After a month of losses and turmoil, the sun seemed a little brighter, the food a little tastier for Florida International's football program.
This time a week ago, the Panthers were 0-4 and adjusting to a midseason coaching change as Ron Turner was fired a third of the way through his fourth year after a 53-14 loss to UCF that followed a loss to Massachusetts of the FCS.
Then they fell behind arch-rival Florida Atlantic in the first minute, the first of three deficits the Panthers faced in the Don Shula Bowl.
FIU, though, never bent.