Johnson still hospitalized

“I was hoping to leave on Saturday after the game as normal,” Kiffin said. “We would leave as soon as we could so we could get back to our normal place and the kids could get back to their places.”

Kiffin said, at one point, he wasn’t sure if the game would actually take place. Around Wednesday or Thursday last week, when schools across the state were altering their plans for FAU coach Lane Kiffin

weekend games, some concerned Owls players approached Kiffin.

“A lot of our kids were very concerned and obviously didn’t want to leave their families with, at the time, what was supposed to be the worst hurricane to ever hit the United States,” Kiffin said. “But we were told that we’re going. So we came and we’re still here.”

It has been an unorthodox start to Kiffin’s tenure at FAU. The opener came against Navy’s triple-option offense and included three lightning delays. The game lasted nearly six hours and didn’t end until 1:47 a.m.

Now, his team is stranded in Madison because of a hurricane. He said he’s never experienced anything like these situations.

“I don’t think anybody has,” Kiffin said. “This has obviously been very abnormal: a six-hour game and then at one point, we think we’re not playing this game.”

Kiffin said quarterback De’Andre Johnson was still in the hospital after a medical condition forced him to stay behind as the Owls traveled to Madison. Kiffin said he was not sure if Johnson would play again this season.

“It was pretty scary,” said.

Kiffin said FAU was planning on playing Johnson against Wisconsin, but instead, the Owls relied solely on Daniel Parr. Kiffin said Monday that Parr is slated as FAU’s starting quarterback after he started the first two games of the season.

On the year, Parr has completed 57 percent of his passes for 423 yards, three touchdowns and one interception. Kiffin The three touchdowns have all been long scores (95, 62 and 63 yards) for a combined 220 yards . ...

FAU’s game at Buffalo on Sept. 23 will kick off at 7 p.m. and be televised on ESPN3. All 12 of FAU’s games this season will be available either on television or streaming online.

Saturday’s game against Bethune-Cookman will be on beIN.

mdefranks@ sun-sentinel.com; On Twitter @MDeFranks.