BOCA RATON, Fla. – The Florida Atlantic University’s football team will travel to Lafayette, Ind. this weekend for a meeting with Purdue. Kickoff between the two schools, who will be meeting for the first time, is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. and the game will be aired on BTN. Fans also may listen to the game on Fox Sports 640 AM South Florida.
When the Owls head into Lafayette, one thing they will strive to continue is their opening drive success. FAU has scored an opening drive touchdown in three of the four games played thus far. The Owls opened the ’22 season with an 85-yard scoring drive versus Charlotte. In game two, it was a 75-yard drive at Ohio. FAU looked to be on a similar run, in week three, however, 40-yards in it ended via an interception. Last week, the Owls drove 87 yards culminating with a 15-yard scoring run by Zuberi Mobley.
QUOTABLE
Offensive Coordinator and Quarterbacks Coach Brent Dearmon
On the challenges this week
“Our focus is flushing out last week and moving on to the next opponent. We have a Big Ten opponent we’re going to. We’re preparing for probably the loudest stadium we’ll play in all year long as well. We’re getting our guys ready for that environment, getting our guys ready for Big Ten football. It’s probably our biggest D-Line we’ve seen all year, so we have to put on our big boy hat and our big boy pants and go to work today.”
On the running game led by Larry McCammon and Zuberi Mobley
“Those two guys run the football hard. Our o-line is doing a really good job. I think our coaches have done a good job scheming up run game plays as well. I think that goes to a lot of people. And then the threat of our pass game helps the run game out. There are so many elements that help the run game, but those two guys are running the football really hard right now. I’m excited every week to watch those two guys play the game.”
On receivers creating separation
“We have to help out with some ways to get them open. I think we threw eight deep ball fades, and we were 1/8 on them. You have to win those one-on-one matchups more than 12% of the time. They (UCF) played man the whole second half, and we have to take advantage of man coverage. Those were probably the two best corners we have seen all year long as well. We have to figure out which guys that we need to get open, we had some guys in the slot that were coming open that we weren’t getting the ball to, so it goes to a bunch of different things that factor into that.”
On how having a veteran QB like Perry helps moving on to the next week
“Me as a former QB, I know I’m the career leader in interceptions at the school I went to. You have to have the ability to turn the page. With him playing football as long as he has, he knows that. He knows that there are going to be ups and downs and you have to have the ability to get ready for the next game and the next play.”
On the identity of the team
“We base everything around the run, and then our deep balls are based around play actions because we’re getting those safeties down in the run fit. Our success is going to be riding with our run game. We had to get away from it a little in that second half. When you’re trailing three scores, you can’t really run game much in the fourth quarter. It got us in a game we didn’t want to be in, but we have to lean heavy on that run game.”
On the mindset of the team after last weekend’s loss
“I saw a lot of maturity out of guys. There wasn’t finger pointing, there wasn’t a blame game, it was just a group of guys saying we have to get better. There was a group of coaches saying the same thing. We have to put our hard hat on and go back to work. I was excited to see that maturity level in those guys.”
On Purdue’s defense
“They have played some really good teams hard. They had a chance to beat Penn State and Syracuse. They’re strong up front, they have big, long DBs that can run with you and contest the deep ball throws, the linebackers play downhill. They’re a really good Big Ten defense.”
Graduate Offensive Lineman Brendan Bordner
On facing Purdue’s D-Line
“I think it’s a lot of the same keys as we had last week. It’s a similar d-line, their size is pretty big up front. They have some good players on that side of the ball. They have a lot of returning starters over there, so I think it’s a good challenge for us and it’s something we’re looking forward to.”
On trying to get the offense rolling
“We looked at a lot of things that we did well during the first half of our game last week, and we also looked at what we didn’t do well last week, just kind of seeing why it wasn’t working. Obviously, teams are going to make adjustments. They are going to test that we fixed what we didn’t do well last week, so we’re going to come out and hopefully have some of those questions answered.”
On playing in the Big Ten conference
“I played against Purdue twice. I think it was the only two times in Rutgers history, and I think we got wins both times. The 2020 game against Purdue during COVID was my first starting on offense. That was an exciting game for me, and it’ll be exciting to get back up there.”
On responding to last week’s last
“There were a lot of guys who were disappointed in how we went out there and finished. I don’t think there was much finger pointing, which was good to see. It was a lot of guys who said that was on us, and we have to fix the things we didn’t do well. I think the team and the coaching staff has a good mindset going into this week trying to fix those issues.”
Graduate Student QB N’Kosi Perry
On preparing for Purdue
“We want to approach every week and go 1-0.”
On what he has seen from the team this week
“Everyone came in with a great mindset. I think that’s where it starts at, ready to attack the week.”
On converting in the red zone
“That goes back to execution issues, just ball security, protecting the football, and knowing down there in the red zone that they are trying to get the ball out.”
On facing Purdue’s defense
“They have a lot of talented guys on the defense. They’re very tough up front. I think we can attack them in the air.”
On goals for the team to accomplish this Saturday
“Come out ready to win and not let our foot off of the gas pedal. Believe the whole time and don’t lose hope.”
MARK YOUR CALENDARS
FAU Coaches Radio Show
For free mobile listening of all game broadcasts and coaches shows, FAU fans can download the Varsity Network app for iPhone or Android. The app features instant access to free gameday audio streams and the ability for fans to receive push notifications to remind them of games starting or upcoming audio broadcasts. Local fans can tune in to Hubbard Radio (Fox Sports South Florida 640 AM) to follow the team.
FAU Television Inside the Owls Burrow
This week’s show will include a sit down with Hagerty Family Head Football Coach Willie Taggart. Show host and producer Frank Forte and Taggart will review last week’s game versus UCF and will look ahead to this week’s contest at Purdue. The show will also feature tight end Austin Evans and earning a scholarship. Latrell Jean will be featured in “Pads Off” plus tight end and special teams coach Chad Lunsford will go one-on-one with Forte. As a programing note: the show will air on Thursday at 11:30 a.m. on Bally Sports Florida and will re-air Saturday morning at 7 a.m. due to live tennis programming that will air in the Owls’ normal Saturday time slot.
TICKETS
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