Florida Atlantic No Longer a Laugher
9 comments so far
December 29, 2008 by
The Huskers are likely to get some grief for scheduling three teams from the Sun Belt conference in 2009. And while these teams may not get respect nationally, they can’t all be taken lightly. In particular, the Owls showed some fight in earning a bowl berth and winning the game. Those who took Tom’s advice and checked out the Motor City Bowl saw them dispatch with the de facto home team in Central Michigan behind junior quarterback Rusty Smith.
Smith has been a three-year starter for FAU and was named the Sun Belt Player of the Year in 2007. You don’t get more seasoned than that in college football. At 6’5� and 230 lbs., he’s not likely to be rattled by a little pressure either. He’s got the size to stiff-arm a charging linebacker or safety. With a Husker quarterback set to begin his first game as an NU starter, the edge in experience at quarterback will be decidedly in the Owls’ favor. That can be a recipe for an upset.
The good news is that Smith is immobile and pocket quarterbacks have been the most vulnerable to Bo Pelini’s defenses. Despite Smith’s experience, the Owls were a middling 67th in scoring offense in 2008 and 42nd in total offense. They’ll also lose a 1,000-yard rusher in running back Charles Pierre as well as his backup DiIvory Edgecomb.
Nebraska will get no credit and perhaps some grief for scheduling Florida Atlantic. But taking on a team that won a FBS conference title in 2007 and a bowl game in 2008 isn’t something you should have to apologize for. If anything, it’s a bold undertaking. Hopefully, Pelini and his staff can convince the players of this, otherwise the 2009 season opener could be a real downer.
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tom Dec 29 08
Excellent points. I gave Central Mich. the advantage for basically having home field, but having such an experience QB was not something I took into account for that game.
mark Dec 29 08
The Owls did not win the conference title. They came in 3rd. They won it in 2007.
Husker Mike Dec 29 08
Sagarin's rankings still had Florida Atlantic #114 before the bowl game. Out of the Sun Belt schedule, FAU lost 52-10 to Tejas, beat UAB 49-34(#122 according to Sagarin), lost to Michigan State 17-0, lost to Minnesota 37-3, then beat Western Kentucky (Sagarin #161) 24-20. The Central Michigan victory was easily FAU's best, but FAU remains a laugher.
darren Dec 29 08
FAU showed some guts this year. They started 1-5 (UT, MSU, etc) as Husker Mike mentioned. Then, partially due to the QB getting healthy and partially due to the Sun Belt schedule, they went 5-1 to get to a bowl.
Are they a world beater, and a team NU will get a lot of credit (nationally) for playing. No, probably not. But, in terms of the actual caliber of opponent, they are like opening against a good team out of the MAC. Isn't that what NU did this year? :-)
Dwayne Dec 29 08
Isn't FAU's coach like a day older than Joe Pa or something?
darren Dec 29 08
Good point, Dwayne. Not about the age, but the opponent. FAU is "coached" by Howard Schnellenberger, who is on my most disliked coaches list. (If you don't know why, look it up! Oh, the ghosts of January 1983...why must you curse us?!) Just one more reason this game matters.
I put "coached" in quotation marks because as far as I can tell, he just walks around the sidelines in a suit.
And, yes, like Joe Pa, Bobby Bowden and Bill Snyder...he's old. What's up with that trend?
teamster Dec 29 08
I wonder if Howard Schnellenberger is still nesting with that younger trophy blonde he had holding onto his arm when he was at Oklahoma. He already had the pipe. If he was wearing pajamas it would be Hefner-like. I'm not criticizing. I'm envious.
Greg Morrow Dec 29 08
Fair warning, Steve.
Forewarned is forearmed and everything.
Acually, to me, Schnellenberger is the most interesting college figure not associated with our beloved Cornhuskers. Leaving "The U" might have been a strategic error. But, maybe he doesn't look at it that way.
I remember when he was hired by FAU to start the program, which reminded me of Gene Bartow, who did the same thing with Alabama Birmingham and had good success, if I'm correct.
I enjoyed watching his offense friday night, which seemed just as comfortable in the "I," as the spread sets.
He probably won't go into the college HoF, but he has an advanced ability to develop teams. You really can't deny that. He seems to be one of the first to really incorporate pro schemes, going back to his time with the Dolphins and Colts.
His hair and 'stache are cotton white, but I was still surprised at his age. I got the sense he's absolutely in charge of his team.
I've got to read up on him, one day. I think he's fascinating.
john pacheco May 27 09
Why doesn't the huskers play some REAL teams instead of the "pussy teams".....Nebraska gets its rating from these teams because they are unknown teams.....Check out Colorado, Oklahome, Texas, Texas Tech, etc.....They play teams that are tough......Nebraska is considered a big bully team playing these unknowns.....You need someone to schedule the games and quit being pussies..........John