By MALCOLM BUTLER, Lincoln Parish Journal
MIAMI — Quarterback shuffle.
That’s what Louisiana Tech was forced to play last Saturday when the Bulldogs used three different signal callers during their 42-41 overtime loss to Rice at Joe Aillet Stadium.
Parker McNeil. Matthew Downing. Landry Lyddy.
All three saw action as the injury bug bit the Bulldogs hard.
It’s a scenario that Bulldog head coach Sonny Cumbie hopes his team isn’t forced to repeat tonight when Tech travels to face FIU. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. CT at FIU Stadium in a game that will be televised on CBS Sports Network.
Tech fans can hear the broadcast locally on 92.1 FM with Malcolm Butler and Teddy Allen providing a call of the action with the pregame show starting at 5:30 p.m.
Cumbie said McNeil is the starter, but it will be a game-time decision. Downing is out with a knee injury. Lyddy, a true freshman from Calvary Baptist, and junior college transfer Jack Turner sit on the depth chart behind McNeil entering tonight’s game.
One thing is for certain. Cumbie doesn’t want to see any more injuries.
“I hope if we play multiple quarterbacks (tonight), it’s of our choosing and it’s because the game has gone our way,” said Cumbie.
Regardless of who gets the nod at QB, the Bulldogs will have the challenge of winning on the road and snapping a 12-game winless streak away from Joe Aillet Stadium. Tech’s last road win came at North Texas in December of 2020.
And the Bulldogs will have to do it with a depleted roster that has seen more than its share of injuries on the two-deep over the past few weeks. Tech was minus five defensive starters last week. The hope is a few of those will be back in the lineup tonight.
However, injuries is not an excuse that Cumbie will accept for not playing well.
“Our standard and our expectation is to go out and play really well and be productive, regardless of player and position,” said Cumbie. “We have to have guys amplify their game by doing the fundamentals of their position really well.”
FIU (3-4, 1-2) is coming off a 34-15 road win at Charlotte last Saturday as the Golden Panthers seem to have found their identity over the past few weeks. The win snapped a 14-game Conference USA losing streak for FIU.
“I see a team that is emerging,” said Cumbie on watching film on FIU this week. “I have seen a team that is getting better. This team has found its identity on offense with quarterback Grayson James, who threw for over 300 yards against Charlotte. Tyrese Chambers is one of the top receivers in this conference. He is a very good football player who missed some games this year due to injury.
“I think this is why you are seeing an emergence of FIU on offense. I think they have found a quarterback, and Tyrese Chambers is back.”
Tech (2-5, 1-2 C-USA) has played some really good football in all three phases of the game in flashes this year. However, the Bulldogs are still looking for the consistency that is usually the difference in a win and a loss.
“FIU is very athletic on defense,” said Cumbie. “These guys run well. They rush the passer well. They forced five turnovers last week. It will be a tough challenge. We have to protect the ball and establish a run game. We have to hit explosive plays. And defensively for four quarters we have to tackle well and force some turnovers of our own.”
Tech defeated FIU 43-31 in Ruston in 2019 in the last meeting between the two programs.
