Fans celebrate bowl win at Hot-n-Ready Panther Party


More than two thousand fans joined the 2010 football team to celebrate FIU’s Sun Belt and Little Caesars Pizza Bowl Championship at the Hot-n-Ready Panther Party Jan. 28.

Students, faculty, staff and alumni cheered as the team took the stage in the Graham Center Ballrooms. Commissioner Jose “Pepe” Diaz presented the Panthers with a plaque making Jan. 28, 2011 “FIU Day.” The City of Sweetwater, Aventura, North Miami Beach and Hialeah also proclaimed the day in the respective cities. A bill has been filed in Congress honoring the team.

Head Coach Mario Cristobal thanked the audience for their support and said the goal was to make every day “FIU Day.”

“A day like this when the entire FIU nation came out to celebrate this thing together, this is what it’s all about,” he added.

Defensive Back Jonathan Cyprien said, “It’s so exciting. It brings a lot of pride to know people care about us like this, that FIU has its own day.”

The party, hosted by the FIU Student Government Association, continued outside on the GC lawn where players and Coach Cristobal signed autographs for more than an hour. Fans were treated to 2,000 slices of free Little Caesars Pizza, 800 Little Caesar dolls and 1,500 coupons for free Crazy Bread.

Check out all the fun:

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