BOCA RATON, Fla. – The Florida Atlantic University football team took to the field Tuesday morning, its last guaranteed Tuesday practice, with the objective of preparing to win and to secure an opportunity to return to the Schmidt Family Complex Practice Fields again next week.
To do so, the Owls (5-6, 4-3 C-USA) must win this Saturday when the team plays host in its final home game of the 2022 season. The focus of Tuesday’s practice was taking care of the ball, especially in the red zone, as the Owls prepare to face a Western Kentucky University team (7-5, 5-2 C-USA) that is one of if not the best in the country, certainly Conference USA, at forcing turnovers. The game is scheduled to kickoff at noon and will air on CBSSN.
FAU holds a 9-4 all-time record versus WKU, which is the alma mater of Hagerty Head Football Coach Willie Taggart. Taggart is 2-0 in WKU at FAU games, once on the WKU sideline and once on FAU’s sideline.
PREGAME/SPECIAL EVENTS
Prior to the game, the Owls will honor those playing in their last home game, several of which have represented FAU for an unprecedented six seasons. Saturday’s game theme is also Military Appreciation.
A group of WWII Veterans will join the Owls, fans, band, and spirit team at the Owl Walk. Fans are encouraged to come early to honor and thank those who have served and protected this great nation.
All veterans and current military personnel and their immediate families are invited to a pregame tailgate, taking place on the Stadium’s Southside Lawn. Complimentary tickets are available for veterans and active military and families. To redeem visit HERE and choose promo code ‘faumilitaryappreciation to claim your tickets.
Other celebratory events taking place include FAU Police Captain Larry Irvin, who served in the Air Force, honoring America with the National Anthem, a fly over, and fans will serve as witness for the formal swearing ceremony of future members of the U.S. Army.
The game, slated for noon, will air on CBSSN while Ken LaVicka and Kris Bartels will have the call for Fox Sports South Florida.
QUOTABLE
Offensive Coordinator/QB Coach Brent Dearmon
On what he hopes to get out of the last guaranteed Tuesday practice
“I hope to get another Tuesday. You hope to practice in such a way that you have another opportunity to practice a couple of more times. I want to see guys come out of here with great energy. I want to see guys playing for these seniors, playing together, and doing the things that we have been stressing to these guys all year long. But don’t overthink it, don’t come out here stressed, don’t come out here with a lot of pressure, just play the game that you love.”
On facing Western Kentucky’s aggressive defense
They’re a very opportunistic defense. I think they lead the country in turnovers right now. We have to take care of the football. We stressed that to our guys this morning. These guys go after the ball. They do the strip drill, when the ball is in the air their DBs do a good job of tracking the football. We have to make smart decisions, attack the football, protect our quarterback. Those are things we have stressed.”
On red zone turnovers
“Last week, we did a QB sneak on the two-inch line. I don’t know how it got hit. We tried to see many different angles of why N’Kosi (Perry) fumbled that football, but we just can’t allow it to happen. I think he picked the right spot to enter, but he just turned it over. He’s done a really good job of not turning the ball over with interceptions this year, but he has to do a better job of ball security. And then the second one was a tough situation where you’re in a cold game. You have a QB that has a little bit of a banged-up hand. He fakes a throw and tries to tuck it. That’s a tough situation on QBs. It still can’t happen though. We have to clean those up.”
On positives to build off from the Middle Tennessee Game
“We had eight explosive pass plays. I thought our receivers did well creating after contact at times too. We picked up some of their funky odd pressures, I thought our o-line did some good things with the pressure looks that we were able to see and get. Early in that game, we were battling. Our defense did a good job of creating the turnover, gave us some momentum going into halftime, I thought we were able to capitalize off of that. But then coming out of the half, we have to be able to execute right off of the bat. We kind of shot ourselves in the foot coming out of halftime.”
On Western Kentucky’s pass rush
“They’re a big blitz team. You don’t always know where it’s coming from. They do a good job of disguising and hiding it with a field blitz or boundary blitz. A lot of times, it’s trying to create more confusion than anything. I think their d-line are good players as well. They can bull rush. They can speed rush. They can bring pressure to get you, or they can just bring four and let their d-line get somebody in a man-to-man situation.”
On starting fast
“I think this last week, we were able to start fast. I don’t think starting fast was the problem, I think it was just continuing that. We got behind and never really came back from it. We have to come out of the gates, especially when the team on the other side of the ball is a fast-scoring offense. You have to make every drive count. We have to simplify things in a way that our kids can go out and execute and play fast.”
On the urgency of this week
“This 1-0 is a little bit different than the rest of the 1-0s. This is essentially a playoff game. You go into this game knowing it’s a make-or-break game. At the end of the day, you still have to lace up your cleats and play football. There is a little bit more, but I think our guys are going to respond and handle it well.”
Graduate QB N’Kosi Perry
On what he hopes to get out of the last guaranteed Tuesday practice
“I want to leave a lot of energy out there on the field. I want to make sure guys get everything out of me that they can get the rest of the year.”
On preparing for the last game of the regular season
“I’m looking forward to this Tuesday practice to see how the guys are going to come out and approach the week. For my last game, I’m super excited. I’m ready to have fun and enjoy the moment.”
On avoiding turnovers against Western Kentucky
“Western leads the country in turnovers. I’m going to emphasize that all week long to the offense. I want to make sure that I’m on top of my game.”
On the mentality needed to win
“Our third down mentality is ‘it takes what it takes.’ For this game, that’s the mentality we have to have: no matter what it takes, it takes what it takes.”
On Western Kentucky’s pass rush
“Pre-snap, I just have to make sure I know my answers, know where I’m going with the ball before the ball is snapped, just in case they do bring some type of pressure. Always have a plan. Coach Dearmon and Coach (Willie) Taggart try to do everything they can to make sure I have an answer for every situation on the field.”
On what he is most thankful for on Thanksgiving
“I’m thankful for my family, my daughter of course, my mom, my girlfriend, my brother, my nieces, and this university for sure. I’m thankful for FAU for giving me another opportunity to play college football. I have enjoyed my last two years, I’m super appreciative of everyone from the university.”
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 will review last week’s loss at Middle Tennessee and the all-important matchup at home this Saturday versus Western Kentucky.
The show, which airs on Bally Sports Florida at 11:30 a.m. on both Thursday and Saturday will feature defensive end Chris Jones in its “Football in Paradise” segment. Fans will meet punter Riley Thompson to learn about his journey from Australia, plus a special “Pads Off” with defensive tackle Latrell Jean, who takes the mic to learn about fellow defensive lineman Decarius Hawthorne.
TICKETS
To purchase FAU tickets, call 1-866-FAU-OWLS or click HERE or HERE. Call the FAU ticket office, today, to secure your tickets. Stay informed by reading FAUSports.com, or through football’s Twitter and Instagram accounts @FAUFootball.
