The 2008 Florida Atlantic University Owls football team represented

Florida Atlantic University Florida Atlantic University (Florida Atlantic or FAU) is a Public university, public research university with its main campus in Boca Raton, Florida, and satellite campuses in Dania Beach, Florida, Dania Beach, Davie, Florida, Davie, Fort Lauderd ...

in the 2008 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The team was coached by

Howard Schnellenberger Howard Leslie Schnellenberger (March 16, 1934 – March 27, 2021) was an American football coach with long service at both the professional and college levels. He held head coaching positions with the National Football League's Baltimore Colts a ...

and played their home games at

Lockhart Stadium Lockhart Stadium was a stadium used mostly for soccer in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, United States. It was used in a variety of sports, particularly soccer and American football. Originally designed in 1959 for high school sports, the stadium' ...

Fort Lauderdale, Florida Fort Lauderdale () is a coastal city located in the U.S. state of Florida, north of Miami along the Atlantic Ocean. It is the county seat of and largest city in Broward County with a population of 182,760 at the 2020 census, making it the tenth ...

. The Owls entered the season as defending

Sun Belt Conference The Sun Belt Conference (SBC) is a collegiate athletic conference that has been affiliated with the NCAA's Division I since 1976. Originally a non-football conference, the Sun Belt began sponsoring football in 2001. Its football teams participa ...

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

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.)

Post-season awards and honors

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 PierreCharles Pierre
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Records broken in 2008

The 2008 football season saw numerous school records broken.

References

Florida Atlantic Florida Atlantic Owls football seasons Little Caesars Pizza Bowl champion seasons

Florida Atlantic Owls football The Florida Atlantic Owls football program represents Florida Atlantic University (FAU) in the sport of American football. The Owls compete in the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and the Amer ...

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