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Articles from the Palm Beach Post:


Hungry Owls not as ideal as perfect Owls
By Marcus Nelson

Palm Beach Post Staff Writer

Friday, October 29, 2004

BOCA RATON ? Count Florida A&M coach Billy Joe among those who were pulling for Florida Atlantic last week vs. Louisiana-Monroe.

The way Joe sees it, the Owls' loss to the Indians makes his job tougher when the Rattlers (3-5) play host to FAU (5-1) at 4 p.m. Saturday in Tallahassee.

"I'd rather have coach Schnellenberger and his team come in here undefeated," Joe said. "After a loss they are going to be focused, working hard and will give attention to the small things."

FAU coach Howard Schnellenberger also would like his team to be undefeated. Instead, the Owls are coming off a bitter defeat.

"I know what he's talking about," Schnellenberger said of Joe's remarks. "It's generally true that a team that just lost will spend more time and effort getting ready to play."

Just out of reach: The Owls hope to get more points from the offense, which is averaging 420.7 yards per game.

"We're not getting as many big plays," Schnellenberger said.

In last week's loss to the Indians, several of quarterback Jared Allen's passes were catchable, but receivers weren't able to come up with the ball.

Local connection: Florida A&M recruits Palm Beach County and the Treasure coast extensively. Area players on the Rattlers' roster include freshman WR Aubrey Parrish (Royal Palm Beach), senior DB Michael Foreman (Palm Beach Lakes), senior DE Clarence Laws (Glades Central), freshman OL Justin Delancy (Martin County), sophomore OL Richard Koonce (Boynton Beach) and junior DE Altriq Brown (Jupiter).


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Hungry Owls

Hungry Owls

FAU offense braces for the blitz
By Marcus Nelson

Palm Beach Post Staff Writer

Saturday, October 30, 2004

BOCA RATON ? Florida Atlantic players were smiling Friday as they boarded the tram busses that would take them on another road trip.

The Owls, who traveled some 17,000 miles through the first five games of the season, were headed back on the road to face Florida A&M in Tallahassee and couldn't be happier.

"We look forward to going back on the road ? it's our happy hunting ground," FAU coach Howard Schnellenberger said.

Indeed, considering the Owls won their first five games on the road and then lost for the first time last week vs. Louisiana-Monroe.

"We're still disappointed about that loss in our home opener, but it's something we have to put behind us," FAU defensive end Teddy Strachan said.

The Rattlers (3-5) know that FAU (5-1) is a better team than they are ? no matter where they play.

"We would have to play an unbelievably great football game to beat them," Rattlers coach Billy Joe said. "They have beaten some people that we could not beat. Hawaii, MT (Middle Tennessee State) ? those are real tough programs"

FAU knows what to expect when it plays Florida A&M today.

After the Owls had problems picking up the blitz in their 17-13 loss to the Indians last week, the FAU offense knows it will probably be blitzed more and more until it finds a way to solve that.

"You can expect it if you have a hard time picking up the blitz," said Kevin Fischer, an FAU offensive lineman from Pope John Paul High School. "Nobody's going to stop until you stop them."

Containing blitzing linebackers and safeties is key for FAU receivers.

"They blitz a lot, but that leaves the corners in man-to-man coverage," senior receiver Roosevelt Bynes said. "Hopefully we'll do a better job, because if you can't handle the blitz you can't throw the deep ball."




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