Legendary coach Howard Schnellenberger dies at 87
FILE PHOTO: Florida Atlantic University coach Howard Schnellenberger is carried off the field on his players' shoulders after the Owls beat Memphis in the New Orleans Bowl, Dec. 21, 2007. Howard Schnellenberger, who helped jump start the University of Miami football program and built the Florida Atlantic University program from the ground up, has died. “It is with heavy hearts that Florida Atlantic University announces, on behalf of the Schnellenberger family, the passing of a dad, a grandpa, a husband and a legendary coach. Schnellenberger coached UM from 1979-1983, leading the Hurricanes to their first national championship. After leaving UM, Schnellenberger coached at Louisville and Oklahoma before taking over as the director of football operations at FAU.
Heavy rain and driving wind impact parts of South Florida on wet Saturday
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – Strong storms brought rain and wind to South Florida for several hours on Saturday. Wet streets were common on Las Olas Boulevard in Fort Lauderdale as spring breakers bust out the umbrellas. Further south in Cutler Bay, one resident’s trampoline was blown over and onto the house from heavy winds. Drivers in North Miami Beach were seen taking extra caution over several inches of water on 67th Avenue south of Miami Gardens Drive. AdBack up in Broward, diners were doused by sporadic downpours at the Quarterdeck tonight in Davie, as no part of South Florida was spared from the saturation.
The Latest: Cardinals safety Chris Banjo to miss Rams game
The reserve/COVID list was created for a player has tested positive test or has been quarantined after having been in close contact with an infected person. Brockers joins receiver Cooper Kupp on the list ahead of the Rams’ season finale against the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday. Kupp isn’t expected to rejoin the Rams in time for the game, while the team hasn’t speculated on Brockers’ availability. The move came after the team stopped all in-person work at its practice facility and reported a positive COVID-19 test. ___The Atlanta Falcons have stopped all in-person work at their practice facility after a positive COVID-19 test.
Houston, FAU still waiting after virus disrupts 3 more games
The Houston Cougars are again without an opponent and still waiting to play their season opener as COVID-19 issues wiped out three more major college football games Wednesday. Tulsa's scheduled game at Arkansas State this week was also postponed. On Thursday, presidents' meetings will be held in both the Pac-12 and Mountain West, with both conferences eyeing late October starts to the football season after initially postponing all fall sports. The Cougars' next scheduled game is Oct. 8 at home against Tulane. The Mean Green’s next scheduled game is their Conference USA opener at home Oct. 3 against Southern Miss.
The Latest: Irish rugby ‘under threat’ unless without fans
___Southeastern Conference teams can elect to cancel or reschedule games if they either don’t have 53 scholarship players available or can’t meet some position minimums. They can opt out if they don’t meet certain position minimums for available scholarship players, including seven offensive linemen, with one center, one quarterback and four defensive linemen. A school could opt to play with fewer players or position players available. The Irish government this week said clubs can let 200 fans attend matches in stadiums with capacities of more than 5,000. ___Indianapolis Motor Speedway will open to fans for the first time in 2020 for the IndyCar doubleheader Oct. 3-4.
FAU stays home, to face SMU in Boca Raton Bowl
BOCA RATON, Fla. – Florida Atlantic won’t have to leave campus for its bowl destination. The Boca Raton Bowl announced Sunday that the Conference USA champion will stay home to face Southern Methodist at FAU Stadium. FAU (10-3) claimed its second C-USA title in three seasons under head coach Lane Kiffin, who left after Saturday’s championship game to take the same job at Ole Miss. The Owls capped a school-record 11-win season in 2017 with a 50-3 win against Akron in their only other Boca Raton Bowl appearance. The Boca Raton Bowl will be played on a Saturday for the first time in its six-year history.
FAU tight end Harrison Bryant named semifinalist for John Mackey Award
Florida Atlantic's Harrison Bryant is among the nation's top tight ends in college football. BOCA RATON, Fla. - A Florida Atlantic football player is a semifinalist for a national award. FAU senior Harrison Bryant was named a semifinalist Monday for the John Mackey Award, presented to the top tight end in college football. The 6-foot-5, 240-pound Georgia native leads the Owls with 708 receiving yards on 48 catches. Bryant's total receptions and receiving yards also lead the nation among tight ends.
Local10.com college football picks: Week 11
Local 10 sports director Will Manso is once again leading the Local10.com college football picks. Will has a one-game lead on sports reporter Clay Ferraro headed into this weekend's slate of games. There will be no separation this weekend, however, as they both have identical picks. Another rivalry game being played this weekend is the "Shula Bowl," pitting Florida International against South Florida rival Florida Atlantic. Likewise, they've got Florida State losing at Boston College, which would essentially end FSU's fight for a bowl bid.
Pierre has 2 picks as FAU tops Western Kentucky 35-24
BOWLING GREEN, Ky. - James Pierre intercepted two passes and Florida Atlantic moved above Western Kentucky in the Conference USA standings with a 35-24 win on Saturday. Pierre made his second interception with 6:07 left in the fourth quarter, returning Ty Storey's pass 30 yards to the FAU 41. The Owls (6-3, 4-1) then drove 59 yards on nine plays, punctuated by Nick Tronti's 22-yard touchdown run that capped the scoring with 2:10 left in the game. Florida Atlantic led 28-14 on Robison's 51-yard touchdown pass to Willie Wright on the first possession of the second half. The Hilltoppers (5-4, 4-2) cut the deficit to 28-21 on Storey's 5-yard touchdown pass to Jacquez Sloan late in the third quarter and Cory Munson's 28-yard field goal brought Western Kentucky within 28-24.
Pierre makes 2 picks, Florida Atlantic tops Western Kentucky
BOWLING GREEN, Ky. - James Pierre intercepted two passes and Florida Atlantic moved above Western Kentucky in the Conference USA standings with a 35-24 win on Saturday. Pierre made his second interception with 6:07 left in the fourth quarter, returning Ty Storey's pass 30 yards to the FAU 41. The Owls (6-3, 4-1) then drove 59 yards on nine plays, punctuated by Nick Tronti's 22-yard TD run that capped the scoring with 2:10 left in the game. Florida Atlantic led 28-14 on Robison's 51-yard TD pass to Willie Wright on the first possession of the second half. The Hilltoppers (5-4, 4-2) cut the deficit to 28-21 on Storey's 5-yard TD pass to Jacquez Sloan late in the third quarter and Cory Munson's 28-yard field goal brought Western Kentucky within 28-24.
MONDAY HUDDLE: Is Georgia last big hurdle to Atlanta for Florida Gators?
Jake Fromm #11 of the Georgia Bulldogs passes during a game against the Florida Gators in 2018. Opportunity knocking for Florida as Georgia showdown arrivesGet ready for "cocktail" week in Jacksonville, but Saturdays annual battle between Georgia and Florida will once again mean more than just an excuse for fans to have a good time. Florida enters 4-1 in league play, while Georgia is 3-1, but the schedule really lightens up for the Gators beyond Saturday. In other words, if Florida wins, Gator fans will likely be drinking cocktails all the way to Atlanta for the SEC championship game. Gierke, who has been the head coach at Orangewood Christian since 2011, is 300-112-1 in his 37-year coaching career.
MONDAY HUDDLE: Is Georgia last big hurdle to Atlanta for Florida Gators?
Jake Fromm #11 of the Georgia Bulldogs passes during a game against the Florida Gators in 2018. Opportunity knocking for Florida as Georgia showdown arrivesGet ready for cocktail week in Jacksonville, but Saturdays annual battle between Georgia and Florida will once again mean more than just an excuse for fans to have a good time. Florida enters 4-1 in league play, while Georgia is 3-1, but the schedule really lightens up for the Gators beyond Saturday. In other words, if Florida wins, Gator fans will likely be drinking cocktails all the way to Atlanta for the SEC championship game. Gierke, who has been the head coach at Orangewood Christian since 2011, is 300-112-1 in his 37-year coaching career.
Robison leads Florida Atlantic past Old Dominion 41-3
Florida Atlantic quarterback Chris Robison threw for 208 yards and two touchdowns in a half against Old Dominion. NORFOLK, Va. - Chris Robison threw two touchdown passes as Florida Atlantic cruised past Old Dominion 41-3 on Saturday. Robison had 208 yards passing in the first half for the Owls (2-2, 3-1 Conference USA). Backup Nick Tronti took over in the second half, adding 57 yards passing and a touchdown. Messiah deWeaver had 134 yards passing for the Monarchs (1-3, 0-4) who were held to just 204 yards of offense.
Robinson leads Florida Atlantic past Old Dominion 41-3
NORFOLK, Va. - Chris Robison threw two touchdown passes as Florida Atlantic cruised past Old Dominion 41-3 on Saturday. Robinson had 208 yards passing in the first half for the Owls (2-2, 3-1 Conference USA). Backup Nick Tronti took over in the second half, adding 57 yards passing and a touchdown. Robinson threw a 15-yard touchdown to John Raine late in the first quarter and Malcolm Davidson capped the next FAU drive with a 21-yard scoring run to make it 14-0. Messiah deWeaver had 134 yards passing for the Monarchs (1-3, 0-4) who were held to just 204 yards of offense.
Marshall outlasts Florida Atlantic in wild fourth quarter
Marshall's Brenden Knox celebrates with teammates after scoring a touchdown in the fourth quarter against the Florida Atlantic Owls at FAU Stadium on Oct. 18, 2019 in Boca Raton, Florida. BOCA RATON, Fla. - Brenden Knox scored the go-ahead touchdown with 36 seconds left in the fourth quarter and Marshall beat Florida Atlantic 36-31 on Friday night. His game-winning 17-yard TD run capped a 10-play, 77-yard drive and was the fourth lead change of the fourth quarter. Less than a minute later, Isaiah Green's 60-yard TD pass to Willie Johnson put Marshall ahead 30-24. Marshall failed on the two-point conversion and FAU took the lead on Malcolm Davidson's 2-yard TD run with 3:36 left.
Florida Atlantic rallies past Middle Tennessee, wins 28-13
BOCA RATON, Fla. - Malcolm Davidson ran for 149 yards and a touchdown and Florida Atlantic used a strong second half to beat Middle Tennessee, 28-13 in a Conference USA clash Saturday. O'Hara added a 9-yard run for a touchdown to put the Blue Raiders up, 13-12 at intermission, but Middle Tennessee was shut out in the second half. Vladimir Rivas kicked from 37-yards out in the second quarter to get Florida Atlantic within one before halftime, then put them in front with a 26-yarder early in the third. Larry McCammon III added a 1-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter for Florida Atlantic (4-2, 2-0). O'Hara was 24 of 42 for 335 yards passing and a touchdown for Middle Tennessee (2-4, 1-1), but was picked off three times.
Robison, Davidson each with 2 TDs, FAU beats Charlotte 45-27
CHARLOTTE, N.C. - Chris Robison and Malcolm Davidson each accounted for two touchdowns and Florida Atlantic rolled to a 45-27 victory over Charlotte on Saturday in a Conference USA opener. Robison was 20-of-27 passing for 312 yards with a pair of touchdown passes. Davidson, a freshman, added a career-high 83 yards rushing that included two touchdown runs. Chris Reynolds was 15 of 28 for 208 yards passing with three touchdown passes, but threw two of Charlotte's (2-3, 0-1) three interceptions. Deangelo Antoine's only carry, a 66-yarder on FAU's first play from scrimmage, set up Larry McCammon III's 3-yard TD run on the next play and the Owls never trailed.
Robinson's 5 TD passes power FAU past Wagner 42-7
BOCA RATON, Fla. - Chris Robinson threw five touchdowns, completing 25 of 36 passes for 379 yards and Florida Atlantic walloped Wagner 42-7 Saturday night. The sophomore Robinson threw touchdown passes to John Raine and DeAngelo Antoine for a 14-0 first-quarter lead. Robinson threw two more TD passes to Antoine in the second quarter, staking the Owls (2-2) to a 28-0 lead. Antoine, who picked up 173 yards receiving, finished with four TD catches. Christian Alexander-Stevens was 22-of-38 passing for 218 yards for Wagner (0-4).
Robison leads Florida Atlantic past Ball State 41-31
- Chris Robison threw for 366 yards and four touchdowns, three of them to John Mitchell, as Florida Atlantic picked up its first win, posting a 41-31 win over Ball State in a nonconference battle Saturday afternoon. Florida Atlantic opened the season with tough losses to two nationally ranked teams (45-21 to No. Drew Pitt threw 14 yards to Yoheinz Tyler with :04 left in the first quarter to put the Cardinals (1-2) up, 14-7. Robison finished 33 of 41 passing and Mitchell made eight catches for 124 yards. Ball State's Pitts was 26 of 38 for 303 yards and three touchdowns with one interception.
FAU falls flat in season opener at Ohio State
Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback Justin Fields is brought down by Florida Atlantic's William Davis and Da'Von Brown after a gain in the third quarter at Ohio Stadium on Aug. 31, 2019, in Columbus, Ohio. COLUMBUS, Ohio - Justin Fields made some mistakes that quarterbacks make when they haven't played much. Fields, who saw limited action as a freshman last season sitting behind Jake Fromm, threw four touchdown passes and ran for a score in his first game for Ohio State, leading the fifth-ranked Buckeyes over Florida Atlantic 45-21 on Saturday in the season opener. Tight end Jeremy Ruckert caught two touchdown passes , and Binjimen Victor and Chris Olave also had scoring grabs. "Lots to build from off of today," Ohio State coach Ryan Day said.