BOCA RATON, Fla. – Florida Atlantic University’ football team has begun preparations for this weekend’s in-state game versus UCF on Saturday, Sept. 17 at FAU Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. and the game will be broadcasted by CBSSN as well as on Fox Sports 640 AM South Florida.
Owl fans are asked to wear RED for the game, which is the fourth meeting between the two schools and the second at FAU’s Boca Raton campus.
Today, we heard from Brent Dearmon, FAU’s offensive coordinator that has guided an offensive staff that has FAU averaging 41.0 points per game and is doing so with a balanced attack. The Owls have tallied nearly 700 yards on the ground and are closing in on 900 by air.
FAU’s offense is ranked No. 12 nationally in third down conversions (57%), first nationally with 83 first downs, 15th in passing yards per completion (14.88), 30th in passing efficiency and ninth nationally in total offense.
QUOTABLE
Offensive Coordinator and Quarterbacks Coach Brent Dearmon
On coaching against former boss Gus Malzahn
“This the first time, it’s kind of exciting to think about. He’s the guy that gave me my first opportunity in this business. I was a high school coach down in Mobile, Alabama, and he hired me as an analyst in 2013 and really put my foot in the door. He’s a guy I have always been grateful for. This is going to be an exciting week.”
On the production from the offense
“There are always things that we can clean up. We talked last week about the third quarter against Ohio. Against Southeastern Louisiana, I think we left some out there as well, we’re coaching those great details so our guys are playing at an elite level all of the time, but we’re happy, for the most part, with how guys have been playing.”
On the depth of the wide receiver room
“It’s a great feeling to know you have multiple weapons. You have a room full of guys that when we need to make a play, they can go make a play for us.”
On play calling with the success of the running game
“You can hit those big plays in the passing game when you get safeties that are so worried about fitting the run. When you have two backs and an offensive line that did as well as they did last weekend, it really opens up your whole playbook and it helps you as a play caller having a sense of security knowing that on a first-and-ten or a second-and-ten run, you’re going to get six or seven yards and it’s a good feeling knowing those things.”
On facing UCF’s defense
“They’re fast. They fly around. They kind of have the personality of their defensive coordinator, Travis Williams. That’s another guy that sat beside me in that analyst room in 2013. He’s an aggressive guy. He used to be my workout partner, so it’s going to be fun going against him. They take on his personality in how they fly around and how they’re an aggressive team.”
On expecting a packed stadium this Saturday
“It’s going to be a great environment. It’s going to be a great college football environment this week with them going to have a massive crowd and with us going to have a massive crowd. We even discussed crowd noise on both sides. Usually, you don’t have to worry about crowd noise at home games for your offense, but this may be a game you have to talk through a little crowd noise. It’s going to be an exciting environment for our kids to play in.”
On the key to finishing drives
“We put a big emphasis in spring ball and fall camp on finishing. We put a big emphasis in the red zone and when you cross about the 40-yard line, making sure you get points out of that drive. I think our guys really understand the type of plays, or the exact plays in some situations, that we’re going to call. It’s not just kind of a grab bag, we put them in those specific looks at those specific spots on the field so they can be successful. I think it’s a collection of a bunch of things, but number one stressing the finish of the drive.”
On scoring a TD at the end of the first half against Southeastern Louisiana instead of taking a field goal
“I was proud of our guys for that two-minute drive. You take a two-minute drive where you eat up the whole two minutes, you don’t give the (opponent’s) offense any opportunity to score going into halftime and creating momentum, but you end up down there at the 1-yard line and I think we sent a message to the whole team that when we get in those situations, we believe in you guys and we’re going to play smashmouth football when we need to, and we were able to pound it in right there.”
On the offense after the opening scripted plays
“I think it goes a lot to our maturity level and our overall knowledge of football when we can bring those guys over on the sidelines and communicate with them, we ask them what they’re seeing and then we make those adjustments in the game. It shows you the level of football knowledge that our players have that they can go out and execute things that we may not have practiced a lot that week. The kids are doing a really good job of making in-game adjustments right now.”
On QB N’Kosi Perry having experience in leading teams in a rowdy environment
“It’s a great feeling. You don’t like going into a game like this with a freshman quarterback. You worry about big eyes, a deer in the headlights look. With N’Kosi Perry, he’s the same guy every day. He’s played in big games. I don’t think there’s a moment that’s too big for him. I think that sends a message to the rest of your team.”
Graduate Student QB N’Kosi Perry
On facing UCF’s defense
“They have a lot of very talented players on the defensive side of the football, from the defensive line all the way to the secondary. I think they are a good football team. I think we have to prepare for what we have coming.”
On what the offense has to do to win
“I think we have to continue to do what we’re doing. Do what we have been doing all year long: preparing all week for our opponent the very best that we can, listen to our coaches, make sure we get a good look by the scout team.”
On the production from the running game
“That’s always good to have a good running game. If you have a good running game, that helps with the passing, if you have a good passing game, that helps with the running game, so it goes in sync with each other.”
On preparing the younger players for the crowd noise on Saturday
“It’s all about being comfortable and treating it like practice. Don’t pay attention to the crowd or the students or whoever’s out there. You play your game, and they do what they do.”
On playing in front of a rowdy crowd
“It’s very fun. I love to hear the crowd, whether it’s good or bad, it’s always nice to have a crowd out there. It makes it that much more fun.”
On the offense averaging over 40 points a game
“I feel like we have been productive. There’s always room for improvement and I feel like there’s a lot of room for improvement for us. I feel very confident about this offense.”
On how playing for Miami prepares him for big games like UCF
“With that type of experience, that helps with my composure, no matter the circumstances whether we were up or down in the game, I have always been that calm, cool, collected type of quarterback. That’s what I bring to the table.”
On Sophomore WR LaJohntay Wester
“LaJohntay has been playing some of the best ball he’s played in his life. He’s so ready. Every single day he comes to practice ready work and that’s why I think he goes out there on Saturdays and makes it look easy.”
Redshirt Senior Offensive Lineman Nick Weber
On how the offensive line is gelling and blocking for a great running game
“I think the gelling has been great. These first three games we have played really well, but each week we have to continue to get better. It’s going to be a big week this week.”
On UCF’s defensive line
“They’re a good team. They have a really good defensive line and we’re up to the challenge. We’re really excited for it, and we are ready to get prepared today.”
On the experience from the offensive line with over 10,000 snaps played total
“I think the experience has been tremendous for us as an offensive unit. There’s a lot of talented guys in the whole country, but you can’t replace that experience factor. That really helps us with our chemistry, but I think every day we still have to continue to get better. It’s a long season, and we are only three games in. There’s so much to work on still.”
On facing different looks from DC Todd Orlando‘s defense in practice
“At first, it was difficult at the beginning of fall camp. The more you see it, the more you are used to it and the more it prepares us for a bunch of other defenses we’re going to see this year. I think it’s really great for us.”
On running the ball in the red zone
“As an offensive line, your first goal is you better be able to run the ball. We really focus on that and take a lot of pride on that and we’re really trying to hone in on that this week.”
On blocking for two RBs with over 100 yards rushing
“That’s our job, to make everyone else look better. We’re happy we had two 100-yard guys and we’re going to try to continue that success going forward.”
On what a win over UCF would do for the program
“It would be huge. We have to prepare today, one day at a time. We’re not thinking about Saturday, we’re thinking about Tuesday’s practice and what we can do to prepare to beat this team.”
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 and Taggart will review last week’s win over Southeastern Louisiana and this week’s showdown with in-state foe UCF. The show will air on Thursday and Saturday morning at 11:30 a.m. on Bally Sports Florida. Hear from a mic’d up offensive line coach Ed Warinner as he puts his experience offensive line group through the practice paces. Jahmal Edrine is featured in “Pads Off”, plus catch up with inaugural team member and offensive lineman Chris Shepherd in “Where Are They Now.”
TICKETS
To purchase FAU tickets, call 1-866-FAU-OWLS or click HERE or HERE. Individual tickets are now on sale as well. 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.
