#TBT I hope the players are ready for our generation of music!! Practice #16 this morning. #WinToday

— Charlie Partridge (@CoachPartridge) August 14, 2014

@FAU_football setting the stage for a Player vs Coach dance off? I know @CoachPartridge has some moves. #WinTheDay #OwlPride

— Kris (@KrisBartels) August 14, 2014

Today's notables via SID Katrina McCormack…

This week the Florida Atlantic University football team’s practices have focused on competition and pushing past the wall of fatigue. Thursday morning’s session was no different.

The Owls flipped between “team” and special team drills and then did the same later with individual work and special teams. Each day, practice has ended with a drill that pits the coaches versus the players. On Wednesday, it was a kick-off drill that coaches raced, yelled and waved whatever they could find — at return specialist Lucky Whitehead’s face while he tried to concentrate on catching the kick-off. Whitehead was later praised for his performance when practice ended. On Thursday, the goal was to down a punt inside the 10-yard line. Senior Martese Jackson was inside the end zone and was corralled before he reached the 10 to again win praise for the players and to end practice on a high note.

The day began with early team sessions focused on the running game. That session was followed by newcomers Landon Scheer, a freshman from Orlando, FL (First Academy), and Greg Joseph, a sophomore from Boca Raton (American Heritage-Delray), kicking field goals. All but one attempt by the duo were good. The lone miss hit the upright. FAU then returned to the drills that focused on moving out of its territory with the ball placed on the FAU one. Junior quarterback Jaquez Johnson made quick work of the task, hitting junior wideout Jenson Stoshak. Junior running back Jeremy Gaskins had a five-yard gain and sophomore quarterback Greg Hankerson found Kamrin Solomon wide open for a 15-yard gain.

The Owls then moved to seven-on-seven drills where senior safety Damian Parms grabbed an interception before Johnson found William Dukes and Stoshak for big yards in the 15th of a scheduled 22-period day. In the later periods, it was Hankerson to senior back Martese Jackson that drew a smile Jackson following practice.

“I love catching the ball,” said the speedy Jackson.

The Owl defense continued to put pressure on the offense. Senior corner/safety Christian Milstead almost came up with a big interception, but what he couldn’t hold onto, sophomore linebacker Robert Relf grabbed the deflection to secure a turnover on the INT. Another big turnover was a Marc Mauro forced fumble and David Lozandier recovery on a running play.

The younger players got into the action on Thursday with quarterback Jason Driskel hitting JJ Stevens down the sideline deep. Stevens also has received a lot of work in the return game.

Looks like there's a lot of great chemistry between the coaches and the players.  I hope that translates into mutual respect both on and off the field.  Can't wait to see what this starts looking like during game time.

Great to see all the NFL Scouts checking our guys out. Put the resume on tape! #WinToday

— Roc Bellantoni (@CoachRoc) August 15, 2014

Today's notables via SID Katrina McCormack…

Owls are closing in on the final days of preseason camp, but have maintained focus throughout despite things being thrown, loud music being played, simulated pressure situations and possibly the most difficult — a heat index of 102 or 103.

“I’m pleased with the focus,” said Charlie Partridge, FAU football’s head coach, about the 2014 preseason camp. “We just had a great four-minute drill and we have been fortunate to not have a major injury.”
The Owls began Friday with continued work on kick-return. While the primary focus was on everyposition other than the returner, FAU’s Lucky Whitehead, Martese Jackson, Cre’von LeBlanc and JJ Stevens were back to receive.

FAU then moved into the first “team” session with freshmen quarterback Jason Driskel leading the first scoring drive. On the following drive, led by junior quarterback Jaquez Johnson, senior back Martese Jackson broke through the line for a long run to the end zone. Sophomore quarterback Greg Hankerson followed by handing off to Jeremy Gaskins on back-to-back plays that produced big gains. Period 10 saw Jackson use fancy footwork to break into space, followed by a nice pass from Johnson to wideout William Dukes.

The defense got on the board with a take away credited to newcomer Nick Internicola. FAU then shifted its work towards the red zone and found several things to celebrate, including an acrobatic catch by senior tight end Alex Deleon.

The final period of the day saw freshman Henry Bussey turn the corner and use the sideline for a big gain. His number was called a second time and he repeated his performance, but the biggest “ohs” of the day came when Driskel used his feet to cash in on 10-plus yards.

FAU ended the day with work on taking a knee and four-minute situations. In the practice-ending battle, the coaches won Friday due to a player missed assignment. Players remain in the lead 3-1.

Rick said

FAU ended the day with work on taking a knee and four-minute situations.

Posted On: Aug 15th 2014, 2:25 PM #333292

Hopefully they worked on: If you are driving late in the game and it is 4th down and the coach tells you to spike the ball to stop the clock…ignore him!  

Great talk from @FAUpresident Dr Kelly at tonights team meeting. #fau

— FAU Football (@FAU_football) August 15, 2014

Today's notables via SID Katrina McCormack…

If it is Saturday it is FAU football game day and that is exactly how the Owls ran Saturday morning’s practice, including officials.

Once all the drills and special teams work was complete the Owls moved into a scrimmage.

Right out of the box it looked like the day would belong to the offense and more specifically senior receiver Lucky Whitehead. Whitehead had a nice catch and run. He repeated it the next play for a score.

Junior corner Cre’von LeBlanc then erased any thought of it being an all offense day with one of the most athletic interceptions of the preseason camp. LeBlanc leapt off the ground just to the left of his receiver and pulled the ball out of the air just before it got to its target in the end zone.

Following the scrimmage the Owls moved into overtime work. The defense held the momentum through the first drive. Just like in a game the opposite team was then given an opportunity and they converted a 52-yard field goal by freshman newcomer Landon Scheer. Running through one more overtime period, the first side’s offense was moving well until a penalty pushed them back, they continued to move the chains for junior Jeremy Gaskins to punch it in. Sides were flipped and one play later Christian Milstead came up with an interception to end the game and practice.

The Owls will return to class on Monday, moving the team out of preseason camp and into a more traditional week.