2008 Florida Atlantic Owls football team

The 2008 Florida Atlantic University Owls football team represented Florida Atlantic University in the 2008 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The team was coached by Howard Schnellenberger and played their home games at Lockhart Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The Owls entered the season as defending Sun Belt Conference champions.

2008 Florida Atlantic Owls football
Motor City Bowl champion
Motor City Bowl, W 24–21 vs. Central Michigan
Conference	Sun Belt Conference
2008 record	7–6 (4–3 Sun Belt)
Head coach	Howard Schnellenberger (8th season)
Offensive coordinator	Gary Nord (4th as OC, 5th overall season)
Offensive scheme	Pro-style
Defensive coordinator	Kirk Hoza (8th season)
Base defense	4–3
Home stadium	Lockhart Stadium (20,425, grass)

2008 Sun Belt Conference football standings
	Conf							Overall
Team		W		L					W		L
Troy $		6	–	1					8	–	5
Louisiana–Lafayette		5	–	2					6	–	6
Florida Atlantic		4	–	3					7	–	6
Arkansas State		4	–	3					6	–	6
FIU		3	–	4					5	–	7
Middle Tennessee		3	–	4					5	–	7
Louisiana–Monroe		3	–	4					4	–	8
North Texas		0	–	7					1	–	11
$ – Conference champion

Preseason

The Florida Atlantic Owls entered the 2008 NCAA Division I FBS 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 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 p.m.	at No. 10 Texas*	Darrell K Royal–Texas Memorial Stadium Austin, TX	PPV	L 10–52	98,053
September 6	4:00 p.m.	UAB*	Lockhart Stadium Fort Lauderdale, FL		W 49–34	15,143
September 13	12:00 p.m.	at Michigan State*	Spartan Stadium East Lansing, MI	ESPN2	L 0–17	70,321
September 20	12:00 p.m.	at Minnesota*	Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome Minneapolis, MN	BTN	L 3–37	41,003
September 30	8:00 p.m.	at Middle Tennessee	Johnny "Red" Floyd Stadium Murfreesboro, TN	ESPN2	L 13–14	25,766
October 7	8:00 p.m.	Troy	Lockhart Stadium Fort Lauderdale, FL	ESPN2	L 17–30	17,191
October 18	7:00 p.m.	at Western Kentucky*	L.T. Smith Stadium Bowling Green, KY		W 24–20	14,171
October 25	7:00 p.m.	at Louisiana–Monroe	Malone Stadium Monroe, LA	CSS	W 29–28	9,922
November 8	4:00 p.m.	North Texas	Lockhart Stadium Fort Lauderdale, FL		W 46–13	17,715
November 15	4:00 p.m.	Louisiana–Lafayette	Lockhart Stadium Fort Lauderdale, FL		W 40–29	14,338
November 22	3:00 p.m.	at Arkansas State	ASU Stadium Jonesboro, AR	CSS	L 14–28	10,845
November 29	4:00 p.m.	FIU	Dolphin Stadium Miami Gardens, FL (Shula Bowl)		W 57–50 ^OT	16,781
December 26	7:30 p.m.	vs. Central Michigan*	Ford Field Detroit, MI (Motor City Bowl)	ESPN	W 24–21	41,399
*Non-conference game Rankings from Associated Press 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.

Statistic	Previous Record	New Record
Passing Touchdowns (Career)	Jared Allen (2001-'04, 50 TD)	Rusty Smith (2006-pres., 60 TD)
Rushing Yards (Career)	Doug Parker (2001-'05, 1981 yards)	Charles Pierre (2005-'08, 3015 yards)
Rushing Yards (Season)	Doug Parker ('04, 896 yards)	Charles Pierre ('08, 1014 yards)
Rushing Touchdowns (Career)	Doug Parker (2001-'05, 21 TD)	Charles Pierre (2005-'08, 23 TD)
Receiving Touchdowns (Career)	Anthony Crissinger-Hill (2001-'04, 14 TD)	Cortez Gent[11] (2006-pres., 17 TD)
Total Tackles (Career)	Chris Laskowski (2001-'04, 294 tackles)	Frantz Joseph (2006-'08, 333 tackles)
Total Tackles (Season)	Frantz Joseph ('07, 131 tackles)	Frantz Joseph ('08, 141 tackles)

References

1. Robert ST. Clair
2. Tavious Polo
3. "Rusty Smith". Archived from the original on 2009-06-01. Retrieved 2008-12-27.
4. Corey Small
5. Frantz Joseph
6. Jervonte Jackson
7. Jamari Grant
8. Joohn Rizzo
9. Nick Paris
10. Charles Pierre
11. Cortez Gent