Upcoming Event: Football versus FIU on September 19, 2026 at TBA
TBA
Football
vs. FIU
Florida Atlantic University Athletics
Not Just the Mascot
11/22/2023 12:01:00 PM | Football
FAU football at Rice, 1 p.m. Saturday
BOCA RATON, Fla. – The Owls of Florida Atlantic University football (4-7, 3-4 AAC) will travel to Houston, Texas this weekend to face the host Rice Owls (5-6, 3-4 AAC) at 1 p.m. EST in a game that will air on ESPN+.
While the two teams' mascots are similarly called Owls, that is not the only similarity. Hagerty Family Head Football Coach Tom Herman returns to Rice where he served as the other Owls' offensive coordinator in 2007 and 2008. Rice was his first OC position at the FBS level and became his fifth Texas college he called home. He would later serve as the head coach at both Houston and Texas, bringing his collection of Texas colleges to coach at to six (previously coached at Texas). Similarly, to Herman, wide receiver coach David Beaty served as an assistant coach at Rice. Beaty was at Rice first in 2006 and 2007, where he crossed paths with Herman. Beaty then returned to Rice in 2010. In total, five football staff members have worked in the state of Texas.
From a players' standpoint, Jarron Morris, the Owls' leading tackler, will return home to Texas in this game as will Devin Price and Jackson Sumlin. FAU has six players on the roster from the Lonestar State. There is one more with a tie in. Nick Salmon, the Owls' holder and backup punter, hails from Melbourne, Australia but is connected to Rice through his brother, Campbell, who played tennis at Rice (2019-2023) and served as the team's captain.
Gallery: (11-22-2023) Wednesday Rice Game Week
While the two teams' mascots are similarly called Owls, that is not the only similarity. Hagerty Family Head Football Coach Tom Herman returns to Rice where he served as the other Owls' offensive coordinator in 2007 and 2008. Rice was his first OC position at the FBS level and became his fifth Texas college he called home. He would later serve as the head coach at both Houston and Texas, bringing his collection of Texas colleges to coach at to six (previously coached at Texas). Similarly, to Herman, wide receiver coach David Beaty served as an assistant coach at Rice. Beaty was at Rice first in 2006 and 2007, where he crossed paths with Herman. Beaty then returned to Rice in 2010. In total, five football staff members have worked in the state of Texas.
From a players' standpoint, Jarron Morris, the Owls' leading tackler, will return home to Texas in this game as will Devin Price and Jackson Sumlin. FAU has six players on the roster from the Lonestar State. There is one more with a tie in. Nick Salmon, the Owls' holder and backup punter, hails from Melbourne, Australia but is connected to Rice through his brother, Campbell, who played tennis at Rice (2019-2023) and served as the team's captain.
INSIDE THE OWLS' BURROW
This is the final episode of Inside The Owls' Burrow for 2023. The show will return on January 11, 2024 with our spring semester show covering everything Florida Atlantic athletics.GAME DETAILS
Saturday, Nov. 25 – Florida Atlantic at Rice
- Time – 1 p.m. EST
- Television – ESPN+
- Radio – Ken LaVicka and Kris Bartels will have the game's call on FoxSports South Florida
- ESPN+ – Richard Cross, Leger Douzable and Smacker Miles will provide the coverage
PHOTO RECAP
FOLLOW THE TEAM
Stay informed by reading FAUSports.com, or through football's Twitter and Instagram accounts @FAUFootball.
Players Mentioned
DB
/ Football
WR
/ Football
P
/ Football
TE
/ FootballInside the Owls' Burrow S10, EP18 Trailer
Tuesday, December 09
Inside the Owls Burrow 2025-26 Hoops Show #1
Wednesday, December 03
Signing Day 2025
Wednesday, December 03
ECU at Florida Atlantic
Saturday, November 29