2008 Florida Atlantic Owls football
Motor City Bowl champion
ConferenceSun Belt Conference
Record7–6 (4–3 Sun Belt)
Head coach
Offensive coordinatorGary Nord (4th as OC, 5th overall season)
Offensive schemePro-style
Defensive coordinatorKirk Hoza (8th season)
Base defense4–3
Home stadiumLockhart Stadium
(20,425, grass)
2008 Sun Belt Conference football standings
ConfOverall
Team W L  W L 
Troy $  6 –1   8 –5  
Louisiana–Lafayette  5 –2   6 –6  
Florida Atlantic  4 –3   7 –6  
Arkansas State  4 –3   6 –6  
FIU  3 –4   5 –7  
Middle Tennessee  3 –4   5 –7  
Louisiana–Monroe  3 –4   4 –8  
North Texas  0 –7   1 –11  
  • $ – Conference champion

The 2008 Florida Atlantic University Owls football team represented Florida Atlantic University in the 2008 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The team was coached by Howard Schnellenberger and played their home games at Lockhart Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The Owls entered the season as defending Sun Belt Conference champions.

Preseason

The Florida Atlantic Owls entered the 2008 NCAA Division I FBS football season defending their conference championship and just one year removed from their first-ever bowl appearance and victory. The record-setting 2007 team ended the season 8-5 (6-1 SBC). Quarterback Rusty Smith, a junior, returned with much hype and national recognition. The 2008 team also returned an overwhelming majority of starters from the conference champion team, as it only lost four seniors (DB Kris Bartels, OL Jarrid Smith, LB Cergile Sincere, DL Josh Pinnick).

In the Preseason Sun Belt Coaches' Poll, the Owls were a clear favorite to repeat as champions. FAU received 62 total points and 6 first-place votes.

Preseason honors

Preseason Sun Belt Players of the Year

  • Sun Belt Conference Player of the Year, Offense: Rusty Smith (QB, Jr.)
  • Sun Belt Conference Player of the Year, Defense: Frantz Joseph (LB, Sr.)

Preseason All-Sun Belt honors

  • Rusty Smith (QB, Jr.)
  • Cortez Gent (WR, Jr.)
  • Nick Paris (OL, Sr.)
  • Jervonte Jackson (DL, Sr.)
  • Robert St. Clair[1] (DL, Sr.)
  • Frantz Joseph (LB, Sr.)
  • Tavious Polo[2] (CB, So.)
  • Corey Small (CB, Sr.)

Schedule

DateTimeOpponentSiteTVResultAttendance
August 307:00 p.m.at No. 10 Texas*
PPVL 10–5298,053
September 64:00 p.m.UAB*
W 49–3415,143
September 1312:00 p.m.at Michigan State*
ESPN2L 0–1770,321
September 2012:00 p.m.at Minnesota*
BTNL 3–3741,003
September 308:00 p.m.at Middle Tennessee
ESPN2L 13–1425,766
October 78:00 p.m.Troy
  • Lockhart Stadium
  • Fort Lauderdale, FL
ESPN2L 17–3017,191
October 187:00 p.m.at Western Kentucky*
W 24–2014,171
October 257:00 p.m.at Louisiana–Monroe
CSSW 29–289,922
November 84:00 p.m.North Texas
  • Lockhart Stadium
  • Fort Lauderdale, FL
W 46–1317,715
November 154:00 p.m.Louisiana–Lafayette
  • Lockhart Stadium
  • Fort Lauderdale, FL
W 40–2914,338
November 223:00 p.m.at Arkansas State
CSSL 14–2810,845
November 294:00 p.m.FIU
W 57–50 OT16,781
December 267:30 p.m.vs. Central Michigan*
ESPNW 24–2141,399

Awards and honors

Mid-season awards and honors

  • Week 12 Sun Belt Conference Player of the Week, Offense: Rusty Smith[3] (QB, Jr.)
  • Week 12 Sun Belt Conference Player of the Week, Defense: Corey Small[4] (CB, Sr.)
  • Week 14 Sun Belt Conference Player of the Week, Offense: Rusty Smith (QB, Jr.)
  • Week 14 Sun Belt Conference Player of the Week, Defense: Frantz Joseph[5] (LB, Sr.)
  • 2008 Shula Bowl Most Valuable Player: Rusty Smith (QB, Jr.)

Post-season awards and honors

All-Sun Belt honors

  • First Team All-Sun Belt Conference:
    • Jervonte Jackson[6] (DL, Sr.)
    • Frantz Joseph (LB, Sr.)
    • Corey Small (CB, Sr.)
  • Second Team All-Sun Belt Conference:
    • Jamari Grant[7] (TE, Jr.)
    • John Rizzo[8] (OL, Sr.)
    • Nick Paris[9] (OL, Sr.)
    • Charles Pierre[10] (RB, Sr.)

Records broken in 2008

The 2008 football season saw numerous school records broken.

StatisticPrevious RecordNew Record
Passing Touchdowns (Career)Jared Allen (2001-'04, 50 TD)Rusty Smith (2006-pres., 60 TD)
Rushing Yards (Career)Doug Parker (2001-'05, 1981 yards)Charles Pierre (2005-'08, 3015 yards)
Rushing Yards (Season)Doug Parker ('04, 896 yards)Charles Pierre ('08, 1014 yards)
Rushing Touchdowns (Career)Doug Parker (2001-'05, 21 TD)Charles Pierre (2005-'08, 23 TD)
Receiving Touchdowns (Career)Anthony Crissinger-Hill (2001-'04, 14 TD)Cortez Gent[11] (2006-pres., 17 TD)
Total Tackles (Career)Chris Laskowski (2001-'04, 294 tackles)Frantz Joseph (2006-'08, 333 tackles)
Total Tackles (Season)Frantz Joseph ('07, 131 tackles)Frantz Joseph ('08, 141 tackles)

References

  1. ↑ "Robert ST. Clair". Archived from the original on January 5, 2009. Retrieved December 27, 2008.
  2. ↑ "Tavious Polo". Archived from the original on January 4, 2009. Retrieved December 27, 2008.
  3. ↑ "Rusty Smith". Archived from the original on June 1, 2009. Retrieved December 27, 2008.
  4. ↑ "Corey Small". Archived from the original on January 5, 2009. Retrieved December 27, 2008.
  5. ↑ "Frantz Joseph". Archived from the original on January 4, 2009. Retrieved December 27, 2008.
  6. ↑ "Jervonte Jackson". Archived from the original on January 4, 2009. Retrieved December 27, 2008.
  7. ↑ "Jamari Grant". Archived from the original on January 4, 2009. Retrieved December 27, 2008.
  8. ↑ "Joohn Rizzo". Archived from the original on January 5, 2009. Retrieved December 27, 2008.
  9. ↑ "Nick Paris". Archived from the original on January 5, 2009. Retrieved December 27, 2008.
  10. ↑ Charles Pierre
  11. ↑ "Cortez Gent". Archived from the original on January 5, 2009. Retrieved December 27, 2008.


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