Wow . . . 7 road games and only 4 home games! That's going to be tough from a travel standpoint. I see that they have some games against future Sun Belt rivals.

Date/Opponent
09/04 at Hawaii
09/11 at North Texas
09/18 at Middle Tennessee
09/25 ILLINOIS STATE
10/02 Open Date
10/09 at Texas State
10/16 at Northern Colorado
10/23 ULM
10/30 at Florida A&M
11/06 at Troy State
11/13 NEW MEXICO STATE
11/20 FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL

Those transition years are tough on the home schedule.

Actually they added another home game to their schedule:

9/04 at Hawaii
9/11 at University of North Texas
9/18 at Middle Tenn State University
9/25 Illinois State University
10/09 at Texas State
10/16 at Northern Colorado
10/23 UL MONROE
10/30 at FAMU
11/06 at Troy State
11/13 NEW MEXICO STATE
11/20 FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY @ Pro Player/Dolphins Stadium
11/27 EDWARD WATERS

Quote:BOCA RATON - Florida Atlantic University's football team continues to move on a rapid pace towards playing at the highest collegiate level possible, which features six- NCAA Division I-A games in 2004 and a season opener against Hawaii, announced FAU Athletic Director Craig Angelos.

"We are very pleased with the incredible growth of our football program," said Angelos. Taking this program to the next level is very exciting for all of us. As we begin our transition to I-A, we have had to blend our old schedule with the demands of our new Sun Belt Conference schedule. This has proven to be a challenge in itself. Having the opportunity to play at Hawaii then to follow it up in successive weeks with North Texas and Middle Tennessee State make for a season for fans and players to remember. We hope that at least 15,000 of our best fans come out to Lockhart and join us for a great year."

The Owls began play in 2001 as an Independent member playing at the NCAA Division I-AA level. With Angelos on board and a team comprised mostly of juniors, FAU finished 2003 with an 11-3 record, ranked no. 4 nationally, was the quickest start-up team to earn a D I-A victory and was the quickest to make the play-offs. This was all highlighted by an invitation to join the Sun Belt Conference making the transition to the I-A level conceivable.

The 2004 schedule begins the process of elevating the team's status. The schedule will feature six I-A opponents, including two at home, and it includes six contests against Sun Belt members, including Florida International.

The season will begin September 4 at Hawaii against Heisman Trophy Candidate Timmy Chang and his potent four-wide offense. FAU will then play North Texas, the defending Sun Belt Champion, and Middle Tennessee who fell victim to the Owls in 2003 marking the program's first Division I-A victory in just its 22nd game.

The squad's first home game will be against Illinois State, a perennial top-25 I-AA team, and will then begin October with a bye. It will be back on the road for the Owls who will then return games against Texas State and Northern Colorado, a team that may have one of the best running backs at the I-AA level.

October 23 will feature FAU hosting its first Sun Belt member in Louisiana-Monroe and the game will also include Parents' Weekend, a University wide function. FAU then travels to Tallahassee to face Florida A&M and will follow-up with Troy State November 6.

Homecoming and New Mexico State are on tap for November 13 and the game will mark one of three home games scheduled for November. The third Annual Don Shula Cup versus Florida International will be played at Pro Player and will serve as a home game for the Owls. The following week FAU will lend its experience as the older much wiser program when the squad plays in-state start-up Edward Waters, to conclude the season.

"This schedule is one that shows our past, present and future," said Head Coach Howard Schnellenberger. "Our first game with Hawaii, shows the level of play that this program aspires to play on a regular basis. We are playing six Sun Belt games, and three games that are return games from a year ago. Florida A&M and Edward Waters are the two wild cards. FAMU was originally a DI-A game and was a game that would keep our team local. We have now paired FAMU with Edward Waters as in-state opponents like UCF, USF, FIU and Bethune-Cookman have been in the past. So many teams offered us the opportunity to play during our first three years and we are doing the same for Edward Waters."

Partial schedules for the 2005 and 2006 seasons will feature both Kansas and Kansas State, the remaining four non-conference games will be against a similar caliber opponent.

<a href='http://fausports.collegesports.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/041904aaa.html' target='_blank'>http://fausports.collegesports.com/sports/.../041904aaa.html</a>

MaXx Wrote:Actually they added another home game to their schedule:

11/27 EDWARD WATERS

How good is Edward Waters? They're Division 2, aren't they?

No, they are NAIA.. :crying:
From Jacksonville,Fla. Coach wanted to give them a shot because when we started some teams didn't want to give FAU the time of day. He has a long memory about stuff like that.

We think that Coach Schnell is giving the seniors a nice send-off for their 4 years of hard work and dedication to the upstart program.

Besides, it won't affect the strength of schedule. We're not bowl eligible anyway.

kalca Wrote:No, they are NAIA.. :crying:
From Jacksonville,Fla. Coach wanted to give them a shot because when we started some teams didn't want to give FAU the time of day. He has a long memory about stuff like that.

We think that Coach Schnell is giving the seniors a nice send-off for their 4 years of hard work and dedication to the upstart program.

Besides, it won't affect the strength of schedule. We're not bowl eligible anyway.

Well, at least it gives FAU another home game. Also, if you guys blow out Edward Waters, it would be a nice sendoff for your seniors.

FAU has come a long way very quickly. The Owls got off to a rough start when they were blown out by Slippery Rock in their first-ever football game. Now, FAU has built itself into a 1-AA national title contender and will be in the Sun Belt in 2005-2006. It'll be interesting to see how you guys and FIU do when your teams reach 1-A.