FAU Fouls Out but Adds 2

FAU found itself with a chance as they led 34-33 at halftime against Western Kentucky. The first of a two game road trip for the Owls, (they play Middle Tennessee St. Saturday) head coach Mike Jarvis kept the 4-guard lineup in place as they played the most dominant basketball program the Sun Belt has to offer. WKU has made two back to back appearances in the Ncaa tournament (2008-09) and has found succes with a Sweet 16 apperance in 2008. However after halftime, the Owls voice began to fade. Starters F Brett Royster, G Sanchez Hugley, and G Alex Tucker all fouled out before the 5 min mark. Some of the calls were very questionable and Mike Jarvis let it be know to officials. Freshman G Ray Taylor and G Greg Gantt kept it competitive as long as they could but the Hilltoppers prevented the upset as G A.J. Slaughter took over in the second half finishing with 25 points. FAU fans have to be happy not only because they played the game close, but they also played well on the road, something rare during Mike Jarvis's tenure. Ray Taylor and the Owls will have another shot at WKU in Febuary before the conference tournament and hopefully the owls will find an answer for Slaughter.

Shifting too football, head ball coach Howard Schnellenburger and his staff are hot on the recruiting trail again, as they have received two more commitments the past two days. RB Tony Moore (6'1" 215) out of Lincoln HS in Tallahassee,FL has decided to come to play football in Boca Raton. Moore provides nice size and almost looks like a clone of current FAU running back and Sun-Belt leading rusher RB Alfred Mooris. Much like fellow commitment LB Micheal Copeland (Valdosta, GA) Moore comes from a storied program that over the past 3 years has had 19 players go to d-1 programs.

The staff also landed 3-star QB Brandon Doughty (6'3" 190) out of North Broward Prep in Coconut Creek, FL. Doughty looks like he could be the prize of FAU's class as the owls beat out the likes of Mississippi St. and FIU. Doughty provides nice sizes and reminds some of QB Rusty Smith.

Here is my latest mock class-(Bold designates committed)

1.*** QB Brandon Doughty (6'3" 190) North Broward Prep, Coconut Creek, FL

2.*** DE Corey Henry (6'3" 229) Carol City HS, Miami, FL

3.** LB Micheal Copeland (6'0" 211) Lowndes HS, Valdosta, GA

4. HB Tony Moore (6'1" 215) Lincoln HS, Tallahassee, FL

5. TE Alex DeLeon (6'4" 195) Bellview HS, Bellview, FL

6.*** LB Alpha Smart (5'11" 195) West Boca High, Boca Raton, FL (Ole Miss)

7. *** QB Stephen Curtis (6'3" 205) Sumter HS, Sumter, SC

8.** WR Arione Scott (6'2" 160) Nova HS, Davie, FL

9. *** OL David Delsion (6'6" 256) Sherdian Hills Christian, Hollywood, FL (FIU, Troy)

10. CB Normondo Harris (6'0" 165) Monsignor Pace, Miami, FL

11. LB D.J. Price (5'10" 195) Chiles HS, Tallahassee, FL

12. LB Durell Ward (6' 1" 205) Ely HS, Pompano, FL

13. DT Jordan Johnson (5'10" 245) Carol City HS, Miami Gardens, FL

14. DE Trevaughn Faircloth (6'4" 217) South Broward, Hollywood, FL- 1/15 (Illinois, CMU, FIU)

15. ATH Tyree Robinson (5'11" 180) Haines HS, Haines City, FL

16. OL Chris Acosta (6'5" 270) Hialeah HS, Hialeah, FL- 1/15

Thursdays Primer

The Vol Nation is in meltdown mode. After, Lane or as some call him "Lame" Kiffin spurned the University of Tennessee for the USC (Southern California) head coaching vacancy there where riots throughout Knoxville. The riots where originally started in hopes of boxing Kiffin's car in, which was unsuccessful in the end. To outsiders this might seem a little extreme, but the Vol Nation really dosent have an answer. Three weeks till national signing day and former assistant coach Ed Orgeron is telling current Tennessee early enrollies not to attended class so it will be easier to transfer to USC. The effects of this coaching change leaves 3 certain answers for Vol fans:

1. Current juco early enrollies QB Matt Sims and WR Kenbrell Thompkins will not be wearing the Vol orange next fall. Both Sims and Thompkins hail from El Camino Community College in Torrence, Ca and they both will follow Kiffin and his staff to USC as it appears they are more committed to Kiffin and Orgeron rather than a University.

2. Tennessee is placed into on of the most difficult coaching searches around. The obvious candidate they have to get is current Duke head coach David Cutcliffe. Cutcliffe has spent 19 seasons as a coach in Knoxville and there has to be a feeling he would want to come back after spending two seasons with Duke and leading that program to a respectable 9-15 which was Duke's best two year span since Fred Goldsmith's run in 1993-94. After what appears is a swing and a miss on trying to bring in Will Muschamp Tennessee A.D. Mike Hamilton will strike out if he cant bring in Cutcliffe. Other dark horse candidates include, Uconn's Randy Edsall and Air Force's Troy Calhoun.

3. Football will be pain full for Tennessee next year. Fans need to jump-on Bruce Pearl's basketball band wagon now. Tennessee is taking major blows in terms of recruiting as many recruits have already jumped or are considering jumping off the Vol Navy's river boats for another program with a head coach in place.

Big weekend ahead for College Basketball and the NFL.

Andrew Likes,

Thursday

Auburn at #10 Tennessee - UT by 18. The Vol Nation is pissed and Bruce Pearl responds.

Chicago at Boston- Bulls by 5. Great rivalry after last years playoff series. Celtics too injured.

Saturday

#2 Kentucky at Auburn- Kentucky by 22. Rough 3-Days for Auburn, UT then John Wall.

LSU at Florida- Billy Ball by 2. UF needs the three to fall to win almost any contest.

Arizona at New Orleans- Saints 28-17. Saints don't treat this one like an exhibition game.

Baltimore at Indy- Ravens 24-23. Joe Flacco and Ray Rice build off last weeks success

Sunday

Dallas at Minnesota- Farves 31-14. Not buying Dallas, Minnesota's offense flex's its muscle.

NY Jets at San Diego- J.E.T.S 17-14. Mark Sanchez shows how much potential he has

Owl Call:

FAU at Western Kentucky (Thurs. 8pm)- FAU by 1. Ray Taylor leads the new found 4-guard offense into Bowling Green and shocks the Hilltoppers on there home court. Not enough film of the system that has given FAU two blow-out wins over Sun Belt foes for WKU to prepare.

FAU at Middle Tennessee St. (Sat. 8pm)- Blue Raiders by 4. FAU can't complete the sweep up north.

Follow me on twitter/aivins

Big Weekend for FAU

With less than three weeks away till national signing day, Florida Atlantic has picked up the recruiting efforts. Head coach Howard Schnellenberger has tweeted about how this weekend (Jan. 15-16) will be a big recruiting weekend for the Owls.

FAU fans earlier this week learned of the commitment of LB Micheal Copeland (6'0" 211) out of Lowndes High School in Valdosta, Georgia. Copeland is rated as the 114th best OLB by Scout.com and comes from a Lowndes High School program that has been one of the most dominant programs in the state of Georgia. Over the past three years they have had a record of 36-4 and were ranked #2 in the nation at one time by ESPN in 2008. Florida State's CB and PR/KR man Greg Reid graduated form Lowndes last year and found immediate success in Florida State's defense. FAU's coaching staff is looking for the same result.

Looking ahead to this weekend, here is an unofficial list of who is expected in for FAU.

Jan. (15th-16th):

*** QB Stephen Curtis (6'3" 205) Sumter, South Carolina
*** CB Khari Burke (5'10" 165) South Plantation, Florida- 78th ranked CB
*** QB Brandon Doughty (6'3" 190) North Broward, Florida
*** DT Sean Watson (6'3" 283) Rutherford, Florida -35th ranted DT, 89th in the state
ATH Tyree Robinson (5'11" 185) Haines City, Florida
ATH Andre Robinson (6'2" 190) Longwood, Florida

-More prospects most likely will be visiting.

The biggest visitor coming in has to be DT Sean Watson. FAU struggled to get pressure from the pass rush all season and an upgrade is needed there immediately. Watson was high on South Florida but after there coaching changes a window has opened up for FAU. Expect a USF, FAU and FIU battle.