I have to stop glancing at the FIU board when it is really slow on this one.

The latest prediction is a FIU blow out of FAU at the Shula Bowl. : ???

They have almost the same situation this year as FAU had last. Lots of inexperience on both lines, a good QB and a real good LB.
Last year FAU had lots of inexperience on both lines, a good QB and a real good LB.

illinoisowl said

I have to stop glancing at the FIU board when it is really slow on this one.

The latest prediction is a FIU blow out of FAU at the Shula Bowl. : ???

They have almost the same situation this year as FAU had last. Lots of inexperience on both lines, a good QB and a real good LB.
Last year FAU had lots of inexperience on both lines, a good QB and a real good LB.

Hmmmmm. I was never really impressed with Danny Embick. I thought Jared Allen was a much better quarterback. I think something you need to remember is how instrumental Pittsburgh transfer, Roosevelt Bynes, was to your team in constructing your successful 2003 season. Without him, you would not have beaten Middle Tennessee. He was the one who made the catch as time expired to lift you guys over us. He and and Allen were the workhorse of your run through the 1-AA playoffs.

In '04, Allen had Anthony Crissinger-Hill, who I believe may have been more talented than Bynes, but his stupidity got him kicked off the team last year and really could've helped FAU be a force instead of the 2-9 team they eventually became.

FAU has yet to show anyone a breakout player like Allen, Bynes, or Crissinger-Hill. Something else FAU needs to do is defend the home field better. Since '03 FAU got blown out by Division II Valdosta State as a 1-AA team at home. They lost to a bad ULM team in '04 at home. They lost for the first time to Middle Tennessee in the 3rd meeting at home. Last year's 1-4 mark at home needs improvement. I think you guys get too comfortable at home.

FAU will still be a threat on the road. Clemson and South Carolina should win pretty convincingly, but FAU will give Kansas State and Oklahoma State quite a scare. FAU plays more mentally tough on the road than most teams I've seen which is probably why FAU was able to win so many unlikely road games over the years including three straight in '04 at Hawaii, at North Texas, and again at Middle Tennessee.

I see FAU finishing 5-7.

Surefire losses: Clemson, Kansas State, Oklahoma State, South Carolina, Louisiana, and Florida International

Surefire wins: Southern Utah

Swing games: ULM, Arkansas State, Middle Tennessee, Troy, and North Texas.

Season best: 6-6
Season worst: 1-11

BlueRaiderPride said

illinoisowl said

I have to stop glancing at the FIU board when it is really slow on this one.

The latest prediction is a FIU blow out of FAU at the Shula Bowl. : ???

They have almost the same situation this year as FAU had last. Lots of inexperience on both lines, a good QB and a real good LB.
Last year FAU had lots of inexperience on both lines, a good QB and a real good LB.

Hmmmmm. I was never really impressed with Danny Embick. I thought Jared Allen was a much better quarterback. I think something you need to remember is how instrumental Pittsburgh transfer, Roosevelt Bynes, was to your team in constructing your successful 2003 season. Without him, you would not have beaten Middle Tennessee. He was the one who made the catch as time expired to lift you guys over us. He and and Allen were the workhorse of your run through the 1-AA playoffs.

In '04, Allen had Anthony Crissinger-Hill, who I believe may have been more talented than Bynes, but his stupidity got him kicked off the team last year and really could've helped FAU be a force instead of the 2-9 team they eventually became.

FAU has yet to show anyone a breakout player like Allen, Bynes, or Crissinger-Hill. Something else FAU needs to do is defend the home field better. Since '03 FAU got blown out by Division II Valdosta State as a 1-AA team at home. They lost to a bad ULM team in '04 at home. They lost for the first time to Middle Tennessee in the 3rd meeting at home. Last year's 1-4 mark at home needs improvement. I think you guys get too comfortable at home.

FAU will still be a threat on the road. Clemson and South Carolina should win pretty convincingly, but FAU will give Kansas State and Oklahoma State quite a scare. FAU plays more mentally tough on the road than most teams I've seen which is probably why FAU was able to win so many unlikely road games over the years including three straight in '04 at Hawaii, at North Texas, and again at Middle Tennessee.

I see FAU finishing 5-7.

Surefire losses: Clemson, Kansas State, Oklahoma State, South Carolina, Louisiana, and Florida International

Surefire wins: Southern Utah

Swing games: ULM, Arkansas State, Middle Tennessee, Troy, and North Texas.

Season best: 6-6
Season worst: 1-11

Pretty fair analysis. The main thing that I would disagree with you on is saying FIU is a surefire loss. Yes, last season's game was a disaster, but this will not be the same FIU team as last year. They are entering what will be a very similar situation that we were in last year. Last year was basically a team of seniors playing our freshman. Losing that game was not unexpected. Losing that badly was a bit of a shock, but the result was not a surprise. Plus, while I agree with your assessment of Embick being less than impressive, he was this teams leader last year. Losing him was a big blow. The poor QB play was the main reason that the FIU game got away from us so badly last year. This season's Shula Bowl will be much more competitive.

Aside from that, everything else you say is true. While we have a number of talented players at the skill positions, it is time for a few of them to step up and become the type of impact players that Allen, Bynes, and Crissinger-Hill were. With most of the team now having played at least one full season of D-I football, I think we'll see guys step up their game.

Another point you make is the importance of winning on our home field. I've said this for 2 seasons now. For whatever reason we have not played well in Lockhart against D-I schools. I can't explain it. There were 2 games last year that we lost in the 4th quarter at home (Monroe and MTSU). If we win those 2 games, at least we would have been in the race for the conference last year. Making Lockhart a difficult place to play is key for this team.

I agree with FAUowls44. There is no way, at least at this point, that ANY Shula Bowl is a surefight win by any of the two teams. Our team will be without a lot of Seniors that graduated last season. However, there's a difference in the QB comparison made earlier, for whatever it is worth. Padrick has been starting since his freshman year and returning as leader, whereas Embick was a backup to Jared Allen. I'd give Padrick there a definite advantage. Still, I'd say, at this point, FAU should be favored.

Hmmmmm. I was never really impressed with Danny Embick. I thought Jared Allen was a much better quarterback. I think something you need to remember is how instrumental Pittsburgh transfer, Roosevelt Bynes, was to your team in constructing your successful 2003 season. Without him, you would not have beaten Middle Tennessee. He was the one who made the catch as time expired to lift you guys over us. He and and Allen were the workhorse of your run through the 1-AA playoffs.

In '04, Allen had Anthony Crissinger-Hill, who I believe may have been more talented than Bynes, but his stupidity got him kicked off the team last year and really could've helped FAU be a force instead of the 2-9 team they eventually became.

FAU has yet to show anyone a breakout player like Allen, Bynes, or Crissinger-Hill. Something else FAU needs to do is defend the home field better. Since '03 FAU got blown out by Division II Valdosta State as a 1-AA team at home. They lost to a bad ULM team in '04 at home. They lost for the first time to Middle Tennessee in the 3rd meeting at home. Last year's 1-4 mark at home needs improvement. I think you guys get too comfortable at home.

FAU will still be a threat on the road. Clemson and South Carolina should win pretty convincingly, but FAU will give Kansas State and Oklahoma State quite a scare. FAU plays more mentally tough on the road than most teams I've seen which is probably why FAU was able to win so many unlikely road games over the years including three straight in '04 at Hawaii, at North Texas, and again at Middle Tennessee.

I see FAU finishing 5-7.

Surefire losses: Clemson, Kansas State, Oklahoma State, South Carolina, Louisiana, and Florida International

Surefire wins: Southern Utah

Swing games: ULM, Arkansas State, Middle Tennessee, Troy, and North Texas.

Season best: 6-6
Season worst: 1-11

Well, those are well informed opinions. Everyone can come up with their own.

Can you tell me if anyone had in their opinion FAU would go 11-3 in 2003 after a 2-9 2002 with a tougher schedule? I know FAU lost to DII Valdosta. The program was 2 years old at the time. The saving grace is Valdosta is known as a good competitive team. They are one of those teams, like Ga Southern, that higher divisions risk scheduling because they are good. That area of GA is a hot bed of high school talent. Valdosta HS is a 6 (SIX) time national champ and numerous state and regional. V.S. is DII so I'm sure most of their talent is local. I'm sure the FAU team went into the game thinking it was an easy win and played that way.

I don't think any team can go through a schedule like FAU's 2 years in a row (2005 and 2006) and not gain from it. There will be a few surprises this year. In another thread I covered some transfers from good programs. I don't think the media knows much about these guys so assessments were made about FAU without considering them.

I didn't say Embick was a great QB, I said good. He is a good QB. He was a good leader for the offense. Unfortunately he was running for his life on every play in every game.

Be ready for a few surprises this year.

FIUFanatic said

I agree with FAUowls44. There is no way, at least at this point, that ANY Shula Bowl is a surefight win by any of the two teams. Our team will be without a lot of Seniors that graduated last season. However, there's a difference in the QB comparison made earlier, for whatever it is worth. Padrick has been starting since his freshman year and returning as leader, whereas Embick was a backup to Jared Allen. I'd give Padrick there a definite advantage. Still, I'd say, at this point, FAU should be favored.

FIU has the potential to dish out a very explosive offense led by a senior quarterback and even by season's end I feel that FAU will not be able to succumb to the losses on defense. That's what concerns me about Middle Tennessee this year. I know we will have an explosive offense, but our defense is questionable.

You might think this is strange, but college football doesn't have to make sense, but I see FIU winning pretty easily over FAU but losing to Middle Tennessee. On the flip side, I see Middle Tennessee edging FIU but losing to FAU. We are 0-2 at home against the Owls. If our game was at FAU, I'd give us the nod. Our team has alot to prove to convince me of anything.

BlueRaiderPride I agree that was a pretty good assessment with the same exceptions as FAUOWLS44 pointed out. FAUOWLS44, FIU will not be in the same situation as FAU was last year. They did loose a few people but not near what FAU lost. That was a tough year for those kids and the inexperience at QB after Embick got hurt killed FAU last year. IMO in that game they should have kept it on the ground. There was too little experience at QB to depend on the pass. Don't ever underestimate Schnelly or Van Valkenburgh, they have both been around the block a few hundred times.

The issue of the stadium goes without saying and there is nothing wrong in building in stages. I just needs to get done soon.

I think the defense will be better than people think.

I agree Illi, there is a lot said on this board but there is also a lot not said. I went to the spring practices and well, how did Gomer Pyle say it "Surprise Surprise". A lot of the kids hate what happened last year.

Talon said

BlueRaiderPride I agree that was a pretty good assessment with the same exceptions as FAUOWLS44 pointed out. FAUOWLS44, FIU will not be in the same situation as FAU was last year. They did loose a few people but not near what FAU lost. That was a tough year for those kids and the inexperience at QB after Embick got hurt killed FAU last year. IMO in that game they should have kept it on the ground. There was too little experience at QB to depend on the pass. Don't ever underestimate Schnelly or Van Valkenburgh, they have both been around the block a few hundred times.

The issue of the stadium goes without saying and there is nothing wrong in building in stages. I just needs to get done soon.

I realize that FIU hasn't lost the same number of players that FAU did last year, but they have lost quite a few players and a bunch of starters. Will they still be tough? Sure. They still have a lot of talent. Any team with the type of athletes South Florida produces will be talented. But the losses will hurt them this upcoming season.