Panthers Receive Futures Bowl Rings In Ceremony
By Florida Tech // February 26, 2014
COMMEMORATES inaugural season
ABOVE VIDEO: Florida Tech head football coach Steve Englehart discusses the Panthers’ 2013 season with Space Coast Daily’s Matt O’Hern.
BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA — Florida Tech football players had an extra pep in their step as they filed into the meeting room of the Varsity Training Center Monday night to receive their rings for winning the Eastern College Athletic Conference Division II Futures Bowl last November.
The rings were symbolic of not only their 32-20 bowl win over fellow first-year program Alderson Broaddus, but of the hard work the coaching staff and student-athletes gave throughout the inaugural season.
The season was one of many firsts and it will be a season the team will look to build on heading into the fall.
“When we were looking at rings, one of the most important things to me was having ‘Inaugural Season’ on it,” head coach Steve Englehart said.
“It shows a lot of hard work that went into that first year. It’s definitely a big momentum boost for next year. Rewards are a great way to motivate people. These young men might lift a little harder and run a little longer because they have something like this that they can look at and know it’s a great symbol of hard work and what’s to come if hard work continues.”
The ring, manufactured by Jostens, features the Panthers’ logo and the words “ECAC Futures Bowl Champions” on the top.
On one side is the last name of the recipient, the Panthers’ helmet, the acronym N.O.W. standing for No Other Way, their position and jersey number.
On the other side is the Florida Tech wordmark, the words “Inaugural Season,” the Futures Bowl Trophy and 2013. Etched inside the ring is “Panther Pride.”
“This is something I will always remember,” Englehart said.
“I’ll remember that first group. I’ll think back and remember some of the games. Beating Shorter the way we beat them at the end of the game, having the bowl victory, driving up to West Virginia and eating at the Shoney’s in West Virginia at 7 a.m. after driving through the night. A lot of memories will come back when I look at this ring.”
