By Scott Morganroth
Ever since the FAU Owls lost their Lockhart Stadium Finale “The Good Riddance Bowl” on Dec. 4, 2010 to the Troy Trojans, 44-7, there has been a lot of interesting news regarding Coach Howard Schnellenberger’s connections at both the professional and college levels.
This past week, the Tennessee Titans decided to part ways with Quarterback Vince Young and retain Coach Jeff Fisher, who has $6.5 million left on the final year of his contract. Titans Owner Bud Adams was hoping that Young and Fisher could settle their differences, but when their working relationship couldn’t be salvaged, the owner had to move on with the longest tenured coach in the NFL.
The Titans quarterback, who has a chance to compete for the starting job in Fisher’s 18th season, is former FAU Owl Rusty Smith. If Fisher hopes to continue his time in Nashville, Smith’s development figures factor into the equation, as Tennessee hopes to rebound from a 6-10 season. Once Young is moved, the Titans will have veteran Kerry Collins, Smith and third stringer Chris Simms.
Schnellenberger’s former school, the University of Miami, has made a coaching change hours after the University of South Florida Bulls defeated the Hurricanes, 23-20, on Nov. 27 at Joe Robbie Stadium.
Following the UM loss, where only 26,369 fans showed up, Randy Shannon was fired after four seasons, as he compiled a 28-22 record. With Shannon long gone, Miami lost the Sun Bowl in El Paso, Texas, 33-17, to Notre Dame on Dec. 31, 2010.
Miami hired former Temple Owls Coach Al Golden, who led his former team to 9-4 and 8-4 seasons in 2009 and 2010, along with one bowl appearance.
The 41-year-old signed a five-year contract on Dec. 14, as he hopes to improve on Shannon’s 16-16 Atlantic Coast Conference record and zero titles. Since the start of the 2007 season, 47 teams have more wins than Miami, including four from the state of Florida. Shannon was also 0-2 in bowl games.
Despite FAU’s 4-8 record, they will be represented at a couple of College All-Star Games.
Wide Receiver Lester Jean will showcase his skills in the 86th East-West Shrine Game on Jan. 22 at 4 p.m. at the Florida Citrus Bowl in Orlando.
Last year, Schnellenberger coached in the Texas vs. Nation Game. This year, two of his players will be playing in this contest, which will take place on Feb. 5 at 2 p.m. ET at the Alamo Dome in San Antonio, Texas.
Quarterback Jeff Van Camp will be playing for the Nation’s squad, while his Tight-End Rob Housler will be catching passes for the Texas team.
These games are becoming more significant because of the emergence of the United Football League, which is a developmental league for the NFL. The New USFL, which is tentatively set to begin play by the spring of 2012, could be another place for professional prospects.
NFL and Canadian Football League scouts also figure to be on hand at these games.
Scott Morganroth can be reached at www.scottsports33.com.
