Friday links

November 30, 2007

Drew Champlin

From me, I wrote on FAU quarterback Rusty Smith (and, in turn, realized how I wouldn’t run out of Troy ideas if I wrote opponent features every week).

From the Palm Beach Post, FAU is wary of Troy’s secondary. Or are they? Here’s a snippet. Trojans senior cornerback Elbert Mack leads the nation with eight interceptions. Opposite Mack is senior Leodis McKelvin, who has two interceptions this season and had a game-saving pick against the Owls last season.

“They are pretty good, but not as good as ours,” FAU coach Howard Schnellenberger said.

From the Sun-Sentinel, here’s a short notebook.

Also if you still want to look at good blogs about FAU, here’s the one from the Sun-Sentinel and one from the Palm Beach Post.

From the other side, Part 12

November 29, 2007

Drew Champlin

A big thanks to Ted Hutton of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel

1. How much better is Rusty Smith this year?
Much, much better. Last year he really looked like the freshman he was, and was very inconsistent. This year he came in with the job and a whole new attitude and basically took over the offense.
Saturday he set single season records in passing yards and touchdown passes, and did that in 11 games, where they previous leader needed 14 (the year FAU went to the I-AA semifinals).
He’s gotten better each week, as have the players around him.

2. A lot of people picked FAU low (not me). Have they overcome your expectations, or did you see this all along?
I said this would be a breakout year for FAU, and it has been. They had nearly everyone back from last year, and with the QB position stablilized, they were primed. I figured 7-5 if things went well, and that is about where they are.

3. How is FAU on the road vs. at home?
FAU is 3-3 on the road, but 3-0 in Belt games, with losses at Oklahoma State, Florida and Kentucky. The Owls have never really been better on the road or at home. That said, they are 0-3 at Movie Gallery Stadium.

4. What areas of Troy can FAU exploit?

Geez, Troy looks pretty solid on both sides of the ball. I would expect FAU to use some no-huddle and shotgun with Smith rolling out to try and blunt Troy’s blitzes. The line has done a good job of protecting Smith, and I think the key will be the running game. If FAU can make Troy wary of the run, Smith my find some receivers open.
FAU’s defense has been kind of spotty, and Tebow ate them up, and I view Haugabook as the Tebow of the Sun Belt. I would expect them to try and keep him in the pocket so he can’t run wide, and try and make him throw more than he might like. FAU has had at least one interception in 19 straight games, and the corners are really solid, so the Owls don’t mind trying to defend the pass.

5. What areas of FAU can Troy exploit?
FAU’s pass rush has been anemic, so Haugabook may get more time than usual and that might open up some deeper routes. I would test FAU’s run defense. Some teams have had some pretty big nights on the ground, and that would also keep Smith and the offense off the field.

6. Make a prediction
Troy 24, FAU 21. This will be the first big game for most of FAU’s players, and it is in a place the Owls have not fared well at. Troy has more veterans of big games, and has been really stout at home.
Hope it’s a great game, but I think next year will be the year of the Owls. They lose one starter on offense and three on defense and will be tough to handle.

Thursday links

Drew Champlin

My story focuses on youth teammates Omar Haugabook and Cergile Sincere getting ready to square off for all the marbles.

Ted Hutton of the Sun-Sentinel writes about the same thing and Marcus Nelson of the Palm Beach Post also writes about the same thing.

Check back later today for the last regular-season installment of From the Other Side with an opposing beat writer.

Wednesday links

November 28, 2007

Drew Champlin

From me, remember when Mykeal Terry had a breakout game vs. FAU last year? This year hasn’t been as productive, but he’s still plugging away.

From the Palm Beach Post, the bowl is the reward for the FAU-Troy winner.

From the Sun-Sentinel, read some about Troy.

Basketball-wise, read from the Clarion-Ledger about the Ole Miss win over Troy last night. 

Troy basketball falls

November 27, 2007

Drew Champlin

Below is a copied and pasted report from AP on basketball loss to Ole Miss. There were some encouraging things - getting Mario Telfair back (I thought he wouldn’t play after surgery on a broken nose - he’s a guy that can score the basketball) and being down just 47-42 at the half to a more talented Ole Miss club. But the 25-0 run was similar to why they lost to Alabama. That can’t happen. This team will win a lot at home, probably even over teams they shouldn’t beat, but it still remains to be seen how it will do on the road. The rebounding thing is an issue, but again, no Sun Belt team has the size that Ole Miss has. Their guys are bigger than Richard Hendrix at Alabama, but not as skilled.

When Troy gets in the 35-40 range from O’Darien Bassett and Justin Jonus, they’ll win a lot of games. Get less than 35 and they’ll lose every time. Tonight, Bassett had 9 and Jonus 12.

OXFORD, Miss. (AP) — Freshman Chris Warren had 23 points and 10 assists and sparked a 25-0 run early in the second half Tuesday to help Mississippi beat Troy 102-76.
Dwayne Curtis had 17 points and 10 rebounds, Jeremey Parnell scored 12, and Kenny Williams and Trevor Gaskins added 10 apiece for the Rebels.
Ole Miss improved to 5-0 for the first time since the 2000-01 season, when the Rebels advanced to the third round of the NCAA Tournament.
Jerome Odem led Troy (1-4) with 17 points. Justin Jonus added 12 and Brandon Hazzard scored 11.
The Rebels fell behind 8-0 but closed the first half with a 5-0 spurt in the final minute to take 47-42 halftime lead they never surrendered.
Troy pulled to within 47-44 on an O’ Darien Bassett jumper to open the second half, but missed 10 consecutive shots to allow Ole Miss to pull away.
The Trojans hit just nine field goals in the second half, shooting 23 percent, and went 8 minutes without a basket.
The Rebels took advantage by scoring 25 consecutive points to build an insurmountable 72-44 lead with 11:24 left. Curtis had eight points and five rebounds in the run, which was capped by a Williams dunk.
Ole Miss built its biggest lead, 102-67, on a layup by Parnell with 1:21 left. The Rebels frontcourt dominated the Trojans with a 64-46 rebounding edge.