Kiffin discouraged by team’s performance
The Florida Atlantic programbrought in coach Lane Kiffin with hopes of change.
Thus far, it’s been much of the same as the years under former coach Charlie Partridge. After four games, the Owls are 1-3. It is the sixth consecutive year they have started with three losses in the first four games.
“Well, I thoughtwe’dwin this game,” Kiffin said after Saturday’s loss to Buffalo. “Get us back to 2-2.”
Now, theOwlshave to dig themselves out of a hole as they are set to enter Conference USA play. The league schedule begins Saturday against Middle Tennessee State at FAUStadium.
Kiffin was so disappointedwith the Buffalo loss that he let the players knowhow he felt in his postgame radio show. He didn’t hold back with his criticism because he thought the Owls should havewon.
“That’s embarrassing to our fans, to our university to lose that,” Kiffin told ESPN West Palm Beach after the game.
Kiffin was mostly frustrated by the team’s lack of physicality on both sides of the ball. They struggled on the offensive and defensive lines. The Owls were without two of their best players, running back Gregory Howell Jr., and linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair, who were both nursing injuries.
“I think we didn’t tackle very well in the game, you know we got pushed around up front at times,” Kiffin said. “Obviously we’d like to have our best players in there but they didn’t play. Next guy has got to step up and make plays.”
Despite all the struggles, Lane Kiffin, FAU coach
the Owls still were in position to leave Buffalo with a victory. The Bulls grabbed the lead for good when running back Theo Anderson scored on a 7-yard touchdown late in the third quarter. Owls running back Devin Singletary was the lone bright spot, rushing for 156 yards and three touchdowns.
“Yeah, we ran the ball well for twoweeks ina row,” Kififn said. “It’s discouraging. We felt like we really should’ve won that game. We got off to a slow start, too many penalties and again third downs, 3 of10 on third downs. So not a very efficient passing day and our defense has been playing really well and only givingupsevenpoints in the last game and a half going back to the Wisconsin game. So that was discouraging.”
srichardson@ sun-sentinel.com; On Twitter @shandelrich