The Owls are heading into the new season with many obstacles blocking their way to the top. Despite having lost several key defensive players and having scheduled two daunting away games to start the year, the team is determined to accomplish its goals: winning a conference title and a third bowl game.

To accomplish those goals, the Owls have to avoid a slow start like the one they posted in 2008, when the team went 1-5 in the first half of the season. The Owls, who belong to the Sun Belt Conference, open 2009 with road games at Nebraska and South Carolina, making the task of starting off strong seem even more difficult.

The team, however, believes their hard work during the summer will pay off when they open the season in the more than 81,000-seat Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, Neb., to play the Cornhuskers on Sept. 5.
“I feel, as a team, we’ve been working really hard this summer,” says safety Eddie Alexander, who snatched three interceptions in 2008. “I feel everybody is going to be prepared when we go to Nebraska.”

Hard work has been a theme among the players this summer, and they have been working to improve their strength, speed and weight.

The reason for the extra hard work? The Owls feel that they were somewhat lax in their preseason workouts last summer, and that contributed to their slow start. The team is doing all it can to avoid a repeat performance this season.
“It starts with the summer workouts. Effort, hard work, dedication and commitment to one another [out on the football field], that is step one,” says cornerback Tavious Polo. “Then we have got to get in the film room and get the mental part down.”

While the players need to study game film to completely prepare for the start of the year, the team’s mentality heading into the season is one of confidence, and who can blame them? The Owls are coming off consecutive successful seasons, having won the New Orleans Bowl in 2007 and the Motor City Bowl in 2008.

Despite the accomplishments of the last two seasons, head coach Howard Schnellenberger has declared this team as the most talented one he has ever coached during his nine-year tenure with the Owls, and he believes the team is poised for a big season.

If one looks at the Owls’ offense — with playmakers quarterback Rusty Smith, wide receiver Cortez Gent and tight end Jason Harmon all returning — it is understandable as to why Schnellenberger feels that way. But looking at the defense, skepticism may be the best and most polite way to describe Schnellenberger’s statement, a reaction the coach understands.
“We think we have got a lot more talent as a team this year than we have had — ever. The only problem is that the defense is young,” says the former Miami Dolphins offensive coordinator.

To counteract the relative youth of the defense, and to keep the team’s goals of winning a conference title and a third bowl game, Schnellenberger and the coaches have been working extensively with the group.
“We have spent a lot of time in the classroom, in drills and in [team-related] work to get the experience that we need to go out and play against the University of Nebraska,” he adds.

The offense is not flawless either. Questions surround the running game, as top running back Jeff Blanchard is doubtful for the season after suffering an injury during the spring. Blanchard, who had only 20 carries last season, was expected to step in for departing running backs Charles Pierre and Dilvory Edgecomb, but it appears he will miss most, if not all, of 2009.

Sophomore Alfred Morris, originally a fullback, is expected to fill in for Blanchard. Boasting a good combination of speed and size, Morris is to provide more than just a bruising running game to the Owls offense.
“He has good hand-eye coordination for catching the ball, good shiftiness, and he is a great pass-blocker to protect Rusty’s blindside,” says Schnellenberger of the 5’11”, 222-pound tailback.

Protecting Smith’s blindside will be key to the Owls’ success, because if the quarterback fails then so do the Owls. In 2008, Smith, the all-time leading passer in FAU history, dislocated his shoulder in the season opener against Texas. While he was not sidelined for a substantial amount of time, the injury still affected him, and that played a role in the team’s sluggish start.
“We are going to try and start out strong, different from what we did last year,” says Smith, who has thrown an impressive 56 touchdowns in the past two seasons.
Smith also admits that he shares Schnellenberger’s optimistic assessment of this year’s Owls.
“This is the most talented group we’ve had. With this group, we have a good chance of accomplishing our goals this year,” says Smith.

While achieving those goals is easier said than done, the Owls are demonstrating an intense focus in preparation for the looming season. Schnellenberger has noticed this focus, and has set the team’s goals accordingly.
“I have seen determination this summer. That is why the ultimate goal for this season is to reach higher than last year and the year before that. We want a three-peat!” exclaims Schnellenberger.

The Owls commence their 2009 season on Sept. 5 against Nebraska, but the quest to accomplish their goals of a conference title and a third consecutive bowl game victory began this summer.

“We think we have got a lot more talent as a team this year than we have had – ever.” -Howard Schnellenberger

2007 New Orleans Bowl FAU beat the Memphis Tigers 44-27

2008 Motor City Bowl FAU beat the Central Michigan Chippewas 24-21