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.
In May 2020, Florida Tech shut down its football program due to budget cuts that followed the COVID-19 pandemic.Florida Tech shuts down football program due to coronavirus pandemic on wtxl.com, 12 May 2020
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.
All-time record vs. current Gulf South Conference opponents
Official record (including any NCAA-imposed vacates and forfeits) against all current GSC opponents:
Delta State 3 4 Lost 1 2013 Mississippi College 5 1 Lost 1 2014 North Greenville 3 1 Won 3 2016 Shorter 7 0 Won 7 2013 Valdosta State 1 6 Lost 3 2013 West Alabama 3 4 Lost 2 2013 West Florida 1 3 Lost 1 2016 West Georgia 3 4 Won 1 2013 Totals 26 23
All-time record vs. non-conference opponents 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 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.
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
& 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.
West Florida won the series' first installment during their inaugural season of 2016, upsetting the 16th ranked Panthers, 42–39 in Pensacola. 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. 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.
All-time records versus rivals
West Florida 4 2016 2019 Lost 14–38 1 3
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) , (Associated Press, D2Football.com) Adonis Davis – Defensive Lineman, 2018 (D2football.com) , 2017 (AP, Street & Smith's), (AFCA) , (D2Football.com) Romell Guerrier – Wide Receiver, 2018 (Don Hansen Committee) Antwuan Haynes – Running Back, 2016 (Don Hansen Committee) , 2015 (USA College Football) Kenny Johnston – Tight End, 2016 (AFCA, Don Hansen Committee, D2CCA), 2015 (Don Hansen Committee, USA College Football) Chris Stapleton - Linebacker, 2016 (Don Hansen Committee) Gabe Hughes – Tight End, 2015 (D2Football.com) , 2014 (Don Hansen Committee) J.J. Sanders – Linebacker, 2015 (Don Hansen Committee, USA College Football), 2014 (Don Hansen Committee, USA College Football) T.J. Lowder – Wide Receiver, 2015 (USA College Football) Kevin Delgado – Right Guard, 2015 (USA College Football) Manny Abad – Cornerback, 2015 (USA College Football) Leo Alba II – Cornerback, 2015 (USA College Football) Matt Garcia – Left Tackle, 2015 (USA College Football) , 2014 (USA College Football) Blake Stone – Center, 2015 (USA College Football) Xavier Milton – Wide Receiver, 2014 (Daktronics, D2Football.com, Don Hansen Committee, USA College Football) Mark Cato – Quarterback, 2014 (USA College Football) Trevor Sand – Running Back, 2014 (USA College Football) Ramsey Sellers – Center, 2014 (USA College Football)
Conference honors Gulf South Conference Coach of the Year 2015: Steve Englehart 2014: Steve Englehart
Gulf South Conference Offensive Player of the Year 2014: WR Xavier Milton
Gulf South Conference Defensive Player of the Year 2018: LB J.T. Hassell 2015: LB J.J. Sanders
Gulf South Conference Offensive Freshman of the Year 2015: RB Antwuan Haynes 2014: QB Mark Cato
Gulf South Conference Defensive Freshman of the Year 2013: LB Chris Stapleton
Notable former players Manny Abad: Cornerback Tennessee Titans Preseason/Practice Squad (2017) Dean Faithfull: Kicker, Canadian Football League J.T. Hassell: NFL Safety (2019–2020) Gabe Hughes: Tight End, Miami Dolphins Practice Squad (2016) Jiya Wright: Quarterback, Sioux Falls Storm
Year-by-year results Statistics correct as of the 2018–19 college football season NCAA Division I championsNCAA Division I FCS championsNCAA Division II championsConference championsDivision championsBowl EligibleUndefeated Season YearNCAA DivisionConferenceOverallConferenceCoach 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
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.
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. 2016 Steve Englehart First Round North Greenville L 13–27 2018 First Round at Lenoir-Rhyne L 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.
2013 Steve Englehart ECAC Futures Bowl W 32–20
References