INSIDE SLANT
Florida Atlantic salvaged some pride at the end of a disappointing season with a 28-21 win at rival FIU in the Shula Bowl.
Despite a two-game winning streak to end the season, the Owls (5-7) failed to make a bowl for the first time in three seasons.
Even though senior starting quarterback Rusty Smith went down with a season-ending shoulder injury, it was defense that did in the Owls. FAU gave up an average of 453.2 yards per game, which ranked 112th out of 120 teams in the Football Bowl Subdivision.
Defense is an area that Florida Atlantic coach Howard Schnellenberger will need to address during the offseason. But there were some bright spots. Sophomore running back Alfred Morris wound up leading the Sun Belt Conference with a school-record 1,392 yards rushing. Morris rushed for 158 yards and scored three touchdowns (two rushing, one receiving) in the FIU win.
“It’s bittersweet because I wish our season would have went a lot better, but I guess this is a good accomplishment,” Morris said. “My O-line was very proud, and they went off the field with their heads held high.”
Florida Atlantic gave up more than 30 points in six of its 12 games this season and went 1-5 in the six games.
NOTES, QUOTES
Game Of The Year: Florida Atlantic 28, FIU 21—FAU rallied for 14 points in the fourth quarter to bring home the Shula Bowl for the seventh time in eight seasons. In the process, FAU RB Alfred Morris passed North Texas’ Lance Dunbar for the Sun Belt Conference rushing title with a 20-yard TD run that put the Owls ahead to stay, 28-14. FAU (5-7, 5-3 SBC) clinched a winning record in the conference with the win. But the Owls were unable to get a victory in each of their four non-conference games.
Players Of The Year:
RB Alfred Morris—Morris rushed for more than 100 yards in seven of 12 games to finish with a school-record and Sun Belt Conference-leading 1,392 yards. Morris also led FAU with 13 touchdowns (11 rushing, two receiving) and had 114 receiving yards.
TE Jason Harmon—After sitting out with a torn ACL last season, Harmon returned to lead the Owls in receiving yards (649) and tied with WR Chris Bonner for the team lead in receiving scores (6).
Fast Forward: FAU returns most of its skill-position players on offense but will need to replace four starters on the offensive line—ORT Carl Spitale, OLG David Matlock, ORG Kevin Miller and OLT Lavoris Williams. The development of junior QB Jeff Van Camp (12 TDs, two interceptions in five starts) after starting QB Rusty Smith went down with a season-ending shoulder injury at midseason was a positive the Owls can take into next season. On defense, FAU loses just two starters, but that might not be a good thing considering how many yards and points the Owls gave up this season.
Recruiting Trail: As of early December, FAU coach Howard Schnellenberger had no commitments for the Class of 2010.
Quote To Note: “I just wanted to win. I was really running hard for the seniors. I wanted to send then out on a good note.”—FAU RB Alfred Morris on his 158-yard, three TD performance in the season finale against FIU
STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL
Players To Watch In 2010:
RB Alfred Morris—Morris, a backup fullback last spring, came out of nowhere to rush for a school record 1,392 yards to lead the Sun Belt Conference. Teams will be keying on stopping Morris next season, so it will be interesting to see how the 5-foot-11, 222-pound running back adjusts going into his junior season.
QB Jeff Van Camp—Van Camp played well replacing injured starter Rusty Smith, and barring something unforeseen, he should take the starting job into his senior year. In five starts, Van Camp completed 109-of-184 passes for 1,372 yards with 12 touchdowns and two interceptions. Van Camp also rushed for 19 yards and three TDs.
SS Marcus Bartels—Bartels was one of the few bright spots on FAU’s defense, finishing with a team-high 110 tackles (five for loss) and an interception. As a junior next season, Bartels will be counted on as a leader in the secondary.
WR Lester Jean—Jean emerged as Van Camp’s favorite target late in the season and finished with 38 catches for 501 yards and four TDs. At 6-foot-3, 195 pounds, Jean is a big target capable of catching balls over the middle. More big plays will be expected from Jean going into his senior season.
Pro Prospects:
QB Rusty Smith—FAU coach Howard Schnellenberger once hailed Smith as a “future NFL first round draft pick” after Smith’s stellar sophomore season. But shoulder injuries in each of the last two seasons have hampered Smith’s development. Smith is still projected as a potential fifth-to-seventh-round pick because of his size (6-foot-5, 230 pounds) and arm strength. But he will need to prove that he’s fully healthy at the NFL combine.
TE Jason Harmon—At 6-foot-3, 215 pounds, Harmon doesn’t have ideal size for a blocker but showed soft hands and an ability to catch the ball over the middle. He’s projected as a fifth-to-seventh-round pick and showed no ill-effects from a torn ACL that sidelined him last season.
ORT Carl Spitale—An NFL team could take a late-round flier on Spitale because of his natural strength at 6-foot-8, 330 pounds. Spitale was a big reason why FAU allowed just 21 sacks in 12 games this season.
Roster Report:
• OLG David Matlock (knee) started his school-record 50th straight game against FIU. Matlock was questionable for the game.
