2008 Florida Atlantic Owls football team

2008 Florida Atlantic Owls football
Motor City Bowl champion
ConferenceSun Belt Conference
Record7–6 (4–3 Sun Belt)
Head coach
Offensive coordinatorGary Nord (4th season)
Offensive schemePro-style
Defensive coordinatorKirk Hoza (8th season)
Base defense4–3
Home stadiumLockhart Stadium
Dolphin Stadium
2008 Sun Belt Conference football standings
Conf. Overall
Team   W   L     W   L  
Troy $   6 – 1     8 – 5  
Louisiana–Lafayette   5 – 2     6 – 6  
  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

The 2008 Florida Atlantic Owls football team represented Florida Atlantic University (FAU) as a member of the Sun Belt Conference during the 2008 NCAA Division I FBS football season. Led by eighth-year head coach Howard Schnellenberger, the Owls compiled an overall record of 7–6 with a mark of 4–3 in conference play, tying for third place in the Sun Belt. Florida Atlantic was invited to the Motor City Bowl, where the Owls defeated Central Michigan. The team played home games at Lockhart Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Florida and Dolphin Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida.

Schedule

DateTimeOpponentSiteTVResultAttendance
August 307:00 p.m.at No. 10 Texas*
PPVL 10–5298,053
September 64:00 p.m.UAB*
W 49–3415,143
September 1312:00 p.m.at Michigan State*
ESPN2L 0–1770,321
September 2012:00 p.m.at Minnesota*
BTNL 3–3741,003
September 308:00 p.m.at Middle Tennessee
ESPN2L 13–1425,766
October 78:00 p.m.Troy
  • Lockhart Stadium
  • Fort Lauderdale, FL
ESPN2L 17–3017,191
October 187:00 p.m.at Western Kentucky*
W 24–2014,171
October 257:00 p.m.at Louisiana–Monroe
CSSW 29–289,922
November 84:00 p.m.North Texas
  • Lockhart Stadium
  • Fort Lauderdale, FL
W 46–1317,715
November 154:00 p.m.Louisiana–Lafayette
  • Lockhart Stadium
  • Fort Lauderdale, FL
W 40–2914,338
November 223:00 p.m.at Arkansas State
CSSL 14–2810,845
November 294:00 p.m.FIU
W 57–50 OT16,781
December 267:30 p.m.vs. Central Michigan*
ESPNW 24–2141,399
  • *Non-conference game
  • Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game
  • All times are in Eastern time

[1][2][3]

Preseason

The Florida Atlantic Owls entered the 2008 season defending as defending Sun Belt c-champions. Rusty Smith, a junior, returned at quarterback. 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. Florida Atlantic 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[4] (DL, Sr.)
  • Frantz Joseph (LB, Sr.)
  • Tavious Polo[5] (CB, So.)
  • Corey Small (CB, Sr.)

Awards and honors

  • Week 12 Sun Belt Conference Player of the Week, Offense: Rusty Smith[6] (QB, Jr.)
  • Week 12 Sun Belt Conference Player of the Week, Defense: Corey Small[7] (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[8] (LB, Sr.)
  • 2008 Shula Bowl Most Valuable Player: Rusty Smith (QB, Jr.)

All-Sun Belt honors

  • First Team All-Sun Belt Conference:
    • Jervonte Jackson[9] (DL, Sr.)
    • Frantz Joseph (LB, Sr.)
    • Corey Small (CB, Sr.)
  • Second Team All-Sun Belt Conference:
    • Jamari Grant[10] (TE, Jr.)
    • John Rizzo[11] (OL, Sr.)
    • Nick Paris[12] (OL, Sr.)
    • Charles Pierre[13] (RB, Sr.)

New program records

Florida Atlantic players broke numerous program records during the 2008 season.

Statistic Previous record New record
Passing touchdowns in a career) Jared Allen (40 in 2001–2004) Rusty Smith (60 in 2006–2008)
Rushing yards in a career Doug Parker (1,981 in 2001–2005) Charles Pierre (3,015 in 2005–2008)
Rushing yards in a season Doug Parker (896 in 2004) Charles Pierre (1,014)
Rushing touchdowns in career Doug Parker (21 in 2001–2005) Charles Pierre (23 in 2005–2008)
Receiving touchdowns in a career Anthony Crissinger-Hill (14 in 2001–2004) Cortez Gent (17 in 2006–2008)[14]
Total tackles in a career Chris Laskowski (294 in 2001–2004) Frantz Joseph (333 in 2006–2008)
Total tackles in a season Frantz Joseph (131 in 2007) Frantz Joseph (141)

References

  1. ^ "Florida Atlantic Owls Schedule 2008". ESPN. Retrieved August 18, 2025.
  2. ^ "2008 Florida Atlantic Owls Schedule and Results". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference. Retrieved August 18, 2025.
  3. ^ "2008 Football Schedule". Florida Atlantic University. Retrieved August 18, 2025.
  4. ^ "Robert ST. Clair". Archived from the original on January 5, 2009. Retrieved December 27, 2008.
  5. ^ "Tavious Polo". Archived from the original on January 4, 2009. Retrieved December 27, 2008.
  6. ^ "Rusty Smith". Archived from the original on June 1, 2009. Retrieved December 27, 2008.
  7. ^ "Corey Small". Archived from the original on January 5, 2009. Retrieved December 27, 2008.
  8. ^ "Frantz Joseph". Archived from the original on January 4, 2009. Retrieved December 27, 2008.
  9. ^ "Jervonte Jackson". Archived from the original on January 4, 2009. Retrieved December 27, 2008.
  10. ^ "Jamari Grant". Archived from the original on January 4, 2009. Retrieved December 27, 2008.
  11. ^ "Joohn Rizzo". Archived from the original on January 5, 2009. Retrieved December 27, 2008.
  12. ^ "Nick Paris". Archived from the original on January 5, 2009. Retrieved December 27, 2008.
  13. ^ Charles Pierre
  14. ^ "Cortez Gent". Archived from the original on January 5, 2009. Retrieved December 27, 2008.
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