FAU has visits lined up for January
By Marcus Nelson

Palm Beach Post Staff Writer

Saturday, December 17, 2005

BOCA RATON ? Florida Atlantic was dealt a blow in late October when Hurricane Wilma hit the South Florida area, canceling high school games and practices.

That week was an open week for the Owls, and would have been a busy recruiting time for FAU coaches.


FAU's other off week was late in November, when many high school players already had finished their seasons.

Although the Owls haven't received any commitments, they have lined up more visits for January than they had at this time last year.

"There wasn't much time for our coaches to get out, but I think we already knew more about the players around here," coach Howard Schnellenberger said. "It probably hurt the carpet-baggers more than in-state people."

During last year's recruiting period, the Owls had not finalized their future schedules and the team's schedule wasn't a selling point.

This season, FAU will emphasize with recruits its strong non-conference schedule through the next few years. FAU has games scheduled with South Carolina, Clemson, Oklahoma State, Minnesota, Michigan State and Florida through the next four years.

"We are scheduling over our heads, but that is beneficial," Schnellenberger said. "It is stimulating to players to play these kinds of teams."

"There wasn't much time for our coaches to get out, but I think we already knew more about the players around here," coach Howard Schnellenberger said. "It probably hurt the carpet-baggers more than in-state people."

Someone should let him know that the "carpet-baggers" have gone the route of the internet and local recruiters. They don't have to actually drive down from the North anymore like in the past. Their scouts walk among us.