FIU Football mourns the loss of former DB Emmanuel Lubin

Donations to the Emmanuel Lubin Memorial Fund can be made below:

https://www.gofundme.com/emmanuel-lubin-memorial-fund

Arguably, the most precious commodity we have as people is time. Like many properties, time is finite.

No matter the amount of vigor we exert to try and slow it down, inevitably, it runs out.

The reason the concept of time can elicit such sadness from us is because we have no control over when it’s reached its limit.

For Emmanuel Lubin, his life ended well before its apex had been reached. He was killed in an automobile accident on the Florida Turnpike Saturday evening.

Lubin, 21, was a North Miami Beach native who took the field 45 times as an FIU Panther in four short years.

However, judging by the outpouring of emotion from his former teammates, his time at FIU will live on in the memories of everyone associated with the Panthers’ football program.

The tributes to the 21-year-old were endless on social media. Coming from current and former Panthers’ alike, as well coaches.

Head coach Butch Davis released the following statement in the wake of Lubin’s passing.

“Tragically, we lost a great young man in Emmanuel Lubin last night. He was a hard worker, great teammate and was respected and loved by his teammates, coaches and staff at FIU. His character, work ethic and leadership were instrumental in leading our program to success these past two seasons. Our football program is mourning his loss and we will honor Emmanuel every day moving forward. Our hearts and prayers go out to his friends and family.”

Unfortunately, this is not the FIU football family’s first time dealing with tragedy.

Last season, running back Anthony Jones and offensive lineman Mershawn Miller were injured in an off-campus drive by shooting. Had the bullet been a few centimeters in a different direction, Jones wouldn’t be here today.

Having covered this team for the past 15 months I can say that while many football programs boast at every opportunity about being a family, this FIU team has lived experiences that have made them a family in ways that others haven’t.

Lastly, I didn’t have many interactions with Lubin. We spoke on a handful of occasions, with the last of which being the postgame presser after the loss to Marshall, and after his pro day workout for professional scouts.

What I saw on these occasions were the same qualities that those who knew him best have talked about in the hours after his death.

Photo by Samuel Lewis/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

After the Marshall loss, Lubin was clearly frustrated, not for himself, but for his teammates, as they lost a chance to compete for a conference title. However, he handled each question with a positive nature.

His was one of the primary voices that could be heard rooting on his teammates inside of the weight room during FIU’s pro day was his.

No matter the occasion, the smile and energy from Lubin was evident to those who came in contact with him and his legacy will live on eternally at FIU.