(Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)
The "Harmon Hop" should be in full effect in 2009, especially against some of the OOC opponents that are unaware of what exactly the "Harmon Hop" is. Just look up some of his highlights, particularly when FAU played (then No. 6) South Florida in 2007.
Rusty Smith also has a solid line and has Cortez Gent and rising deep threat talent Chris Bonner to depend on. In Rusty Smith's previous seasons, he had an average running game to rely on. This spring FAU discovered they could possibly have a seriously destructive running game.
Due to some spring injuries FAU gave Alfred Morris a shot at tailback in their spring game and he shot to the top of the Charles Pierre replacement list with 131 yards and one touchdown on 18 carries. He is built like a bruiser but surprisingly moves and cuts very well. This guy could possibly be molded into FAU's own version of Barry Sanders.
Of course coach Howard Schnellenberger wants to keep Morris working hard, by stating that he won't name his starters in the running game until 10 days before they open the season in Nebraska.
So the offense is more than fine and capable of scoring on everyone they play this year. The defense is the big question mark. FAU lost the majority of their defensive starters with the end of the 2008 season (including the ever aggressive Frantz Joseph).
However, aside from Frantz FAU was not very impressive on defense last season. They were a team that allowed rival FIU to score 28 points in the forth quarter last year (luckily the FAU offense scored 28 points in that forth quarter as well).
So despite having such a new young defense, I'd say change is a good thing this year. The FAU defense appears to be poised to put a little more pressure on QB's which should also help the secondary. Particularly, DB Tavious Polo has a good shot at returning to his early 2007 statistics.
So what will FAU's final record be this season?
Who will win the Sun Belt Conference and have a good shot at sneaking up on some out of conference opponents?
The Sun Belt Conference is getting very competitive and should take down more giants in OOC play in the years to come and it will get more and more difficult for a Sun Belt Conference champion to go undefeated in their conference games.
I don't want to raise expectations on the Owls of Boca Raton, but I think some of you can guess as to what team I think has a descent shot at taking on the men of Troy, Middle Tennessee, Arkansas State and the rest of the rising talent of the Sun Belt.
I think the winner of the Sun Belt Conference in 2009 might just be a team headed to their third straight bowl appearance (I should probably also mention Howard Schnellenberger holds the record winning streak in bowl games with an undefeated 6-0 record).
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