Posts from December 2010

Part of the fun of doing our Owl Awards year-end series, which concluded on Thursday, came in sifting through all the video highlights from the past season. Most of the games may not have turned out the way FAU fans would have liked, but every contest offered a play or two worth reliving.

It's also enjoyable simply to take a step back and reflect on the year. Aside from Howard Schnellenberger, his assistants or the players, there is no one who knows more about the FAU football program than our panelists. Simply put, Marcus Nelson, Ken LaVicka and Brian Rowitz are insiders who know more about the 2010 Owls than anyone outside the locker room. Their ballots reflected information and observations gained from being up-close and personal.

Before we put the 2010 season behind us for good, here are some observations from our award selections.

• It's not a good sign when the punter makes one person's MVP ballot. Mickey Groody's name appeared twice.
• Malik Eugene appeared on three of four Defensive MVP ballots. He was the only person other than winner Michael Lockley to be on that many, reinforcing the idea that Eugene may not have received enough attention his performance this season.
• Remove Lester Jean from the equation and the Offensive MVP was basically a tossup between Alfred Morris and Jeff Van Camp. With Jean and Van Camp both gone, Morris becomes the heavy favorite for next year's award, too.
• The Biggest Play was Lockley's blocked field goal. The most overlooked play wasn't a category, but if it was Brentley Harstad's Pick 6 against UAB should be the winning. Harstad's interception brought the Owls within nine points in the third quarter. As soon as that play happened, I remember turning to an FAU staffer on the sideline and telling him the Owls were going to win that game.
• Choosing the offensive line as the most glaring weakness was obvious. Remember, though, if they stay healthy the O-line should be the strength of the offense in 2112, maybe even before.
• I was a little surprised that Rusty Smith's NFL career did make anyone else's ballot for Best Moment.
• More of us should have agreed with LaVicka that one of the Worst Moment's was the emergence of the fire Howard crowd. I suspect most FAU fans share the sentiment from this video.
• Jeff Van Camp won the Toughest to Replace award. The battle to be Van Camp's replacement will be the biggest story in the spring.
• I really hope Rowitz is right that Austin Jensen is next season's Breakthrough Player. We saw Jensen on a weekly basis as he ran through his individual rehab workouts while the rest of his teammates practiced. I don't know if doctors will let him play, but there is reason for optimism.
• Sticking with the break through candidates, Nelson put defensive end Martin Wright on his list. While sifting through footage for the videos I came across a play by Wright where he ran down a Troy running back trying to get to the sideline. It might have been the most impressive defensive play I saw all year. Wright, a sophomore, hadn't played in a football game for several years. Now that the rust is off, Wright and Cory Henry may form a monster pass rushing duo for the next two years.

I hope you enjoyed our awards lists as much as we did. Feel free to head to our message boards and let us know why we're crazy for voting the way we did.

If you want to revisit the series and see the videos, here are the winners:

2010 Owl Award winners

• Team MVP: WR Lester Jean
• Defense MVP: LB Michael Lockley
• Offensive MVP: RB Alfred Morris
• Play of the Year: FG block vs. UAB
• Best moment: Stadium financing approved
• Toughest to replace: QB Jeff Van Camp
• Spring breakout player: WR Marcus Cunningham

> Owl links  Articles of interest to FAU fans.

• FAUOwlAccess.com

We concluded our Owl Awards series by naming Marcus Cunningham as our pick to breakout during spring practice.

You know it's recruiting season when the rumors about a coach's future start popping up and it didn’t take long for rumors of former Miami coach Randy Shannon taking over FAU in 2012 to make the rounds on Wednesday.

By the end of the day, many FAU fans had assumed that the former UM coach was on his way to Boca Raton and they were already getting ready for “ShannonBall”, which produced a 28-22 record at The U before he was run out of Coral Gables in November.

I hate to bring bad news - or in this case, no news -  to those camped out at the Oxley Center waiting for Shannon to prepare for his season as Coach in Waiting.

According to FAU Athletic Director Craig Angelos, they could be waiting a long time.

Angelos (pctured) told me Wednesday afternoon nothing has changed concerning the future of the program.

“There’s nothing to that,” Angelos said. “We still have the same plan we have always had and that’s getting ready for the 2011 season. Eventually we will have to figure out past that, but we’re not to that point yet.”

Would it makes sense for Angelos to hire Shannon if Schnellenberger were to decide to retire? It’s possible. The two know each other well from their days at Miami and Angelos told me “he’s on the Christmas card list.”

However, without knowing when the post-Schnellenberger era is to begin at FAU, it’s foolish to speculate on who would be the next coach because no one knows exactly who will be available at that time. Angelos acknowledged that by the time FAU will be looking for a coach Shannon and possibly the other candidate du jour - former Texas Tech coach Mike Leach - could be gainfully employed somewhere.

But, more importantly, public speculation on a coach’s future is detrimental to recruiting, so hopefully this rumor has run the cycle and Angelos’ comments to FAUOwlAccess.com will put the rumor to bed. I also would hope that next time, FAU fans won’t participate in spreading something that more than likely was put out by a rival school to hurt recruiting.

> Owl Links: Articles of interest to FAU fans

• FAUOwlAccess.com

In addition to having the news first that Manhattan’s travel problems would force Thursday’s basketball game at FAU to be postponed, we also continued hanging out our Owl Awards, including the award for the player to be missed the most next season. 

UPDATED 12:37 p.m.

Manhattan had a great plan.

> Owl Links: Articles of interest to FAU fans

• FAUOwlAccess.com

The Owl Awards continue flying off the shelf as our panel picked the best and worst moments of the year.

While we endure yet another cold snap in South Florida, I'm betting there is at least one group of guys walking the FAU campus saying, 'I've seen worse.'

That photo of Owls' freshmen Pablo Bertone and Dennis Mavin was taken in Albany, N.Y. where FAU faced Siena during the Floridians' recent road swing. There wasn't much accumulation that night, but there turned out to be plenty more snow on the ground in Chicago when the trip ended.

FAU coach Mike Jarvis said he enjoyed seeing the look on his players' faces when the snow first started falling. However, their enjoyment doesn't last forever.

Jarvis said the players were “actually almost looking forward to being in snow until, just like our own kids, they realize, you know what? It ain't a whole lot of fun.”

Jarvis said the players did enjoy the Chicago winter wonderland. Apparently the hotel they stayed at housed a live deer. The team also took in a Bulls game while in the Windy Apple.

Following the DePaul game players scattered for their mini-Christmas break. Word out of The Burrow is that the wicked weather across the nation didn't keep players from getting back to Boca Raton for Monday's practice.

Manhattan comes calling on Dec. 30. Considering New York area airports closed for a day and traffic seems completely snarled, how'd you like to be trying to escape from New York City in the coming days? I suspect those could be some road-weary Jaspers.

Owl Links – Articles of interest to FAU fans

• FAUOwlAccess.com

We continued our series of year-end awards by dubbing Michael Lockley's field goal block at UAB to be the Play of the Year.

• Other linkage

The Sun-Sentinel says FAU has enough quarterbacks. ... The Miami Herald learned that Florida International baseball player Garrett Wittels was arrested on a rape charge in the Bahamas.

Andre Mattison's solid eight-point, six- rebound performance for FAU against DePaul may have been more important than originally appreciated.

The 6-foot-7 forward saw increased playing time partly because of Jordan McCoy's illness and also because fellow reserve forward DeMonte Simpson didn't make the trip. Now it appears possible that Simpson and guard Darren Stewart may have played their last games of the season.

“Both have got a lot of work to do academically and may be full time students in the second semester,” FAU coach Mike Jarvis said upon returning from the Owls' five-game road trip.

Jarvis did not say whether academics was reason behind Simpson's and Stewart's absence from the trip.

At 6-foot-9, 240 pounds, Simpson has the ability to eat space and minutes during the Owls' Sun Belt schedule. If Simpson isn't available, those minutes will likely fall to Mattison (photo right, with Ray Taylor) or possibly Justin Davis.

While the road trip may turn out to be a turning point for Mattison's career at FAU, it certainly didn't start on a positive note.

“The first two games I got sick right away,” Mattison said. “I didn't even practice one of the days. I was real sick.”

Mattison, Greg Gantt and McCoy all caught a bug during the trip. McCoy was slated to start the final game, but instead could only manage three minutes. His absence necessitated Mattison's extra time.

“I've been waiting for my opportunity for a while,” said Mattison, who didn't see the court in the Owls'  previous six games. “I finally got it so I had to prove that I should be playing.”

Jarvis believes that Mattison's performance at DePaul has earned the sophomore more court time.

“It's good that we found another guy who can help us because we are going to need another guy up front,” Jarvis said. “He's always been a guy who probably performs better in games than in practice, but now he's going to realize that performing in practice for him is just like a game.”

The Owls were slated to return to campus on Sunday night after a brief Christmas break. They begin practicing this morning, and welcome Manhattan to The Burrow on Dec. 30.

> Owl Links: Articles of interest to FAU fans

• FAUOwlAccess.com

 We continued handing out the 2010 Owl Awards by naming our Offensive MVP, complete with video.

• Other linkage:

The Sun-Sentinel reports that FAU is selling stadium boxes

Thinking about giving one extra gift? How about a basketball camp?

Former Owl Sanchez Hughley is spending his holiday break by hosting youth basketball camps for kids from grades 4-8. This past week's camp took place at The Burrow, which is when the photo was taken.

Next week's camp will be held at Grandview Prep, where Sanchez serves as the junior varsity coach and an assistant to varsity coach Joe Dawson.

The five-day camp will run from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. and costs 175 dollars. Along with instruction, each participant receives lunch, a Hughley Hoopsters t-shirt and pictures.

The camp is capped at 30 kids, but there is still space. Anyone interested can contact Hughley at sahughley@aol.com, or come to the Grandview Prep gym on Monday morning.

“It's been a successful camp for the first year,” Hughley said. “Now we are going to work on a summer sleep-away camp.”

Owl links – Articles of interest to FAU fans

• FAUOwlAccess.com

 We continued handing out our football post-season awards by naming the FAU Defensive MVP.

• Other linkage

The Sun-Sentinel says FAU is recruiting linebackers

• FAUOwlAccess.com

Preparing for Christmas can entail more than shopping and cooking. FAUOwlAccess.com has spent the past couple days assembling our gifts. Actually gifts isn't quite the right word. We've been working on awards.

Over the next week or so, we'll be naming our top players, plays and moments from the past football season. Think of it as our way of giving FAU football fans a reason to keep the Owls fresh in their minds during this bowl season.

The four people who comprise the awards selection committee are uniquely qualified for this task, having spent more time around FAU football than any other media members.

Marcus Nelson and myself covered every FAU game this season and at least one of us – most of the time it was both – was present at every FAU practice, dating back to the spring.

Ken LaVicka is ESPN 760's voice of the Owls. Aside from his game-day duties, LaVicka also hosted two coach's shows, one for video (The Howard Schnellenberger Show on FAUOwlAccess.com) and one for radio (FAU Sportspage featuring Howard Schnellenberger on ESPN 760).

Brian Rowitz served as ESPN 760's broadcast engineer for every game -home and away -  this season. Rowitz also hosts Owl Talk, FAUOwlAccess.com's weekly FAU podcast, which he prepped for in part by studying FAU practices.

The group experienced FAU football from different vantage points, so it's not surprising the ballots varied greatly in many of the categories.

Later today we'll post the first award: Team MVP. The award ceremony will continue for six days. Along with the winner in each category, we'll reveal each panelists' ballot and the reasoning behind their choices. The Awards will begin with the season that recently ended and ultimately look forward to what to expect this spring.

We think you'll enjoy some of the selections and disagree with others. When you do, be sure to tell us on our message board. The Owls may not be playing football this holiday season, but that doesn't mean we can't talk FAU football, right?

> Owl Links – Articles of interest to FAU fans.
 

•  FAUOwlAccess.com

The FAU basketball team – actually about half of it – arrived back in Boca Raton following almost two weeks on the road. FAUOwlAccess.com was at the Burrow to greet Owls, and filed this story about what the players' and coaches' take from the trip.

• Other linkage

The Sun-Sentinel says Lester Jean is going to the East-West Shrine Game.

FAU fans, possible boosters or prospective recruits don’t need to be on campus to check in on the progress of the new stadium.

• On FAU Owl Access

• Other linkage

FAU wide receiver Lester Jean had an interesting take on his selection to the East-West Shrine Game.

“I just want to go represent for the school,” Jean said. “Florida Atlantic gave me the opportunity to play football when nobody else would.”

Recruiters weren't breaking down Jean's door with scholarship offers when he graduated from Miami-Norland High School, prompting him to head to North Carolina Tech prep school.

When Jean returned with his highlight reel and showed it to FAU coaches, the Owls were quick to jump on him.

The 6-foot-3, 205-pound wide receiver rewarded the FAU this year with one of the best seasons by a wideout in school history, catching 64 passes for 988 yards. The catches tied for the second most in a single season at FAU, the yards were third highest. His eight touchdowns tied Alfred Morris for the team high this year.

Photographer Ralph Notaro captured Jean's most spectaular play of the year in the above photo. Jean's one-handed catch turned into a 77-yard touchdown in the season-opener against UAB.

The game will be played at the Citrus Bowl in Orlando on January 22. The proximity of the game will likely leave Jean with some tough choices. He's got a big family and expects to have a big demand for tickets.

Jean won't the only Owl participating in a post-season all-star game. Rob Housler has been invited to the Texas vs. The Nation game, which will be played on Feb. 5 in San Antonio. FAU has sent players to this game before, but Housler looks like he will be the first player to stand on the Texas sideline.

The game will be the second homecoming of the year for Housler, who is from Converse, Texas. Both of Housler's catches went for touchdowns in FAU's November loss at Texas.
 

Owl Nation can get ready for a double dose of hoops tonight and I’m going to give you the gameplan on how to do it up right to follow the future and present for FAU hoops.

• On FAUOwlAccess.com

• Other linkage

Less than a week after cracking the starting lineup for Florida Atlantic, guard Ray Taylor was named the Sun Belt Conference after leading the Owls to two big road victories and a 2-0 start in Sun Belt Conference play.

To all those lamenting that FAU didn't have many commitments during the summer, Josue Joseph provided a reason why even when those numbers exist they can be apparitions.

Joseph, an offensive lineman from Orlando-Freedom who committed to FAU back in June, told FAU on Sunday that he was re-opening the recruiting process. At the bottom of this article, FAUOwlAccess.com members were the first to hear from Joseph about the reasons behind his decision.

While the FAU coaching staff likely wasn't very pleased to learn Joseph's decision, from the standpoint of the player it made plenty of sense. Other schools were starting to push hard for 6-foot-4, 270-pound tackle and he simply – and rationally - wanted to see what other schools have to offer.

In a small way, Joseph actually did FAU a favor. He could have simply entertained recruiters from other schools, never telling FAU coaches he was having second thoughts; then bolted to a bigger program on Signing Day leaving a hole in the Owls recruiting class. That would have been the easy way out. Instead, Joseph chose to be honest with FAU coaches.

Face it, bigger programs have come calling. This will always be a concern with players who commit early to a small program like FAU. If a player commits early, FAU coaches are put in the precarious position of routing for the player to have a good but not great senior year. If he plays too well, bigger schools will take notice and they will be hard to hold off.

Marshall has offered and the full court press being applied by Thundering Herd coaches seems to be the biggest factor in Joseph's decision. North Carolina State is also showing late interest, and I suspect if the Wolfpack offer it will be hard to turn down a BCS school.

Joseph did say, though, that had Signing Day been on Monday, his National Letter of Intent would have been faxed to FAU.

“I would have no reason not to,” Joseph said. “Marshall is really interested and other schools are really interested, but I have yet to go there and see if I fit in like I do at FAU.”

Some of the extra attention coming Joseph's way likely sprouted from his performance in the Central Florida All-Star game on Thursday.

A right tackle throughout most of his high school career, Joseph started at left tackle and played the entire game.

The other positive about Joseph making his thought process known now is that there is plenty of time for FAU to solidify its relationship with Joseph before the Feb. 2 signing date.

“I still want to take my official visit to FAU and I'm still keeping them in the process,” Joseph said.

We moved Joseph back to the "Offers" category on The List. FAUOwlAccess.com's recruiting page is the most complete FAU list anywhere, containing the names of 44 players who have received offers from the Owls, the four who have committed and more than 100 players receiving interest from FAU.

Owl links – Articles of interest to FAU fans
 

• On FAUOwlAccess.com

FAU fans now are left to hope that another offensive line commit, Mohammad Farah, doesn't generate a similar kind of buzz at his all-star game. On Monday, FAUOwlAccess.com offered this story about Farah, who is heading to the FACA North-South All-Star Game in Sebring.

• Other linkage

The Sun-Sentinel produced this FAU notebook. ...The Sun Belt Conference celebrates its 10-Year anniversary by releasing its 10-Year Anniversary Team including QB Rusty Smith, LB Frantz Joseph and TE Jason Harmon

The Sun Belt Conference made official what many FAU fans already knew.

> Click here for the entire Sun Belt Conference All-10 Year Anniversary Team, Top moments and to plays via SunBeltSports.org.

There could be some FAU supporters who find something nice in their stocking this Christmas.

• On FAUOwlAccess

• Other linkage

If it seems like it was a long time ago that FAU fans caught a glimpse of their basketball team, that’s because it was a long time ago.

• 01.15.10 FAU at WKU on FCS (available on Comcast’s Digital Cable and ATT UVerse)
• 01.29.10 WKU at FAU on FCS (available on Comcast’s Digital Cable and ATT UVerse)
• 02.05.10 FIU at FAU on CSS

• 02.10.10 FAU at Denver on FCS (available on Comcast’s Digital Cable and ATT UVerse)

• On FAUOwlAccess.com

• Other linkage

Today is the first day of the college bowl season and today’s action naturally features a Sun Belt Conference team as Troy will face Ohio in the New Orleans Bowl.

• FAUOwlAccess.com

• Other linkage

Brian Smith has been around his share of well-known coaches.

He played college ball for Division III St. John's (Minn.), where John Gagliardi calls the shots. Haven't heard of him? You should have. Gagliardi is the winningest NCAA football coach of all time, posting a career record of 478-129-11.

Among other jobs, Smith is currently an offensive line coach at a high school in Minnesota, where the head coach is Mike Grant, son of NFL Hall-of-Fame coach Bud Grant.

A couple years ago Smith also coached on Howard Schnellenberger's (photo) staff at the Texas vs. The Nation game.

A few weeks back Smith had a little free time and he chose to spend it with the Schnellenbergers. He attended practices and was on the sideline for the Troy game. He even came to ESPN 760's Howard Schnellenberger radio show at Hooters that week, which is where we had a chance to sit and talk.

Smith contacted me on Thursday hoping I could help him get in touch with some South Florida media members, intending to send them the note below. I thought it provided an interesting look at the Schnellenbergers and figured FAU fans might find it interesting reading.

I’m writing to share about an experience with a friend, but as your will find out, it is really about a family. Picture this, living in the opposite side of the country and from a different generation, I was not aware of his success on and off the gridiron until two years ago. The time I have spent with him, it has been a pleasure to visit, talk and learn. In using the term learn, it isn’t just about his passion for football, but for life. Yes, he has been successful on the gridiron; it is only half of it.

From another successful coach, I steal this line… A successful coach needs a patient wife, loyal dog, and great quarterback - and not necessarily in that order. Behind my friend, there are all three. He uses football as a vehicle to stress life’s values. Among the wins and losses, a true win is developing young people into men ready to contribute to the world. If one was to make a list of names he has impacted, it goes on and on. When you look in many of his pictures, you see a beautiful person standing by his side.  His wife, bless her; she is extremely giving of herself. She takes the time to visit with players and staff throughout the season. During Senior Day, she is standing there sending seniors off in their final home game. Last, you can’t forget their dog Blitz. Whenever you visit their home, there she is greeting you at the door by their side.

Going back to the beginning, being about family, it is more than just the two. While visiting my friends at their home, I was introduced to everyone. And I truly mean everyone. They make you feel part of their family. From meeting the office staff, coaching staff to their own children and grandchildren, everyone is willing to lend you their shirt off their back. Being from across the country, everyone makes you feel at home.

Some of you may already know who I am speaking of and some may not. The family is the Schellenberger’s, Howard and Beverlee. I can’t say enough how welcoming they are to people. As time goes on, and we strengthen our relationships in life, I’m very thankful for to say they are my friends.

Brian Smith

Owl Links – Articles of interest to FAU fans

FAU needed a little extra time, but the Owls ultimately defeated Troy in the Sun Belt opener. Here is the story from FAUOwlaccess.com.

• Other game stories: Troy Messenger

Florida Atlantic true freshman defensive end Cory Henry made quite an impression with his play this season.

• FAUOwlAccess.com

• Other linkage

As FAUOwlAccess.com reported on Tuesday, the Owls are without two reserve players on this long road-trip which still has three more games and won’t be over until Dec. 22.

• On FAUOwlAccess.com

• Other linkage

I remember watching that kick floating through the air in 2005 that chilly night in Jonesboro, Ark.

• FAU Owl Access

• Other linkage

This game looked to be a new low for what was already a season filled with valleys.

The FAU women's basketball team trailed Georgia Southern by 18 points in the second half. That's an Eagles team that had won only once in eight tries this season.


Suddenly, though, FAU came to life. Lyrell Barfield hit a couple of shots, the Owls' pressure defense forced some turnovers and, boom, FAU launched a run. The Owls didn't complete the comeback until Barfield drained a 3-pointer in the closing seconds to win 68-65. To see the shot and hear coach Chancellor Dugan and Barfield discuss it, watch the above video.

FAU led for less than one minute in the game, but that didn't matter. In the end, the Owls rang the Victory Bell.

Monday's win is the kind of victory that can change a season. The Owls finally displayed the explosiveness they've been missing. They also showed heart. Seven FAU players in their first year at Boca Raton adorned the score sheet. Wins like this build chemistry – something that this year has only been found on the academic side of campus.

The victory isn't a panacea. FAU was truly awful in the first half of the game and there certainly won't be any monuments erected to teams that beat Georgia Southern this season.

FAU coach Chancellor Dugan seems to think this team will come together. To me, it doesn't look like one that will compete for the Sun Belt crown. Certainly not yet, anyway.

The Owls are only 3-6 but make no mistake, Sunday's victory win provided more than a simple notch in the win column. If the Owls build on Sunday's momentum and string together some victories, people will point to that Barfield 3-pointer as being the catalyst. Remember, however, that while Barfield's shot won the game, the act of fighting back from an 18-point deficit will prove to be more important to the season.

Owl links – Articles of interest to FAU fans
As you've already figured out, the FAUOwlAccess.com team covered the women's victory over Georgia Southern.

We also provided this preview of tonight's men's game at Siena. Interested in reading more about that game? I also answered some questions for an entry on SienaSaintsblog.com.

Other links:

Here's a short account of the women's game from the Savannah Morning News.

Quality road wins against Mississippi State and Hofstra and a 1-0 record vs. the Big East after a home victory vs. South Florida. A CBSSports.com RPI of 43 - before yesterday's win at Hofstra. Don’t forget a neutral site victory vs. UW-Milwaukee.

• Newsday: Jenkins' 32 not enough as Pride falls, 63-59
• Hofstra Chonicle: Pride just shy in loss to Owls
   

The FAU basketball team energized its fans and students with a thrilling victory vs. South Florida last week.

• Sun-Sentinel: Owls begin five-game, four-state trip
   

It’s always interesting – and sometimes controversial – to see how the coaches voted in the final USA Today Top 25 poll that makes up part of the BCS formula.

Howard Schnellenberger’s Top 25 ballot

1. Auburn (2)

2. Oregon (1)

3. TCU

4. Stanford (5)

5. Wisconsin (4)

6. Ohio State

7. Oklahoma (8 tie)

8. Michigan State (7)

9. Arkansas (8 tie)

10. LSU (12)

11. Boise State (10)

12. Missouri (14)

13. Virginia Tech (11)

14. Oklahoma State (13)

15. Nebraska (16)

16. Alabama (18)

17. Nevada (15)

18. Texas A&M (17)

19. Utah

20. West Virginia

21. Florida State (23)

22. South Carolina (20)

23. Northern Illinois (NR)

24. Hawaii (25)

25. Arizona (NR)

• TCPalm.com: Centennial RB Javaris Giles commits to FAU

Each season around this time USA Today releases its annual analysis of salaries for college football coaches.

1. Rick Stockstill, MTSU $491,580
2. Mario Cristobal, FIU $437,382
3. Howard Schnellenberger, FAU $407,905
4. Larry Blakeney, Troy $356,000
5. Todd Dodge, North Texas $289,161
6. Rickey Bustle, ULL $226,000
7. Willie Taggart, Western Kentucky $225,000
8. Steve Roberts, Arkansas State $223,078
9. Todd Berry, ULM, $215,000

If you spend much time on the internet, this may come as some surprise to you, but apparently there must be a segment of the population which still has confidence in the FAU football program.

For the first time in its 10-year history, the Sun Belt Conference will have three teams playing in bowl games.

FIU, Troy and Middle Tennessee State were the only teams in the Sun Belt which were bowl eligible and all three were placed in bowl games.

• FIU will face Toledo in the Little Caesar’s Pizza Bowl in Detroit on Dec. 26
• Troy will face Ohio in the New Orleans Bowl on Dec. 18
• Middle Tennessee will face Miami (Ohio) in the GoDaddy.com Bowl in Mobile, Ala. on Jan. 6

A step forward for the Sun Belt? Absolutely.

SBC leaders should take a bow.

If they remain in that position for a few seconds they'll have an idea of how FIU players, coaches and administrators felt Sunday.

As much fun as we have here needling FIU (and the look on the players faces I just saw on TV at Sunday’s bowl announcement looked like they were in an insurance seminar) it isn’t right that the Golden Panthers aren’t playing in New Orleans.

Look, FIU is the rightful Sun Belt champion. The Golden Panthers earned it on the field by beating Troy. The Trojans can claim a co-championship if they like because they tied FIU with a 6-2 SBC record. But everyone knows the Golden Panthers deserve the title.

Instead the Sun Belt Conference turned its back on its best team - and best story - and allowed FIU to be sent to a one of the few places place on earth worse than Siberia.

Now FIU’s first-ever bowl experience will be one that is less than memorable.

FAU fans aren’t likely to shed many tears over FIU’s predicament, but if the Sun Belt doesn’t do something after this year’s bowl fiasco, remember that it could be the Owls who are shipped off on a slow boat to China to play a bowl game instead of Bourbon Street in the future.

The Sun Belt needs to declare one champion – using tiebreakers determined on the field. And that champion needs to be in New Orleans or be shipped somewhere else only by mutual decision between the school and the bowl.

That certainly didn’t happen this time, and the Sun Belt should be embarrassed to allow a team which won a share of the title – indeed, its true champion - to be treated like a third-class citizen.

Schools can claim co-championships if they like, but playing in the New Orleans Bowl needs to mean something more than just how many tickets will be sold. Otherwise, why even play the games. Just put a team which has the most fans in the New Orleans Bowl every year? It can't be any worse than what happened this time as money ruled and integrity was thrown out the window.

FAU fans can thank the basketball team for turning what started out to be a day to forget into one that will likely be remembered for a long time.

A couple hours after the football team got destroyed by Troy 44-7, the basketball team knocked off its second power conference foe in as many outings.

The roundballers downed South Florida 50-42 in front of a Burrow crowd that was about as red as Superman's cape.

Once again basketball coach Mike Jarvis and the players were quick to thank the student body, and in particular the student government – which is quickly becoming the de facto marketing department for athletics.

Not only did the students put together a two-sport pep rally on Thursday in which they gave out red shirts for the basketball game, they also bought the basketball team new red uniforms for Saturday night's game against USF.

The players didn't find out about the unis until after the pregame shoot around, when they returned to the locker room to find the red garb hanging in their lockers.

“We were already excited for this game and that just set us off,” said forward Kore White, who followed his 18-point, 8 rebound performance against Mississippi St. with 11 points and six rebounds on Saturday.

“We came in with high energy being at home, getting ready to play a Big East team and beat them. That energy that we came out with showed in the first couple minutes of the game.”

Dressing the team in red had been the plan for nearly half a year. Student government president Ayden Maher said the group purchased the uniforms back in June, shelling out about $2,000 for the duds and shoot-around tops.

I'm not sure the packed student section understood how the players came to be wearing new jerseys, or even that they were new at all, but it didn't matter. That section was as packed and rowdy as it has been since last season's FIU game.

“I think we are ushering in a new era in student pride at FAU,” Maher said at halftime. “Before you know it, that little section in The Burrow will look like that night after night.”

At this point, maybe it's time to lobby student government to invest in some new football uniforms, too.

> Owl Links: Articles of interest to FAU fans

In what seems to have been the norm lately, it was double-duty for FAUOwlAccess.com.

First it of the last game at Lockhart Stadium and Senior Day in FAU's 44-7 loss to Troy.

Then it was off to The Burrow for the thrilling upset of USF.

Of course that was just the begining as the staff at FAUOwlAccess.com worked way into the wee hours of the morning so you would have complete coverage including video highlights when you woke up this morning.

Check out our coverage of the football game and basketball game. We think you'll enjoy the coverage as much as we did bringing it to you.

Other linkage...

Football: Sun-Sentinel / Palm Beach Post / Dothan Eagle

Basketball: Sun-Sentinel

Today marks the end of an era. Or is it the end of an error?

Reports out of Tennessee are that Titans quarterback Kerry Collins is healing quickly and could be back in the starting lineup this Sunday.

• TCPalm.com: FAU lineman Max Karrick excited about new stadium
• Sun-Sentinel: Schnellenberger coaching 300th game Saturday
• Dothan Eagle: Interceptions don't shake Troy QB

Wednesday afternoon's gathering couldn't exactly be categorized as a “throng,” but that's not how these things begin.

They start small. They start with the fervent, true believers and spread.

That's the group that stood in front of The Burrow at 4 p.m. awaiting the basketball team's return from Mississippi following FAU's victory over Mississippi St. - the Owls' first-ever win over an SEC team.

The cheer that erupted from the 35 or so fans as the team exited their shuttle could be heard throughout the athletic area of FAU's campus, though.

This group, comprised mostly of students, wasn't there simply to congratulate – they wanted tradition. They wanted The Bell.

Coach Mike Jarvis and the team gave them what they were looking for. They let the man who donated the Taylor Victory Bell , Crash Taylor, ring it first, then everyone from the team took their turn. That's Jordan McCoy pulling the cord in the photo.

The players seemed to enjoy the response. No one rang the bell with more fervor than Jarvis.

“I love the reception - the fact that the kids would come out,” Jarvis said. “I think it's the start of something with the students here at FAU.”

Makes you wonder, though. The students organized the gathering mostly through word of mouth and social media. Most came across campus despite the threat of bad weather. The closest major building, after all, is the Oxley Center, which houses the athletic administrators.

How much larger would the gathering have been if the athletic department shared the same enthusiasm as the students over one of the biggest victories in department history?

> Owl Links: Articles of interest to FAU fans.

We're running out of practice days on the football field. At the Owls' penultimate workout, FAUOwlAccess.com learned that Howard Schnellenberger isn't planning to use Saturday's final game simply to give underclassmen experience.

And yes, we'll be be at the Oxley Center practice fields later today for the Owls' final practice.

Other links:

Sun-Sentinel: Owls wil lose 19 seniors

Dothan Eagle: Troy's Chris Anderson ready for trip home to Fort Lauderdale