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BOCA RATON – Next stop on the Lane Train?
Back to Howard Schnellenberger Field.
FAU will make its first Boca Raton Bowl appearance, playing Akron on Dec. 19 in a game played on the Owls home field. This will be the first meeting between the two schools.
“We love Boca,” FAU President Dr. John Kelly said following Saturday’s FAU win in the Conference USA championship game. “We love Florida. If we can get a good game here we’ll be happy.”
Akron (7-6, 6-2 MAC), coached by Terry Bowden, is the Mid American Conference’s runner-up, having lost to Toledo in conference’s championship game.
It’s FAU’s first bowl appearance since a 2008 win over Central Michigan in the Motor City Bowl. Overall, this will be FAU’s third bowl appearance. Since moving to the FBS level, Florida Atlantic has never lost a postseason game.
FAU officials, including athletic director Pat Chun had previously stated a desire to avoid the Boca Raton Bowl, hoping instead to double the university’s television exposure by playing in one game, then hosting another televised game.
So how did the Owls end up staying home?
“We’re going to leave it up to the conference,” Kelly said on Saturday. “Eventually we have to say yes or no, but the conference has to do our negotiating.”
FAU is in the midst of its most successful season since moving to the FBS. On Saturday the Owls defeated North Texas 41-17 in Conference USA’s championship game.
Florida Atlantic enters bowl season winners of nine consecutive games. They did not lose in C-USA play.
In his first season at FAU, coach Lane Kiffin led the Owls to 10 wins – their first double-digit win total at the FBS level. With Saturday’s win Kiffin became the second-winningest coach in FAU history, trailing only program founder Howard Schnellenberger.
Kiffin brought national recognition to the Owls both on and off the field.
Running back Devin Singletary leads the nation with 30 overall touchdowns. His 29 rushing touchdowns ties a Conference USA record set by his position coach, Kevin Smith.
Saftey Jalen Young’s seven interceptions ties him for most in the nation.
The 283.2 rushing yards per game FAU averages is sixth best nationally.
This will be Akron’s first appearance in the Boca Raton Bowl.
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