[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 5 (Tuesday, January 15, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E10]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 TRIBUTE TO HEAD COACH HOWARD SCHNELLENBERGER AND THE FLORIDA ATLANTIC 
                     UNIVERSITY OWLS FOOTBALL TEAM

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. ROBERT WEXLER

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, January 15, 2008

  Mr. WEXLER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Head Coach Howard 
Schnellenberger, his coaching staff and the Florida Atlantic University 
Owls Football Team for their momentous win in the R+L Carriers New 
Orleans Bowl on December 21, 2007. Their 44 to 27 victory over the 
University of Memphis Tigers marked the first bowl victory in FAU's 
history, setting an NCAA record as the youngest program in NCAA history 
to win a bowl game.
  In only its seventh year, the Florida Atlantic University football 
program has ascended quickly under the leadership of Coach 
Schnellenberger. Known for his success at rebuilding programs at the 
University of Miami and the University of Louisville, Schnellenberger 
was hired as Director of Football Operations in 1998 to build a new 
program at FAU, and he immediately set the goal of building a program 
that would eventually compete for a National Championship. The 
program's string of successes to date shows the Owls are on their way 
to reaching that goal.
  Beginning with an upset victory over Bethune Cookman College in only 
its second game in 2001, FAU's short football history is full of 
accomplishments. In 2003, its third season in Division 1-AA, the Owls 
reached the national semifinals and finished the season ranked fourth 
in the nation. Following four seasons in Division I-AA, FAU jumped to 
Division I-A in 2004 and joined the Sun Belt Conference, where it was 
immediately competitive and took on a schedule of tough non- conference 
opponents from the Big Ten, Big 12 and SEC. This season, FAU defeated 
its first Big Ten opponent, the University of Minnesota, as well as 
defending Sun Belt Conference champion Troy University to win the 2007 
Sun Belt Conference Championship and a berth in the R+L Carriers New 
Orleans Bowl.
  The Owls jumped to an early lead in the R+L Carriers New Orleans 
Bowl, which was never relinquished behind Quarterback Rusty Smith, who 
won the Most Valuable Player Award after completing 25 of 32 passes for 
336 yards and five touchdowns. FAU was also well-decorated at the Sun 
Belt Conference Awards, where Smith received the Player of the Year 
Award, Coach Schnellenberger received the Coach of the Year Award, and 
six players including Smith were named First-Team All-Conference.
  This win is one that brings great pride not only to those affiliated 
with Florida Atlantic University, but to the entire South Florida 
community, and I am proud to recognize their historic achievement.

                          ____________________