BOCA RATON, Fla. – Florida Atlantic University’s football teams has squarely shifted its attention to this week’s game, honing into the details and playing complementary football.
This focus is all in preparation for Shula Bowl XX, featuring the FAU Owls and their in-state and conference foe FIU, scheduled for 3:30 p.m. this Saturday at FAU Stadium, on Howard Schnellenberger Field. Schnellenberger, FAU’s inaugural head coach, secured the naming of this annual contest in honor of Don Shula in 2002. The duo had coached together and were instrumental in leading the Miami Dolphins to the NFL’s only undefeated season. Shula graciously put his name on the contest, which featured Schnellenberger on the FAU sideline and former Dolphin quarterback Don Strock at the helm of FIU’s fledgling program.
Unfortunately, the South Florida community, where the duo made football and success synonymous, has bid farewell to the two legends within the last year. Schnellenberger’s name will forever live on and be displayed on the FAU Stadium’s field, which bears his name.
COORDINATOR’S CORNEROffensive Coordinator Michael Johnson
On facing FIU’s defense:
“We’re going to go back to the basics of what we do. We have got to come off the ball. We have to be physical. We have got to have efficient first downs, put ourselves in manageable third down situations and execute in the red zone. All of those things, we have to be better at this week. It’s more about us than it is about FIU. We will study their defense, put in a game plan that we feel attacks their defense the right way, and then we want to execute the way we know how.”
On starting fast:
“We’ve got to put together a good game plan, plays that we will call early and then we have got to be efficient on first down. If we’re efficient on first down, then our third and short, third and medium passing game on third down is real good and it’s hard to stop. If we can do those things, then I think we’ll put together that drive that we want to put together early in the game. It all starts with being efficient on first down.”
Redshirt Freshman Wide Receiver Javion Posey
On the Shula Bowl:
“The Shula Bowl is huge for FAU. Being MVP last year, I think it’s something to build off of going into this week. Just trying to do the same and help my team this week to bring home the trophy.”
On what he has learned since last year:
“I’ve learned more and I’m more experienced. Just knowing the bigger meaning of the Shula Bowl, knowing that there’s an MVP and…the importance of this game.”
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