Florida Tech Panthers football

The Florida Tech Panthers football program was the intercollegiate American football team for the Florida Institute of Technology located in the U.S. state of Florida. The team competed in the NCAA Division II and was a member of the Gulf South Conference. Florida Tech's first football team was fielded in 2013, and the final team was fielded in 2019. Steve Englehart was the first and only head coach.[2] In May 2020, Florida Tech shut down its football program due to budget cuts that followed the COVID-19 pandemic.[3]

For information on all Florida Institute of Technology sports, see Florida Tech Panthers.
Florida Tech Panthers football
First season2013
Last season2019
StadiumFlorida Tech Panther Stadium
(capacity: 4,989)
LocationMelbourne, Florida
NCAA divisionDivision II
ConferenceGulf South Conference
All-time record44–35 (.557)
Bowl record1–0 (1.000)
RivalriesWest Florida
ColorsRed and silver[1]
   
MascotPete The Panther

Program achievements
Gulf South Conference Champions
NCAA Division II Team Playoff Participants 2016, 2018
NCAA Division II Regional Championships
NCAA Division II National Championships

Venues

The team played its home games in Florida Tech Panther Stadium at Palm Bay High School in Melbourne, Florida. In July 2015, Florida Tech bought naming rights to the stadium; prior to this, the facility was known as Pirate Stadium.[4]

All-time record vs. current Gulf South Conference opponents

Official record (including any NCAA-imposed vacates and forfeits) against all current GSC opponents:

Opponent Won Lost Percentage Streak First
Delta State34.429Lost 12013
Mississippi College51.833Lost 12014
North Greenville31.750Won 32016
Shorter701.000Won 72013
Valdosta State16.143Lost 32013
West Alabama34.429Lost 22013
West Florida13.250Lost 12016
West Georgia34.429Won 12013
Totals 26 23 .531

All-time record vs. non-conference opponents
School Record First Last
Alderson-Broaddus1–020132013
Ave Maria1–120132014
Benedict1–020182018
Bethune-Cookman0–120142014
Fort Valley State2–120152019
Lenoir-Rhyne0–120182018
McNeese State0–120172017
Newberry3–220132019
North Alabama$0–420132017
Presbyterian1–020162016
Savannah State1–020192019
Southeastern Louisiana0–120152015
Stetson2–020132014
Tarleton State1–020142014
Virginia–Lynchburg1–020172017
Warner2–020132015
Webber International1–020132013
Wingate1–020182018

$ North Alabama was a member of the Gulf South Conference for the matchups between 2013 and 2017

All-time record vs. ranked opponents

Florida Tech was 6–16 all-time against ranked opponents with two of those wins coming against Top 5 teams in the 2015 season, at #5 Delta State and at home against #1 West Georgia. Two of the losses were to ranked FCS teams, in 2014 at Bethune-Cookman and 2015 at Southeast Louisiana. The Panthers won at least one game against a ranked opponent in every season between 2014 and 2018.

Season Date Opponent Ranking Result
2013September 19, 2013West Alabama#16L 3–45
2013October 5, 2013at Valdosta State#1L 14–52
2013November 9, 2013North Alabama#24L 28–55
2014September 20, 2014^ Tarleton State#12W 37–31
2014September 27, 2014at Bethune-Cookman#15 (FCS)L 33–34
2014October 2, 2014Delta State#11L 20–58
2014October 18, 2014North Alabama#4L 31–34
2014November 15, 2014Valdosta State#25L 29–31
2015September 12, 2015at Southeastern Louisiana#18 (FCS)L 17–28
2015September 26, 2015at North Alabama#8L 48–55
2015October 3, 2015at Delta State#5W 41–37
2015November 7, 2015West Georgia#1W 28–26
2015November 14, 2015at Valdosta State#18L 21–39
2016October 29, 2016Valdosta State#14W 38–20
2017October 21, 2017West Alabama#18W 41–39
2017November 4, 2017West Georgia#25L 13–20
2018September 22, 2018at West Georgia#8L 21–30
2018October 13, 2018Valdosta State#8L 21–51
2018October 20, 2018at West Florida#17W 30–28
2018November 17, 2018&at Lenoir-Rhyne#17L 21–43
2019October 19, 2019at Valdosta State#1L 28–55
2019October 26, 2019West Florida#20L 14–38

^ game was played at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, TX[5]

& playoff game

Rivalries

West Florida

Florida Tech played West Florida each year in the Coastal Classic, a matchup of the only Division II football programs in the state of Florida. The winner was awarded the Coastal Classic Trophy. The trophy stands 24 inches tall on a six-inch wooden base. It features a large bronze anchor and a 6-pointed ship's wheel with nautical sailing rope as the focal point of the trophy. A small bell is attached to the anchor with a white segment of sailing rope attached to its clapper.[6]

West Florida won the series' first installment during their inaugural season of 2016, upsetting the 16th ranked Panthers, 42–39 in Pensacola.[7] The following year in Melbourne, a controversial intentional grounding penalty against Florida Tech on fourth down on what would have been the game's final play gave West Florida the ball for one play to attempt and convert a 44-yard field goal for a 23–21 victory.[8] Florida Tech got its revenge along with its first ever win against West Florida in memorable fashion in 2018, rallying from a 21–3 first-half deficit to score 27 straight points and hold on to beat the 17th ranked Argonauts, 30–28.[9]

All-time records versus rivals
Team Name Trophy Active Games played First meeting Last meeting FIT wins FIT losses Win Pct.
West FloridaGreen tickYGreen tickYGreen tickY420162019 Lost 14–3813.250

Individual awards and honors

All-Americans

Florida Tech has had 18 players honored as All-Americans. To date, Adonis Davis is the only AP First Team All-American and J.T. Hassell is the only AFCA First Team All-American.

  • J.T. Hassell – Linebacker, 2018 (American Football Coaches Association, D2CCA, Don Hansen Committee) First Team, (Associated Press, D2Football.com) Second Team
  • Adonis Davis – Defensive Lineman, 2018 (D2football.com) Honorable Mention, 2017 (AP, Street & Smith's) First Team, (AFCA) Second Team, (D2Football.com) Honorable Mention
  • Romell Guerrier – Wide Receiver, 2018 (Don Hansen Committee) Honorable Mention
  • Antwuan Haynes – Running Back, 2016 (Don Hansen Committee) Honorable Mention, 2015 (USA College Football) Freshman Team
  • Kenny Johnston – Tight End, 2016 (AFCA, Don Hansen Committee, D2CCA), 2015 (Don Hansen Committee, USA College Football)
  • Chris Stapleton - Linebacker, 2016 (Don Hansen Committee) Third Team
  • Gabe Hughes – Tight End, 2015 (D2Football.com) Honorable Mention, 2014 (Don Hansen Committee) Third Team
  • J.J. Sanders – Linebacker, 2015 (Don Hansen Committee, USA College Football), 2014 (Don Hansen Committee, USA College Football) Third Team
  • T.J. Lowder – Wide Receiver, 2015 (USA College Football) Second Team
  • Kevin Delgado – Right Guard, 2015 (USA College Football) First Team
  • Manny Abad – Cornerback, 2015 (USA College Football) Second Team
  • Leo Alba II – Cornerback, 2015 (USA College Football) Second Team
  • Matt Garcia – Left Tackle, 2015 (USA College Football) Honorable Mention , 2014 (USA College Football) Honorable Mention
  • Blake Stone – Center, 2015 (USA College Football) Second Team
  • Xavier Milton – Wide Receiver, 2014 (Daktronics, D2Football.com, Don Hansen Committee, USA College Football) First Team
  • Mark Cato – Quarterback, 2014 (USA College Football) Freshman Team
  • Trevor Sand – Running Back, 2014 (USA College Football) Third Team
  • Ramsey Sellers – Center, 2014 (USA College Football) Third Team

Conference honors
  • Gulf South Conference Coach of the Year
2015: Steve Englehart[10]
2014: Steve Englehart [11]
  • Gulf South Conference Offensive Player of the Year
2014: WR Xavier Milton [12]
  • Gulf South Conference Defensive Player of the Year
2018: LB J.T. Hassell [13]
2015: LB J.J. Sanders [14]
  • Gulf South Conference Offensive Freshman of the Year
2015: RB Antwuan Haynes [15]
2014: QB Mark Cato [16]
  • Gulf South Conference Defensive Freshman of the Year
2013: LB Chris Stapleton [17]

Notable former players

Year-by-year results
Statistics correct as of the 2018–19 college football season
NCAA Division I champions NCAA Division I FCS champions NCAA Division II champions Conference Champions Division Champions Bowl Eligible Undefeated Season
Year NCAA Division Conference Overall Conference Coach
GamesWinLossTiePct. GamesWinLossTiePct.Standing
2013NCAA Division IIGulf South12570.4176150.1676thSteve Englehart
201411650.5457340.4295th
201511740.6367520.714T-2nd
201611830.7277520.7144th
201711560.4558350.3757th
201812840.6678530.625T-3rd
201911560.4558350.375T-6th
Totals 79 44 35 0 .557 51 25 26 0 .490

[2]

Playoffs

The Panthers appeared in the Division II playoffs twice. Their playoff record is 0–2.

FIT earned their first playoff berth in 2016, the fourth season in program history. Their 8–2 record earned them the #3 seed in Super Region Two and a first-round home game only to be upset by North Greenville, 27–13.[18]

They returned to the playoffs two seasons later, earning the #6 seed in Super Region Two on the strength of an 8–3 record. They were again knocked out in the first round, this time at third-seeded Lenoir-Rhyne, 43–21.[19]

Season Coach Playoff Opponent Result
2016Steve EnglehartFirst RoundNorth GreenvilleL 13–27
2018First Roundat Lenoir-RhyneL 21–43

Bowl games

The Panthers played in one bowl game, the 2013 ECAC Futures Bowl, which happened at the conclusion of their inaugural season against fellow first-year program Alderson-Broaddus in Philippi, West Virginia. The Panthers won that game, 32–20, on a snowy afternoon thanks to 295 passing yards and four touchdowns from Bobby Vega along with Xavier Milton's 14 receptions for 177 yards and two touchdowns.[20]

Season Coach Bowl Opponent Result
2013Steve EnglehartECAC Futures Bowlat Alderson BroaddusW 32–20

References
  1. "Florida Tech Athletics Athletics Logo & Style Guide" (PDF). June 19, 2019. Retrieved February 13, 2017.
  2. "Florida Tech Historical Data". College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from the original on 2014-02-23. Retrieved 2013-09-17.
  3. Rogers, Eric; Neale, Rick (May 11, 2020). "Florida Tech cuts football program, announces layoffs due to COVID-19 impacts". Florida Today. Melbourne, Florida. Retrieved May 12, 2020.
  4. "Pirate Stadium in Palm Bay to Become Florida Tech Panther Stadium". Florida Institute of Technology. Retrieved 31 March 2016.
  5. "FLORIDA TECH TOPS #12 TARLETON STATE, 37-31". Florida Institute of Technology. Retrieved 4 January 2019.
  6. "Panthers, Argonauts set to Square off in Coastal Classic". Florida Institute of Technology. Retrieved 4 January 2019.
  7. "Florida Tech Defeated 42-39 in First Coastal Classic". Florida Institute of Technology. Retrieved 4 January 2019.
  8. "FIT Dealt Heartbreaking 23-21 Loss to West Florida". Florida Institute of Technology. Retrieved 4 January 2019.
  9. "Florida Tech Comes Back to Win Coastal Classic". Florida Institute of Technology. Retrieved 4 January 2019.
  10. "GSC Announces All-Conference Football Honors". Gulf South Conference. Retrieved 6 January 2019.
  11. "GSC Announces 2014 All-Conference Football Honors". Gulf South Conference. Retrieved 6 January 2019.
  12. "GSC Announces 2014 All-Conference Football Honors". Gulf South Conference. Retrieved 6 January 2019.
  13. "GSC Announces 2018 Football All-Conference Awards". Gulf South Conference. Retrieved 6 January 2019.
  14. "GSC Announces All-Conference Football Honors". Gulf South Conference. Retrieved 6 January 2019.
  15. "GSC Announces All-Conference Football Honors". Gulf South Conference. Retrieved 6 January 2019.
  16. "GSC Announces 2014 All-Conference Football Honors". Gulf South Conference. Retrieved 6 January 2019.
  17. "GSC Announces All-Conference Football Honors". Gulf South Conference. Retrieved 6 January 2019.
  18. "Florida Tech's Season Ends in 27-13 Loss in NCAA Playoffs". Florida Institute of Technology. Retrieved 4 January 2019.
  19. "Panthers' Season Ends with NCAA Playoff Loss to Lenoir-Rhyne". Florida Institute of Technology. Retrieved 4 January 2019.
  20. "PANTHERS WIN FIRST-EVER ECAC FUTURES BOWL, 32–20". Florida Institute of Technology. Retrieved 4 January 2019.
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