BOCA RATON, Fla. – Florida Atlantic University’s football team began its “Mock Game Week” on Sunday and will continue that type of preparation as the team moves through the week and heads into next week, which will be game week prep.
On Sunday, the Owls held a traditional post-game practice where the priority was recovery after the previous day’s scrimmage. Monday saw the athletes integrate classes into their schedules, thus student-athletes. On Tuesday, the Owls began the practice week schedule with first and second down work and continued the 1-0 mantra of getting better each and every day. This was adopted in the Spring and is carried through with everything they do.
The Owls also inch closer to the season opener, scheduled for 6 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 2 and have announced that the starting quarterback will be transfer Casey Thompson.
QUOTABLE
Hagerty Family Head Football Coach Tom Herman
On the selection of game one’s starting QB
“It was a heck of a battle. Daniel Richardson certainly did not do anything wrong, per-se. It just felt like that through two-and-a-half weeks when Casey is at his best, he gives us the best chance to win every game. D-Rich was great about it. He is one of everyone’s favorite in the locker room, including mine. He is a mature guy that understands that he will be ready when needed. That I have no doubt about.”
On the strength of the QB competition
“I thought it would be more obvious than it was, and that is a credit to both of those guys and Ben (Ballard) and Mike (Michael Johnson Jr.) and Tyriq (Starks) as well. I do feel confident in the depth in that room. We have some youngsters in Tyriq, Carson (Culver), and Luke (Rucker) to be the future as well.”
On Casey Thompson’s progress during camp
“The biggest hurdle that most guys struggle with is language, [but] when the circles and lines are drawn on the board, it all kind of makes senses and there is usually not many ‘plays’ that we will run that a sixth year guy hasn’t run…I don’t want to speak for Casey, but having a language that he has spoken before, and even though we added a few new words to the dictionary, he can still speak it pretty fluently and the learning curve is much less steep because of it.”
Redshirt Senior QB Casey Thompson
On adjusting to Florida Atlantic
“Moving and having to go to a new place and team is never easy. I think it was good that this summer I was able to just work through the things that come with moving toward a new place, whether that is a new job, new team, new city and environment, just getting used to where everything is around the building and getting used to the guys and everyone’s nicknames and just how we do things here in South Florida was kind of a culture shift and adjustment for me at first. My biggest goal or challenge this summer was to get to know the guys and let the team get to know me. Training camp is my favorite because we get to just be around each other every day and I get to sit down with the offense, defense, specialists, linemen, and skill players and just become one of the guys. Training camp was good and fun, Daniel Richardson has a lot of skillsets and I was impressed with his play and knowledge…You can tell he knows defenses, protections and how to read through coverages. He makes a lot of plays as well. Like Coach Herman said, the quarterbacks that are in the room, they really have good arm talent…Regardless of whatever team I have been on, this is a really good quarterback room that we have and I just give a lot of credit to all of those guys for holding me accountable and help pushing me every day.”
On working with Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks Coach Charlie Frye
“Coach Herman attracted me to be interested in the opportunity, but Coach Frye is what sealed the deal for me because he played quarterback in the NFL, has coached in the NFL, has played college ball, coached college ball. It is always good to have a quarterbacks coach and offensive coordinator that played the position. He is just a really good guy. I knew from talking to him on the phone and then visiting him that he was professional and knew the offense. He is a football junkie and I am too. During training camp, we sat down every night for one to two hours a night just going over what we installed and what’s coming in next, tips you can see in the defense, do we like the way we run this, is there something we can change. Just from the first time that I met him until now, we have always had a relationship that is good and is only getting better. We have good chemistry as far as how we see the game and how we see the field. That is really important for the quarterback and the offensive coordinator and the playcaller to be on the same page. He just knows what the NFL is looking for because he has been there, he has played in it, and he has coached quarterbacks at a high level with Tua (Tagovailoa). That really attracted me. He is really good with drill work and in the film room. He is just good overall. I just like being around him. When you are with your position coach, that takes up 90% of your time. I really enjoy Coach Frye and I just think that is important to be with a coach that you can learn from, respect, and just like being around.”
On what he believes makes him a great QB
“I think about my strengths and weaknesses everyday. When I watch film and sit down and lay down at night and going throughout my day, I think about what I am good at and what I can improve on. If someone were to ask me what my biggest strengths were, I would say my football IQ is my number one, my natural instincts, Coach Herman talks about my release and ball placement, and then my athleticism is something that sneaks up on a lot of people…I really enjoy having an influence on people, having a positive impact and influence on others, just being able to be a leader in my own way. I like to lead by example. I’m not a real big screamer, but I enjoy having one-on-one conversations, I just enjoy that one-on-one time or small group situations where I can just talk to the guys and be myself and I just think leading it that way goes a long way.”
Junior WR LaJohntay Wester
On maintaining his work ethic throughout his entire collegiate career
“I just know my teammates are watching my every move, the young guys under me are watching. I am a lead by example type of leader, so if I come out here every day and give 1,000 percent effort, the younger and older guys will do the same.”
On the WR room
“I am very proud of my room. (Jymetre) Hester is having a great fall camp, B.J. (Alexander) is coming a long and (Je’Quan) Burton is doing his thing, I am really excited to see what we can do this year.”
On the strength of the skill position players on offense
“It really makes us unstoppable in my personal opinion. Now, you can’t just stuff the box and go man outside of drop eight in coverage and try to stop our passing, you have to play honest and true. That is what I like about us having a good running back core, great receiver core, great quarterback. I am excited.”
On handling expectations
“You can tell everyone on the team has bought in. Everybody on the team is following Herman. Whatever Herman says to do, everybody is ten toes in. That’s all you can ask of a team from as a head coach. Everybody is ready and eager to have a good season this year.”
Freshman TE Zeke Moore
On adjusting to college football as a freshman
“It is definitely a big adjustment. A lot more plays, the language is all new, the speed of the game is definitely a lot quicker. But I have played football for a long time and you start to develop a feel, just like when you are a freshman in high school. So, it just feels like I am doing that over again…everyone is strong, every single position, every single player on the field, so I definitely feel like that is the biggest adjustment.”
On being able to lock in with school starting
“Our coaches do a great job of helping us through everything, even learning everyone’s name. Every little thing you can think of is a learning curve, but our coaches are very helpful, our sports staff is phenomenal with everything. If it wasn’t for them, I do not think it would be possible.”
On the team culture
“It is awesome. Everybody is 100% bought in and that makes it a lot easier to go out there and work hard and I love that, just being around 115 guys who all have the same dream as you, same purpose, and goals. That is really fun to be around.”
COACHES SHOW
Don’t miss the first Coaches’ Show of 2023, scheduled for Thursday, Aug. 31. This year’s show, hosted by Frank Forte and Coach Herman, will be recorded live at Duffy’s Sports Grill, located at 401 N. Federal Highway, Deerfield Beach, FL 33441. Fans are invited to the show or to tune in each Thursday night on Fox Sports 640 AM South Florida, beginning Thursday, Aug. 31 at 6 p.m.
GAME DETAILS
Saturday Sept. 2 – Monmouth at Florida Atlantic
- Time – 6 p.m.
- Television – ESPN+
- 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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