University to celebrate bowl win at Hot-N-Ready Panther Party


WHAT: Little Caesars Pizza Bowl celebration

WHEN: Friday, Jan. 28, 11:45 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
WHERE: GC Ballrooms
WHO: Everyone’s invited. Sponsored by SGA.
Special guests: 2010 FIU Champion Football Team

Students, faculty, staff and alumni are invited to celebrate FIU Football’s historic bowl victory on Friday, Jan. 28 at a university-wide party with the football team and free Little Caesar’s pizza.

The Hot-N-Ready Panther Party is being hosted by the FIU Student Government Association at 11:45 a.m. in the GC Ballrooms. The 2010 football team will be there to sign free posters and pose for photos with fans.

SGA presidents Helena Ramirez and Cici Battle organized the party after hearing from students who wanted a chance to applaud the football team’s impressive season and thrilling victory at the Little Caesar’s Pizza Bowl. “Hot-N-Ready” is a nod to the Little Caesar’s slogan.

“This is the time — the time to celebrate, the time for the students to experience how it feels to be champions, the time to congratulate those that had an integral part of this championship, not only the team, but the fans as well,” said Ramirez, MMC SGA president. “The Hot N’ Ready Panther Party is something that the students wanted, so I’m excited that we’ve made history in several ways: the championship, the bowl win, and the overwhelming panther pride. This celebration is going to be monumental!”

The 2010 football season was transformational for FIU. The team captured its first Sun Belt Conference Championship title. Head Coach Mario Cristobal, who will attend the event with his coaching staff, was named Sun Belt Conference Coach of the Year. The Dec. 26 bowl win in Detroit was aired on ESPN and watched by more than 2 million people across the country.

The bowl game, said Battle, is a true affinity springboard for students.

“It gave our community a sense of hope,” said Battle, BBC SGA president. “FIU has always been seen as an underdog and told we can’t do something. They said the FIU football program could never win a bowl after only nine years. We have another reason to believe in our own institution. It gives us bragging rights everywhere we go. We’re the bomb.”

The party will include the Dazzlers, Roary and the Cheerleaders. There will also be a DJ, giveaways and a raffle. The FIU Barnes and Noble Bookstore will be on-hand offering FIU gear at a discount.

Fans are encouraged to wear their FIU gear and bring signs or posters from 2010 football games.

Can’t make it? The event will be webcast simultaneously. Click here for feed.

To help fans relive the entire bowl experience, the news.FIU.edu team has compiled all the coverage of the historic game here. Enjoy!