More of the same: Why FAU lost its fourth straight game of the season

FAU quarterback Graham Wilbert threw two interceptions and was sacked five times in the 20-14 loss to North Texas. Photo courtesy of Ryan Murphy.

By: Rolando Rosa

Observations from the Owls 20-14 loss to the Mean Green at FAU Football Stadium:

• While other Sun Belt Conference teams (ULM defeating Arkansas and MTSU beating Georgia Tech) are gaining attention across the nation, FAU football is going backwards.
• The only positive thing related to the color red for FAU was their new jerseys. Quarterback Graham Wilbert committed two red zone turnovers( INT, fumble) in the first half.
• "I wasn't rattled," Wilbert said. "It was just frustrating knowing that we left points on the field. We just didn't execute everything we needed to. We shot ourselves in the foot. I don't know it was really anything North Texas did. They didn't confuse us. It was just us not getting the job done."
• Wilbert surprisingly used his legs to rack up yards and even a touchdown. He ran for a 23-yard first down and 11-yard score.
• Running back Damian Fortner scored an 11-yard touchdown late in the third quarter for FAU's first points of the game.
• FAU held North Texas, No.44 in the nation in rushing yards per game, to just 56.
• The Owls forced the Mean Green into 3 for 14 on third down attempts.
• Owls head coach Carl Pelini wanted to see more from his defense, though.
• "There were still a lot of mental errors that gave up plays that were inexcusable. The screen plays, the trick plays, we're in man coverage and they run a tight end delay, guy comes off his man. That's inexcusable," Pelini said. "Those are just details on defensive football that can never happen. It embarrasses me at times."
• FAU got off to another slow start, this time trailing 17-0 deep into the third quarter before responding with a pair of touchdowns to cut the lead to three early in the final period.
• Pelini appears to be growing frustrated with his team's lack of urgency to start games.
• "We don't know how to win. We have to learn how to win as a football team, as a football program. When the game is on the line, we couldn't get over the hump," Pelini said. "When the score's nothing-nothing, we make mistakes. Over and over and over again."

For post game commentary, check out my University Press column.

FAU (1-4 overall, 0-2 in conference play) returns to action on October 13, 8:00 p.m. at ULM.

FAU Athletics wants fans to show "Owl Pride" at Saturday's game versus North Texas

FAU lost 31-17 last season on the road against North Texas.

Photo courtesy of Ralph Notaro.

By: Rolando Rosa

After three straight losing weekends on the road, Owls head coach Carl Pelini admits he's "glad to be home." But how many people will be there to greet him?

It's hard to get excited about a 1-3 football team, let alone one with a 27.6 margin of defeat. However, that isn't stopping AD Pat Chun and FAU Athletics from asking fans to show "Owl Pride" when the team returns home to face North Texas on Saturday September 29 at 5 p.m.

The turnout at the home opener against Wagner was listed as 14,510 but honestly better resembled half of that at the most. It's gotten to the point where Chun is playing the role of cheerleader to motivate the stagnant Owls fan base, even offering an incentive to students who show up to this week's game early.

"You did great turning out for the first game, but we know you can do better!" Chun said to FAU Sports. "Show your Owl Pride by getting to the game before kickoff!"

According to the official athletics website, the game is being played on FAU Pride Day (We have a pride day? Any FAU alums want to explain the origin of this occasion to me?) and the first 4,000 students in their seats will get rally rags after the first quarter. 

Let's hope those rags aren't white so they won't get waived as a surrender flag if the game gets out of hand.

By the Numbers: A statistical look at FAU-Alabama

Owls running back Damian Fortner struggled against No.1 ranked Alabama, averaging just 2.8 yards per carry. Photo courtesy of Ralph Notaro/Owl Pix

By: Rolando Rosa

FAU came to Tuscaloosa with a target on their backs after Cory Henry's controversial comments about the No.1 ranked Crimson Tide made national headlines on ESPN. While they ended up losing 40-7, the Owls return to Boca with some positives heading into Sun Belt play. 

A look into the numbers, both good and bad, for FAU this weekend:

• FAU quarterback Graham Wilbert's 6-yard touchdown pass to tight end Alex DeLeon snapped Alabama's 12 quarter shutout streak 
• At halftime, Wilbert had -1 yards passing(Wilbert finished with 34 yards on 7 of 13 passing)
• FAU forced Alabama into field goals on four straight drives after giving up two passing touchdowns to start the game
• Alabama held FAU to one first down in the first half
• FAU running back Damian Fortner had fewer rushing yards in the entire game(39 on 14 carries) than he had on his touchdown run(42) against Georgia
• FAU was 1-12 on third down attempts after going 9-19 at Georgia; FAU however was 2-2 on 4th down
• Through three quarters, the longest play from scrimmage by FAU was a 6-yard run by Fortner
• FAU freshman punter Sean Kelly's eight punts averaged 49.4 yards. His high was 57 yards.
• Alabama did not punt until 1:47 left in the third quarter
• Alabama gained 503 total yards(247 yards passing, 256 yards rushing)
• FAU had 110 total yards(34 passing yards, 76 rushing)
• Alabama committed the only turnover of the game on a fumble recovery in the first quarter by FAU snapper Tim Raber

Overall, head coach Carl Pelini was proud of his team's late game effort but understands the Owls have a lot of improving to do.

"I don't know how important the touchdown was, but it is important that our guys never quit playing and that's the one thing I'll take away from this game," Pelini said to the Sun-Sentinel. "I promise you that doesn't excuse the way we started. We've got to be able to be a team that comes out with higher expectations and I don't think we did today. I think we let Alabama's reputation affect the way we started the game. If we are going to become the program I want us to be, we can't do that no matter who we are playing."

For post game analysis, check out my commentary from the University Press.

FAU returns home to face North Texas on Saturday September 29 at 5 p.m. 

Owls transfer Duron Carter declared ineligible for this season

Owls wide receiver Duron Carter during training camp. 

Courtesy of Owl Access.

By: Rolando Rosa

FAU wide receiver Duron Carter will be in his old stomping grounds Saturday afternoon when the Owls take on the No.1 ranked Crimson Tide, but it'll only be as a spectator. Carter, a transfer from Alabama, was declared ineligible to play this season, according to the Sun Sentinel.

Carter(6-foot-5, 215 pounds), the son of former NFL star wideout Cris Carter, petitioned for a hardship waiver in the hopes for immediate eligibility this season at FAU. NCAA rules dictate that a transfer player sit out a season unless a dire reason is given. Carter's point focused on the premise that he wanted to spend more time with his family, which currently resides in Boca Raton.

FAU is Carter's fourth school in as many years.

He started his college career at Ohio State(13 receptions, 176 yards, and a touchdown in 2009) before transferring to Coffeyville Community College (44 receptions, 690 yards, 10 touchdowns). Carter was kicked off the Crimson Tide before playing a single game because of his academic standing.

Now that Carter is ineligible for this season, his last year of college football will be 2013.

FAU defender Cory Henry's Alabama quote goes viral

FAU defensive lineman Cory Henry has nine tackles and one sack this season. Courtesy of FAU Sports

By: Rolando Rosa

Poor Cory Henry.

It may not have been his intention, but the FAU defensive lineman's comments to the local media after practice about the Owls upcoming opponent this Saturday, No.1 ranked Alabama, made national headlines soon after.

"They ain't what people think," Henry said of the defending national champions. "They're good and everything but they can [be] beat, too. They just execute well. They just execute and beat you."

The quote immediately surfaced onto national sites such as Yahoo Sports and Big Lead Sports, which relentlessly mocked Henry. When asked a simple question by the Sun Sentinel about his team's biggest advantage over Alabama, here was Henry's response:

"We got speed against them," Henry said. "If you've got speed you can win."

It's unrealistic to expect an upset victory(let alone any points) against an Alabama squad which has won the national title two of the last three seasons, but that wasn't what Henry was asserting. He was asked a direct question by the beat reporter(who didn't even bother to use the quote himself anyway) and gave his best reply.

FAU(1-2 record) is coming off a 56-20 defeat to Georgia; Alabama(3-0 record) defeated Sun Belt Conference team Western Kentucky 35-0 last week. The Owls are 50 point underdogs against the Crimson Tide.

FAU plays at No.1 ranked Alabama next Saturday, Sept. 22, at 5 p.m.

FAU players dig their new threads

Owls wide receiver Byron Hankerson sporting the new jersey during the season opener against Wagner. 

Photo courtesy of Max Jackson.

By: Rolando Rosa

To pull off an upset, FAU football knows much improvement is needed between now and Saturday's game at seventh ranked Georgia. At least they'll arrive in Athens in style.

Just implemented this season, the Owls have new jerseys from their sponsor Adidas. A big change to the three new jerseys (blue, red, and white), are wings on the shoulders. Two of the Owls best defenders approve of the move to new uniforms for multiple reasons.

"They're tight. They fit good," linebacker Randell Johnson said. "It feels like we ain't got no clothes on. It feels like you've just got on a girdle."

"We love them man," linebacker David Hinds said. "It's tight fit, can't really get held by the offense that much because there ain't that much to grab on. It's pretty comfortable."

According to Online Athens, Sanford Stadium is officially sold out this weekend. It might be too bad those jerseys don't include metal armor and ear plugs to combat the rowdy SEC crowd.

Fredskins---Alfred Morris' big first week as an NFL starter

Former FAU running back Alfred Morris is now a starter for the Washington Redskins.

Photo courtesy of Michelle Friswell. 

By: Rolando Rosa 

Over the weekend, three FAU running backs(Damian Fortner, Travis Jones and Johnathan Wallace) combined for 75 yards in a 31-14 road loss to Middle Tennessee.

Alfred Morris had more yards by himself in his NFL debut with the Redskins. 

Former Owls running back Morris(drafted with the 173rd pick in the sixth round) and fellow rookie quarterback Robert Griffin III led Washington to a stunning 40-32 week one victory over New Orleans in the Superdome. 

"Who dat? We that! Hail to the Redskins!" Morris said in delight on his Twitter page.

Morris was a starter, rushing for 96 yards on 28 carries to go along with two touchdowns. The two scores were the first-ever for an Owl in the NFL. 

After his second touchdown, which came in the fourth quarter to seal the win, Morris showed his school spirit by making Owl Fingers in the end zone. In four seasons at FAU he racked up a school record 27 touchdowns and 3,529 yards rushing. 

"I do it for a reason," Morris told Owl Access about why he did the Owl Fingers. "I'm proud of where I came from. I'm proud to have played at FAU."

Week 1 vs Wagner

http://upressonline.com/2012/09/commentary-the-win-that-felt-like-a-loss-why-the-owls-are-in-trouble-for-the-rest-of-the-season/

FAU football plays its next game on Saturday Sept. 8 at 7 p.m. on the road at Middle Tennessee.