The Loser Bowl: One win squads FAU and South Alabama square off this Saturday in Mobile

FAU has only scored 79 points through half of the season, which is last in the Sun Belt. Photo courtesy of Ralph Notaro. 

By: Rolando Rosa

If you're looking for a shootout, stay away from FAU-South Alabama this weekend.

Halfway through the season, FAU's offense is dreadfully awful. The Owls average 13.2 points per game, ranked No. 123 in the country. Luckily for FAU, their upcoming opponent is almost equally as terrible. 

South Alabama, a transitional BCS team in its their fourth year of existence, scores 16 points per game, No. 119 in the nation. The Jaguars are riding a four-game losing into Saturday's contest in Mobile, AL.

Despite South Alabama's recent struggles, the Owls, losers of five in a row, still respect their opponent. FAU offensive coordinator Brian Wright believes the Jaguars are going to be just as motivated as his team to get the victory.

"They're hungry," Wright said. "They only have one win as well and they're going to be just as hungry to get a win."

The Owls are coming off a sloppy 35-14 loss to ULM. FAU committed 11 penalties in the defeat, something which the coaching staff was displeased with. Wright knows the miscues need to be cut down, explaining his unit needs to focus and execute better. 

"We were making mistakes," Wright said. "We were stopping ourselves on a few of our drives."

The Jaguars allow 27.3 points per game but Wright isn't taking their defense lightly. South Alabama held No.23 Mississippi State scoreless in the first quarter of their game three weeks ago.

"Defensively they play hard," Wright said. "They're physical and I think they're a talented group."

However, Wright is treating this week's match-up the same way he has for the first six weeks of the season.

"Just like any defense any week," Wright said. "You have to schematically design the plays that you think are going to give you the best chance of succeeding."

For more Owls news, check out Owl Access and the Sun-Sentinel.

FAU plays at South Alabama on Saturday Oct. 20 at 3:30 p.m.

Pelini, players ready for prime time match with ULM

FAU is 0-2 in Sun Belt play this season. The Owls have lost 12 straight conference games. 

Photo courtesy of Char Pratt.

By Rolando Rosa

After not playing since Sept. 29, break time is over for the Owls.

FAU returns to action this Saturday on the road against ULM hoping to snap their four-game losing streak. Even though the War Hawks (3-2 overall, 1-0 in conference play) knocked off then-No.8 Arkansas in their season opener and are getting props from the national media (ESPNU in particular, which aired an All-Access episode on the team this week), the Owls head into Malone Stadium with confidence. 

"ULM is a great team," Owls running back Damian Fortner said. "They play great team football but we pretty much focus on what we have to do."

They'll have to do a lot to overcome the Sun Belt's top offense and No. 2 defense. In practice this week, coach Carl Pelini stressed to his squad the importance of increasing their effort level and paying attention to every detail. 

"He just wanted us to pick up the intensity and enthusiasm," Fortner said. "Just make sure that we focus on our fundamentals and the little things that we have to take care of."

The stagnant Owls offense may receive a boost, as wide receiver Deandre Richardson, out since the spring with an ankle injury, could see time this week according to the Sun-Sentinel. Richardson led the Owls last season with 32 catches. 

The biggest challenge for the Owls will be matching up defensively against Kolton Browning, a quarterback Pelini compares to Robert Griffin III. In last year's game against FAU, Browning's offense registered 424 total yards.

 "There is so much balance. Being able to run and being able to throw," Pelini said to Owl Access of Browning's dual threat ability. "You don't see him make many bad plays with the ball."

Unfortunately so far for the Owls and their fans this season, the same can't be said for their team.

FAU plays at ULM on Saturday Oct. 13 at 8 p.m.

ESPN: ULM ''One of the stories of the year"; meanwhile, FAU having nightmare season

FAU was shutout 26-0 by ULM in the season finale last year. It was the final game of coach Howard Schnellenberger's career. 

Photo courtesy of Christine Capozziello

By: Rolando Rosa

The last time FAU faced ULM, the War Hawks humiliated the Owls 26-0. To make matters worse, that Dec. 3 contest was the last game for former Owls head coach Howard Schnellenberger. 

I'm sure FAU would love to get revenge, but it won't be easy this Saturday at Malone Stadium. The Owls are 20-point underdogs according to Owl Access and that's with good reason.

The War Hawks are national media darlings after knocking off No.8 Arkansas in their opener, followed by close losses to Auburn and Baylor. Satellite channel ESPNU had an in-depth 30 minute feature on the team this Tuesday. The network swooped in once they realized the Sun Belt squad had America's attention.

"I think they become one of the stories of the year, knocking off Arkansas and taking Auburn to overtime then almost beating Baylor," Dan Margulis, ESPN senior director of programming and acquisitions said to The News Star. "I think they captured the hearts of a lot of people so we thought this would be cool to cover."

The War Hawks lead the Sun Belt in scoring (39.6) and total offense (514.6)

FAU meanwhile is not made-for-TV, struggling with a 1-4 record and averaging just 13 points per game. The Owls are on a four-game losing streak and its only victory was by four points at home against Division I-AA Wagner. Owls head coach Carl Pelini understands the various problems the potent War Hawks offense pose. 

"They're just very efficient, they know their offense," Pelini said to the Palm Beach Post. "They'll spread you out and create match up problems. Their offense is really built in a way that, if you take away one thing they always have a counter move. It's a very well devised scheme."

FAU plays at ULM on Saturday Oct. 13 at 8 p.m.

Bye week blues: FAU enters the break on a four-game losing streak

Owls quarterback Graham Wilbert is intercepted in the end zone during the first half of the 20-14 loss to North Texas.
Photo courtesy of Ryan Murphy.

By: Rolando Rosa

Headed into the bye week, FAU already has as many wins (1) as it did all of last season. That's the optimist's view. A pessimist could still point out a number of flaws the Owls are exhibiting almost halfway through the season. Five games in, here's five positives and negatives about FAU football: 

Positives:

• There's already a win on the board through five games. Last season, FAU didn't pick up a victory until the second-to-last game of the season.
• FAU scored three touchdowns on top ten competition. Last season FAU scored six points total against Florida and Michigan State.
• Freshman walk-on punter Sean Kelly has dazzled, booting kicks at a 42.2 average, with a high of 55. Kelly has athleticism too, as multiple times this season he's adjusted to handle botched snaps.
• Graham Wilbert already has five touchdowns this season after only seven all of last year. Wilbert is completing 64.8 percent of his passes, after 52.4 last year
• Sophomore wide receiver William Dukes leads the team with 18 catches for 224 yards. Dukes has big play ability, hauling in multiple catches of over 30 yards.

Negatives:

• The lone win was by four points at home against Division 1-AA Wagner. FAU failed to capture winnable conference games against Middle Tennessee and North Texas.
• FAU has fumbled 11 times, losing eight of them. Running backs coach Kerry Dixon says he emphasizes ball protection in practice but it's not translating to game days. 
• The Owls punt and kickoff returns are horrible. On punt returns, FAU is averaging an incomprehensible -0.6 yards. Kickoff returns aren't that much better at 21.2 yards.
•  The secondary is constantly getting burned, allowing 17.8 yards per catch to opponents. In last week's loss, North Texas scored on a 68-yard passing touchdown.
• Slow starts are the biggest reason for the 1-4 record. The Owls offense has more points in the fourth quarter (41) than the other three quarters combined (24). 

For more Owls news, check out The Daily Hoot and Owl Access. 

FAU returns to action on Saturday Oct. 13 at 8 p.m. against ULM

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.