five took place in the morning. With an officiating crew on hand, FIU scripted a number of plays as the offense took on the defense during a portion of evening, with both sides creating highlights from long runs and long passes to interceptions and stops behind the line of scrimmage. 
 
FIUSports.com caught up with Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers Coach Matt House and linebacker Anthony Wint after practice.
 
Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers Coach Matt House
On the Progression of the Defense
We are definitely further along than we were last year. Guys are understanding things better. They are flying around. I'm pleased with where we are at. We've got a long ways to go, certainly. But, I'm pleased with the "buy-in" factor and the way the kids are approaching things every day. 
 
On Filling the Holes Left by the Graduating Seniors
Every year, every football team is different. This football team is going to be different from the one next year. The reality is that the holes are opportunities and I don't know if they are necessarily holes as much as they are opportunities. Guys are competing and at the end of the day they (the holes) will turn into strengths.
 
On the Depth of the Linebackers
Right now, that position group is exciting to me. There's great competition, there's great mutual respect. A lot of guys played and a lot of guys have improved. So, I'm excited and there's going to be a lot of roles for those guys. 
 
 
Linebacker Anthony Wint
On Spring Practice
We just come out every day, trying to get better. We have our ups and downs. We make some mistakes as well as do some good things but, we need to come out and get better every day.
 
On the Team's First Night Practice
It was a bit of a different feel. It was a little more humid tonight, but it was good to get that different feel. We play Indiana here at night to open the year, so it's good to get that early feeling.   
 
On Filling the Void Left by the Graduating Seniors
We've had to replace some good players in two good corners and two good defensive ends as well as some talented interior linemen. But, I feel like the guys coming up now are hungry and making plays. We had two interceptions today and the defensive ends (Fermin Silva, John Broome and Anthony Johnson) are making plays and are hungry. We are a mature linebacking corps and we encourage those guys as much as we can.
 
On the Depth of the Linebacking Corps
Having all of our linebackers return from last year gives us a lot of maturity and experience. These guys have been out here; they have played a lot and it creates a lot of competition. You can never have too much competition.
 
Previous Reports
Monday, March 7 – Day One / Photo Gallery
Tuesday, March 8 –  Photo Gallery
Thursday, March 10 – Day Three / Photo Gallery
Tuesday, March 22 – Day Four / Photo Gallery
Thursday, March 24 – Day Five / Photo Gallery
 
Remaining FIU Football Spring Practice Schedule
Tuesday, March 29              9:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
Thursday, March 31             9:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
Saturday, April 2                  9:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
Tuesday, April 5                   9:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
Thursday, April 7                 9:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
Saturday, April 9                  9:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
Tuesday, April 12                9:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
Thursday, April 14               9:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
Friday, April 15                  (7:00 p.m. – Spring Game)
 
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The 2016 FIU football season will kick off on Thursday, Sept. 1, when the Panthers host the Indiana Hoosiers.

FIU's 2016 schedule is highlighted with games against Miami Beach Bowl and 2016 C-USA champion WKU, R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl champion Louisiana Tech, St. Petersburg Bowl champion Marshall, Popeyes Bahama Bowl participant Middle Tennessee, and New Era Pinstripe Bowl participant Indiana. In addition, the Panthers will face Maryland, Massachusetts, UCF, Florida Atlantic, UTEP, Charlotte and Old Dominion. 
 
For FIU football ticket information, contact the University Credit Union Box Office at 305-FIU-GAME (348-4263).
 
For the latest information on Panthers football, follow us on Twitter, @FIUFootball, and check out Pete Pelegrin's in-depth coverage of FIU Athletics on his official blog, The Prowl, at www.FIUSports.com.

 
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About FIU Athletics: FIU Athletics is home to more than 400 student-athletes in 18 different sports. Athletic events are played in seven different venues on FIU's campuses (Modesto A. Maidique and Biscayne Bay), including FIU Arena and Ocean Bank Field at FIU Stadium.
 
About FIU: Florida International University is recognized as a Carnegie engaged university. It is a public research university with colleges and schools that offer more than 180 bachelor's, master's and doctoral programs in fields such as engineering, international relations, architecture, law and medicine. As one of South Florida's anchor institutions, FIU contributes $8.9 billion each year to the local economy. FIU is Worlds Ahead in finding solutions to the most challenging problems of our time. FIU emphasizes research as a major component of its mission. FIU has awarded over 200,000 degrees and enrolls more than 54,000 students in two campuses and three centers including FIU Downtown on Brickell, FIU@I-75, and the Miami Beach Urban Studios. FIU also supports artistic and cultural engagement through its three museums: the Patricia & Phillip Frost Art Museum, the Wolfsonian-FIU, and the Jewish Museum of Florida-FIU. FIU is a member of Conference USA and has over 400 student-athletes participating in 18 sports. For more information about FIU, visit http://www.fiu.edu/.