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BOCA RATON – When Saturday’s game against Wisconsin first appeared on FAU’s schedule, it looked to be a reunion of sorts for then-Owls’ coach Charlie Partridge, who spent five years as an assistant for the Badgers prior to a one-year detour to Arkansas before being hired by Florida Atlantic.
FAU defensive tackle Jeremiah Taleni doesn’t have quite the connection with Madison that Partridge did. Nonetheless, he’s looking forward to seeing some familiar faces – the most prominent being Badgers coach Paul Chryst.
“Paul Chryst actually recruited me to Pitt,” Taleni said. “I practiced against this offense every day.”
Chryst left Pitt to take over at Wisconsin in 2015. Taleni was dismissed from Pitt during the summer (had he stayed, Partridge, hired by Pitt after he was fired by FAU, would have been his position coach) and transferred to FAU. A starter against Navy, Taleni recorded four tackles against the Midshipmen in the Owls’ season opener.
Taleni doesn’t speak much with Chryst but he has kept in touch with former Pitt defensive line coach Inoke Breckterfield, who he calls “one of my favorite coaches.”
When Chryst left for Wisconsin he took Breckterfield with him. It was Breckterfield, a Hawaiian native, who recruited Telani, a fellow Hawaiian.
“He’s the first guy that laid eyes on me in recruiting and it was an opportunity I couldn’t turn up,” Taleni said. “I had to fly across the nation to play some ball.”
Taleni’s familiarity with the Badgers won’t be contained to the sideline. Reserve running back Rachid Ibrahim began his career at Pitt before transferring to Wisconsin. He carried twice for eight yards in the Badgers’ season-opening victory over Utah St.
“Can’t wait to put my hands on him,” Taleni said with a smile.
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