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Florida Atlantic University Athletics
Owls Open Preseason Practice
7/31/2024 2:45:00 PM | Football
BOCA RATON, Fla. – Florida Atlantic football reported to the Tom Oxley practice fields, the site where the program began in 2000, for their first practice of the 2024 season.
The alternate practice site provided an opportunity to take the team away from their home fields and away from the comfort of their day-to-day facility, allowing the Owls to break the routine. The team will return to the Schmidt fields midway through the preseason.
One thing that was routine for the first time in 10 years was the continuity of the coaching staff. The players will have the same offensive and defensive coordinators in consecutive years for the first time since the 2014 and 2015 seasons. Coincidently, Roc Bellantoni, Florida Atlantic's defensive coordinator in 2023 and 2024, was the DC for the Owls in 2014-15.
The Owls staff not only returned both coordinators, but they returned nine of the ten coaches on last season's staff. This continuity provided for a crisper day-one practice and elevated the expectations of the players.
On the first day of fall practice
"You do this long enough, and you understand what to put value in on day one and what not so much. Without any pads on, and one of the key foundations of our program is physicality, there is not a whole lot of physicality going on out there. I told the team you are not going to win a job on day one but you can certainly make an impression one way or the other. It's about choosing to give maximum effort on every play. I saw what I normally see but in a good way. Having to correct a few mistakes here and there was very well received by the players."
On the returning coaching staff
"The first person to thank is [Vice President and Director of Athletics] Brian White and our administration for giving us the support to have a first-class staff. I would put our staff against most in America."
Graduate Linebacker Eddie Williams
On the buy-in from this season's team
"Everybody is buying in this year. You can see we have a real culture now…if you have a culture, it makes a big difference and is more fun."
On having a returning defensive coordinator in Roc Bellantoni
"This is my sixth year; I have never had a DC for two years. Having two years under our belt is good for us and our team chemistry."
Graduate Wide Receiver BJ Alexander
On being a veteran leader for the wide receiver room
"Right now, I have just been taking on a leadership role, but more by leading by action. The guys follow me by what I do on the field and how I move as a football player and through the facility. I just lead by example, and the boys follow behind me."
On how the new transfers are adjusting
"… We feel like our culture is turning us into a big name, and the work that we are putting in is turning us into the name that we want to be."
Redshirt Senior Center Federico Maranges
On the speed and pace of this preseason compared to last season
"Last year, we had a new offensive coordinator and playbook, so that takes time for guys to adjust. Now that we have had the same offensive coaches for the second year in a row, it is more focusing on your technique instead of your assignment; you already know it. If you don't know it, that's on you."
On what the team needs to do to have success
"Everybody has to work together. 11 as one. We had a team meeting yesterday, and that was one thing I took away from Coach Roc's philosophy."
Gallery: (7-31-2024) 2024 Preseason #1
Recent alumni and Florida Atlantic faculty/staff can access discounted season tickets as low as $50. To learn more, submit your info HERE or visit HERE to make a purchase today.
VIP group experiences with discounted tickets are available now, including pre- and post-game field access, halftime team tunnels, fundraising opportunities, and more. If you have a group of 15 or more who are interested, sign up HERE.
FAU Alumni and Community Engagement will host two away events. The first is October 19th, when the Owls travel to San Antonio to face host UTSA. The second will be before the November 16th game versus Temple in Philadelphia. For more information, email alumni.affairs@fau.edu.
The alternate practice site provided an opportunity to take the team away from their home fields and away from the comfort of their day-to-day facility, allowing the Owls to break the routine. The team will return to the Schmidt fields midway through the preseason.
One thing that was routine for the first time in 10 years was the continuity of the coaching staff. The players will have the same offensive and defensive coordinators in consecutive years for the first time since the 2014 and 2015 seasons. Coincidently, Roc Bellantoni, Florida Atlantic's defensive coordinator in 2023 and 2024, was the DC for the Owls in 2014-15.
The Owls staff not only returned both coordinators, but they returned nine of the ten coaches on last season's staff. This continuity provided for a crisper day-one practice and elevated the expectations of the players.
VIDEO RECAP
QUOTABLE
Hagerty Family Head Football Coach Tom HermanOn the first day of fall practice
"You do this long enough, and you understand what to put value in on day one and what not so much. Without any pads on, and one of the key foundations of our program is physicality, there is not a whole lot of physicality going on out there. I told the team you are not going to win a job on day one but you can certainly make an impression one way or the other. It's about choosing to give maximum effort on every play. I saw what I normally see but in a good way. Having to correct a few mistakes here and there was very well received by the players."
On the returning coaching staff
"The first person to thank is [Vice President and Director of Athletics] Brian White and our administration for giving us the support to have a first-class staff. I would put our staff against most in America."
Graduate Linebacker Eddie Williams
On the buy-in from this season's team
"Everybody is buying in this year. You can see we have a real culture now…if you have a culture, it makes a big difference and is more fun."
On having a returning defensive coordinator in Roc Bellantoni
"This is my sixth year; I have never had a DC for two years. Having two years under our belt is good for us and our team chemistry."
Graduate Wide Receiver BJ Alexander
On being a veteran leader for the wide receiver room
"Right now, I have just been taking on a leadership role, but more by leading by action. The guys follow me by what I do on the field and how I move as a football player and through the facility. I just lead by example, and the boys follow behind me."
On how the new transfers are adjusting
"… We feel like our culture is turning us into a big name, and the work that we are putting in is turning us into the name that we want to be."
Redshirt Senior Center Federico Maranges
On the speed and pace of this preseason compared to last season
"Last year, we had a new offensive coordinator and playbook, so that takes time for guys to adjust. Now that we have had the same offensive coaches for the second year in a row, it is more focusing on your technique instead of your assignment; you already know it. If you don't know it, that's on you."
On what the team needs to do to have success
"Everybody has to work together. 11 as one. We had a team meeting yesterday, and that was one thing I took away from Coach Roc's philosophy."
PLAY OF THE DAY
attack the ball!😤#TriCountyTakeovee#WinningInParadise pic.twitter.com/OxU2RLcV2D
— Florida Atlantic Football (@FAUFootball) July 31, 2024
HIGHLIGHTS
- Newcomers "Buggs" Kahzir Brown and Wendol Philord recovered fumbles
- BJ Alexander recorded a touchdown reception
- Newcomer George Johnson III made a 25-yard diving catch
- Veteran Desmond Tisdol and freshman Lawrence Johson grabbed interceptions
- CJ Campbell, Jr. broke away for a TD catch and run
- Quarterbacks Cam Fancher and Kasen Weisman had back-to-back TD connections with Caleb Coombs and Kam Bell
PHOTO GALLERY
COMPLETE SCHEDULE
Click HERE.SEASON TICKETS
2024 season tickets are available for as low as $75. To purchase season tickets, click HERE.Recent alumni and Florida Atlantic faculty/staff can access discounted season tickets as low as $50. To learn more, submit your info HERE or visit HERE to make a purchase today.
VIP group experiences with discounted tickets are available now, including pre- and post-game field access, halftime team tunnels, fundraising opportunities, and more. If you have a group of 15 or more who are interested, sign up HERE.
FAU Alumni and Community Engagement will host two away events. The first is October 19th, when the Owls travel to San Antonio to face host UTSA. The second will be before the November 16th game versus Temple in Philadelphia. For more information, email alumni.affairs@fau.edu.
TOUCHDOWN IN THE TROPICS
Get ready for a night of tropical elegance at "Touchdown in the Tropics" to support the upcoming Florida Atlantic University football season and its student-athletes. Join us at the Boca Marriott on August 22, 2024, from 6-9 PM at 5150 Town Center Cir., Boca Raton, Florida 33486. Doors open at 5:30 PM. Indulge in amazing food, enjoy live music, and hear from Hagerty Family Head Football Coach Tom Herman. This tropical casual affair promises a fun and unforgettable evening as we kick off the season in paradise with your hometown team. All proceeds from this event directly benefit our FAU football student-athletes. For more information, click HERE.BROADCAST
Television outlets are listed on the schedule page. Wire-to-wire radio coverage will air on Fox Sports South Florida 640 AM. Ken LaVicka and FAU alum Chris Newbold will have the call, while Mike Mreczko will host the pre and post-game with added on-field coverage by FAU and long-time South Florida television personality Frank Forte.FOLLOW THE TEAM
Stay informed by reading FAUSports.com or through football's Twitter and Instagram accounts @FAUFootball.
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