The blue-white spring scrimmage was held at Lockhart Stadium recently and FAU showcased its talent-laden team that will make the jump to Division I-A this year.
Last year the Owls became the fastest I-AA team to beat an I-A team and to make it to the semifinal playoff game. This year those same Owls, minus less than ten players, will be battling for their right to play I-A football.
The Owls return all but two starters, linebacker Quinton Swain and punter Andy Rosas. While it wasn’t surprising that these two starters did well, the play of some reserves and comeback players should be turning heads.
Backup red-shirt sophomore quarterback Danny Embick led all passers, throwing for a combined 305 yards and 2 touchdowns while playing for both teams. Embick’s play is a drastic turnaround from the same game last year in which he looked lost and mostly confused for a great deal of the day.
At the running back position two players stood out, red-shirt junior Doug Parker and freshman B.J. Manley.
Parker returned in 2003 after a year off for academic reasons. He never returned to the form that led the team in rushing for the 2002 season. At the scrimmage though, Parker showed that the rust is gone, and he solidified his case to start as number one back next season.
Manley showed he cannot be left on the bench and needs quality playing time by leading all rushers with 60 yards in the scrimmage. With Manley vying for playing time, the Owls will begin the season with four capable backs.
The best story of the day goes to the leading receiver Thomas Parker. A year ago, while helping a stranded motorcyclist on the side of the road, he was hit by a car, breaking his jaw and arm. The receiver returned from the injured list in full form. He finished the day with 128 yards receiving, and a show stopping 93-yard touchdown catch and run.
The day was a complete success, as both the offense and defense held their own. The team also held a picture-taking session for the fans before the scrimmage, as it looked to attract the minimum 15,000 per game.
The fan participation will help FAU since the University of Miami also held a spring scrimmage at Lockhart stadium to attract Broward fans. The difference was that Miami had no fan interaction and the scrimmage left a lot to be desired from the team.
FAU did not draw as many fans as the Hurricanes did for their second scrimmage, 10,000 in the Orange Bowl, but the closeness of fans and players will give FAU the inside edge to winning over new fans.
Altogether, the Owls have made enough strides to compete in Division I-A but more importantly, to compete against the Hurricanes in fan support.
2004 schedule released
The Owls also released their 2004 schedule. The team will begin with a trip to Hawaii that will start a three-game road trip. The team will begin playing conference opponents as a new member of the Sun Belt Conference in the second game when they face North Texas. The new schedule means the Owls will play two 2003 bowl teams in a row.
The home schedule is highlighted by games against Illinois State and cross-county rival Florida International at Lockhart Stadium. They will continue to battle in-state rivals as they also face Florida A&M on the road and upstart Edward Waters in the season finale.
In all the Owls will face 6 I-A teams and 4 teams that they defeated last year.
For 2005 and 2006 FAU has announced they will travel to Kansas to play the University of Kansas and Kansas State to open both schedules. The Owls are putting together an enticing schedule for years to come as they look to improve attendance and complete the jump to Division I-A.
2004 football schedule
  Date      Day   Opponent                   Site                            Time
                         Fan Fest/Scrimmage   Home                         noonSept. 4     Sat   Hawaii                           Honolulu, HI              11:30 p.m.Sept. 11   Sat   North Texas                 Denton, TX                7:05 p.m.Sept. 18   Sat   Middle Tennessee        Murfreesboro, TN     TBASept. 25   Sat   ILLINOIS STATE          Home                        4:00 p.m.Oct. 2      Sat   OpenOct. 9      Sat   Texas State                  San Marcos, TX       7:00 p.m.Oct. 16    Sat   Northern Colorado        Greeley, CO            4:00 p.m.Oct. 23    Sat   LOUISIANA-                  Home                       4:00 p.m.                         MONROEOct. 30    Sat   Florida A&M                  Tallahassee, FL       TBANov. 6      Sat   Troy State                    Troy, AL                   TBANov. 13    Sat   NEW MEXICO             Home                        4:00 p.m.                         STATENov. 20    Sat   FLORIDA                     Home (Pro Player)   4:00 p.m.                         INTERNATIONALNov. 27    Sat   Edward Waters            Home                        4:00 p.m.
All times EasternSubject to change (4/13/04)
