Shula Bowl I saw Howard Schnellenberger defeat his one time pupil Don Strock 31-21.

Schnellenberger, a former quarterback coach for the Miami Dolphins, coached Don Strock when he was on the roster as a back-up quarterback with the team.

Saturday was a game that showed two different game plans that had to be readjusted due to injuries.

The Owls’ running game has been decimated by injuries and grades. On this Saturday freshman Alex Sanchez had the bulk of the yardage for FAU gaining 97 yards on the ground.

Despite injuries, Schnellenberger stuck with his philosophy and ran the ball all day against FIU, and for the second game of the season this worked.

Unfortunately for Strock, his wide open passing game took a direct hit on the sixth play of the game when starting quarterback Jaime Burke went down with a dislocated shoulder.

Burke was sacked by Ramon Rickards and left the field after lying motionless for nearly ten minutes.

David Tabor entered the game for Burke and could not find a rhythm until the second half.

Even though this game pitted a second year ball controlling Owls team against a first year pass happy Panther team neither regime had a factor in the outcome.

The thing FAU had going for them was momentum.

Yes, this 1-9 team used momentum to defeat FIU.

Schnellenberger had said that playing a tough schedule would make this team tougher and Saturday it was evident.

The Owls were ready to play and the Panthers were not.

Jarrid Lundstedt said, “We knew we had to come out and hit these guys in the mouth. But we didn’t. We came out flat and it cost us.”

Schnellenberger on the other hand said his wife told him the importance of this game and he relayed that to his team.

After the first half this was well evident. FAU was up 21-2 and never looked back.

Asked if he showed any new wrinkles in this game, Schnellenberger mentioned the flee-flicker the team ran in the first quarter that only worked because the secondary receiver came open, and a reverse that went for 17 yards in the second quarter.

Even though Strock did not have his players ready at the start he made sure they were ready at the beginning of the second half.

FIU forced the Owls to punt on their first possession of the second half and looked like they were back in the game after scoring and forcing FAU into a third and long.

Unfortunately for Strock, Schnellenberger showed why he was the better coach on this day.

Noticing that FIU was having trouble covering tight end Ben Coker, Schnellenberger called his number again. The play went for twenty yards and set up FAU’s next touchdown.

After the time had expired Schnellenberger was happily receiving the Don Shula Trophy for his victory and Don Strock was left waiting for next year.

Oddly, both coaches did not believe this game would affect their recruiting in any way.

Strock said, “We run different offenses with our focus on the pass and FAU being a running team.”

Then Schnellenberger added, “players are going to go where they want to and winning or losing this game would not affect their decisions.”

He was asked if losing would have been more difficult for the Owls, he answered, “that is only speculation.”

As for his team, Ramon Rickards said, “We will party tonight.”

And for at least a year FAU and Schnellenberger have bragging rights in South Florida.