Owl Things Considered

I saw some hats flying from coaches in frustration on the sideline before UAB lined for an easy field goal with five seconds remaining that would have won the game.

FAU Athletic Director Craig Angelos and other members of the athletic department spent Thursday morning at the University of Alabama to take a look at the Crimson Tide’s facilities.

It’s going to be a long day here in Birmingham, Ala. With plenty of time to hang around the hotel until the late afternoon bus trip to historic Legion Field.

• S2 at UAB…L, Game goes down to the final possession, but Owls lose a close one
• S11 Michigan State…L, It sure doesn’t feel like a home game as Spartans role
• S. 25 vs. North Texas…W, Owls have never lost to the Mean Green and it doesn’t start now
• O2 at USF…L, Owls play well, but not enough to win
• O9 at ULM…W, FAU has easy time with Warhawks
• O23 at Arkansas State…W, FAU wins low-scoring game
• O30 vs. FIU…W, Golden Panthers getting better, but not good enough to win Shula Trophy
• N6 at WKU…W, Owls win another close one
• N13 vs. ULL…W, FAU on a roll after victory vs. Ragin’ Cajuns
• N20 at Texas…L, Momentum killed in ugly game vs. Longhorns
• N27 at MTSU…L, Blue Raiders a bit too much for Owls
• D4 vs. Troy…L, Owls struggle again vs. Trojans team battling for Sun Belt title

The pre-season practices are over.

Up ahead is the 2010 season beginning with Thursday’s opener at UAB.

FAU's official depth chart is out for Thursday's opener at UAB.

Also out is the official injury report on the game. The only player listed on it is C Jordan Sessa. However, LT Sam McCroy, who hadn't practiced the last few days after being hurt, was back at practice Thursday, but not listed on the depth chart.

Also it lists David Kooi on the same line as Graham Wilbert.

But here it is, FAU's official depth chart for the first game of the season....

FAU OFFENSE

LT 64 Max Karrick
 63 DeAndre Williams

LG 56 Andy Czuprynski
 62 Chris White

C 65 Mike Nweze
 50 Jimmie Colley

RG 52 Chris Newbold
 51 Erik Hansen

RT 55 Joe Bailey
 64 Max Karrick

TE 81 Rob Housler
 85 Darrian Williams

QB Jeff Van Camp
 7 David Kooi

FB 8 Xavier Stinson
 36 David Muniz

RB 32 Alfred Morris
 4 Jeff Blanchard

ZWR 1 Avery Holley
   2 DeAndre Richardson

XWR 3 Lester Jean
 87 Byron Hankerson

FAU DEFENSE

LDE 92 Kevin Cyrille
 31 Cory Henry

LDT 58 Dino Cox
 94 Andrew Stryffler

RDT 96 Jimmy Jean
 93 Jarvis Givens

RDE 98 Jamere Johnson
 99 Daniel Jospeh

SLB 21 Malik Eugene
 48 Yourhigness Morgan

MLB 45 Michael Lockley
 11 David Hinds

NB 24 Brentley Harstad
 5 Tavious Polo

CB 5 Tavious Polo
 34 Keith Reaser

FS 27 Marcus Bartels
 24 Brentley Harstad

SS 38 Ed Alexander
 18 Tony Rodriguez

CB 9 Tarvoris Hill
 26 Curtis Cross

SPECIALISTS
P 17 Mickey Groody
 20 Ross Gornall

PK 20 Ross Gornall
 34 Vincent Zaccario

LS 74 Tim Raber

PR 1 Avery Holley
 5 Tavious Polo

KOR 5 Tavious Polo
 4 Jeff Blanchard

There’s no doubt that Florida Atlantic coach Howard Schnellenberger had an impact on the sport of football in the Commonwealth of Kentucky. Now the best player in the biggest game between state’s flagship universities, Louisville and Kentucky, will win the Howard Schnellenberger Award.

Louisville, KY (August 31, 2010) -- The Louisville Sports Commission today announced the creation of the Howard Schnellenberger MVP Award that will be presented annually to the most valuable player on the winning team in the University of Louisville - University of Kentucky football game. The announcement was made in conjunction with the athletic departments at both universities and the blessing of Schnellenberger, who has ties to both programs and remarkable football credentials.
 
"It is a source of great pride for me to become a part of the Governor's Cup Football Game," Schnellenberger said. "This intense rivalry has become the defining game for collegiate football within the Commonwealth of Kentucky. My hat's off to the Wildcat and Cardinal teams, coaches and fans."
 
Schnellenberger was recruited to UK out of Louisville Flaget (fla-jay') High School by the legendary Bear Bryant, earned varsity letters in 1952-53-54-55 and was an All-American tight end for the Wildcats under Blanton Collier as a senior. Schnellenberger was an assistant coach at UK under Collier in 1959 and 1960. As the head coach at UofL for 10 years (1985-1994), Schnellenberger is credited with rejuvenating the football program and boosted support for a new, on-campus stadium. He led the Cardinals to victories in the Liberty and Fiesta Bowls.
 
The annual renewal of the intrastate rivalry between the Cardinals and the Wildcats will be played September 4 at Papa John's Cardinal Stadium in Louisville. The Howard Schnellenberger MVP will be selected by a vote of the working press covering the game as identified by the sports information directors from each school. Voting will take place near or at completion of the game at the discretion of the SIDs.
 
Schnellenberger currently is head coach and director of football operations at Florida Atlantic University, having built the Division I program from scratch starting in 1998. At Miami, Louisville and FAU, Schnellenberger-coached teams are a remarkable 6-0 in bowl games. Schnellenberger was an integral part of four national championships in college football and two Super Bowl victories. He coached the University of Miami to the 1983 national championship and was offensive coordinator under Bryant at Alabama for national titles in 1961-64-65. He was the offensive coordinator for the Miami Dolphins under Don Shula, including the 17-0 season in 1972, and assistant for the Los Angeles Rams under George Allen. 

It wasn’t too long ago when there were questions raised about the length of FAU’s training camp.

Why was it starting so late? Would there be enough time? Does going through 50 training camps in your career really make you qualified to determine the length of training camp?

With regular-season practices underway, the FAU depth chart is beginning to solidify and take on extra importance.

WR 3 Lester Jean / 83 Marcus Cunningham

WR 1 Avery Holley / 2 DeAndre Richardson

LT 64 Max Karrick / 63 DeAndre Williams

LG 56 Andy Czuprynski / 62 Chris White

C 50 Jimmie Colley / 52 Chris Newbold

RG 51 Erik Hansen / 72 Ricaldo Henry

RT 55 Joseph Bailey / 71 Chris Chappell

TE 81 Rob Housler / 85 Darian Williams

QB 12 Jeff Van Camp / 14 Graham Wilbert

FB 36 David Muniz /  8 Xavier Stinson

RB 32 Alfred Morris / 4 Jeff Blanchard

DE 99 Daniel Joseph / 98 Jamere Johnson

DT 58 Dino Cox / 91 Andrew Styrffler

DT 93 Jarvis Givens / 96 Jimmy Jean

DE 92 Kevin Cyrille / 31 Cory Henry

WLB 42 Alex Pattee / 42 Yourhigness Morgan

MLB 45 Michael Lockley / 11 David Hinds

SLB 21 Malik Eugene / 44 Toney Moore

CB 9 Tarvoris Hill / 34 Keith Reaser

SS 27 Marcus Bartels / 18 Tony Rodriguez

FS 38 Ed Alexander / 24 Brentley Harstad

CB 5 Tavious Polo / 26 Curtis Cross

• Senior Fullback David Muniz is still ahead of Xavier Stinson. This probably has more to do with Stinson missing time than anything else, but if the UAB game was today, it looks like Muniz would get the start.
• Center Jimmie Colley took most of the snaps with the starters Sunday, but Mike Nweze also had significant work with the 1s. Colley returned last week, but that may not have been enough time to get ready for the Blazers.
• True freshman wide receiver Marcus Cunningham, pictured,  is battling with Byron Hankerson for the No. 4 receiver, but even if Cunningham is at No. 5 that’s high enough on the depth chart to see playing time. He’s my pick, besides grey-shirt Cory Henry, for the first true freshman to see action this season.

• The Sun-Sentinel concludes the Owls are lacking experience at tight-end
• UAB's goal for this season is to make it to a bowl game, according to The Birmingham News

The good news just keeps coming for senior fullback David Muniz.

• The Palm Beach Post’s college football special section is out today. Check out some of their stories here

It’s the weekend, but it’s Monday. Tomorrow, of course, is Tuesday and so on and so on at least as far as the FAU football team in concerned.

• The Sun-Sentinel updates Jarvis Givens practicing with the starting unit and a report on the scrimmage
• The Daily News Journal has coverage of the suspension of QB Dwight Dasher