Pelini shocked by players positive attitude in practice after crushing loss to South Alabama

FAU head coach Carl Pelini is on a six-game losing streak but hasn't lost the respect of his players. Photo courtesy of Michelle Friswell.

By Rolando Rosa

When a team gifts a victory to an opponent in its Homecoming game, it wouldn't be unreasonable to feel dejected deep into the following week. However, after blowing a 14-point lead in last Saturday's 37-34 double overtime loss at South Alabama, FAU players returned to Boca with a positive attitude. 

This threw their head coach for a loop.

"I obsess over that all weekend and then we come out on Tuesday and have a great practice," Pelini said to Owl Access. "It's like they're bailing me out a little bit. I worry about how I'm going to get them back and keep their morale up and they come out and have a really good one."

Before they could refocus, the Owls had to let go of their disappointment. FAU seemed to finally be on its way to win No.2 on the season before imploding down the stretch with inept offense and sloppy, penalty-filled defense.

"It's terrible, it hurt a lot. It hurt real bad," senior linebacker David Hinds said to the Sun-Sentinel. "We didn't finish. We been so much better, so much harder, in the fourth quarter. We're hungry for a win. I'm starving for a win. I want one real bad. It hurts."

Yet, once the players headed home the pain began to dissipate, a sign of a team which is maturing even while riding a massive losing streak.

Hinds and Co. play their Homecoming game this Saturday against Troy. If they're going to have any chance at the victory in front of the alumni, not only will their spirits need to be high, but their execution will need to be as well.

The Owls host Troy on Saturday Oct. 27 at 5 p.m. in its Homecoming game.