FIU sports program should change its game plan

Re Miami Herald Sports columnist Michelle Kaufman’s Nov. 17 column, “Put futbol over football: With its football team struggling, FIU would be better served to focus on soccer:” She is partly correct, though I would never suggest a school go all in on a non-revenue sport. However, in more than 20 years, Florida International University’s football program has not brought the kind of attention to the school that it would like.

Be it a lack of resources, poor strategic decisions or external factors beyond FIU’s control, the program has never really turned the corner to be competitive even at the Group of Five conferences level, never mind within the wider Football Bowl Subdivision universe. FIU isn’t alone in this regard. Practically every school is precluded from competing at a championship level, and that is before one considers that the cards are stacked against Group of Five schools.

However, FIU does have the resources to be meaningfully competitive in basketball, and as an urban university in a state without an identifiable basketball school, FIU could benefit from being where everyone else isn’t. There are six other schools in the state chasing football glory, with only one or two really poised to attain it.

Florida International University should use its available resources, find new resources and develop the right partnerships to compete meaningfully in men’s and women’s basketball, baseball and soccer. This will bring a tradition of winning to the school, develop a connection with students and alumni, and build an identifiable brand that stands on its own.

Let’s not repeat the mistakes of the past; let’s succeed where others are not and move forward smartly. – Julian Kasdin,

Miami Shores