FAU coach Carl Pelini on the sidelines earlier this season vs. North Texas. (Photo Courtesy of Owl Pix)
Questionable calls
FAU coach Carl Pelini wasn't happy about some key penalties called on defensive backs during the Owls' 35-14 loss at ULM on Saturday.
Originally published on
10/15/2012
by
Marcus Nelson
After Florida Atlantic defensive backs were called for several penalties in FAU's 35-14 loss to Louisiana-Monroe on Saturday, Florida Atlantic coach Carl Pelini said Monday he didn't think all the penalties were warranted.
Here's what Pelini said on the weekly Sun Belt Conference coach's teleconference.
There were some challenging calls against us.
I don't complain about the officials, but I do compare it to some of the experiences I had at Nebraska in the Big 12 and then the Big 10.
We play a very physical type of matchup zone. We get our bodies on receivers and it's very important to how we play.
I do think there was a process that occurred with that in the first year we were in the Big 12 and the first year we were in the Big 10 where there was a bit of give and take on my part and on the part of the officials so that they began to learn how we played. There was some communication back and forth on how they were going to call it, what they were going to look for and how we were coaching. We're going to play that way and those pass interference penalties were very pivotal early in that game and gave them some scoring opportunities.
Questionable flags were thrown on defensive backs D'Juon Smith (twice) and Christian Milstead for pass interfernce or illegal contact.
FAU came into Saturday's game as the least-penalized team in the conference with only 20 penalties for 182 yards, but had 11 penalties for 87 yards vs. ULM.