The first and only time these two teams met, the Miami Hurricanes hosted the Florida Atlantic Owls at Sun Life Stadium to open the 2013 season. The home team was favored by 31.5 points, won by 28 and quickly put the game in the rear view as the Florida Gators were fast approaching.
This time around, little brother is inviting big brother over to his house. That sophomore Owls’ quarterback who was serviceable last time around; a senior now, looking for the biggest win in his program’s history.
The game is already a sellout, mighty little FAU Stadium—max capacity 29,419—will be packed to the gills; a dual home game where both Canes and Owls will be well-represented.
For Miami, another warm-up type of game with Nebraska and the ACC schedule fast-approaching. For Florida Atlantic; a national championship, once-in-a-lifetime moment and moment that the great Howard Schnellenberger envisioned over 15 years ago when commissioned to build a football program in Boca Raton.
“I dreamed of Florida coming here, Florida State coming here, Notre Dame coming here,” Schnellenberger recently told the Palm Beach Post. “In time, all the great teams will come here, because we’ve got a stadium, we’re sitting in the hotbed of high school football players, and we’ve got a university that’s in the heart of the heart of paradise and is growing like a weed. All great things lie ahead for us.”
Schellenberger went on to state that his loyalties with this weekend are with the team that pays him—Florida Atlantic—where he’s still involved with fundraising and giving speeches.
That said, he also admitted it’s “bittersweet” as his heart has always been with the University of Miami since his five-year stint, beginning in 1979 and ending as soon as the first national title was in the books—leaving the program for an opportunity with the soon-defunct USFL. Some more thoughts on this weekend’s showdown:
IT’S ALL ABOUT SCHNELLY
Schnellenberger will again be the main attraction, as he was at Sun Life Stadium in 2013—where the 30-year anniversary of Miami’s first national championship was commemorated at halftime of the first Canes / Owls showdown.
This time around, it’s a field named after the legend, where a statue stands in his honor. As big as that 1983 title was to the man, have to believe that the present outweighs the past and all that he’s been building the past 15 years at FAU is going to have a huge impact on this game—top to bottom.
Both sides will feel it and while it will be a split stadium, the emotional nod has to go to the Owls based on all that’s at stake.
Miami needs to win this game simply because it was scheduled as a winnable game and maligned fifth-year head coach Al Golden is playing every game with his ass on the hot seat.
Florida Atlantic wants to win this game to legitimize its program, to honor the aging legend who founded it and to earn some hometown bragging rites from a national power. That x-factor can’t be ignored.
HOW WE GOT HERE
Miami rolled Bethune-Cookman last week, 45-0—handing the Wildcats their first shutout since 2006, while the Canes notched their first since 2010.
Florida Atlantic lost an shootout on the road, falling at Tulsa, 47-44 in overtime.
The Canes had 379 yards in their rout; 184 through the air and 195 on the ground—the way paved by a trio of running backs; Joe Yearby, true freshman Mark Walton and the versatile Trayone Gray.
Miami started slow and ineffective, but a lengthy weather delay seemed to rejuvenate the Canes, who caught fire upon their return—scoring three touchdowns in the final minute of the first quarter, extending the lead to, 31-0 in a game that was eventually shortened in the second half.
The Owls fell behind, 21-7 early in the first but took a 24-21 lead in the third quarter. The lead grew to ten before Tulsa scored and made it a three-point game, followed by a Florida Atlantic missed field goal.
The Golden Hurricane eventually tied it in regulation, the Owls settled for a field goal on their first possession of overtime and Tulsa punched in a game-winning touchdown.
KEYS TO VICTORY : MIAMI
The Hurricanes’ offensive line has to protect quarterback Brad Kaaya and give him time. Kaaya was noticeably in more shotgun situations against Florida Atlantic last week; a logical move as a new-look line settles in.
Sustain drives, convert third downs—another problem last week as the Canes were 3-of-11—and keep Kaaya in control, running the show. Miami can’t afford to have it’s quarterback pressured, missing throws or making crucial mistakes.
The Owls’ defense gave up 424 passing yards and two touchdowns last week at Tulsa, so if well-protected, Kaaya could easily go off this Friday night.
Miami has to get up on Florida Atlantic early, forcing the Owls to play catch-up. The biggest way for this game to get scary for the Canes; nursing a narrow lead late into the game and ratcheting up the pressure a few notches—in front of a home crowd cheering for the upset.
The Canes will face much tougher road environments this year—Florida State, for one—but this is a rarity for the program; playing a road game in one’s hometown.
Defensively it’s all about containing Jaquez Johnson. The quarterback was a non-factor when these teams met two years ago, but has settled into a capable senior who knows what’s on the line this weekend.
Johnson was 23-of-34 for 263 yards and two touchdowns last weekend at Tulsa, while rushing for 97 yards on 20 carries. That dual-threat nature can give an undisciplined defense fits.
KEYS TO VICTORY: FLORIDA ATLANTIC
The Owls have to trade punches with the Canes early, in order to not let things get out of control. The old adage of keeping it close until the fourth quarter will be the goal here; so long, sustained drives offensively is key. As is capitalizing on Miami’s third down lack-of-success.
The pressure is on the Canes to convert on third. That’s the money down for the Owls and where they need to get in Miami’s head.
Run the football well with both Johnson and running back Greg Howell; who carried 22 times for 138 yards and two touchdowns in last week’s loss. Jay Warren also carried 14 for 67 yards and a score; so as much as Miami feels it has a triple thread on the ground, so do the Owls.
Miami will understandably be focused on Johnson, which allows Howell and Warren to quietly grind away, keeping drives alive and moving the chains.
Embrace playing at FAU Stadium and the comforts of a home crowd. So many times Florida Atlantic has to walk into the lion’s den as an upstart program. Alabama, Auburn, Georgia, Florida, Michigan State and Texas have all hosted the Owls over the past five years.
This is the first big-time program to come to Boca. Florida Atlantic has to seize this once-in-a-lifetime moment and played with that type of purpose.
THE PREDICTION
Maybe it’s just the result of so much disappointment surrounding Miami football as of late, but this feels like a quirky game for the Canes that will be a little tougher than expected.
Miami wins the talent battle hands down, but Florida Atlantic has desire on their side—a big moment that someone like Schnellenberger knows all to well; going up against a Nebraska team that was deemed best of all time as that 1983 season came down to one final game, where a feisty, underrated Canes program shocked the world.
The stakes are nowhere near as high this time around, but that same underdog spirit sort of permeates through this Florida Atlantic program.
Credit the Owls for a 563-yard offensive performance last week; but it’s defense still surrendered 618 yards and 47 points—including those gaudy 424 passing yards.
If Kaaya simply has a good-not-quite-great game, the Canes should carve up the Owls’ secondary with relative ease. If Kaaya falters, things could get interesting. Same for Miami as a whole if it’s another slow start this week. Can’t bank on another lightning storm and weather delay to get the juices flowing. Need to come out firing.
Miami gets it done courtesy of Kaaya, specials teams and a few big runs by superiorly-talented running backs. Toss in a late score as well for good measure, but don’t be surprised if this is a little bit of a battle for the Canes the first two-and-a-half quarters.
Miami 41, Florida Atlantic 24