2008 Florida Atlantic Owls football team

The 2008 Florida Atlantic University Owls football team represented Florida Atlantic University in the 2008 college football season. The team was coached by Howard Schnellenberger and played their home games at Lockhart Stadium in Ft. Lauderdale, FL. The Owls entered the season as defending Sun Belt Conference Champions (splitting the title with Troy).

Preseason

The Florida Atlantic Owls entered the 2008 college football season defending their conference championship and just one year removed from their first-ever bowl appearance and victory. The record-setting 2007 team ended the season 8-5 (6-1 SBC). Quarterback Rusty Smith, a junior, returned with much hype and national recognition. The 2008 team also returned an overwhelming majority of starters from the conference champion team, as it only lost four seniors (DB Kris Bartels, OL Jarrid Smith, LB Cergile Sincere, DL Josh Pinnick).

In the Preseason Sun Belt Coaches' Poll, the Owls were a clear favorite to repeat as champions. FAU received 62 total points and 6 first-place votes.

Preseason honors

Preseason Sun Belt Players of the Year

• Sun Belt Conference Player of the Year, Offense: Rusty Smith (QB, Jr.)
• Sun Belt Conference Player of the Year, Defense: Frantz Joseph (LB, Sr.)

Preseason All-Sun Belt honors

• Rusty Smith (QB, Jr.)
• Cortez Gent (WR, Jr.)
• Nick Paris (OL, Sr.)
• Jervonte Jackson (DL, Sr.)
• Robert St. Clair^[1] (DL, Sr.)
• Frantz Joseph (LB, Sr.)
• Tavious Polo^[2] (CB, So.)
• Corey Small (CB, Sr.)

Schedule

Date	Time	Opponent	Site	TV	Result	Attendance
August 30	7:00 pm	at #10 Texas*	Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium • Austin, TX	PPV	L 10-52	98,053
September 6	4:00 pm	UAB*	Lockhart Stadium • Ft. Lauderdale, FL		W 49-34	15,143
September 13	12:00 pm	at #18 Michigan State*	Spartan Stadium • East Lansing, MI	ESPN2	L 0-17	70,321
September 20	12:00 pm	at Minnesota*	Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome • Minneapolis, MN	BTN	L 3-37	41,003
September 30	8:00 pm	at Middle Tennessee	Johnny "Red" Floyd Stadium • Murfreesboro, TN	ESPN2	L 13-14	25,766
October 7	8:00 pm	Troy	Lockhart Stadium • Ft. Lauderdale, FL	ESPN2	L 17-30	17,191
October 18	7:00 pm	at Western Kentucky*	L.T. Smith Stadium • Bowling Green, KY		W 24-20	14,171
October 25	7:00 pm	at Louisiana-Monroe	Malone Stadium • Monroe, LA	CSS	W 29-28	9,922
November 8	4:00 pm	North Texas	Lockhart Stadium • Ft. Lauderdale, FL		W 46-13	17,715
November 15	4:00 pm	Louisiana-Lafayette	Lockhart Stadium • Ft. Lauderdale, FL		W 40-29	14,338
November 22	3:00 pm	at Arkansas State	Indian Stadium • Jonesboro, AR	CSS	L 14-28	10,845
November 29	4:00 pm	Florida International	Dolphin Stadium • Miami Gardens, FL (Shula Bowl)		W 57-50 (OT)	16,781
December 26	7:30 pm	vs. Central Michigan*	Ford Field • Detroit, MI (Motor City Bowl)	ESPN	W 24-21	41,399
*Non-conference game. Homecoming. All times are in Eastern Time.

Awards and honors

Mid-season awards and honors

• Week 12 Sun Belt Conference Player of the Week, Offense: Rusty Smith^[3] (QB, Jr.)
• Week 12 Sun Belt Conference Player of the Week, Defense: Corey Small^[4] (CB, Sr.)
• Week 14 Sun Belt Conference Player of the Week, Offense: Rusty Smith (QB, Jr.)
• Week 14 Sun Belt Conference Player of the Week, Defense: Frantz Joseph^[5] (LB, Sr.)
• 2008 Shula Bowl Most Valuable Player: Rusty Smith (QB, Jr.)

All-Sun Belt honors

• First Team All-Sun Belt Conference:
  • Jervonte Jackson^[6] (DL, Sr.)
  • Frantz Joseph (LB, Sr.)
  • Corey Small (CB, Sr.)
• Second Team All-Sun Belt Conference:
  • Jamari Grant^[7] (TE, Jr.)
  • John Rizzo^[8] (OL, Sr.)
  • Nick Paris^[9] (OL, Sr.)
  • Charles Pierre^[10] (RB, Sr.)

Records broken in 2008

The 2008 football season saw numerous school records broken.

References