FIU Panthers safety Olin Cushion III, listed at 5-8 and 175 pounds, used his small stature to his advantage recently, hiding behind a referee just before making a game-saving interception in the end zone against Middle Tennessee.
Cushion serves as an apt metaphor for the Panthers, who started the season with virtually no hype. Lindy’s magazine ranked FIU 108th out of 129 FBS teams entering this season and fifth out of seven squads in Conference USA’s East Division.
But the Panthers have surprised many prognosticators so far this season, posting a 5-2 overall record, leading C-USA East with a spotless 3-0 mark.