The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

AFTER settling in at the Atlantis resort on Paradise Island, both the Toledo Rockets and the Florida International University Panthers took to the field for their first official workout sessions on Tuesday.

The two teams will practice again today in preparation for Friday’s Makers Wanted Bahamas Bowl collegiate football game at 12:30pm in the Thomas A Robinson National Stadium and carried lived on ESPN.

Also today, some members of both teams will be giving back by visiting the Ranfurly Homes for Children at 1:30pm and then they will engage in a Youth Football Clinic in conjunction with USA Football and the Makers Wanted Bahamas Bowl, sponsored by KFC, at 3:30pm on the field outside of the old Thomas A Robinson track stadium.

On Thursday, the teams and the organisers, along with government officials and bowl honorary ambassador Ed Smith, will participate in a press conference at 11am in the stadium.

But yesterday, it was all about making the adjustment to their new environment this week in the Bahamas. “I thought we were real good at practice today,” said Toledo’s offensive coordinator Brian Wright. “The energy was there. We started off a little bit sluggish, after riding on a plane and the buses and the hotel, but once we got going I was happy with what we were able to get done.”

Although they are in paradise in the Bahamas, Wright said they are still concentrating on the task at hand. They come into the game with a 7-5 win-loss record and 5-3 in the Mid-American Conference. “I think it is the focus out of our guys when we are working on, to lock in and focus on the details of the game plan and what each of us needs to do to get better,” he said.

“Our motto all year has been to get better, so when we are working on football we want to get better. When we are not working on football the focus is to enjoy yourself and take it all in.”

But Wright admitted that it’s not so easy to stay focused being in the environment at Atlantis.

“The Atlantis is pretty spectacular,” he stated. “I’m looking forward to enjoying it this afternoon with the sun out and the warm weather. I am impressed by the hotel and the hospitality of the people of the Bahamas.”

Toledo’s junior offensive lineman Bryce Harris said just making the trek here was an accomplishment in itself for them, but a more personal one for him.

“This is my first time out of the country,” he stated. “Every time I’ve been on a plane it’s been with Toledo football so this is my first time out of the country.”

He too admitted that the atmosphere at Atlantis is second to none.

“One word – beautiful. Just beautiful,” was how he described the resort. “A nice breeze, sunny weather all the time and good water, so it’s great. The Atlantis resort is top notch – top of the line. It’s really nice to get away and be able to see the fish, and everything has been beautiful.”

For FIU defensive coordinator Brent Guy, the first day in the Bahamas was beyond their wildest dreams.

“The Atlantis, the water, everything here is beautiful,” he stressed. “It’s been great, especially when you get to bring kids who may not have ever been here or might not have had the chance in the future. It’s always fun to watch their faces when they get here.”

FIU, with an 8-4 record and 6-2 in the USA Conference, was just delighted to get back on the field, grinding it out for Friday’s showdown. Guy said it was exactly what they needed.

“You’re always a little bit rusty when you start back up. We did a lot of work before we got here so we didn’t have a really long practice today,” he said after they returned to Atlantis.

“It was pretty sharp and focused for the first time out, so it wasn’t bad. We got a lot of work done before we got here, so hopefully we’ll play well on Friday and give everyone a great game.”

No doubt, the public will get to see the Panthers tackle the Rockets’ potent offensive attack as well.

“They’re very good. They have two good running backs, very patient runners,” Guy reflected. “They do a lot of pin and pull, which are harder run plays to fit. They have two very good receivers who we need to know where they are all the time. We’ll have our challenges. They can run, they’ll throw, they have an RPO game. They’re a team that’s hard to defend so it’ll be a challenge for us.”

As for their key to success, Guy said it’s quite simple.

“You’ve always got to create turnovers and win the turnover battle,” he quipped. “We’ll have to win third downs and get off the field.”

FIU’s junior defensive back Stantley Thomas-Oliver III was just as excited about enjoying the island.

“The Bahamas has been amazing. I love everything about it. I love the Atlantis resort. It’s been a good experience, and I’m happy to be here.”

Thomas-Oliver III, however, acknowledged that it was good to get back on the field to work out of the jetlag. “It’s fun, it was exciting,” he pointed out. “We had a good time last night, but at the end of the day we know we came here for a mission and that’s to win the Bahamas Bowl.”

Everyone’s talking about Toldeo’s offence, but Thomas-Oliver III said hopefully they will be prepared for the challenge ahead of them on Friday.

“They’re a very good team. They’re balanced,” said Thomas-Oliver III. “They can run the ball, they can pass the ball. They’ve got a lot of threats in the passing game.

“[Bryant Koback] is a good running back, [Shakif Seymour] is a good back, and their quarterbacks [Mitchell Guadagni and Eli Peters], they can make plays too. They’re a good team, we’ve got to be on our Ps and Qs playing them.”

He further admitted that the Rockets have to be just as concerned about their Panthers’ attack as well. “We’ve just got to play our football,” he said. “We can’t let anything change us. We’ve got to play to our standard and just dominate.”

On Friday at 12:30pm in the Thomas A Robinson National Stadium, the public will know just who has benefitted the most from the ambience that they have experienced here in the Bahamas and, in particular, at the Atlantis resort.