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Takeaways from the First Stadium Scrimmage
8/10/2024 1:35:00 PM | Football
BOCA RATON, Fla. – The Florida Atlantic football team scrimmaged on Saturday, allowing fans and families to see the team's progress since the Spring Game.
It didn't take long for the defense to begin their havoc-reeking day. Ultimately, the defense recorded at least four takeaways to take the first game 23-15 over the offense.
"Buggs" Kahzir Brown started the morning with an interception, staving off a touchdown. It was then Desmond Tisdol's turn to collect a tipped ball for an INT. Daedae Hill and Cameron Goggins would add to the defense's takeaway totals.
Offensively, each quarterback showcased mobility to expand the offense's weapons, evident in Cam Fancher running it in for the score. EJ Horton and Jayshon Platt were two with nice receptions.
On the team's performance during the scrimmage
"I would have been surprised and disappointed had the defense not played like that. I've communicated to the players; we played good enough defense in seven out of our eight conference games that a capable offense should have been able to win those games. For us to come into this season and feel like we've improved on that side of the ball, which I think everybody feels like we have, is really good. When you improve from good, that's a good thing. And offensively, we had nowhere to go but up…We're growing there. Two of the interceptions I thought were unbelievable defensive plays, so I did not get concerned by the quarterbacks…I was okay with where the offense is. We're doing some good things…It was good to see the back and forth. I think we got out of the scrimmage everything that we wanted to."
On Fan Fest and Parents Weekend
"At some point in every training camp, we try to surprise the players with parents showing up. It seems like every year that secret gets out sooner and sooner. At Fan Fest, we just love having people around, especially the families. Hopefully at least one or two of the kids were surprised by seeing their families in the stands today, we make a big deal about that. Training camp is hard, these guys are in this building, we showed up on July 30 and [tomorrow] is the first time we will have a full day off until January. There are very few extra circular activities that require that much commitment. Any time we have an opportunity to get these guys back around their families after being away from them for so long is important. And I can't express enough to the fans how important they are to our success and any chance that we have to pay our respect to them and show our appreciation to them, we are going to do that. We're going to go out, sign autographs, and mingle with the fans. I've been doing this long enough and I know that it takes everybody to win. When you're invested and realize that wins and losses are everybody's responsibility: fans, administrations, coaches, players. From the janitor to the $25 a year donor, at that point you have invested in this program. Now, you have also taken some responsibility in terms of helping us win. Our fans, especially those that have made the point to come out today, do an excellent job of helping us. We can't thank them enough and hopefully next year they bring two or three friends with them."
Graduate LB Jackson Ambush
On how the defense performed during the scrimmage
"We are playing 11 as one. We're flying around, 11 hats to the ball, but we still have room for improvement. There are some things that are still a little bit sloppy that we definitely need to clean up and improve on."
On the excitement of a live scrimmage
"We are pretty physical, we're live a bunch [in practice]. But being able to go off script a little bit and play and have fun was exciting. It was especially exciting to see the energy from the boys, the front four flying around a little bit."
On why he has faith in the newcomers on defense
"Just the buy in, the culture. I'm excited."
Senior OL Alex Atcavage
On the fall ramping up
"It's really exciting. We practice so much for little opportunities, we only get 12 guaranteed per year. It's just fun to be about there in the stadium again and just being with the guys and getting ready to go up to East Lansing."
On chemistry within the o-line
"We lost a lot of experience from last year, but I think this year's group is overall a lot more talented. The bond that we all have, the competition day in and day out, we make each other better because there's a guy behind you breathing down your neck ready to take that spot. The overall chemistry and talent is going to make up for the lack of experience. Fed [Graduate Center Federico Maranges] has done a great job leading us and showing us the way that it's supposed to be, so I think we're really excited about a younger group."
On the consistency of coaching
"Coach [Ed] Warriner does a great job with the install and making sure that guys know that if you're one or you're a four [on the depth chart], it doesn't matter. Every guy is expected to know the playbook and it just makes it a lot easier because guys know where to be and who to block and that's what helps the offense definitely go."
Senior Wide Receiver EJ Horton
On the growth of the wide receiver room throughout fall camp
"I feel like we have made a lot of progress since day one. Our room is very new, so we're learning to gel together, just enjoying each other and learning how to workday in and day out. But I feel really good about the room. A lot of talent day in there. We bring it every day, so we have just been getting better."
On the bond amongst the wide receivers
"Any time you have a room where everybody's close, you are going to do better regardless. I had that in my previous school and I was looking for that in my new school. I think that I found that here."
On his playmaking ability
"I definitely feel like I can stretch the field, I feel like I can really do it all. Multiple guys in the room can all take the top off the defense."
On the defense, winning the scrimmage
"We can line up for another hour if it was up to us. We'll definitely be coming harder whenever we get the chance to go live again."
Junior Linebacker Desmond Tisdol
On the defensive performance in the scrimmage
"With the [line]backers, we just try to preach going out and having fun, even if you make a mistake, just fly around and the coaches are going to coach the rest of the details and the play. If we just fly around and have fun, I feel like nobody can stop us."
On the four takeaways
"Everybody is just doing their job and the ball is just falling in their hands. Working together and getting four takeaways is fun."
Gallery: (8-10-2024) Preseason Practice #10 Scrimmage
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.
It didn't take long for the defense to begin their havoc-reeking day. Ultimately, the defense recorded at least four takeaways to take the first game 23-15 over the offense.
"Buggs" Kahzir Brown started the morning with an interception, staving off a touchdown. It was then Desmond Tisdol's turn to collect a tipped ball for an INT. Daedae Hill and Cameron Goggins would add to the defense's takeaway totals.
Offensively, each quarterback showcased mobility to expand the offense's weapons, evident in Cam Fancher running it in for the score. EJ Horton and Jayshon Platt were two with nice receptions.
VIDEO RECAP
QUOTABLE
Hagerty Family Head Football Coach Tom HermanOn the team's performance during the scrimmage
"I would have been surprised and disappointed had the defense not played like that. I've communicated to the players; we played good enough defense in seven out of our eight conference games that a capable offense should have been able to win those games. For us to come into this season and feel like we've improved on that side of the ball, which I think everybody feels like we have, is really good. When you improve from good, that's a good thing. And offensively, we had nowhere to go but up…We're growing there. Two of the interceptions I thought were unbelievable defensive plays, so I did not get concerned by the quarterbacks…I was okay with where the offense is. We're doing some good things…It was good to see the back and forth. I think we got out of the scrimmage everything that we wanted to."
On Fan Fest and Parents Weekend
"At some point in every training camp, we try to surprise the players with parents showing up. It seems like every year that secret gets out sooner and sooner. At Fan Fest, we just love having people around, especially the families. Hopefully at least one or two of the kids were surprised by seeing their families in the stands today, we make a big deal about that. Training camp is hard, these guys are in this building, we showed up on July 30 and [tomorrow] is the first time we will have a full day off until January. There are very few extra circular activities that require that much commitment. Any time we have an opportunity to get these guys back around their families after being away from them for so long is important. And I can't express enough to the fans how important they are to our success and any chance that we have to pay our respect to them and show our appreciation to them, we are going to do that. We're going to go out, sign autographs, and mingle with the fans. I've been doing this long enough and I know that it takes everybody to win. When you're invested and realize that wins and losses are everybody's responsibility: fans, administrations, coaches, players. From the janitor to the $25 a year donor, at that point you have invested in this program. Now, you have also taken some responsibility in terms of helping us win. Our fans, especially those that have made the point to come out today, do an excellent job of helping us. We can't thank them enough and hopefully next year they bring two or three friends with them."
Graduate LB Jackson Ambush
On how the defense performed during the scrimmage
"We are playing 11 as one. We're flying around, 11 hats to the ball, but we still have room for improvement. There are some things that are still a little bit sloppy that we definitely need to clean up and improve on."
On the excitement of a live scrimmage
"We are pretty physical, we're live a bunch [in practice]. But being able to go off script a little bit and play and have fun was exciting. It was especially exciting to see the energy from the boys, the front four flying around a little bit."
On why he has faith in the newcomers on defense
"Just the buy in, the culture. I'm excited."
Senior OL Alex Atcavage
On the fall ramping up
"It's really exciting. We practice so much for little opportunities, we only get 12 guaranteed per year. It's just fun to be about there in the stadium again and just being with the guys and getting ready to go up to East Lansing."
On chemistry within the o-line
"We lost a lot of experience from last year, but I think this year's group is overall a lot more talented. The bond that we all have, the competition day in and day out, we make each other better because there's a guy behind you breathing down your neck ready to take that spot. The overall chemistry and talent is going to make up for the lack of experience. Fed [Graduate Center Federico Maranges] has done a great job leading us and showing us the way that it's supposed to be, so I think we're really excited about a younger group."
On the consistency of coaching
"Coach [Ed] Warriner does a great job with the install and making sure that guys know that if you're one or you're a four [on the depth chart], it doesn't matter. Every guy is expected to know the playbook and it just makes it a lot easier because guys know where to be and who to block and that's what helps the offense definitely go."
Senior Wide Receiver EJ Horton
On the growth of the wide receiver room throughout fall camp
"I feel like we have made a lot of progress since day one. Our room is very new, so we're learning to gel together, just enjoying each other and learning how to workday in and day out. But I feel really good about the room. A lot of talent day in there. We bring it every day, so we have just been getting better."
On the bond amongst the wide receivers
"Any time you have a room where everybody's close, you are going to do better regardless. I had that in my previous school and I was looking for that in my new school. I think that I found that here."
On his playmaking ability
"I definitely feel like I can stretch the field, I feel like I can really do it all. Multiple guys in the room can all take the top off the defense."
On the defense, winning the scrimmage
"We can line up for another hour if it was up to us. We'll definitely be coming harder whenever we get the chance to go live again."
Junior Linebacker Desmond Tisdol
On the defensive performance in the scrimmage
"With the [line]backers, we just try to preach going out and having fun, even if you make a mistake, just fly around and the coaches are going to coach the rest of the details and the play. If we just fly around and have fun, I feel like nobody can stop us."
On the four takeaways
"Everybody is just doing their job and the ball is just falling in their hands. Working together and getting four takeaways is fun."
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Fan Fest was awesome!🦉
— Florida Atlantic Football (@FAUFootball) August 10, 2024
Owl Nation, thank you to everyone who came out!#TriCountyTakeover#WinningInParadise pic.twitter.com/GjegIO3Dab
MILITARY APPRECIATION DAY
Florida Atlantic's football home opener is set for Saturday, Sept. 7, at FAU Stadium versus Army West Point. The Owls will celebrate Military Appreciation Day as the Black Knights come to Boca Raton. For more information, click HERE.PHOTO GALLERY
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. To listen live, click HERE.FOLLOW THE TEAM
Stay informed by reading FAUSports.com or through football's Twitter and Instagram accounts @FAUFootball.
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