# 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.

## 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 (DL, Sr.)
* Frantz Joseph (LB, Sr.)
* Tavious Polo (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 StadiumAustin, TX | PPV | L 10–52 | 98,053 |
| September 6 | 4:00 p.m. | UAB* | Lockhart StadiumFort Lauderdale, FL | | W 49–34 | 15,143 |
| September 13 | 12:00 p.m. | at Michigan State* | Spartan StadiumEast Lansing, MI | ESPN2 | L 0–17 | 70,321 |
| September 20 | 12:00 p.m. | at Minnesota* | Hubert H. Humphrey MetrodomeMinneapolis, MN | BTN | L 3–37 | 41,003 |
| September 30 | 8:00 p.m. | at Middle Tennessee | Johnny "Red" Floyd StadiumMurfreesboro, TN | ESPN2 | L 13–14 | 25,766 |
| October 7 | 8:00 p.m. | Troy | Lockhart StadiumFort Lauderdale, FL | ESPN2 | L 17–30 | 17,191 |
| October 18 | 7:00 p.m. | at Western Kentucky* | L.T. Smith StadiumBowling Green, KY | | W 24–20 | 14,171 |
| October 25 | 7:00 p.m. | at Louisiana–Monroe | Malone StadiumMonroe, LA | CSS | W 29–28 | 9,922 |
| November 8 | 4:00 p.m. | North Texas | Lockhart StadiumFort Lauderdale, FL | | W 46–13 | 17,715 |
| November 15 | 4:00 p.m. | Louisiana–Lafayette | Lockhart StadiumFort Lauderdale, FL | | W 40–29 | 14,338 |
| November 22 | 3:00 p.m. | at Arkansas State | ASU StadiumJonesboro, AR | CSS | L 14–28 | 10,845 |
| November 29 | 4:00 p.m. | FIU | Dolphin StadiumMiami Gardens, FL (Shula Bowl) | | W 57–50 $^{OT}$ | 16,781 |
| December 26 | 7:30 p.m. | vs. Central Michigan* | Ford FieldDetroit, MI (Motor City Bowl) | ESPN | W 24–21 | 41,399 |
| *Non-conference gameRankings from Associated PressAll 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 (QB, Jr.)
* Week 12 Sun Belt Conference Player of the Week, Defense: Corey Small (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 (LB, Sr.)
* 2008 Shula Bowl Most Valuable Player: Rusty Smith (QB, Jr.)

### All-Sun Belt honors

* First Team All-Sun Belt Conference:
** Jervonte Jackson (DL, Sr.)
** Frantz Joseph (LB, Sr.)
** Corey Small (CB, Sr.)
* Second Team All-Sun Belt Conference:
** Jamari Grant (TE, Jr.)
** John Rizzo (OL, Sr.)
** Nick Paris (OL, Sr.)
** Charles Pierre (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 (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) |