Florida Atlantic University will celebrate its 25th season of football in 2025. The Owls have created a lot of news in that quarter century, and it all started with a simple lunch.
Here are 25 key moments in the program’s history:
Anthony Catanese meets with Howard Schnellenberger
President Anthony Catanese was looking for some advice on how to start a football program when he scheduled a lunch meeting with former Miami and Louisville coach Howard Schnellenberger in 1998. That meeting led to Schnellenberger being named director of football operations and eventually coach. Schnellenberger died March 27, 2021.
FAU football hits the field for first time
The Owls’ first outdoor practice, Aug. 12, 2000, was held on the newly constructed field behind the Tom Oxley Center, a building built on donations that spiked when it was learned Schnellenberger would lead the program.
Inaugural game ends in loss to Slippery Rock
On the first day of September in 2001, FAU lost to Slippery Rock 40-7 in its inaugural game in front of a crowd of 25,632 at what was then known as Pro Player Stadium. “It was an awesome day,” said FAU quarterback Jared Allen, who split time with Garrett Jahn. Todd Poitier scored the program’s first points, blocking a punt and recovering the ball in the end zone.
FAU defeats Bethune-Cookman for first win
FAU’s first win came one week after its first game. The Owls defeated Bethune-Cookman 31-28 in Daytona Beach. The winning score came on a 70-yard pass from Jared Allen to Larry Taylor with 5:31 to play, their second touchdown hookup of the game.
Owls make playoff run in third year
FAU’s first appearance in the postseason started with a 32-24 victory at Bethune-Cookman in late November 2003, followed by a 48-25 win at 21-point favorite Northern Arizona. The season ended with a 36-24 loss to Colgate at Fort Lauderdale’s Lockhart Stadium. FAU finished 11-3 and used that season to help make the jump to Division I-A.
University president meets with Sun Belt Conference
Catanese’s successor, Frank Brogan, headed a meeting with the Sun Belt Conference Expansion Committee as FAU was in the midst of its successful 2003 season. One year later, the football team was transitioning from Division I-AA (now FCS) to Division I-A (now FBS) before becoming a full-fledged member of the Sun Belt.
FAU hands Hawaii its lone home loss of 2004 season
FAU was transitioning into Division 1-A when it opened the 2004 season in Hawaii. The game, which was played as Category 2 Hurricane Frances was making landfall 75 miles north of Boca Raton, ended with the Owls upsetting the Rainbows 35-28 in overtime. The game was Hawaii’s only home loss of the season.
Owls defeat Minnesota, only win over Power Five school
FAU’s only win against a Power Five opponent was a 42-39 shootout over Minnesota in Miami Gardens on Sept. 15, 2007. Rusty Smith threw for 463 yards and five touchdowns, and the Owls forced seven turnovers. FAU is 1-39 all-time vs. Power Five opponents.
2003 football team inducted into Athletics Hall of Fame
The 2003 football team was inducted into the university Athletics Hall of Fame. FAU finished 11-3 that season and was the first team in program history to play in the postseason. FAU won 10 straight after a 1-2 start.
Owls secure first bowl bid
More than a two-touchdown road underdog, FAU defeated Troy 38-32 on Dec. 1, 2007, to claim a share of the Sun Belt Conference title and secure its first bowl bid. Rusty Smith passed for 291 yards and two TDs.
FAU youngest startup program to win bowl game
On Dec. 21, 2007, FAU became the youngest startup program in Division I history to win a bowl game, defeating Conference USA member Memphis 44-27 in the New Orleans Bowl. Rusty Smith threw five touchdown passes and was named MVP.
Rusty Smith: 2007 Sun Belt POY, first Owl drafted
The Owls’ historic 2007 season included quarterback Rusty Smith being named Sun Belt Player of the Year. Smith completed 281 of 479 passes for 3,688 yards, 32 touchdowns and nine interceptions. He later became the first FAU player selected in the NFL Draft, taken by the Tennessee Titans in the sixth round (No. 176 overall) in 2010.
FAU unveils new on-campus stadium
The Owls’ 20-0 loss to Western Kentucky on Oct. 15, 2011, was overshadowed by the opening of its $70 million, 30,000-seat stadium on the northeast corner of campus. The stadium is the closest on-campus college football stadium to the ocean (1.8 miles). FAU used that stadium to help the move to Conference USA in 2013.
Howard Schnellenberger era ends with home loss
Howard Schnellenberger’s coaching career ended Dec. 3, 2011, with a 26-0 loss to Louisiana-Monroe played before a sparse home crowd. The loss capped a 1-11 season, the worst in FAU history.
Carl Pelini replaces Schnellenberger, lasts 20 games
Two days after Schnellenberger’s final game, Nebraska defensive coordinator Carl Pelini was hired. Pelini, and defensive coordinator Pete Rekstis, were forced to resign eight games into Pelini’s second year after acknowledging to the administration they used illegal drugs. Pelini was 5-15.
FAU has two players drafted into NFL for first time
The Owls had another draft milestone in 2014 when two players, defensive back Keith Reaser and linebacker Randell Johnson, were taken in the NFL Draft. Reaser was selected by the 49ers in the fifth round. The Bills took Johnson two rounds later.
Football field named to honor Howard Schnellenberger
The FAU board of trustees voted Aug. 20, 2014, to name the field at the FAU stadium after the football program’s founder and first coach. FAU won two bowl games and a Sun Belt Conference championship under Schnellenberger.
The Lane Train makes a stop at FAU
Lane Kiffin, the controversial former Oakland Raiders, University of Tennessee and USC head coach, agreed to revive his career at FAU. Kiffin was hired before the 2017 season. He replaced Charlie Partridge, who had three consecutive 3-9 seasons.
Devin Singletary named program’s first All-American
Devin “Motor” Singletary, the 2017 Conference USA MVP, became the first player from FAU to receive high All-American honors, being named to the third team by the Associated Press. Singletary, who attended American Heritage-Delray Beach and is currently with the New York Giants, led the FBS with 32 touchdowns and was fourth with 1,920 rushing yards that season.
Kiffin turns around program in one year
The Kiffin hire turned out to be genius. In one year, he won two more games than the three previous years combined, and brought FAU its first conference title in a decade and first bowl in nine years. FAU (11-3) won the Conference USA championship and crushed Akron 50-3 in the Boca Raton Bowl.
Kiffin era ends with bookend conference titles
Kiffin parlayed another 11-3 season, conference championship and Boca Raton Bowl victory into a Power Five job, leaving to take over at Ole Miss following the 2019 season. Kiffin’s departure lead to a rough stretch that saw two coaches, Willie Taggart and Tom Herman, fired in a two-year period.
FAU moving on up: Joins American Athletic Conference
The Owls took advantage of the major conference realignment, announcing in June 2022 they would be joining the American Athletic Conference in July 2023. FAU, Charlotte, North Texas, Rice, UAB and UTSA joined the league as Cincinnati, Houston and UCF bolted the AAC for the Big 12.
Owls win inaugural AAC game
FAU started the 2023 season 1-3 with losses at Clemson and Illinois, but its first AAC game ended with a 20-17 victory over Tulsa at home. Larry McCammon rushed for 130 yards and LaJohntay Wester caught nine passes for 99 yards.
LaJohntay Wester FAU’s inaugural first-team All-American
Junior LaJohntay Wester was named first-team All-American by the Football Writers Association in 2023 as a punt returner. He is the only FAU player to earn first-team honors. Wester, who also played receiver, was the AAC Special Teams Player of the Year. He led the FBS with 278 punt-return yards in addition to 108 receptions and 1,168 receiving yards.
Trey Hendrickson become most decorated Owl in NFL history
Trey Hendrickson, a third-round pick by the New Orleans Saints in 2013, was runner-up in 2024 NFL Defensive Player of the Year voting. Hendrickson, who signed with Cincinnati in 2021, is the first FAU player to earn first-team All-Pro honors. He has been to the Pro Bowl four straight years.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: 25 years of FAU football: Milestones from start with Howard Schnellenberger to Lane Kiffin to now
Reporting by Tom D’Angelo, Palm Beach Post / Palm Beach Post
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
