| 3/12/2024 | Football BOCA RATON, Fla. – On Tuesday morning, the Florida Atlantic football team took to the practice fields for the first time in 2024 for something other than off-season conditioning. Tuesday marked the first of 15 permissible “Spring Practices” and the Owls’ enthusiasm and competitiveness was on full display.More than 100 players were dressed and ready to be put through the paces by an FAU coaching staff that returns all but one member and elevated from within for that vacated position. In fact, it is the first time since the 2014 and 2015 seasons that the Owls have returned both the offensive and defensive coordinators. Coincidently, the defensive coordinator from 2013-16 was Roc Bellantoni and he returns as the Owls’ defensive coordinator from the 2023 season.While the coaching staff maintains its continuity, in January the team welcomed 34 newcomers, both first-time freshmen and transfers, to the locker room. Just two players return as starters on the offensive side of the ball while the defense, who was brand new a year ago, returns eight starters. COMPLETE ROSTER QUOTABLE Hagerty Family Football Head Coach Tom Herman On the depth of the team at the beginning of spring “When you have been doing this long enough, you have a feeling going from January to February and watching the team workout and form and come together. 34 newcomers showed up this semester and we will have 10 or 15 more show up in May. Getting them acclimated to our way of doing things, my hats off to Joey Guarscio and our strength staff, Addie (Quinn) and our nutrition staff did a wonderful job in January and February. It is a unique time [where] our coaches are out on the road recruiting and yet you have 34 new faces showing up to your team and getting ready to work. It was a really good day [today], if nothing because we had a bunch of guys with smiles on their faces running around really trying to please their teammates and please their coaches. We can correct all of those mistakes that were made, but we had a lot of energy, a lot of speed, a lot of guys selling out and straining and that is the way we want it.”On the continuity of the coaching staff “It is a testament to the guys we do have on staff, Brian White and FAU in general to be a place going into the American Conference. To keep both coordinators and nine out of your 10 full-time assistants, kept our head strength coach and chief of staff, it hopefully should add quite a bit of stability and trust. In today’s day and age, more than any time in my career, you have to earn [players] trust and you have to earn it quickly. To have that same face in your position meeting room, year after year and semester after semester, is valuable and important.”On patience in getting new quarterbacks and receivers acclimated “Having done this long enough, you understand the things that take time and the things that shouldn’t at this point in our development. We are going to do everything we can to accelerate that process for sure. But with the way that the offseason is governed now, we get so much more football in the offseason that helps significantly too.”On the offensive line “We have to put our best five out there. It will be a bit of musical chairs until we do find those five, which is good because we get to see so many guys in meaningful action, but that is such a position of continuity and togetherness that you would like to see some guys solidfy themselves quickly. But having Federico (Maranges) anchoring that group hopefully calms the waters a little bit until we settle the four guys around him.” Sophomore Tight End Zeke Moore On entering his second year “It’s more fun, I am less nervous in a bad way.”On the tight end room “It was nice because everyone got to rotate. You can learn from other guys.”On the new faces on offense “It’s definitely about finding our guys and figuring out who can play. And for me, it is about earning my job back. We have a lot of good guys in our room, so I can’t just sit there and go through the motions. It’s about proving to the coaches that I can play and be that guy but then also build trust with other guys. There is a lot of communications pre-snap, all of the little stuff that goes into a play.”On what the new players bring “I noticed a big improvement in the guys that the coaches brought in. They love to work outside our scheduled hours. I am getting a lot closer to a lot of the new guys because of that. It is definitely nice to see.”On his favorite part of the offseason “I love to lift. It’s nice to be able to lift and not worry about on-field stuff where you can really push yourself and if you are sore the next day, it’s fine.” PRO DAY Florida Atlantic’s Pro Day is scheduled for Tuesday, April 19, 2024. Members of the media who are interested in covering the event will need to register at 11 a.m. in the Schmidt Family Complex Lobby. Please RSVP with Katrina McCormack by Monday, April 18 to help streamline the process. GRIDIRON CLASSIC GOLF Join NILinParadise at the Gridiron Classic Golf Tournament, sponsored by GA Telesis. All proceeds directly support FAU student-athletes. Join the Owls for a day of golf, prizes and comaraderie scheduled for Friday, April 25, 2024, at the Boca West Country Club. To register your foursome, click HERE. LADIES NIGHT Join the Owls on Tuesday, April 3, 2024, at 5 p.m. for “Ladies Night.” The event is sponsored by Grimes Events and Tents and is presented by NILinParadise,taking place at the Schmidt Family Complex. The evening is scheduled to include educational sessions on offensive, defensive and special teams strategies. Participants will have the opportunity to mingle with players, coaches, and fellow Lady Owl enthusiasts, while going through light drills and competitions as well as refreshments. All proceeds, including the $100 registration fee, will benefit Florida Atlantic’s football team. To register or for more details click HERE. COMPLETE SCHEDULE Click HERE. SEASON TICKETS To purchase season tickets, click HERE. FOLLOW THE TEAM Stay informed by reading FAUSports.com, or through football’s Twitter and Instagram accounts @FAUFootball. |
