2008 Florida Atlantic Owls football team explained

Year:	2008
Team:	Florida Atlantic Owls
Conference:	Sun Belt Conference
Short Conf:	Sun Belt
Record:	7–6
Conf Record:	4–3
Hc Year:	8th
Oc Year:	4th as OC, 5th overall
Def Coach:	Kirk Hoza
Dc Year:	8th
Stadium:	Lockhart Stadium (20,425, grass)
Champion:	Motor City Bowl champion
Bowl Result:	W 24–21 vs. Central Michigan

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.

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 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.)

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)

Notes and References

1. Web site: Robert ST. Clair . 2008-12-27 . 2009-01-05 . https://web.archive.org/web/20090105023929/http://fausports.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/stclair_robert00.html . dead .
2. Web site: Tavious Polo . 2008-12-27 . 2009-01-04 . https://web.archive.org/web/20090104195906/http://fausports.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/polo_tavious00.html . dead .
3. Web site: Rusty Smith . 2008-12-27 . https://web.archive.org/web/20090601093656/http://fausports.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/smith_rusty00.html . 2009-06-01 . dead .
4. Web site: Corey Small . 2008-12-27 . 2009-01-05 . https://web.archive.org/web/20090105021353/http://fausports.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/small_corey00.html . dead .
5. Web site: Frantz Joseph . 2008-12-27 . 2009-01-04 . https://web.archive.org/web/20090104193529/http://fausports.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/joseph_frantz00.html . dead .
6. Web site: Jervonte Jackson . 2008-12-27 . 2009-01-04 . https://web.archive.org/web/20090104215633/http://fausports.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/jackson_jervonte00.html . dead .
7. Web site: Jamari Grant . 2008-12-27 . 2009-01-04 . https://web.archive.org/web/20090104231104/http://fausports.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/grant_jamari00.html . dead .
8. Web site: Joohn Rizzo . 2008-12-27 . 2009-01-05 . https://web.archive.org/web/20090105054943/http://fausports.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/rizzo_john00.html . dead .
9. Web site: Nick Paris . 2008-12-27 . 2009-01-05 . https://web.archive.org/web/20090105031324/http://fausports.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/paris_nick00.html . dead .
10. https://web.archive.org/web/20070131145037/http://fausports.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/pierre_charles00.html Charles Pierre
11. Web site: Cortez Gent . 2008-12-27 . 2009-01-05 . https://web.archive.org/web/20090105005701/http://fausports.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/gent_cortez00.html . dead .