| 8/15/2024 | Football BOCA RATON, Fla. – The Florida Atlantic football team was in shorts for Thursday morning’s practice and will be again on Friday, with predicted feels-like temperatures expected to be near 110 for the third consecutive day. Wearing shorts continues the staff’s plan to maintain the players’ bodies, get 100 percent effort while on the field, and continue the focus on getting better every day. The squad is also preparing for Saturday’s scrimmage. This will mark the second opportunity of the fall for the Owls to play a game in FAU Stadium. It will also be an opportunity for the offense to avenge last week’s 23-15 loss to the defense, who recorded four TAKEAWAYS. Takeaways is a word the defense is stressing. Defensive Coordinator and Linebackers Coach Roc Bellantoni noted in Thursday’s morning media session. “Takeaways are a mindset; it will never be a turnover here. We’re not going to rely on mistakes from the offense to get the football. It’s a takeaway. They don’t turn the ball over to us. We have to take it away,” said Bellantoni. 2025 AAC OPPONENTSTo read the full AAC release, click HERE. Home: UAB, East Carolina, Memphis, Tulsa Away: Navy, Rice, South Florida, Tulane QUOTABLE Defensive Coordinator/LB Coach Roc Bellantoni On the progress made in camp and building for the first game “I’m very, very satisfied with the progress we have made since day one. I feel like we get better every time we go out there. Our basic understanding of our scheme is obviously light years ahead of where it was a year ago because we have a lot of guys back, but we do have a ton of newcomers that have come in here and are doing a good job of handling this scheme. I feel like we’re in pretty good shape, like we’re on target. What do we need to do better between now and Michigan State? We have to really refine our techniques, refine and be sharper with our alignments, our communications, and our fits. They just have to get cleaner. There are times where we are going to the right place but it’s not as sharp or as fast as it needs to be against anybody, much less a Big Ten team. So, we have to get a lot sharper in the next couple of weeks, and I know we will. We’ll get better every time we go out there.” On improvements made on defense “The first area we have improved in is personnel. We have bigger, faster, stronger players, some of whom have had the experience at some big-time schools. They came in as grown men. They go out there and improve every day. They are focused on what they need to do. They show up to work every day. I can’t tell you that was the case last year with 100% of the guys 100% of the time. I feel like that’s one area we have really grown in. The other area is basic knowledge of the scheme and picking up on the new things that we researched in the offseason and applying those in our walkthroughs starting in January until now and really having an understanding of what we need done, as a scheme on defense, I think those are the major two areas. We can do more now because our guys can handle more.” On the growth of the defense from having a grown ‘man’ to ‘men’ “Even some of the younger guys, Wilky (Denaud), Bryce (Langston), Buggs (Kahzir Brown), they come in as grown men because they’re focused and have goals and they want to get somewhere. You don’t have to motivate them to be focused and locked in and show up and play hard every play. You can focus more on coaching their technique and what they should be doing. When you have a room full of those guys, it’s really fun to coach because they show up to get better every day, and then when you’re not looking, they have guys that are younger behind them on the sideline, coaching them on things they should do better. When we say, ‘grown men,’ they’re just mature and serious about their job, and it’s a lot of fun to be around guys like that.” On preparing for the second scrimmage “It doesn’t matter if we’re playing against our offense, Michigan State, or whoever we play in the last game of the year; it’s about us, it’s about what we do. I don’t really focus on the opponent at all. We need to get lined up. Our key is never going to lie to us.Wwhatever our key tells us to do, if we go and execute better than our offense, Michigan State, or whoever it is in game 13, 14, and 15 of the year, we’ll have a chance to win that game. They’re going to have their hair on fire. They’re going to want and come out to ‘win,’ I want to execute, play fast, play physical, see guys being sharp in their assignments, also evaluate who can make the play on the ball when it’s in the air, who can cover better, who can make the tackles in the open field, that we’re putting the best players on the field, that’s really what I’m concerned about in the scrimmages, not so much the score. As a man, you always want to win, but I’m more concerned about the progress that we’re making.” On the number of takeaways recorded by the defense during camp “I’m pleased that it’s heading in the right direction. There’s always room for improvement. A guy named Colin Spencer [defensive analyst] on our staffit is his baby to help me keep track of how we’re doing in terms of attacking the football. He researches videos of other colleges and NFL films of guys stripping the ball. When we should be looking for the opportunity to strip the ball. Then he shows missed opportunities in practice when we should be doing it and don’t do it. I think our guys are believing in that, and they’re seeing some success on the field with it and that’s how you generate momentum. Takeaways are a mindset; it will never be a turnover here. We’re not going to rely on mistakes from the offense to get the football. It’s a takeaway. They don’t turn the ball over to us. We have to take it away.” Graduate LB Jackson Ambush On the progress of the defense in camp “We’re definitely flying around, getting hats to the ball, playing 11 as one, getting turnovers. There’s excitement. There’s juice on the sidelines, so I’m really excited.” On hearing Coach Roc’s playcall in his helmet “I compare it to having a crew chief in NASCAR. At that point, it’s so simple. It’s second nature already, but him talking to you, sometimes I go to sleep and I still hear his voice.” Graduate LB Eddie Williams On how the LB room is coming along “We go out there and grind every day. We have fun with each other. The linebacker group is coming along together, spending more time with each other, joking around when we’re not on football. Coach always talks about culture, and that’s where it starts.” On the team making good choices this camp “We have a couple of young guys in our group, and they have a couple of questions; if they ask us, we’ll tell them right away. Everyone is making good choices because everyone wants to win.” On advice to the freshmen athletes starting school “Keep your head down and keep grinding.” Graduate LB Desmond Tisdol On what keeps him smiling “Everybody playing together. They want to win. They want to be coached hard. That just makes me smile because when you’re playing hard and having fun, you’ll be victorious in a lot of ways.” On stacking takeaways “Once you get a takeaway on our defense, we’re competing with each other. Everybody wants a takeaway. We have goals of the day, and it’s either get a takeaway or punch a ball out, or get a 100% grade on your assignment. We just have different goals.” On being in the right position to make plays “[If] you do the job and read your keys, the ball will really fall into your hands. It can be a tipped pass and you can go pick it up. Just getting in the playbook, learning the defense, you’ll be in the right position.” On hunting for the football “You have to go out there to do your job, but you also went to get the ball back as well. You want to do both in one.” COMPLETE SCHEDULE Click HERE. TOUCHDOWN IN THE TROPICS Get ready for a night of tropical elegance at “Touchdown in the Tropics” to support the upcoming Florida Atlantic University football season and its student-athletes. Join us at the Schmidt Family Complex on FAU’s campus on August 22, 2024, from 6-9 p.m. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. Indulge in amazing food, enjoy live music, and hear from Hagerty Family Head Football Coach Tom Herman. This tropical casual affair promises a fun and unforgettable evening as we kick off the season in paradise with your hometown team. All proceeds from this event directly benefit our FAU football student-athletes. For more information, click HERE. For questions, please contact Griffin Kinney at griffin@thelinku.com or call 740-816-7353. ON SOCIAL all gas #TriCountyTakeover#WinningInParadise pic.twitter.com/S3WFxJTzQq– Florida Atlantic Football (@FAUFootball) August 15, 2024 HIGHLIGHTS Redshirt sophomore DB Michael Cates opened up the morning highlights with an interceptionRedshirt freshman QB Kasen Weisman placed a ball for a sideline toe-tapping catch by redshirt sophomore WR Dominique HenryIn the final stages of the situation, “team” work was devoted to the third or fourth OT situations. Weisman found WR EJ Horton in the endzone, a trick play nearly worked, there was a defensive stop, WR George Johnson III gained teammate praise for a score, and QB Cam Fancher threw across his body to WR Marlyn Johnson for a TD The day’s practice ended with freshman WR Tremonte Underwood Jr. out-leaping several defenders for the TD reception and win MIC’ UP MILITARY APPRECIATION DAY Florida Atlantic’s football home opener is set for Saturday, Sept. 7, at FAU Stadium versus Army West Point. The Owls will celebrate Military Appreciation Day as the Black Knights come to Boca Raton. For more information, click HERE. SEASON TICKETS 2024 season tickets are available for as low as $75. To purchase season tickets, click HERE. Recent alumni and Florida Atlantic faculty/staff can access discounted season tickets as low as $50. To learn more, submit your info HERE or visit HERE to make a purchase today.VIP group experiences with discounted tickets are available now, including pre- and post-game field access, halftime team tunnels, fundraising opportunities, and more. If you have a group of 15 or more who are interested, sign up HERE.FAU Alumni and Community Engagement will host two away events. The first is October 19th, when the Owls travel to San Antonio to face host UTSA. The second will be before the November 16th game versus Temple in Philadelphia. For more information, email alumni.affairs@fau.edu. INSIDE THE OWLS BURROW Inside the Owls Burrow enters its ninth season with the season premiere scheduled for this Thursday, Aug. 15, at 5:30 and 11 p.m. The show will re-air on Saturday at 11:30 a.m. The show originates on Bally Sports Florida but can also be viewed on fausports.com and YouTube.Host, producer, and longtime South Florida broadcaster Frank Forte will again provide Florida Atlantic fans with an in-depth look at Owl Football. Following the conclusion of the 2024 football season, Forte will delve into all things FAU Athletics.Forte will sit down one-on-one with Hagerty Family Head Football Coach Tom Herman each week this fall. Additionally, this week Forte will profile FAU quarterback Cam Fancher. He will also look at the newest Owl freshmen getting outfitted and moving into their dorms, including parents as they send their sons on to the next chapter of their lives. Plus, Forte will look back at the top summer conditioning performers in the Owls’ preparation for the 2024 season opener. BROADCAST Television outlets are listed on the schedule page. Wire-to-wire radio coverage will air on Fox Sports South Florida 640 AM. Ken LaVicka and FAU alum Chris Newbold will have the call, while Mike Mreczko will host the pre and post-game with added on-field coverage by FAU and long-time South Florida television personality Frank Forte. To listen live, click HERE. FOLLOW THE TEAM Stay informed by reading FAUSports.com or through football’s Twitter and Instagram accounts @FAUFootball. |
