Florida Atlantic University Athletics
Shula Bowl Week
11/14/2012 12:00:00 AM | General
Nov. 14, 2012
Shula Bowl Week - Former Head Football Coach Howard Schnellenberger wanted to create an event for an FBC team that had no bowl game to aspire towards. He wanted to create an event that the players would look forward to and prepare for. He looked down the turnpike and found his rival in FIU. The map had been drawn for Schnellenberger years before when he took his idea for the University of Louisville and the University of Kentucky to face-off to open each football season for the Governor of Kentucky.
In 2002, FIU's first year of football and FAU's second, Schnellenberger took his idea to his former boss and former head coach of the Miami Dolphins, Don Shula. The idea was for Shula to lend his name to a traveling trophy of two teams that were coached, at the time, by Schnellenberger, Shula's former offensive coordinator, and FIU head coach Don Strock, who was then the FIU head coach. Schnellenberger designed the trophy and found a place to display the trophy near the football offices. At times he would call the losing team the dunce because that side of the trophy faced the wall like the grade-school students had to do when they misbehaved in class.
The Owls virtually own the series 9-1. But there were some ever important battles and victories in the decade long series. It was a 32-23 2003 victory that assured FAU a place in the NCAA playoffs. It was a 55-23 2007 victory that made the Owls bowl eligible and the youngest team to earn a bowl berth. The 2008 game was an epic contest that ended with a 57-50 FAU overtime victory. FAU won its sixth game of the season at FIU sending the Owls to its second-consecutive bowl game. The Owls were the only team in the state of Florida to win back-to-back bowls in 2007-08. FAU's 2009 FAU victory came down to a touchdown and 2011-12 has been just the second year that the Panthers have guarded the trophy (2011 is the only official victory after FIU vacated its earlier win).
As we are less than 48 hours away from what could be the final Shula Bowl game with FIU moving to a different league making scheduling a struggle, several events are in place for Owl fans to enjoy. The players will visit an elementary school, the students will camp below the scoreboard, and the University will be highlighted on ESPNU (game), ESPN760 AM (extended pregame and game) and WMEN640 AM 6 a.m.-7:45 p.m. coverage of FAU. Current and former members of the U.S armed forces will be honored and the students are camping out.
Looks like Coach got his rivalry. Now let's bring home the trophy. Go Owls!
