OWLS ARE THINKING PLAYOFFS
By BY TED HUTTON STAFF WRITER
Florida Atlantic took Sunday and today off as the Owls prepare for the stretch run of their third season.
At 6-2, FAU has a realistic chance of winning its final three games to finish 9-2 and be considered for a spot in the Division I-AA playoffs.
"It would be ridiculous for them not to think about it," coach Howard Schnellenberger said about his players' increased talk about making the playoffs. "But we're not dwelling on it."
FAU is coming off its first bye week of the season and is preparing to host Gardner-Webb on Saturday.
Gardner-Webb also is 6-2 and coming off a bye week. FAU played Gardner-Webb in its inaugural season, and the Bulldogs won 35-19, gaining 561 yards in total offense, a record against FAU that stood until Central Florida gained 565 in the third game of this season
"They [FAU players] know that Gardner-Webb beat us badly in the first year and has the same record that we do," Schnellenberger said. "If we don't get the win Saturday, the season takes on a different hue."
Get by Gardner-Webb and things look rosier for FAU -- the teams the Owls play in their final two game have one win between them.
FAU closes out its home schedule Nov. 15 against 0-8 Siena and then plays at 1-7 Florida International on Nov. 22 to complete the regular season.
"We've had the best practices we've had since I've been here, because we've gotten everyone involved," Schnellenberger said. "There was a whole lot of learning going on."
Schnellenberger said the Owls were practicing to refine their plays rather than preparing for Gardner-Webb and that quarterback Jared Allen, who missed most of the second half of FAU's game against Northern Colorado with a sprained medial collateral ligament in his left knee, would be ready to start against Gardner-Webb.
Attendance at FAU's games at Lockhart Stadium, the Owls new home, has been disappointing.
"I am concerned about it, and we are going to do something about it," Schnellenberger said.
A local real estate company is helping underwrite a campaign that will allow fans in free to the remaining two home games if they fill out a coupon.
FAU had hoped that winning might stir more interest, but a five-game winning streak has had no effect.
FAU is averaging 4,168 in four home games, with the biggest crowd 4,758 for the home opener on Sept. 6.
Ted Hutton can be reached at thutton@sun-sentinel.com.