BOCA RATON, Fla. – The Florida Atlantic University’s football team (4-5, 3-2 C-USA) remains in the hunt for an opportunity to play in the 2022 Conference USA Championship game, a bowl game opportunity is within their sights and if that is not enough motivation for Saturday’s game, it is rivalry week.
The Owls’ offense continued its Tuesday preparation for this week’s game, Shula Bowl XXI versus FIU (4-5, 2-3), with approaching hurricane rain bands starting to make landfall. FAU’s campuses will be closed on both Wednesday and Thursday; however, this Saturday’s game scheduled to kickoff at 7 p.m. continues to be the team’s focus.
The Owls’ offense will be led by N’Kosi Perry, who is No. 20 nationally in passing TDs, with 20, and No. 25 with points responsible for. Speaking of points responsible for, Perry has been responsible for scoring a minimum of one TD in every game played as an Owl. His current streak of games with a passing touchdown stands at 18, with Air Force being the only game in two seasons that he has not tossed a scoring TD. His efforts are aided by wide receiver LaJohntay Wester, who is No. 10 nationally with eight receiving touchdowns, and Larry McCammon, who is No. 37 in rushing yards (738) and No. 43 in rushing yards per game.
Florida Atlantic, the older of the two programs by one year, holds the all-time record at 15-4 and is riding a five-game winning streak versus the Panthers, last falling at FIU on Oct. 1, 2016. The winner of the 2022 trophy will hold onto the traveling trophy and will go unchallenged until the two teams meet again in 2024.
The Shula Bowl, named for the legendary Don Shula, originated when FAU’s inaugural coach, Howard Schnellenberger sought to name the first game played between what he hoped would be a bragging rights game between south Florida players. Schnellenberger, who served with Shula at several stops including as offensive coordinator for NFL’s only perfect season, called Shula and pitched the idea.
The FAU Owls would square off against FIU, then under direction of inaugural head coach Don Strock, who was a quarterback for the Miami Dolphins coached by Shula. The two schools have faced off as FCS and FBS members of the Sun Belt and Conference USA. The 2024 meeting will be the first with FAU and FIU affiliated with different conferences.
The game will air on STADIUM while Ken LaVicka and Kris Bartels will have the call for Fox Sports South Florida.
QUOTABLE
Offensive Coordinator Brent Dearmon
On the upcoming Shula Bowl
“I think both teams are going to come out fired up. That first quarter, you really have an opportunity to set the tone of the game because you’re playing off a little bit more emotion than you probably do any other game. We understand you have to come and throw the punch early and you have to be ready for new things, for them to pull tricks out of their bag, gadget plays, on the other side of the ball you’re probably going to get trick plays. You have to be ready for a game like this.”
On RB Larry McCammon III’s development
“I think he’s learning how to take care of his body better, living in the training room, doing the ‘pre-hab’ stuff instead of getting to a bad situation, learning how to be a professional. He comes to work every day. He is a constant professional. He knows how to have fun when it is time to have fun, but he’s a guy that we know is going to be locked in every step of the way. He clocks into work every single day. I love the way he attacks it every day.”
On FIU’s defense
“They do multiple things which cause you to work so many different things offensively. They play a variety of coverages, they bring different guys on pressures to keep you on your toes, they play multiple fronts, and right now they’re playing fast. I think they’re playing with some confidence to them that you haven’t seen in previous years. The staff’s doing a really good job of playing hard and running to the football. They’re a really good defense.”
On college football rivalries
“Everybody loves a good love-hate relationship. Every good book, every good movie has a good guy and a bad guy. Everything throughout history has been about a rivalry and it gives fans an opportunity to participate in that rivalry. For one day out of the year, you have a team that you have a hatred to, that you dislike. I think rivalries are great in college sports.”
On entering the last stretch of the season
“We’re third in the conference right now. Sitting at third in the conference is probably not what we envisioned early, but you’re still sitting in a situation where you could be playing for a conference championship or a bowl game. There’s a lot still at stake for this football team.”
On QB N’Kosi Perry’s experience
“There’s nothing that really rattles him. He has seen big moments. He has seen big, crowded stadiums, student sections that are cussing you out and throwing things at you. That guy has been in so many situations. He knows the game. He knows playing on the road. he knows playing in these rivalry games. It just helps our whole team.”
Graduate Student OL Nick Weber, 2022 Burlsworth Nominee
On the Shula Bowl rivalry
“I think it’s good for their team and our team, just the excitement around it. I think it’s good for the game and the fans.”
On coming out of the bye week
“I think after a bye week, you get some time to recover, get your body fresh, and you should have a lot more energy going into this week. Especially [because] it’s rivalry week, there are no excuses for anything.”
On ignoring the trash talk and keeping focused
“Especially in rival games, they are going to try and bait you into doing something that you usually don’t do and that could cost you. 15-yard penalties, no team can afford those. The scoreboard does the talking. At the end, we’ll see how it goes.”
On using the bye week to mentally decompress
“This part of the season, everybody’s body feels a certain way, but your mental health is most important. You can be physically ready to go, but if you’re not mentally ready to go, then you have nothing. That was really important just decompressing, relaxing, and now we’re ready to go back into it.”
On what he has seen in practice
“During the bye week, we had a really good couple days of practice. I think we made more positive strides towards excellence and I’m excited to see how we play this week.”
On FIU’s defensive line
“They play a lot of guys. They’re athletic. They move around a lot. We have to be ready for that. Playing with our technique and knowing our scheme well, that’s all we can do.”
On fighting for bowl eligibility
“It’s one game at a time. You can’t look ahead. It’s about going 1-0 every week and that’s what we’re focused on this week.”
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 will review last week’s bye and Shula Bowl XXI. The show will also feature cornerbacks coach Brandon Harris, offensive tackle Brendan Bordner is this week’s guest in “Pads Off” and the continuing series of personal stories, “Football In Paradise” spotlights defensive tackle Evan Anderson. Inside the Owls Burrow airs on Thursday and Saturday at 11:30am on Bally Sports Florida.
TICKETS
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