BOCA RATON, Fla. – After working together through coaching changes as well as COVID-19, the outgoing senior class has a special bond with their teammates, and that bond is what the Florida Atlantic University football team (5-6 overall, 3-4 Conference USA) will draw upon as the squad prepares for Saturday’s matchup with Middle Tennessee (5-6 overall, 3-4 C-USA), scheduled for 7 p.m. The game will air on STADIUM Network.
COORDINATOR’S CORNER
Defensive coordinator/safeties coach Mike Stoops
On playing the final game for bowl eligibility:
“The season went fast. I’m excited for these seniors. They’ve done a lot for the program. We want to make sure we can end on a positive note. It’s been a frustrating few weeks. We’ve got one last shot to try to make it right and hopefully play a complete game as a team. (To) try to win and gain some bowl eligibility is important. Hopefully, we’ll have an opportunity if we’re fortunate enough to win the game.”
On defending Middle Tennessee’s two quarterbacks:
“I think with (quarterback) one, they lean a little more on quarterback read plays, sweeps, read the quarterback runs. They show up with the other quarterback as well, but he’s more likely to hold the ball more. We have to be prepared for those quarterback-type runs.”
On senior linebacker Caliph Brice getting healthy:
“We’ve been getting thinner and thinner. it feels like every week the totality of the snaps is starting to add up. Caliph’s been a big part of what we’ve done for a long time. He brings a presence and physicality. He’s a much bigger linebacker than our other guys. He brings stability to our group, and he’s been a very constant player for us throughout the year. We’ve probably regressed a bit since his absence. He’s been a really good player for us. It’s been tough without him and hopefully he’ll get some opportunities this weekend.”
On freshman cornerback Jayden Williams’s debut:
“I thought the kid played extremely well. I think he competed. He wasn’t overwhelmed by the situation. Those are all positives in your first game like that on the road, throwing him in there. Baptism by fire. I’m really pleased with the way he handled everything. He’s been a mature kid. He shows great instincts on the field. I thought he did, for his first game, extremely well and it’s something to build off. I’m pleased with his play.”
Offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach Michael Johnson
On the final game:
“We’ve got to find a way to get this done. If we win one game, we’ll be bowl eligible. We’ve got to play as a team. We’ve got to manufacture points. We’ve got to do everything possible to get this ‘W.'”
On Middle Tennessee’s defense:
“They’re an attacking defense. They play downhill with their linebackers. They move, they stunt, they bring five-man pressures, [and] six-man pressures. They do it on all downs and distances. They don’t like to sit back and just play static. This is one of those deals where we’re going to have to be good in our protection schemes, making sure we do what’s necessary to pick up on stuff they do.”
On finishing drives:
“We moved the ball again (against WKU). We just have to finish drives. We have to go in the red zone and complete the drives that we have. We had opportunities early in the ballgame [at WKU] to score touchdowns and we just didn’t finish. We’ve got to finish the drives that we have and make sure we score touchdowns and not settle for field goals.”
On freshman tackle Alex Atcavage’s first start:
“I think he did okay. It was his first start. Overall, we have to play better as a group. He didn’t hurt us. That’s just one of those deals where he can get more comfortable as he gets more playing time, but I think for his first start he did a nice job.”
On the sense of urgency:
“I think the sense of urgency is good. We just have to relax and play with more composure and poise and execute better, especially in those situations where we get down tight. Third down situations, red zone, all of those types of deals when you need to execute. We have to make sure we do those things this week in order to win this game.”
PLAYERS’ PROSPECTIVE
Senior running back James Charles
On playing his final regular season game:
“So much has changed from when I first walked into the Oxley Center [FAU’s original athletic complex with football] until now. It’s just a great thing to see what FAU has become and how it is still growing to become a great program and organization. It just feels good being one of the guys that are a part of that success. It makes me feel a little better knowing that Saturday is my last game and knowing that so much that we’ve done brought two conference championships since I’ve been here, two bowl wins and three bowl games, a lot of wins, a lot of ups and downs. It’s amazing to see. I’m just happy to see what FAU has become.”
On the growth of FAU since he signed his letter of intent:
“This isn’t the same FAU. FAU has a little more oomph to it and that’s good to see.”
On the importance of becoming bowl eligible:
“That’s definitely my goal and I’m going to give it 110% to make sure everyone gets that chance – from the freshmen all the way down to the seniors – so we can just get another opportunity to play with this group together.”
On the seniors making a difference for the program:
“Me and Korel Smith talk about that all the time. When we were coming in, me and Korel were the first two people committed to FAU. We were committed our junior season. Guys just like John Mitchell and [Jordan] Helm. Helm was a little guy before he got here. Now he’s just grown to one of our best players and a great guy on defense. Everybody’s just made their role and no matter the ups and downs or adversity, they always put the program first. They always put FAU football first before themselves and that’s what winning football is: when you care about the team and the guys to the left and right of you. That’s what winning football is. All of those guys and myself just took it day-by-day, year-by-year. Some good things came out of that.”
On the sense of urgency from younger players:
“You can definitely see it out of the younger guys. They’re starting to understand it a little bit more, how important it is. At first when you hear it, especially as a young guy, you don’t think it’s that serious. You kind of think from a younger guy’s perspective that ‘I still have three, four, five years,’ but now you kind of see the sense of urgency in the young guys and how important this game is. That’s what you want to do and not even for the seniors but for yourselves. It’s always great to have another opportunity to put it on tape and put it on film. And it’s a bowl game, who doesn’t want to win a bowl game?”
On playing at FAU for five years:
“It definitely went fast. I was just talking to [wide receivers] coach Hines Ward about how the seniors, when I came in, told me it will go fast and cherish every moment. It was well worth it and everything that came with it, it was fun.”
On his advice to younger players when he’s gone:
“I think the number one thing is just holding the standard. When it’s work time, it’s work time. When you’re going out there to practice, make sure you’re working on your craft, execute on everything, hold everybody accountable. In the game of football, this is a team sport, that’s why a lot of people can’t play this sport. It takes all 11. Especially for the running backs, I think they understand, as we say, the running backs are the tempo setters. I feel that they understand how to uphold the standard and how to practice and be locked into the details and take the game seriously.”
On his expectations for the offense:
“I just want to see us have fun and play with confidence and play like we know how to play, continue to work on the little things and details of the game. No missed assignments. I just want us to play loose, play fast, play fun, and play physical.”
On facing Middle Tennessee’s defense:
“They’re going to fly to the ball. They’re a defense that wants to hit you. They want to play physical. They send a lot of pressures, try to get a little exotic with it, try to catch people off guard, try to catch the running back in a bad pass protection. I’m expecting all of that. I’m expecting their best and their hardest because they’re in the same position we are. They’re trying to get to that bowl game too for their seniors and their program. I’m expecting a little bit of everything.”
On FAU’s younger running backs:
“I think they’ll be good. Some of those guys like Larry McCammon, Kelvin Dean, Malcolm Davidson, those guys have been here. They know what it takes. They know how important our group is. Just like with another young running back Zubari Mobley, he’s coming along great. I talk to him every day. His locker’s right next to mine. I’m just trying to give him all of the game I can before I leave. He’ll be fine. He’s already got his first bit of action last week and he did good. I’m excited to see what he does.”
On learning from coaches and former players who are now in the NFL:
“They’ve had a tremendous impact on me. They just kind of bring that attitude and mindset and their presence makes you want to work and be the best that you can be. They give you so much free game about life and after football and they’re just some great guys. Those guys are the reason why this program is growing and how it’s going to continue to keep growing.”
Senior cornerback Zyon Gilbert:
On the final regular season game:
“This game is just about going out as winners. We don’t want to go out with a loss. We want to go out with a win so we can be bowl eligible and win a bowl game.”
On his time at FAU:
“I’ve seen a lot, been through a lot of experiences here. It was amazing coming here in 2017 and [now] finally playing my last game, it’s just bittersweet. I haven’t realized I played that many games. It’s been going day-by-day. It seems like I haven’t been here for long. My experience here has been phenomenal. I wouldn’t trade anything for this.”
On making a difference for the program:
“Myself and the other guys who came here with me helped to bring the program from a little to a lot. [Lane] Kiffin’s first year winning the championship, winning bowl games, winning another championship in 2019, just to see the people in the community and the fans happy for us. That we get a chance to do that for them every year, every season is just real fun.”
On what he’s teaching the younger players:
“First and foremost, it’s a B.O.B. [Band of Brothers]. Just the standard of winning that we set around here, nothing less. Everybody expects us to win, so let’s do that. That’s the goal, to win a championship.”
On defensive corrections to make:
“We have to get more turnovers, get the ball back to our offense a little bit more. We just have to hone in on little details. There was a couple of plays that we missed that [WKU] scored on that was just one little mistake.”
On what he’s learned:
“No matter what you do in life, there’s always somebody that’s paying attention. There’s always somebody watching, so you always want to put your best effort in front no matter what you do.”
On freshman cornerback Jayden Williams:
“He’s helped us out throughout practices. He’s getting better with the techniques in this system. His future is bright. He has a lot of potential. He just has to keep continuing to work hard and listen to the coaches. He’ll be a great player at FAU.”
TICKETS
Single-game tickets for the Owls’ final home game are on sale. To experience “Football in Paradise,” Click HERE or call 1-866-FAU-OWLS.
