BOCA RATON, Fla. – The Florida Atlantic University Owls picked up a season opening 42-20 win over Monmouth, but that was last week. The Owls have erased that from their minds and returned to the practice field on Tuesday morning in an effort to prepare for Ohio and the opportunity to go 1-0 this week.
SINCE WE LAST SPOKE
The players know the importance of TRUST. No man plays without the trust of his coaches and his teammates. Four who have not only earned TRUST, but also a scholarship are: (WR) Je’Quan Burton, (WR) Tony Johnson, (P/K) Logan Lupo and (LB) Jarrett Jerrels. Last Saturday, the quartet combined for 147 yards, four scores, 28 points, and an INT.
Prior to game one, the 2023 captains were voted upon and announced. They are Chaz Neal, Larry McCammon III, Federico Maranges, Jacob Merrifield and Armani-Eli Adams.
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. The show is scheduled to air each Friday night on Fox Sports 640 AM South Florida, beginning at 6 p.m.
QUOTABLE
Offensive Coordinator/QB Charlie Frye
On players earning trust
“TRUST is obviously earned through your actions. Nothing you can say is going to earn anyone’s trust, it is all about what you do. If you do that consistently, then you earn the trust from that person. Whether your status is walk-on, five-star, four-star, it does not matter. You are earning everything in this program. Those guys (Je’Quan Burton and Tony Johnson) come to work every day. They work hard. They run thousands of yards running routes and blocking and doing the things that it takes to be successful. You are seeing it in spring, seeing it in training camp, and they you get an opportunity to do it in a live setting with fans in the stands. It is great to see those guys’ hard work and what they have been through really pay off for them.”
On the offensive performance and looking ahead
“The competitor in anyone is going to always want more and never settle for what you have, the fire that burns in you to go out and do your best every time. Really the message is to just finish the end of the second quarter. There are two plays that really stuck out to me in the first half where if we were able to finish that drive going into halftime, we would have had a chance to double-dip, to score before halftime and score after halftime. And then finishing the fourth quarter. That is something we can do better this week.”
On Ohio’s defense
“They are an aggressive defense. Their front-seven is very aggressive. They have good linebackers that take on blocks, make tackles, and fly around the field. We are going to have to handle those guys up front and we they have some good players in the backend as well so we are looking forward to it.”
On the offense playing clean
“That was one of the keys to us winning, for everyone in Week 1. Not just here in FAU, but high school, college, the NFL, a lot of nerves in Week 1, a lot of new faces and the first time in front of the crowd. Having no pre-snap penalties, no missed alignments, having eligible on the ball, and no post-snap penalties, doing those things allow you to have success. That is something we harped on all week. It is just good to see the things that you emphasized as a coach, the kids buy in and believe and then they go out in do it. We try to put those guys in the best chance of success for them.”
Redshirt Sophomore WR Tony Johnson
On his confidence level
“Our training gives me the most confidence. We worked extra hard this offseason. It does not have to be a close game again if we play our brand of football and focus on us.”
On his career-best performance on Saturday
“[When] My number gets called, I just want to make the play and help my team.”
On the chemistry with Graduate QB Casey Thompson
“It is getting there. Every day, we try to work hard, take advantage of everything and the talent we have with them.”
On how he continues to get better
“Not being complacent. My room, the “slideouts,” we work hard, everybody pushes each other. Tay (LaJohntay Wester), Burt (Je’Quan Burton], BJ (Alexander), all of those guys helped me develop my game and hone in on football. They really want me to get better and I want to see them get better. It is just a lot of love.”
On TRUST
“It is just being me and focusing on what I can control, focusing and studying extra hard, just taking it day-by-day and getting the most out of my reps.”
On more opportunities
“Every game, every practice, we find a way to get better. Even though it looked like we put up a lot of points, we still left some points on the board. That is why we practice and we keep our foot on the gas pedal so we can correct those mistakes and be a good football team.”
GAME DETAILS
Saturday Sept. 9 – Ohio at Florida Atlantic
- Time – 6 p.m.
- Television – ESPN+, James Westling (Play by Play), Leger Douzable (Color Analyst)
- Radio – Ken LaVicka and Kris Bartels will have the game’s call on FoxSports South Florida
- Theme – Band Day
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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