Previewing 2009 Wyoming Opponents: Florida Atlantic Owls

Jeremy Mauss — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 22:30:35 -0000

Florida Atlantic made history last year by attending the Motor City Bowl; which they won by defeating Central Michigan. The big deal was that FAU from the Sun Belt was the first team from the league to get an at-large berth to a bowl, which also happened to be the first time the Sun Belt sent two teams bowling in a year.

The Owls have possibly the best quarterback in the league with Rusty Smith who is a giant at 6-5, and while he did struggle last year the hopes for FAU is that he can return to his sophomore year where he threw for 3,688 yards, 32 touchdowns to only nine picks. His Junior year did take a dip with 400 less yards, eight less touchdowns, and five more picks.

The main concern in 2008 for Rusty Smith was that his accuracy dipped to five points to 53.8, and the job to help increase that is former Louisville assistant coach Jeff Brohm who is now the Owls quarterback coach. The Brohm name is familiar because he is the brother of Brian Brohm who had an amazing career while quarterback at Louisville.

To help out the passing game the Owls return their top receiver and potential all-conference receiver Cortez Gent as well as tight end Jason Harmon who was out all of last year with a knee injury, and then finally fullback Willie Rose who is a solid blocker but also has good hands and can be the check off pass for Smith.

The down fall of the offense that is the Owls lose both starting backs from last year, and are breaking in four new offensive lineman.

On the defensive side of the ball the Owls lose Frantz Joseph who was the schools all time leading tackler, as well as half of secondary, their three starting linebackers, and have to reshuffle the defensive line. The defensive line does have some hope with Jarvis Givens who is a large man at 300 pounds but played little last year, and incumbent starter Josh Savidge. Besides that the defense is in trouble, but of the starters nine are upper class man, so there are experienced players within the program but they have had little playing time.

The Owls are quite possibly going to be one-dimensional unless a running game is found to help balance the air-attack that Florida Atlantic will show off. Hopes of another bowl in 2009 cold be dicey, since the only guarantee is the conference champ, and seven wins seems like a reach for FAU.

2009 Husker Football Opponent Prevew: Florida Atlantic

Husker Mike — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 11:00:21 -0000

Florida Atlantic finished 7-6 in 2008, with a season ending victory over Central Michigan in the Motor City Bowl. With a solid offensive backfield returning led by senior quarterback Rusty Smith, expectations are high for the Owls. Smith is getting some serious buzz going into his fourth season as FAU's starting quarterback. Phil Steele named Smith his #11 quarterback in the nation in his preseason magazine. Junior wide receiver Cortez Gent also was recognized by Steele, rating him the #33 wide receiver in the country. Smith will also benefit from the return of all-conference tight end Jason Harmon, who missed the 2008 season with a knee injury. Tight end Jamari Grant is another name Husker fans need to know. All told, the Owls return six offensive starters, with the key losses being at running back and on the offensive line.

The Owls' defense only returns four starters, led by juniors corners Tavious Polo and Tarvoris Hill. Polo, a freshman all-American in 2007, was slotted by Steele as the #21 cornerback in the country. The defensive line is anchored by tackle Josh Savidge, who is the sole returning starter up in the front seven.

The Owls 7-6 record is a little misleading, as Jeff Sagarin rated the Owls #102 in the country last season. Those seven victories were against Alabama-Birmingham (4-8, Sagarin #116), Western Kentucky (2-10, Sagarin #161), Louisiana-Monroe (4-8, Sagarin #135), North Texas (1-11, Sagarin #171), Louisiana Lafayette (6-6, Sagarin #106), Florida International (5-7, Sagarin #113), and Central Michigan (8-5, Sagarin #96). Against BCS conference opponents, the Owls didn't fare well. In the season opener against Texas, the Owls lost 52-10. 9-4 Michigan State shut out the Owls 17-0, and 7-6 Minnesota beat FAU 37-3.

Florida Atlantic's top 25 offense represents a solid challenge for a Nebraska secondary which had a tendency to break down and give up huge plays at inopportune times. But the Owl defense will need to find some more playmakers in 2009 than were on the field last season. The Huskers can ill afford to overlook any opponent in this day and age of parity in college football; just look at what fellow Sun Belt conference foe Arkansas State did to Texas A&M last season.

[Update]

The Owls weak defensive line got weaker this week as two key members of their defensive line, starter Andy Czuprynski, and his backup, Jamere Johnson, will miss the game due to injuries. This will leave them more susceptible to wearing down late in the game, and you know that the Huskers will be running the ball at them to start the game.

The Owls did get some good news as one of their offensive line starters, Carl Spitale, has been cleared to play after injuring his neck a couple weeks away. This means Florida Atlantic will have their full range of starters on offense.

If the Huskers pay attention to business, Nebraska should be able to handle the Owls in the season opener. Hell, let's be honest - this game should be over by half time.

(Florida Atlantic Preview updated by Corn Blight - originally published June 2009)

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