Owls prepare for stronger, faster foe

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? After Florida Atlantic defeated Middle Tennessee State in its season opener, the Owls were fired up about facing their next opponent, Oklahoma State.

It didn't take long for the Owls to realize the Cowboys aren't the Blue Raiders.After scouting Oklahoma State, the Owls know it's going to take more than the momentum gained by beating the Blue Raiders to give them a victory on the road at 7:05 tonight against the Cowboys.

FAU was brought to earth the day after beating Middle Tennessee 27-14 when the Owls watched video of the Cowboys' 35-14 season-opening loss to Georgia.

Even in a losing effort, FAU could see Oklahoma State is at a higher level than MTSU.

"The reality set in on the next day," junior linebacker Frantz Joseph said. "Saturday we won, but Sunday began a new week. It was a new team, a better team, a stronger team and a faster team."

The loss to Georgia wasn't even the Cowboys' best effort.

"They were tougher than we were, which disappointed me as a coach," OSU coach Mike Gundy said this week of the matchup against Georgia.

The Cowboys still looked pretty tough to FAU, whose players still remember the 48-8 thumping Oklahoma State put on the Owls last season in Stillwater.

However, the Owls say they are prepared for a different type of game this season.

FAU came into last season's game 0-2 after blowout losses at Clemson and Kansas State. With its offense still looking for its first touchdown, the Owls had little confidence. FAU believes it's a much better team than the one that managed only a late touchdown against the Cowboys' reserves.

"We have a lot more experience than going into this game last year," fullback Willie Rose said. "Last year we were very young. After last year's season and winning last week, we have gained tons of experience."

And it certainly doesn't hurt the Owls to have started the season on a high note.

"We realize it's a Big 12 team," Rose said. "But we want to stay high and excited after the win because it gives us great momentum. We need to keep our heads on our shoulders and realize it's just a better team."

FAU coach Howard Schnellenberger said his team's victory against Middle Tennessee could help this week, but also said two other things happened last Saturday that may work against the Owls.

While Oklahoma State's loss most certainly made them more hungry for a victory, Appalachian State's upset of Michigan has BCS-conference teams on heightened awareness against an upset, Schnellenberger said.

"All the great traditional teams across the country that are playing I-AA teams and teams like us in the Sun Belt Conference are going to really, really make sure they don't overlook us and make sure that doesn't happen again," Schnellenberger said.

Noteworthy: Joseph, who is tied for the team lead with eight tackles, is questionable for today's game with a left ankle sprain.

 

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Moving toward Stillwater

By Marcus Nelson Palm Beach Bost Writer's Blog| Friday, September 7, 2007, 09:31 PM


HOUSTON - Almost in Oklahoma, but not quite yet. Plenty of football fans from West Palm Beach on the plane and here waiting for the flight to Oklahoma City, but they are all in orange and green, not red and blue. And I haven?t heard a single ?Who let the Owls out?? cheer break out. There probably wont be a large crowd of FAU fans in Stillwater, but QB Jared Allen will be there I?m told.

After watching Middle Tennessee look impressive vs. Louisville on Thursday, maybe FAU?s defense is even better than I thought after Saturday?s season-opening victory.

Hey, I?m not the only one. During the second half of the UL-MTSU game, ESPN interviewed someone announcer Eric Collins called Howard Schnellen-becker and he agreed.

?I?m going to pat them all on the back,? Schnellen-becker said via phone. ?I didnt know we had such a good defense.?

Of course, just hours before the game I was telling everyone that the Blue Raiders were going to roll over vs. Louisville and they were destined for the Sun Belt cellar- ahead of FIU of course, but still in the second division.

Now, I?m not so sure.

Even though the stock for FAU?s defense may have risen based on events in Louisville, there was a troubling development Thursday night when it was revealed that middle linebacker Frantz Joseph is questionable for Saturday?s game vs. Oklahoma State with a left ankle sprain. Not to make too much out of an injury that may or may not keep Joseph from playing, but Joseph had a tremendous game last Saturday vs. the Blue raiders. He had many of the Owls? toughest hits of the day, was constantly around the ball - often in the Blue raiders backfield. He finished with eight tackles and he would be a major loss if he can?t go.

Junior Kris Rush is listed as Joseph?s back-up, but George Allen, who has started at stong-side linebacker also could be a candidate, if Joseph can?t go.

Players seem pretty confident and have put in another busy week of preparation for the Cowboys, including in the meeting room and in film study and they seem to have a pretty good grasp of what the Cowboys will try to do.

Of course, stopping that will be a different matter entirely.

Many of the FAU players are hoping for an FAU victory based on the fact they are a year older and stronger than a season ago when the Cowboys had little trouble dismantling the Owls. They may have a point, but Oklahoma State is also probably better than it was a year ago.

Prediction: Oklahoma State 35, FAU 17?For those that care, that means the owls cover the 23.5 points. A poster last week suggested a wait until after the games are over to make my predictions, but I called Las Vegas and they won?t allow you to do that just yet. We?ll see what happens and it could be wild, with rain in the forecast.