2008 Florida Atlantic Owls football team

NCAATeamFootballSeason
Year=2008
Team=Florida Atlantic Owls


Conference=Sun Belt Conference
Division=
ShortConference=Sun Belt
Record=1-5
ConfRecord=0-2
CoachRank=
APRank=
HeadCoach=Howard Schnellenberger
OffCoach=Gary Nord
DefCoach=Kirk Hoza
OScheme=Pro Style
DScheme=4-3
StadiumArena=Lockhart Stadium
(20,000, grass)
Champion=
Bowl=
BowlResult=The 2008 Florida Atlantic University Owls football team represent Florida Atlantic University in the 2008 college football season. The team is coached by Howard Schnellenberger and play their home games at Lockhart Stadium in Ft. Lauderdale, FL. The Owls enter the season as defending Sun Belt Conference Champions (splitting the title with Troy).

Preseason

The Florida Atlantic Owls enter the 2008 college football season defending their conference championship and just one year removed from their first-ever bowl appearance and victory. The record-setting 2007 team ended the season 8-5 (6-1 SBC). Quarterback Rusty Smith, a junior, returns with much hype and national recognition. The 2008 team also returns an overwhelming majority of starters from the conference champion team, as it only lost four seniors (DB Kris Bartels, OL Jarrid Smith, LB Cergile Sincere, DL Josh Pinnick).

In the Preseason Sun Belt Coaches' Poll, the Owls were a clear favorite to repeat as champions. FAU received 62 total points and 6 first-place votes.

Preseason honors

Preseason Sun Belt Players of the Year

*Sun Belt Conference Player of the Year, Offense: Rusty Smith (QB, Jr.)
*Sun Belt Conference Player of the Year, Defense: Frantz Joseph (LB, Sr.)

Preseason All-Sun Belt honors

*Rusty Smith (QB, Jr.)
*Cortez Gent (WR, Jr.)
*Nick Paris (OL, Sr.)
*Jervonte Jackson (DL, Sr.)
*Robert St. Clair (DL, Sr.)
*Frantz Joseph (LB, Sr.)
*Tavious Polo (CB, So.)
*Corey Small (CB, Sr.)

2008 schedule and results

CFB Schedule Start
ranklink=no
tv=yes
rank=no
attend=yesCFB Schedule Entry
date = August 30
nonconf =yes
time = 7:00 pm
away =yes
opponent = Texas
opprank = 10
rank = no
site_stadium = Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium
site_cityst = Austin, TX
tv = PPV
w/l = l
score = 52-10
attend = 98,053CFB Schedule Entry
date = September 6
nonconf = yes
time = 4:00 pm
away =
opponent = UAB
rank = no
site_stadium = Lockhart Stadium
site_cityst = Ft. Lauderdale, FL
tv =
w/l =w
score = 49-34
attend = 15,143CFB Schedule Entry
date = September 13
nonconf = yes
time = 12:00 pm
away = yes
opponent = Michigan State
rank = no
site_stadium = Spartan Stadium
site_cityst = East Lansing, MI
tv = ESPN2
w/l = l
score = 17-0
attend = 70,321CFB Schedule Entry
date = September 20
nonconf = yes
time = 12:00 pm
away =yes
opponent = Minnesota
rank = no
site_stadium = Hubert H Humphrey Metrodome
site_cityst = Minneapolis, MN
tv = BTN
w/l =l
score =37-3
attend = 41,003CFB Schedule Entry
date = September 30
nonconf =
time =8:00 pm
away =yes
opponent = Middle Tennessee
rank = no
site_stadium = Johnny "Red" Floyd Stadium
site_cityst = Murfreesboro, TN
tv = ESPN2
w/l = l
score = 14-13
attend = 25,766CFB Schedule Entry
date = October 7
nonconf =
time =8:00 pm
away =
opponent = Troy
rank = no
site_stadium = Lockhart Stadium
site_cityst = Ft. Lauderdale, FL
tv = ESPN2
w/l = l
score = 30-17
attend = 17,191CFB Schedule Entry
date = October 18
nonconf = yes
time = 7:00 pm
away = yes
opponent = Western Kentucky
rank = no
site_stadium = L.T. Smith Stadium
site_cityst = Bowling Green, KY
tv =
w/l =
score =
attend = CFB Schedule Entry
date = October 25
nonconf =
time =7:00 pm
away =yes
opponent = Louisiana-Monroe
rank = no
site_stadium = Malone Stadium
site_cityst = Monroe, LA
tv = CSS
w/l =
score =
attend = CFB Schedule Entry
date = November 8
nonconf =
time =4:00 pm
away =
opponent = North Texas
rank = no
site_stadium = Lockhart Stadium
site_cityst = Ft. Lauderdale, FL
tv =
w/l =
score =
attend = CFB Schedule Entry
date = November 15
nonconf =
time =4:00 pm
away =
opponent = Louisiana-Lafayette
rank = no
site_stadium = Lockhart Stadium
site_cityst = Ft. Lauderdale, FL
tv =
w/l =
score =
attend = CFB Schedule Entry
date = November 22
nonconf =
time =3:00 pm
away =yes
opponent = Arkansas State
rank = no
site_stadium = Indian Stadium
site_cityst = Jonesboro, AR
tv = CSS
w/l =
score =
attend = CFB Schedule Entry
date = November 29
nonconf =
time =4:00 pm
away =
opponent = Florida International
rank = no
site_stadium = Dolphin Stadium
site_cityst = Miami Gardens, FL
gamename = Shula Bowl VII
tv =
w/l =
score =
attend =

Rankings

Linescore Amfootball
Road=Blazers
R1=3
R2=14
R3=6
R4=11
Home=Owls
H1=14
H2=14
H3=7
H4=14 opponent, the UAB Blazers. The reassuring statistic for the Owls offense was that the running game, which was absent against Texas, finally made its season debut, amassing 196 yards. Quarterback Rusty Smith was once against flawless, leading the passing attack to 358 yards. With all the positive that came from the offense, FAU's defense struggled all day to find any sort of rhythm. The lone highlight of the game for the defense was its five sacks, two of which came from senior defensive end Michael Hancock.

Rusty Smith was untouchable, passing for 325 yards on 21 completions. He added three touchdowns to that with no interceptions. His favorite target was junior wide receiver Cortez Gent, who caught eight passes for 146 yards and a touchdown. Gent also threw for a 33-yard touchdown on a reverse. Receivers Lester Jean and Chris Bonner had two touchdowns and one touchdown, respectively. Reserve running back DiIvory Edgecomb added a touchdown. The Owls totaled seven touchdowns on the day. Seniors linebacker Frantz Joseph and cornerback Corey Smith led the Owls with six tackles each. Joseph also added 10 tackles that were assisted, giving him 11 total tackles.

Florida Atlantic 1-1 (0-0 SBC)

Michigan State

Linescore Amfootball
Road=Owls
R1=7
R2=3
R3=0
R4=3
Home=Blue Raiders
H1=0
H2=0
H3=0
H4=14

Troy

Linescore Amfootball
Road=Owls
R1=
R2=
R3=
R4=
Home=Warhawks
H1=
H2=
H3=
H4=

North Texas

Linescore Amfootball
Road=Owls
R1=
R2=
R3=
R4=
Home=Red Wolves
H1=
H2=
H3=
H4=

Florida International

Linescore Amfootball
Road=Golden Panthers
R1=
R2=
R3=
R4=
Home=Owls
H1=
H2=
H3=
H4=

References

External links

* [http://www.fausports.com FAUsports.com]