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.

By Gary Curreri

There was some friendly family feuding at the recent Simply Soccer camp at the city of Pompano Beach’s
4-Fields Complex recently.

Three sets of brothers and sisters were among the campers who took part in learning a variety of soccer skills from dribbling to shooting. Brooke and Kenny Morgan, Kayla, Allison and Bryce Cunneen, along with Grace and Olivia Pettee, said they all had an enjoyable time during the weeklong camp, which was held during the holiday break.

“I have been to three soccer camps in the past,” said Allison Cunneen, 9, of Pompano Beach. “I like this one because it was close to home and I really learned a lot. This one was different because you learned new skills and practiced them in scrimmages that same day.”

The children, ranging in age from 5-14, also watched movies during lunch and went swimming to cool off before ending the day with scrimmage games.

“The best game was steal the bacon,” said Kenny Morgan, 8, of Pompano Beach, who attended his first camp. “I learned how to pass the ball, control the ball and score goals.”

Brooke Morgan, 10, said she learned a lot and enjoyed when the coaches played with the campers during games.

“I made some new friends, and mostly the counselors would make me go home with a smile,” Brooke Morgan said. “They made me come back for more.”

Each player received a certificate and a written evaluation of their performance at the close of camp.

The Cunneen’s mom, Gloria, said they really enjoyed the experience.

“They would come home each day showing what new skills they learned, in addition to sharing the stories and experiences that were shared by their coaches that day,” she said. “From a parent’s perspective, this is great!  They enjoyed all of the coaches and looked up to the high school and college students. They are great role models for kids!”

Peterson wins

national awards

A day after being named the SEC’s Defensive Player of the Year and the SEC’s Special Teams Player of the Year, former Blanche Ely standout Patrick Peterson added two national awards to his collection.

Peterson won both the Jim Thorpe Award as the nation’s top defensive back and the Chuck Bednarik Award as the nation’s best defensive player. The junior won both awards at the ESPN College Football Awards Show in Orlando.

“It’s an honor to be the first player at LSU to win these awards,” said Peterson, who is considering entering the NFL draft this year. “One of my goals at the beginning of the season was to win this award and be the best I could possibly be. I am very thankful for this opportunity and I owe it to my coaches and my family for putting me in the best position to succeed. This experience is something I will never forget.”

Peterson, a cornerback at LSU who was known as Patrick Johnson during his days at Ely, finished the regular season with 36 tackles and four interceptions. He also had 1.5 tackles for losses; six pass break-ups and a blocked field goal. Peterson earned his second All-America honor and became the first player since Glenn Dorsey and Craig Steltz in 2007 to receive Walter Camp All-America accolades.

In 1959, Paige West was a part of history and three was the lucky number. West trained Adios Butler, who won the first Triple Crown in harness racing history.

So, it is only fitting that some 51 years later, West and the number three came up again as the Pompano Beach resident aced three different holes in three weeks at the Carolina Club in Margate.

“It was unbelievable,” said the 78-year-old West, who lives in Palm Aire. “I play three or four times a week here. “There were three of the same golfers each time. There was one different guy each time. They were probably more excited than I was.”

West, who has had five hole-in-ones in his lifetime, waited more than 24 years between aces. His previous hole-in-ones in 1986 and 1987 came a year apart to the day. West got hole-in-ones on three different holes – 7,
9 and 17 at the Carolina Club last month.

One of his playing partners, Paul Wittenberg, 67, of Boca Raton, who saw all three aces, said West was more happy that he “took their money” by winning the holes than getting the hole-in-ones.

“It was pretty amazing,” said Wittenberg, who plays with West three times a week. They have been playing together for seven years at Carolina Club. “One shot was lucky; the other two were right on the pin all of the way. He was very happy, probably because he took our money. It’s incredible. He’s not a very good golfer.”

West said he used an 8-iron from 125 yards to ace the 7th hole; a 9-iron, from 115 yards on the 9th hole, and an 8-iron from 120 yards out on the 17th hole.

“I had to buy the guys drinks,” West said. “I am not that great a golfer, so this was pretty incredible. They were kind of shocked the second time I got one. The third one I didn’t see go in the hole because there was a bunker. I knew it was close. When we got up to the green, we saw it in the hole.”

West said he used to come down in the winter when he trained horses at Pompano Park . He moved permanently in 1988. He retired in 1990.

“I was the first man to win the Triple Crown in 1959 with Adios Butler,” West said. “You dream about it. That was not an easy thing to do and a great experience too. It is three races and you have to be good and sharp, and good in form, for a long period of time.”

West said he has changed his sports now.

“Golf is my passion now, that’s all,” West said. “You just try and hit it the best you can. It is a lot of luck. The hole isn’t that big you know.”