BOCA RATON, Fla. – On Wednesday morning, the Florida Atlantic University Owls took to the practice fields lined with 2023 corporate sponsors. It was the final practice for install and running through different situations before “polish Thursday,” a day the team runs through everything for final cleanup prior to Saturday’s game.
One difference in Wednesday’s practice was the wind. On an otherwise beautiful day, there was a steady wind as the remnants of Hurricane Idalia passed through. Most notable were the video practice lifts remaining low out of an abundance of caution.
GAME GIVE AWAY
The first 10,000 fans to enter the stadium this week will receive an “Owl Towel bearing an image of first year Hagerty Head Football Coach Tom Herman. This towel, which is presented by Baptist Health and Coca Cola, is not just a keepsake for the new era, it is meant to be waved and will be waved by Coach Herman himself. Join Coach and rally the team with your free rally towel.
COACH’S RADIO SHOW
Frank Forte and Hagerty Family Head Football Coach Tom Herman will appear together weekly on the FAU Coaches’ Show. This year’s show will be recorded live at Duffy’s Sports Grill, located at 401 N. Federal Highway, Deerfield Beach, FL 33441 each Thursday at noon, beginning Thursday, Aug. 31. The show is scheduled to air each Friday night on Fox Sports 640 AM South Florida, beginning at 6 p.m.
GIVE AWAY
The first 10,000 fans to enter the stadium this week will receive an “Owl Towel” bearing an image of first year Hagerty Head Football Coach Tom Herman. This towel, which is presented by Baptist Health and Coca Cola, is not just a keepsake for the new era, it is meant to be waved and will be by Coach Herman himself. Join Coach and rally the team with your free rally towel.
QUOTABLE
Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers Coach Roc Bellantoni
On expectations for the defense
“There are going to be some mistakes and we are hoping that effort will make up for some of those mistakes. Some of our warts will be exposed in the first game. When you play a first game, you want to see where you are at, where you stand, where your preparation has been good, where it may be lacking. When I am watching the game, I want to see guys getting aligned perfectly, doing their job to the best to their ability, and then playing with fanatical effort running to the football and then getting there in a bad mood. But that’s the biggest thing is getting lined up, doing our job, and then playing with great effort.”
On trusting his players
“Our depth chart is living proof that we are not bluffing. If you can’t do your job and be where you are supposed to be and the guy next to you can’t trust you to be where you are supposed to be, we have no chance to be successful. We would be an average defense and give up a lot of yards and points, so if we can’t trust you to do your job and be in the right place, we won’t put you on the field. By the same token, if you can only get aligned and can’t make plays, we can’t put you out there either. We feel like we have done a good job in camp with the evaluation opportunities that we had to structure the depth chart the way we want it to give guys who are doing it the right way, give them the opportunity to go out and prove it. And the other guys keep working and get rid of bad, deep-rooted habits to try to get do it the right way. It’s a long season and things are going to change as competition continues.”
On the unknown factor
“We have film from last year’s unit on what [Monmouth] did. What clinics did they go to, what changes are they making? By the same token, what defense are we running? They don’t know that either, there is unknown on both sides. A lot of times, that first game is really pure football and you get to find out what everybody is doing, where everybody is at, who can make the plays they are supposed to make. I’m trying to think through every possible scenario in 29 years of experience of what could come up. That’s why I’m up at night texting Jordan (Senior Defensive Analyst Jordan Helm). Our minds are racing like crazy to get ready for that first game.”
On excitement from the team
“I think the guys are definitely ready to play against someone else. I think they are sick of hitting each other. When we got to game week, the effort and focus went up a little bit, which is something we are going to improve on as a staff. It is an everyday thing, not just game week, and coach (Herman) has a high standard for where he wants that focus to be in January, February, spring ball, fall camp, or the last game of the year in a national championship setting. You can sense that they are ready to go out and play and prove what they are made of.”
Junior DL Evan Anderson
On the excitement of starting the season
“We have new coaches, a new culture. We have never worked like this since I have been here. I feel like it is going to be a different era at FAU, the Coach Herman era. That is what I am excited for.”
On expectations for the run defense
“Everything is going to be better just because we are going to be more disciplined and everybody is going to run to the ball. I feel like we are going to be a totally different defense.”
On showing effort
“Effort eliminates a lot of mistakes. Just us having a lot more effort and everyone getting to the ball, even if we don’t have the perfect defense, it will take away a lot of negative plays just because we run to the ball and have effort.”
Graduate LB Jackson Ambush
On preparing for his first game at Florida Atlantic after transferring from Albany
“I am excited. The big difference between FCS and FBS is definitely the numbers, so I am excited to be able to rotate and not have a drop-off in the level of athlete there is, so I am really excited for this season.”
On facing an FCS team
“We have the twelfth man [fans] on our side. That, the heat is definitely going to impact them, but ultimately, while FBS programs have more scholarships and more numbers, at the end of the day, the game is football. They are going to come out and compete like I would if I was at an FBS school.”
On facing Monmouth’s running back
“He is a legit guy. A big difference I have noticed from FBS to FCS is the big men up front. They definitely have some athletes and it is going to be a competitive game.”
On what he expects out of the defense
“Everybody doing their job and just going out there and executing.”
GAME DETAILS
Saturday Sept. 2 – Monmouth at Florida Atlantic
- Time – 6 p.m.
- Television – ESPN+, Ted Emrich (Play by Play), Leger Douzable (Color Analyst)
- Radio – Ken LaVicka and Kris Bartels will have the game’s call on FoxSports South Florida
- Theme – Welcome newly hired Hagerty Family Head Football Coach Tom Herman and season opener. Let the “New Era” begin!
TICKETS
Fans can purchase tickets for the 2023 season, the first in the American Conference, by calling 1-866-FAU-OWLS or by going online HERE. For more ticket information click HERE. To purchase away game tickets, click on the above Buy Now link. Single-game tickets may also be purchased by visiting HERE.
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