After four straight road games against college football’s elite, FAU wins one With the first five games on the road, FAU wasn’t given much of a chance to do something special in the 2006 football season. In fact, the Owls were the last Division-I football program to host a home game in 2006. But FAU Head Coach Howard Schnellenberger’s team refused to give up. After four road losses to non-conference opponents (Clemson, Kansas State, Oklahoma State and South Carolina) with total scores that added up to 192-20, the Owls won back-to-back games. The fifth road game in a row, a 21-19 win at Louisiana-Monroe, proved this young team could win on the road. In the next game FAU dominated in a 32-7 win against Southern Utah.
The Owls start 2-4 and host Sun Belt Conference foe Louisiana-Lafayette on ESPN2 The Ragin’ Cajuns and Owls battled defensively before two controversial calls changed the outcome of the game. In the first half of the game it seemed that an FAU pass was intercepted by a Louisiana-Lafayette defender. Coach Schnellenberger had an Owls’ eye view of the play and thought the ball touched the ground before it was intercepted. He immediately challenged the play, but because ESPN2 did not have a sideline camera working properly, the call was reverted back to the referee on the field who ruled the play was an interception. The call gave the Ragin’ Cajuns possession in FAU territory for the first time in the game. After being stopped on three plays by a pesky Owls defense, Louisiana-Lafayette settled for a 41-yard field goal. The score was all the Ragin’ Cajuns would need in the defensive battle. FAU did drive down within the Louisiana-Lafayette 10 yard line but failed to score on a passing play as time expired. The loss dropped FAU from the Sun Belt Conference first place slot. The loss was also a shutout and the low point of the season for FAU.
FAU blows out, shuts out first place Arkansas StateIn their next game the FAU defense continued to dominate, boasting a 29-0 shutout against then Sun Belt Conference leader Arkansas State. The game was the most complete game FAU played all season with both the offense and defense dominating. Sophomore running back Charles Pierre had over 100 yards rushing in a game for the third time in his career, and at 3-5 FAU was back on course as a frontrunner for a conference championship. An amazing win against ASU had to be the highpoint of the season for the Owls. The shutout win also gave FAU a 2-1 conference record heading into a must-win showdown against Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro, Tennessee.
Cold weather game produces dire result Hopes were high as FAU rolled into frigid Nashville, Tennessee for an early November match up against MTSU. The night they arrived, the Owls experienced temperatures below freezing at 29 degrees, and the Saturday afternoon game was played in less than 50 degree weather. The cold didn’t seem to bother the team as they stuck in the game until the end. As the final horn sounded, FAU lost 35-14 to MTSU, and their conference championship and bowl game participation hopes were ended.
Hometown hero shreds Owls defense Troy State quarterback Omar Haugabook led the Trojans to their first road win in 11 consecutive games. Haugabook passed for over 325 yards and was named Sun Belt Offensive Player of the Week for his efforts. The junior quarterback from Glades Central in Belle Glade threw three touchdown passes over 50 yards in the 24-17 defeat. FAU fought Troy till the end, but came up short when Owls quarterback Rusty Smith heaved a touchdown tying pass to the Troy end zone that was intercepted with two minutes left in the game. Even though FAU lost, the game was still significant. Quarterback Rusty Smith threw for 312 yards, good for a top two mark in Owls history for passing yards in a game. Smith, a freshman, also started the game (the other start was the opening game against Clemson).
Smith starts again as Owls face team with same recordBoth teams came into the game with a 2-3 Sun Belt Conference record and were looking forward to build for next season with a win. FAU added to its two career wins against North Texas – in 2004 and 2005 – with a 17-16 victory over the Mean Green. The Owls scored on their first offensive possession of the game with a 24-yard field goal by kicker Warley Leroy, which set the tone for the rest of the game. Senior Charles Pierre, running back for the Owls, had a touch down and rushed for more than 100 yards in the game. The win evened FAU’s record in the Sun Belt Conference to 3-3.
FAU Avenges Last Year’s Loss to Rival FIU The fifth annual Shula Bowl took place with nothing on the line but pride. After FAU suffered an embarrassing 52-6 loss to the Panthers last year, it was time for some payback. The Owls easily defeated the Panthers 31-0 with strong performances from freshman quarterback Rusty Smith and a number of seniors. With the win FAU added to FIU’s winless season, during which the team lost a number of close games and more than 15 players to suspension in an Oct. 14 brawl at the University of Miami. FIU’s head coach, Don Strock, also announced his resignation a few weeks ago. The victory was a good end to FAU’s season. The Owls ended with a record of 5-7 overall and 4-3 in the Sun Belt conference.
