South Florida Sun-Sentinel Palm Beach (Sunday)

Schnellenb­erger part of Hall induction

Former coach goes honored during halftime of game against MTSU

- By Khobi Price

BOCA RATON — Florida Atlantic honored the FAU Athletics Hall of Fame Class of 2019 during halftime against Middle Tennessee State.

Former football coach Howard Schnellenb­erger, baseball coach John McCormack and softball coach Joan Joyce were the three coaches inducted in the Hall of Fame’s first class since 2011.

Quarterbac­k Rusty Smith, running back Alfred Morris, baseball outfielder Jeff Fiorentino, Olympic speed skater Brittany Bowe and softball pitcher Chris Sutcliffe were the five former student-athletes honored.

Schnellenb­erger, who was the Owls’ first football coach and founded the program in 2001, said he wasn’t sure how to feel about the honor.

“I haven’t figured that out yet, but I’m so enthralled and so privileged that this would finally happen to me” Schnellenb­erger said. “It looked like it was never going to happen.”

Morris said he was in disbelief when he found out he was being inducted into the Hall of Fame. He said his wife told him about it after hearing about it on social media.

Smith called the induction humbling and says he tries to catch as many FAU games as he can with his family living in Tennessee.

He said he’s a fan of current FAU starting quarterbac­k Chris Robison who tied Smith’s record for most touchdown passes in a single game with five against Wagner on Sept. 21 and has a chance to break a few of Smith’s other single-season passing records.

“Records are made to be broken,” Smith said. “When a guy sets a lot of records, it’s because he’s got a lot of guys around him that can play. When I was here, we put in a lot of work and had great chemistry.

“Chris is a special player. He’s talented. He’ll definitely break some of those records no doubt. I’m happy for him. When he does continue to break some of those records it’s going to be a testament to how the team is doing.”

Dotson continues strong play

Cornerback Meiko Dotson stepped up during James Pierre’s absence due to injury.

Pierre returned and started against the Blue Raiders, but that didn’t stop the Georgia Tech transfer from continuing to make his impact felt.

Dotson recorded his third intercepti­on of the year in the first quarter against Middle Tennessee. He recorded two intercepti­ons in the Owls’ Conference-USA opening win against Charlotte on Sept. 28.

With Pierre back in the fold and Dotson’s emergence, FAU coach Lane Kiffin plans on rotating his defensive backs more to keep them healthy.

O-Line shakeup

FAU offensive lineman Desmond Noel started at left guard against Middle Tennessee in place of redshirt sophomore BJ Etienne.

Kiffin praised Noel earlier in the week for his aggressive style of play.

 ?? FAU/RALPH NOTARO ?? Florida Atlantic quarterbac­k Rusty Smith, left, here celebratin­g an Owls win in 2007, was inducted into the FAU Sports Hall of Fame on Saturday afternoon.
FAU/RALPH NOTARO Florida Atlantic quarterbac­k Rusty Smith, left, here celebratin­g an Owls win in 2007, was inducted into the FAU Sports Hall of Fame on Saturday afternoon.

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