CSNbbs

A couple of preview articles.

From the Miami Herald:

Quote:Posted on Sun, Aug. 08, 2004
 
Five key questions for Owls

How will FAU replace two starters -- tackle Ken Campos and center George Guffey -- on its offensive line?

Campos lost his eligibility when a paperwork problem was discovered in the offseason, and Guffey injured his knee and will miss the season. They were key parts of the Owls' success a year ago. The team's line rebounded from a poor, injury-riddled 2002 to become a strength in 2003. Now, minus two starters, it enters camp as a question mark. Nello Faulk, a sophomore who played sparingly last season, is expected to replace Campos. Faulk, 6-6 and 245 pounds, could use another year in the weight room. Jared Smith will get the first opportunity to replace Guffey.

After getting a taste of the playoffs last season, what will motivate FAU this season?

The school is in the process of moving from Division I-AA to I-A and is in limbo this season. As part of the application process, FAU cannot qualify for the playoffs. It also cannot compete for a bowl berth. But coach Howard Schnellenberger has his team primed for the season with talk of winning a ''mythical Sun Belt Conference championship.'' For players, though they're disappointed the playoff run of last season can't be duplicated, the allure of making the I-A transition seems to be enough.

Can the defense, led by a superb secondary, hold up against superior opposition?

Schnellenberger compares Willie Hughley to a young Sam Madison, who played under the coach at Louisville and went on to a Pro Bowl career with the Dolphins. Hughley is the leader of a talented secondary and should cause opponents to think twice about throwing his way. If Hughley can shut down the opposition's best receiver, the Owls' defense will have a chance to throw off the offense's timing.

Can FAU average 15,000 fans per game?

Perhaps the question surrounding FAU has little to do with the on-field competition. The school must average 15,000 fans, per NCAA rules, to complete the transition from I-AA to I-A. The Owls must be competitive and win their share of games while trying creative approaches to attract fans.

What else does Schnellenberger have in his crystal ball?

Schnellenberger made a bold prediction five years ago that FAU would compete at the I-A level by the time his first class of players graduated. While technically incorrect, the school will begin the two-year process this season and will play a schedule laced with I-A opponents. Schnellenberger also predicted a new on-campus stadium, at an estimated cost of $85 million, by 2007. Who will doubt him after his I-A promise?

-- BOB EMANUEL JR.

<a href='http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/sports/colleges/florida_atlantic_university/9347203.htm' target='_blank'>http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/sport...ity/9347203.htm</a>

Two from the Sun-Sentinel:

Quote:Owls' priority on progress

By Ted Hutton
Staff Writer
Posted August 8 2004

BOCA RATON · Florida Atlantic coach Howard Schnellenberger, beginning his 20th season running a program, said the FAU team that takes the field Monday for its first practice of the season is unlike any he has had before.

"It is technically impossible for a team to be more experienced than we are," said Schnellenberger, who has been FAU's only coach after creating the program from scratch.

Schnellenberger built FAU with freshmen, with the first recruiting class all being redshirted in 2000 when Owls did not play a game.

Those players were joined by true freshmen when FAU played its first season in 2001, and 29 of those players are still on the team, many with 30 or more games of experience.

But this team finds itself in an unusual situation this year.

FAU ended last year ranked No. 4 in Division I-AA after going 11-3 and making it to the semifinals.

With 19 of 22 starters back, the Owls could rightfully have expected to be preseason No. 1 and favorites to win the national title that barely eluded them in 2003.

But FAU's desire to move up to I-A has put the team in the NCAA equivalent of purgatory.

The Owls are beginning the two-year transition to I-A, and that means that while they will be listed among the I-AA teams by the NCAA, they are not eligible for the playoffs.

And because they are still not officially I-A, they are also not eligible for a bowl game. One more problem: Because the Owls won't become members of the Sun Belt until 2005, they cannot compete for the Sun Belt title.

But the Owls insist they still have plenty to play for when they begin practice for their fourth season.

"It's kind of a bad feeling that there is no postseason for us," said senior quarterback Jared Allen. "But our goal when we came here was to get the program to I-A, and that is what we are doing."

"Our motivation is playing I-A ball and beating people we aren't supposed to beat," said senior linebacker Chris Laskowski, who, like Allen, is among the 29 seniors FAU will rely on this season.

Laskowski and Allen are among nine players who have appeared in all 35 games in FAU's three-year history.

FAU will play its toughest schedule, facing six I-A teams, four on the road.

"Motivation?" asked Schnellenberger, acting surprised by the question. "Why, our assault on Division I."

But there is some concern about how FAU will react after a year when it went on a 10-game winning streak that took it from obscurity to an appearance on national TV.

What made last season even more surprising was that it followed a year when the Owls were 2-9.

"It's easier to handle adversity than it is success," defensive coordinator Kirk Hoza said. "It's easy to play well coming off a season where you got your nose rubbed in it all year. Now, all of a sudden, coming off an 11-3 year ... "

The Owls will find out early where they stand. FAU's first three games are on the road, and all against I-A opponents, two of which played in bowl games last year.

FAU opens at Hawaii, which went 9-5 last year and has Heisman candidate Timmy Chang at quarterback. The Owls then travel to play defending Sun Belt champion North Texas. That team was 9-4 last year and is the preseason pick to top the conference.

FAU's seniors vow that there will not be a letdown this season, and that they still have a lot to prove.

"We don't want to have just a good season," said linebacker Tyrone Higgins. "We want to win all our games."

"We are going to continue to let people know that we are here and are going to stay. After last year, we can't go out any other way," Laskowski said.

FEW OPENINGS

FAU lost just three starters. Center George Guffey had knee surgery and is out for the season, while offensive lineman Ken Campos and linebacker Quentin Swain ran out of eligibility.

Also lost were punter Andy Rosas and long snapper Brian Pare.

The Owls will practice at 3:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Monday and Tuesday the Owls will be without pads, and Friday will be the first day with full pads.

The first three-a-day practice is Saturday and the first scrimmage is Aug. 17. 

and the other:

Quote:Florida Atlantic preview

Posted August 8 2004

First practice: 3:30 p.m. Monday.

Up for grabs: With 19 of 22 starters back, there is not a whole lot of suspense. The offensive line has two openings, at center and right guard. Jarrid Smith (6 feet 2, 250 pounds), a redshirt freshman, goes into camp as the No. 1 center. Sophomores Nello Faulk (6-6, 245) and Antes Perkins (6-4, 265) will battle for the tackle spot. There is some sorting out to do in the defensive backfield among six players who have all been starters in the past. The Owls also need to find a punter and long snapper; there are no front-runners at the moment.

No worries: The defense is stacked with experienced talent and depth, and the offense is coming off its best year with nearly everyone back, so expectations are high for the team despite a big upgrade in the schedule.

On the spot: FAU's running back-by-committee has been a necessity, as no back has separated himself from the pack. It's time for senior Doug Parker, FAU's first big-name recruit, to grab the spot. After missing all of 2002, Parker seemed to be rounding into form at the end of last season, and he had a strong spring.

The buzz: There isn't a more experienced college football team in America, as the redshirt freshmen and true freshmen that formed the nucleus of the team that started play in 2001 are now seniors and four-year starters. The question is whether the experience can overcome the disparity in size and athleticism FAU faces against the six Division I-A teams it plays. The answer will come quickly, with FAU's first three games on the road against I-A opponents.

<a href='http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/college/fau/sfl-faufootboxaug08,0,5614717.story?coll=sfla-fau' target='_blank'>http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/college...y?coll=sfla-fau</a>

<a href='http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/college/fau/sfl-fau08aug08,0,360065.story?coll=sfla-fau' target='_blank'>http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/college...y?coll=sfla-fau</a>

MaXx