http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/football/bl...aaf-269349

Sorry guys: Schnellenberger accidentally calls off FAU's upset bid
By Matt Hinton


True, chances for a Florida Atlantic comeback were slim Saturday with the Owls down 30-14 and facing fourth-and-goal from the Michigan State six-yard line with a little over three minutes to play in the fourth quarter. With a touchdown, a two-point conversion to trim the lead to eight points and a subsequent onside kick, though, FAU still had a chance – or at least it did until 76-year-old coach Howard Schnellenberger inexplicably signaled for a field goal to cut the Spartans' lead to 30-17, still requiring two Owl touchdowns (following two successful onside kicks) in the closing minutes instead of just one to make up the difference. That's where the scoreboard remained after MSU recovered the ensuing squib kick and ran out the clock for the win.

At the time, I guess three points sounded better than nothing. But at some point over the next 24 hours, Schnellenberger saw the tape, did some math, and realized what he'd done:

BOCA RATON – Florida Atlantic coach Howard Schnellenberger apologized Sunday for his decision to kick a field goal with the Owls trailing by two touchdowns late in Saturday’s 30-17 loss to Michigan State in Detroit.

"I met with my staff and with my team today and talked to them about the last five minutes of the game," Schnellenberger said after Sunday's practice. "I apologized to them for not giving them the opportunity to win the game which is the responsibility as the head coach. I think it was important that I had to do that. It was needed because I was wrong in what I did."
[...]
Schnellenberger said attempting the field goal only entered his mind after the Owls were penalized for a false start on a 4th and goal play from the 1-yard line and the ball was moved back to the 6.

"At that juncture I thought it would be better to end up with three points than going through the exercise of getting an onside kick and scoring two touchdowns," Schnellenberger said.

That is, better than going through the exercise of attempting to win the game, unless he was attempting to execute an inscrutable Jedi mind trick in the vein of leaving his pipe behind on recruiting visits so he'd have an excuse to go back to players' houses back in his Miami days. It's either that, or the rest of the FAU staff is going to have to develop some kind of override signal in the play-calling system. "Yes, coach, we're punting. It's one of those new punts where instead of kicking the ball you try to pass it to one of your own receivers..."

He is 76 years old after all lol...

Everyone has a 'brain fart' every now and again.....even among the most revered of coaches.

(09-14-2010 08:19 AM)Fanof49ASU Wrote:  Everyone has a 'brain fart' every now and again.....even among the most revered of coaches.

:iagree:

Not sure why this keeps getting brought up by the media?

He admitted the mistake and apologized for it.

Its not like he told the world to "F OFF! Its my team and Ill call the game anyway I want to!"

I'll trade an almost new 54 year old head coach for your 76 yr old senile one. We will throw in an OC & DC as a bounus.

(09-14-2010 08:22 AM)OwlFamily Wrote:  

(09-14-2010 08:19 AM)Fanof49ASU Wrote:  Everyone has a 'brain fart' every now and again.....even among the most revered of coaches.

:iagree:
Not sure why this keeps getting brought up by the media?
He admitted the mistake and apologized for it.
Its not like he told the world to "F OFF! Its my team and Ill call the game anyway I want to!"

I think he's guilty of something; why else for the quick apology (esp. when it was called for by a blogger in the Sun Sentinal).

And senility and 'brain fart' don't fly here. How can he prepare a 70+ man squad for a Big 10 match-up and be in the game without all his faculties. Something smells in Denmark.

(09-14-2010 08:53 AM)FIUFan Wrote:  And senility and 'brain fart' don't fly here. How can he prepare a 70+ man squad for a Big 10 match-up and be in the game without all his faculties. Something smells in Denmark.

Have you met our coach?

(09-14-2010 08:53 AM)FIUFan Wrote:  I think he's guilty of something; why else for the quick apology (esp. when it was called for by a blogger in the Sun Sentinal).

And senility and 'brain fart' don't fly here. How can he prepare a 70+ man squad for a Big 10 match-up and be in the game without all his faculties. Something smells in Denmark.

Of what though?

Spread was already covered and the over/under wasnt in jeopardy either from what I heard.

The only thing he is guilty of in mind is that he did not think (or give) his team had a chance to win the game.

Honestly it would of taken a SERIOUS miracle to win the game:

1. TD scored (Probable)
2. 2 PT conv made (Not Probable)
3. On side kick recovers (not Probable)
4. TD scored (who knows?)
5. 2 Pt conv made (not Probable)

All of this done in 3 minutes with 2 time outs.

Should he of given them the chance to do it? YES.

But he didnt and thats all that happened. He didnt think his team could get it done so he chose to give his 2nd stringers some work against a Big 10 team. Not the greatest call in the world but also not the biggest mistake ever made either.

(09-14-2010 09:07 AM)OwlFamily Wrote:  [quote='FIUFan' pid='5722914' dateline='1284472411']Of what though?
Spread was already covered and the over/under wasnt in jeopardy either from what I heard.
The only thing he is guilty of in mind is that he did not think (or give) his team had a chance to win the game.
Honestly it would of taken a SERIOUS miracle to win the game:
1. TD scored (Probable)
2. 2 PT conv made (Not Probable)
3. On side kick recovers (not Probable)
4. TD scored (who knows?)
5. 2 Pt conv made (not Probable)
All of this done in 3 minutes with 2 time outs.
Should he of given them the chance to do it? YES.
But he didnt and thats all that happened. He didnt think his team could get it done so he chose to give his 2nd stringers some work against a Big 10 team. Not the greatest call in the world but also not the biggest mistake ever made either.

He was on the 6 frig'n yard line. What does a field goal get you? You're still down by two touchdowns; it's a complete waste. This guy has football in his DNA, you never quit, but guess what, he QUIT. WHY?!?!

And what about these quotes out of Sports Illustrated today:

"I want to congratulate the Michigan State Spartans for playing an outstanding game and ... there at the end, for not running the score up," he said afterward. "It was obvious we couldn't slow 'em down any more. We get out of this what we've been getting out of playing these kinds of games for all the years we've been doing this [what's that Howard, a bit of quid pro quo (i.e. we let you win, you pay us?)]. We had a great scrimmage [Huh?]. ... Obviously we get a lot of p.r. out of it, and certainly, the bottom line is, our financial statement is also helped."

Hi I'm Howard, I coach football...sorta.

Ive admitted that the FG is the only part that I REALLY dont understand.

Im fine with the 2nd string QB and OLine being in there. Let them get the experience.

He still should of let them go for the TD.

Its over, he screwed up and made a bad decesion. People are acting like this affected a National Championship instead of a OOC game for FAU.

It's not just fans here, it was almost every single FAU fan as well. I guess, since it was such a bizarre move by your head coach, and THAT head coach with such an amazing experience, which brings football fans from all over to question this move....But his comments afterwards?....what?...gotta admit they seemed to be out of whack, so the combination of the odd decisions on the field, plus his immediate reaction after the game, brought this up. However, at some point people have to move on to the next game, I agree, as this type of things happen from time to time.

(09-14-2010 10:29 AM)OwlFamily Wrote:  Ive admitted that the FG is the only part that I REALLY dont understand.
Im fine with the 2nd string QB and OLine being in there. Let them get the experience.
He still should of let them go for the TD.
Its over, he screwed up and made a bad decesion. People are acting like this affected a National Championship instead of a OOC game for FAU.

Correct me if I'm wrong OF but you guys had a chance to go 2-0 with 7 winnable games coming down the pike. With a heroic comeback and an upset over South Florida next week, people would have been buzzing. South Florida is then followed by a slate of 5 SBC games. He basically gave up on the whole season with that decision. Can you imagine the hype of an unbeaten FAU going to a top-5 Texas late in November. Farfetched, sure, but to quit on all your dreams by going for a meaningless FG deep in Michigan territory in unconscionable.

I'd be beside myself right now if FIU was in that situation. Why bother playing the game if you're not going to play it to win. As Paul of Troy said; something aint right.

There's no grand plan here.

I was one of the most vocal people about this. It was a horrible decision. I do not believe it was a mistake. He, sadly, thought the game was over and decided to give his third string QB some experience (ridiculous) on that last drive and get some points (nonsensical not to try to win).

It was a horrible decision that wound up almost alienating his fan base and demoralizing the program and team.

He has done it before, pulling Rusty in the Florida game, in the early third quarter, before the score got out of hand. "Advanced training," he called it.

I think he now knows the players and fans will not stand for that any more.

Hopefully, we won't see this again and his apology shows dignity, guts and smarts. It should be accepted and the issue be put to bed.

It's only been a few days. It will be put to bed by the Owl's next game, but not until then, most likely.

(09-14-2010 12:52 PM)KAjunRaider Wrote:  It's only been a few days. It will be put to bed by the Owl's next game, but not until then, most likely.

Sucks because this our bye week as well. So nothing else to really talk about.

If we had game prep going on it would of been all forgotten.

(09-14-2010 01:18 PM)OwlFamily Wrote:  If we had game prep going on it would of been all forgotten.

Not necessarily....but it wouldn't be the main focus for the next week.

So everyone cries about it and now Howard, "the grand politician", has to say something to make everyone settle down.

"Accidentally" called the game off? WTF is that crap? That is like saying I accidentally drove my car off a bridge. Basically, if you drive your car off a bridge you are too ******* stupid to be driving a car.

(09-16-2010 10:39 AM)Paul of Troy Wrote:  So everyone cries about it and now Howard, "the grand politician", has to say something to make everyone settle down.

"Accidentally" called the game off? WTF is that crap? That is like saying I accidentally drove my car off a bridge. Basically, if you drive your car off a bridge you are too ******* stupid to be driving a car.

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