Florida Atlantic University Athletics
Smith and Schnellenberger Earn County Honors
3/13/2008 12:00:00 AM | General
March 13, 2008
BOCA RATON, FL -
Florida Atlantic University had a large presence at the recent 2008 Palm Beach County Sports Commission Awards, as well as in the 2008 Hall of Fame Class that took place at the Palm Beach County Convention Center in West Palm Beach.
The first to gain recognition was FAU quarterback Rusty Smith. Smith was named Amateur Athlete of the Year, after the sophomore set FAU records for single-game pass attempts (54), season pass attempts (479), completions in a game (35), completions in a season (281), passing yards in a game (463), passing yards in a season (3,688), average passing yards per game (283.7), and touchdowns in a game (five twice). Smith also made FAU history as the first quarterback to guide the team to its first bowl game and first bowl victory. Notably, for the Owls to capture the 2007 Sun Belt Championship and to reach the New Orleans Bowl, Smith and FAU had to defeat Troy University and its quarterback Omar Haugabook, who garnered the 2007 Palm Beach County Sport Hall of Fame Amateur honor. Smith followed up his 291-yard and two touchdowns Troy performance with a New Orleans Bowl record five touchdowns and 336 yards against Memphis University.
FAU Head Football Coach Howard Schnellenberger was named Coach of the Year after the legendary coach took a program he built from scratch just seven years ago to the Sun Belt Conference Championship Awards stand, and followed it up with an invitation to the University's first bowl game which ended in a 44-27 victory for the Owls. Schnellenberger has blazed a trail with speed and success unmatched by any school in the history of college football since the program's inception. The latest accomplishment was becoming not only the fastest start-up program to receive an invitation, but the youngest to capture a bowl win.
The program was concluded by the Hall of Fame enshrinement, which included FAU Head Softball Coach Joan Joyce. Joyce, the only coach in the history of FAU softball, has been inducted in eight Hall of Fames for her individual achievements. Sunday's honor was the first recognizing her efforts as a coach.
At the Owls helm, the softball team has posted 13-consecutive winning seasons every year since inception, and has captured 10 conference titles. FAU began playing in 1995, a year the team reached the conference finals. Between 1997 and 2004, the Owls captured every conference title, becoming the most decorated program in the Atlantic Sun Conference history in any sport. FAU also has advanced to seven NCAA Regional Tournaments during that same time-span.
Joyce molded pitcher Nikki Myers into a two-time All-American and saw the senior vie for both the nation's top player honor and for a spot on the U.S. Olympic team. She has coached seven conference players/pitchers of the year, 66 all-conference selections and has earned "Coach of the Year" honors six times. FAU averages nearly 49 victories a season under Joyce's direction.
Joyce came to FAU after a legendary softball career which garnered the Connecticut native All-America honors 15 times, including a National Tournament batting title (.467). She tallied a career pitching record of 753-42. Included in those totals are 150 no-hit, no-run games, and 50 perfect games. She also is credited with striking out both Ted Williams and Hank Aaron.
Joyce was also a member of the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) for 19 years. Her best round was a 66, which did not include the round which she set a Guinness Book World Record for fewest putts in a round at 17. She also has played professional volleyball, basketball and was a participant in the famed "Super Stars" television show on ABC, which Howard Cosell hosted in the mid-1970s.
