Few people expected FAU to walk out of Memorial Stadium victorious. Many, however, anticipated the Owls to make the game against 24th-ranked Nebraska a competitive one, a task they failed to accomplish in their humiliating 49-3 season opener.
Whether it was committing penalties, struggling with field position or turning the ball over, FAU constantly dug themselves in a hole against the Cornhuskers. Mistakes like these happened often and early.
Yet while all of these facets played a role in the loss, none was more surprising than the play of senior quarterback Rusty Smith. Smith uncharacteristically went 15-31, threw for only 164 yards, had two interceptions and played a key role in a lost fumble in the third quarter.
“I give myself an ‘F,’ ” says Smith about his performance against Nebraska.
FAU’s prized gem even sat out in the first half, a series that culminated with backup quarterback Jeff Van Camp leading the Owls down the field for their only score of the game.
While there is no looming quarterback controversy, Smith will receive most of the post-game criticism, and rightly so. But he was just one piece in FAU’s disastrous puzzle.
“Execution all around the board, that we didn’t do tonight,” says Michael Lockley, who, along with the rest of the linebackers, allowed Nebraska to run for 259 yards, including 152 yards and three touchdowns by running back Roy Helu Jr.
The defensive line shoulders some blame too, as they put little pressure on Nebraska’s inexperienced quarterback, Zac Lee. Prior to Saturday’s game, Lee, a junior, had thrown two total passes in his collegiate career, but that did not prevent him from looking like a veteran as he managed the game with smart throws and timely big plays.
Penalties – specifically, false starts – also hurt the Owls in a game that the coaching staff will view repeatedly during the upcoming bye week, a week off that will likely seem longer than usual due to the defeat.
“I am certain my team is almost as disappointed as I am,” says Head Coach Howard Schnellenberger.
Schnellenberger, whose lone previous trip to Nebraska resulted in a 37-0 defeat as Oklahoma boss in 1995, was not exaggerating about the team’s post-game demeanor.
Following the end of regulation, cornerback Tavious Polo’s walk to the locker room symbolized just how difficult this performance was to swallow. Polo, with a towel over his head, stared blankly at the ground as he strolled past the Cornhusker fans’ traditional standing ovation to opposing players.
The remainder of the team shared the dejected look as they walked off the field, and only a few recognized the Cornhusker faithful.
The sea of red-clad fans who filled the stadium may have been polite after the game, but during the game they roared, making the environment tough, especially for the younger Owls.
“When the younger guys got in there, getting experience for the future, the atmosphere got to them. I have no doubt about that,” says Rusty Smith.
While everything may seem gloomy, there were positive factors that FAU fans can draw from this blowout loss, such as the performance by running back Alfred Morris, who played in his first college game. Morris looked every bit the stud as he did in the spring, running 85 yards on 18 carries.
The young defense also looked impressive for more than a quarter, showing some maturity by holding the potent Nebraska offense to seven points before eventually wearing down and allowing a 51-yard touchdown pass.
“We are better than we played tonight,” says Smith.
Smith and the Owls are indeed better than they played tonight, and while they weren’t competitive against Nebraska, the team can make fans forget about their abysmal start to the season if they surprise Steve Spurrier and the South Carolina Gamecocks on Sept. 19.
For that to happen, though, FAU needs to take the lessons learned against Nebraska and minimize their mistakes as much as possible.