I don't think we need to drop Rusty just yet, but he does need to know that he is replaceable.  Van Camp definetly needs some significant play time in the next two games, for two reasons: 1) so he gets some real game experience, and 2) to make Rusty earn his spot back.    I know that everything so far is definetly NOT all rusty's fault, but it is obvious that he is not playing at last year's level, and even if he was, he is not being the leader that he needs to be on the field.  Look at Tampa Bay's game this past weekend,  their starting QB Garcia has been benched for the last few games, he came out on Sunday and blew away the panthers.  A little "time out" seemed to re-motivate him.
I still like seminowl's idea of "you screw up and your done", time for some harsh reality.

Although, personally I would have rather had Coach come out and say at the beginning of the season that Rusty was not 100%.  Atleast that way Van Camp could have been playing so far, and we would not all be so down on the team.  We would have the backup QB excuse. .      Either way GO OWLS!

Count me as a fan of Rusty Smith. Do I wish things were going better? Sure. But as best I recall, at least two, perhaps three of the interceptions were on tipped passes that could/should have been caught by FAU receivers. I shudder to think of the other drops. The shoulder issue and resulting mechanical problems are factors. The waterlogged balls at Michigan State are a factor. Even so, the team should be better than 1-5. Here's to a far better second half with a QB who still is darned good.

Wheres Clayton when you need him?  :P

Dear Florida Owl and other bloggers,
I am Jeff Van Camp's Mom. And I did not make the comments posted earlier. I have respect for the entire team including all of the Coaches.  I do look forward to the day when I will see my son play football. Go Owls!!!
(wrong FAU MOM)
xoxoxoxo  Bridgette VanCamp

HA! That's great.  ;D Welcome to the board, we're looking forward to seeing your boy play a bit as well, whenever that is…

Ditto grayowl. Rusty and company was why we won the Sun Belt and NO Bowl. I understand what FAU Football Mom is saying that it appears that he is the golden boy but with all do respect he is and of no fault of his own. He was placed very high on the expectation poll and after loosing a couple of people and getting hurt himself, those expectations became more of an uphill battle with each play of each game. Rusty is a good kid and is probably very frustrated and I would guess is probably harder on himself then when one of us or even a team mate gets in his S&*t .
Hopefully with this week off and some time to heal physically and mentally not just for him but the team, things will right themselves. This is a great bunch of kids, that are tough, and never quit. I've seen signs of them giving up, becoming frustrated with themselves and each other over the past few weeks not in their character at all. They need to take a look around at each other and themselves and remember were they have been how far the journey has brought them in such a short period of time. Last year just as the inaugural guys will be remembered long after they leave FAU. This season may seem over to most of us but to these kids, until that last second ticks and the whistle blows it isn't. For many of them this is the last year they will ever play organized football and I'm sure none of them wanted it to end this way.

They need the fans, students, parents and friends to support them until the the last whistle. IMO go out have fun and kick some Sun Belt Butt and who knows if the planets all align themselves we might have a shot. If not, don't let it end because we gave up. Like the coach from WKU said FAU is probably the best 1-5 team in the country so it's time to put differences aside and play some Owl Football.

LH said

Dear Florida Owl and other bloggers,
I am Jeff Van Camp's Mom. And I did not make the comments posted earlier. I have respect for the entire team including all of the Coaches.  I do look forward to the day when I will see my son play football. Go Owls!!!
(wrong FAU MOM)
xoxoxoxo  Bridgette VanCamp

Right and the Texas Football Mom said she was… Alex Fick's mom, I think?

Nice to see them around here!

Maybe the expectations very set too high, but the is nothing with believing in yourself & teammates that you can accomplish the things this team set out at the beginning of the year to do.

Sure some might have seemed a bit crazy (undefeated season), but look at their coach - the visionary himself that has push this program since day one with his own imaginable goals & visions for this program.

You can't achieve anything worth while unless you are willing to set your goals high - "shot for the stars", "aim high", etc… .  It doesn't mean that they will happen, but if you focus on those goals & work hard they they have a chance of developing into reality.  This team just lost some focus, but have every opportunity to turn it around & if it's not this year, then the next.  It's easy to get distracted at time, but the champions find a way to fight through adversities & re-gain the focus they need to acheice the goals they set forth.

"To Believe is to be STRONG".

owlcountry said

LH said

Dear Florida Owl and other bloggers,
I am Jeff Van Camp's Mom. And I did not make the comments posted earlier. I have respect for the entire team including all of the Coaches.  I do look forward to the day when I will see my son play football. Go Owls!!!
(wrong FAU MOM)
xoxoxoxo  Bridgette VanCamp

Right and the Texas Football Mom said she was… Alex Fick's mom, I think?

Nice to see them around here!

Welcome to the board!

Obviously that was not a dig, but a joke aimed at a disgruntled poster..and i assuredly Hope you took it as such

Bytor said

Maybe the expectations very set too high, but the is nothing with believing in yourself & teammates that you can accomplish the things this team set out at the beginning of the year to do.

Sure some might have seemed a bit crazy (undefeated season), but look at their coach - the visionary himself that has push this program since day one with his own imaginable goals & visions for this program.

You can't achieve anything worth while unless you are willing to set your goals high - "shot for the stars", "aim high", etc… .  It doesn't mean that they will happen, but if you focus on those goals & work hard they they have a chance of developing into reality.  This team just lost some focus, but have every opportunity to turn it around & if it's not this year, then the next.  It's easy to get distracted at time, but the champions find a way to fight through adversities & re-gain the focus they need to acheice the goals they set forth.

"To Believe is to be STRONG".

Setting ACHIEVABLE and REALISTIC goals is vital to sucess.

I am 28, while saying that my goal is to be President of my company by the end of next year is a great ambitious goal….I shouldn't feel like a failure when that doesn't happen due to the fact that its an unreachable goal.

FAU needs to work on putting the pieces in place (stadium, exposure, fan base) to gain more talented recruits that will allow our team to acheive consistancy.  Until we can keep the talented kids from South Florida from going to other schools I dont see us progressing the way our fans expect us to.  We need those 3 and 4 star recruits to stay in South Florida and go to FAU if we expect to compete with teams like Texas and Michigan State….especially on the road.  Good news is, I think an on-campus stadium will keep more of them home.