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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

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]

Program achievements

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

Venues

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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

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

Opponent Won Lost Percentage Streak First
Delta State 3 4 .429 Lost 1 2013
Mississippi College 5 1 .833 Lost 1 2014
North Greenville 3 1 .750 Won 3 2016
Shorter 7 0 1.000 Won 7 2013
Valdosta State 1 6 .143 Lost 3 2013
West Alabama 3 4 .429 Lost 2 2013
West Florida 1 3 .250 Lost 1 2016
West Georgia 3 4 .429 Won 1 2013
Totals 26 23 .531

All-time record vs. non-conference opponents

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School Record First Last
Alderson-Broaddus 1–0 2013 2013
Ave Maria 1–1 2013 2014
Benedict 1–0 2018 2018
Bethune-Cookman 0–1 2014 2014
Fort Valley State 2–1 2015 2019
Lenoir-Rhyne 0–1 2018 2018
McNeese State 0–1 2017 2017
Newberry 3–2 2013 2019
North Alabama$ 0–4 2013 2017
Presbyterian 1–0 2016 2016
Savannah State 1–0 2019 2019
Southeastern Louisiana 0–1 2015 2015
Stetson 2–0 2013 2014
Tarleton State 1–0 2014 2014
Virginia–Lynchburg 1–0 2017 2017
Warner 2–0 2013 2015
Webber International 1–0 2013 2013
Wingate 1–0 2018 2018

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

All-time record vs. ranked opponents

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

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

& playoff game

Rivalries

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West Florida

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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

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Team Name Trophy Active Games played First meeting Last meeting FIT wins FIT losses Win Pct.
West Florida Green tickY Green tickY Green tickY 4 2016 2019 Lost 14–38 1 3 .250

Individual awards and honors

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All-Americans

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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

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2015: Steve Englehart[10]
2014: Steve Englehart [11]
2014: WR Xavier Milton [12]
2018: LB J.T. Hassell [13]
2015: LB J.J. Sanders [14]
2015: RB Antwuan Haynes [15]
2014: QB Mark Cato [16]
2013: LB Chris Stapleton [17]

Notable former players

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Year-by-year results

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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
Games Win Loss Tie Pct. Games Win Loss Tie Pct. Standing
2013 NCAA Division II Gulf South 12 5 7 0 .417 6 1 5 0 .167 6th Steve Englehart
2014 11 6 5 0 .545 7 3 4 0 .429 5th
2015 11 7 4 0 .636 7 5 2 0 .714 T-2nd
2016 11 8 3 0 .727 7 5 2 0 .714 4th
2017 11 5 6 0 .455 8 3 5 0 .375 7th
2018 12 8 4 0 .667 8 5 3 0 .625 T-3rd
2019 11 5 6 0 .455 8 3 5 0 .375 T-6th
Totals 79 44 35 0 .557 51 25 26 0 .490

[2]

Playoffs

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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
2016 Steve Englehart First Round North Greenville L 13–27
2018 First Round at Lenoir-Rhyne L 21–43

Bowl games

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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
2013 Steve Englehart ECAC Futures Bowl at Alderson Broaddus W 32–20

References

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  1. ^ "Florida Tech Athletics Athletics Logo & Style Guide" (PDF). June 19, 2019. Retrieved February 13, 2017.
  2. ^ a b "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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