Prior to Howard Schnellenberger’s final game as Florida Atlantic head coach, a special tribute video titled “End of an Era” played on the video board.

The shorter version of a six minute-long tribute video was produced by OwlAccess.com, an FAU site that I write for.

It showed during FAU’s final game of the season, and most recently Sunday at halftime during the Miami Dolphins game, where Schnellenberger was being honored.

A longer version of the video played on the video board following the ULM game during a reception party in the stadium.

Chuck King, OwlAccess’s video producer, spent many long hours producing it. Check out some other names involved in the production, myself included:

A couple of names in that photo to the right deserve a little more recognition. ESPN 760′s Ken LaVicka, the voice of the Owls, did more than lend his pipes to video – he also gave up part of a Friday night to help with the writing. Our own Alyssa Barbieri also helped with the language.

For those who don’t know Scott Henze – get to know him. Scott wrote and performed the music in both videos. Many of you may know him as the keyboardist from the Funkabilly Playboys – one of the best bands in the area. He’s plays with a couple other groups, too. Seek him out if you want to hear some good music on some weekend night.

From a video standpoint, this tribute could not have been produced without the help of Steve Cutcher. FAU football’s video coordinator, Steve managed to find the perfect clips to fit the piece.

Mark Bournes also provided some of the video he shot at FAU home games this year. There’s good footage from the stadium – and if it’s steady Mark most likely shot it. If you need some high end video production, check out Shark Video Productions.

And photographer J.C. Ridley created that cool timelapse from inside the at the first game. He has countless images of the Owls in action. Next time you get a moment, flip through the galleries at OwlPix.com.

Thanks to all you guys for helping with the production, and thank you again to all the FAU fans who’ve told me they’ve enjoyed it.

What a career Schnellenberger has had. Going to miss him on the sidelines next season.

FAU Board of Trustees unanimously approved the signing of Carl Pelini as FAU's next football coach.

It’s official. Nebraska defensive coordinator Carl Pelini will become only the second head football coach at Florida Atlantic University in the program’s 11-year existence after Howard Schnellenberger retired following the Dec. 3 finale vs. ULM.

Pelini was approved by FAU Board of Trustees as FAU’s new head football coach in a meeting on Monday at 10 a.m.

Pelini will receive a five-year contract with a base salary of $450,000, making him the fourth highest paid coach in the Sun Belt Conference, with extra incentives based on the following:

• Winning the Conference Championship and receiving a BCS bowl game invitation: $50,000.00
• Winning the Conference Championship and receiving
• a non-BCS bowl game invitation: $20,000.00
• Receiving an at-large bowl game invitation: $10,000.00
• Earning a Top 10 final college coaches’ poll national ranking $25,000.00
• Winning the National Coach of the Year Award: $25,000.00
• Winning the Conference Coach of the Year: $ 7,500.00
• Receiving a top 10% NCAA APR recognition: $10,000.00
• Receiving a top 25% NCAA APR recognition: $ 7,500.00
• Season tickets exceed 12,000: $100,000
• Season tickets exceed 18,000: $150,000
• Season tickets exceed 24,000: $200,000

Pelini will be introduced as FAU’s new coach in a press conference scheduled for today at 2 p.m. in the Recruiting Room at FAU Stadium.

Stay tuned for more updates as they break.

Check out this exclusive video from OwlAccess.com of Howard Schnellenberger addressing his players in a postgame locker room speech following the 26-0 loss to ULM Saturday night.

Schnellenberger addresses the impending coaching changes, which will see Carl Pelini replace Schnellenberger in an offseason that is sure to be a busy and rather important one.

Carl Pelini will be announced as FAU's new coach on Monday at 2 p.m.

BOCA RATON — Florida Atlantic University has announced that a press conference is scheduled for Monday at 2 p.m. in which the university will announce the new football coach, also known as one Carl Pelini.

The press conference will be held in the Recruiting Room at FAU Stadium.

Prior to the press conference, FAU’s Board of Trustees will meet at 10 a.m. to discuss specifics of the selection of Pelini including salary, which is believed to be around $500,000 per year.

According to reports from OwlAccess.com, Pelini was said to have took in Saturday’s finale versus Louisiana-Monroe from the stands.

New FAU football coach Carl Pelini may have been doing some advance scouting on Saturday during the Owls’ game vs. ULM.

Multiple sources told OwlAccess.com that Pelini requested tickets to Saturday’s FAU season finale and one said Pelini attended the game incognito, watching from the stands.

On Sunday, Pelini met with the current coaching staff to determine if he would like to keep them on his staff. He also met with the players for the first time.

Pelini, who has served as Nebraska’s defensive coordinator since 2008, will become only the second head coach in FAU’s 11-year history, following in the footsteps of Howard Schnellenberger who retired at season’s end.

Howard Schnellenberger coached in the final game of his career in a 26-0 loss to ULM Saturday night at FAU Stadium. Photo: OwlAccess.com

BOCA RATON — For 11 years Howard Schnellenberger has been the driving force behind the creation and evolution of Florida Atlantic football. A legendary career at FAU, which was culminated with the construction of FAU Stadium this season, came to a close Saturday night.

But it was a bittersweet end as the Owls were shutout 26-0 at the hands of Louisiana-Monroe.

“This is the first time I’ve had to turn a football team loose with this kind of a season,” Schnellenberger said. “I want to make sure they understood the situation…They can’t leave out of here thinking of themselves as total losers because they’re not total losers.”

The shutout in Schnellenberger’s final game was reminiscent of seven weeks prior when FAU was shutout 20-0 in the inaugural game at FAU Stadium under the watchful eyes of 29,103 people.

The season finale vs. the Warhawks (4-8, 3-5 Sun Belt) is the culmination of a season marked by disaster.

As it has done all season, the Owls (1-11, 0-8 Sun Belt) offense struggled to find a rhythm against a hungry Warhawks defense that sacked quarterback Graham Wilbert three times, limited FAU to 148 yards of total offense and spoiled running back Alfred Morris’ bid for six consecutive 100-yard rushing games.

“Kudos to Monroe for their defensive scheme,” Morris said. “They came in, stacked the box and stopped our run. It was hard to get anything going.”

The defense has been the strength of the team all season but they couldn’t stop a ULM team that dominated on the ground, racking up 232 yards.

Cornerback Treon Howard had his second interception in as many weeks, this one coming on the Warhawks’ second series, but the offense couldn’t capitalize.

Story of FAU’s season.

“Our defense continues to fight battles, but we come up short—just short enough not to be able to cover up for the offense,” Schnellenberger said.

FAU also bid farewell to 17 seniors, including Morris, safety Marcus Bartels, punter Mickey Groody and defensive end Kevin Cyrille.

For Morris the realization that he played in his final game as an Owl hasn’t sunk in yet.

“I think I did a pretty good job of holding it together,” he said. “I haven’t shed a tear yet. It just hasn’t hit me yet.”

Schnellenberger had a long talk with his team following the loss, in which he told them they have nothing to be ashamed of despite the disaster of a season that played out.

“They didn’t perform well enough to have a winning season. That’s too bad,” Schnellenberger said. “Part of the blame goes around, starting with me. There has to have been something that I could have done to stop the bleeding. I wasn’t smart enough to figure that out.”

There is a bittersweet taste to Schnellenberger’s curtain call, what with the loss in his final game.

But this night wasn’t about FAU vs. ULM. It was about paying tribute to a man whose vision became a reality that will live on along with his legacy.

Thank you, Schnelley.

Carl Pelini will be announced as FAU's new coach at a press conference on Monday afternoon.

OwlAccess.com is reporting that Nebraska defensive coordinator Carl Pelini has accepted the offer to become the next head football coach at Florida Atlantic University.

Sources said Pelini informed FAU Athletic Director Craig Angelos of his decision on Friday night. On Saturday, Angelos would not confirm if Pelini had accepted the job.

Reached by phone by Owl Access, Pelini said he would not comment if he had accepted the job or not.

A source also told OwlAccess.com that Angelos sent a text message on Friday night informing finalists Gary Nord and Eddie Gran that a new coach had been hired.

Pelini, who will become only the second head coach in the program’s 11 years of existence, will be following in the very large footsteps of one Howard Schnellenberger, who coached in the final game of his career Saturday night in a 26-0 loss to Louisiana-Monroe.

Schnellenberger announced before the season began that he would be retiring at season’s end.

“I’m sure he’s a fine coach,” Schnellenberger said following Saturday’s game when asked about Pelini. “As I told my former squad in the lockerroom tonight, I, as well as Beverlee, and I hope all of them will rally behind the new coach. Too much is at stake. We have come so far that it’s important that a new momentum is generated and will take our program on a metoerical rise to to the next level. The new stadium will act as the jet fuel to launch it and there is no telling how high it can reach and how fast.”

Pelini, whose brother Bo Pelini is the Huskers head coach, has been Nebraska’s defensive coordinator since 2008. The Huskers rank 36th in total defense this season, allowing 350.7 yards per game.

Pelini will be introduced as FAU’s new coach in a press conference on Monday afternoon.

Game Preview

Louisiana-Monroe (3-8, 2-5 Sun Belt)
at Florida Atlantic (1-10, 0-7 Sun Belt)

When:  4 p.m. Saturday

Where: FAU Stadium, Boca Raton

Radio: ESPN760

Streaming live: ESPN760

All-time series: ULM leads 2-5

–

Howard Schnellenberger’s 11-year coaching career at Florida Atlantic University comes to an end on Saturday when the Owls host Louisiana-Monroe.

It’s a day that is sure to be filled with plenty of emotion, with Schnellenberger’s departure, but also one of celebration, with FAU honoring the legendary coach.

“It’s going to emotional,” said senior safety Marcus Bartels. “It’s a whole lot more than just the end of the year. I just hope we can send hm out on a good note.”

The Owls are coming off a 38-35 victory over UAB last week, their first victory of the season. The players certainly didn’t want to send Schnellenberger out with a winless season, so some of the pressure is off.

“It definitely takes a weight of our shoulders,” said senior running back Alfred Morris. “We want to finish the season strong. I was thankful coach Schnellenberger gave me the opportunity to play college football.”

Schnellenberger wants to go out with a win, but not because it’s his finale.

“This game is big because it’s here in our stadium and that it’s happening after a win,” Schnellenberger said.

FAU’s Three Keys to Victory:

1. Alfred Morris. Alfred Morris. Alfred Morris: Alfred Morris had a career game vs. UAB last Saturday, with a career-high 38 carries for 198 yards and four rushing touchdowns, and has been the Owls biggest threat on offense all season. More of Morris is just what the Owls need.
2. Win the turnover ratio battle: The key for FAU will be for the offense to take care of the ball and for the defense to force turnovers, which they were able to do against UAB last Saturday.
3. Consistency: It’s a term that has scarcely been associated with the Owls offense this season, but it was present last week against the Blazers. The offense needs to continue to sustain drives and not force self-inflicted mistakes.

Prediction: FAU 28, Louisiana-Monroe 21

Reports indicate Nebraska defensive coordinator Carl Pelini to become FAU's next football coach.

Multiple media outlets, including ESPN and OwlAccess.com, are reporting that Florida Atlantic University has extended an offer to current Nebraska defensive coordinator Carl Pelini to become FAU’s new head football coach.

Howard Schnellenberger, who has coached FAU for all 11 seasons of the program’s existence, is set to retire following Saturday’s season finale versus Louisiana-Monroe.

Here is ESPN‘s report:

Nebraska defensive coordinator Carl Pelini has reached a verbal agreement to become Florida Atlantic’s head coach, colleague Joe Schad and others are reporting.

Schad reports that Pelini is expected to be introduced at Florida Atlantic on Monday. Pelini will replace Howard Schnellenberger, who announced before the season that he planned to retire and will coach his final game Saturday when the 1-10 Owls host Louisiana-Monroe. Nebraska athletic director Tom Osborne was among those who recommended Pelini for the job.

Here is OwlAccess.com‘s report, who were the first to report last week that AD Craig Angelos interviewed Pelini:

FAU Athletic Director Craig Angelos has extended an offer to Nebraska defensive coordinator Carl Pelini to become the next Owls football coach, a source told OwlAccess.com on Thursday.

CBSSports.com reported that Pelini was “expected ” to accept the offer and ESPN.com said Pelini has a “verbal” agreement to replace FAU coach Howard Schnellenberger, who will coach his last game on Saturday.

A message left on Pelini’s cell phone wasn’t returned and Angelos did not return messages either on Thursday night.

Other candidates that have been contenders include current Florida State running backs coach Eddie Gran and former Arizona coach Mike Stoops.

Right now Pelini to FAU is strictly “a verbal commitment” but a press conference is set for Monday afternoon, where the new coach is expected to be announced.

On Wednesday there were reports that Florida Atlantic University would hold a press conference on Dec. 5 in which they would announce the new head football coach who would replace Howard Schnellenberger, who is set to retire after this season.

That’s what Associate AD Dexter Lamont told ESPN760/Ch. 5/Ch. 29 sports at an Orange Bowl event in Palm Beach Gardens.

FAU Athletic Director Craig Angelos shot down those rumors in a text message with OwlAccess.com:

“No. We have not made any decisions yet and thus do not have a coach at this point. Thus we have not scheduled anything.”

With Dec. 3 (Louisiana-Monroe at FAU) being the final day of the season, as the 0-9 Owls are way beyond Bowl eligibility, it looks like they are aiming for a Dec. 5 date. But that’s not a confirmed announcement.

FAU falls to 0-9 after 41-7 rout at the hands of FIU in Shula Bowl X.

In the 10-year history of the Shula Bowl, Florida Atlantic has dominated Florida International eight of the nine previous meetings.

FIU’s lone Shula Bowl win was a 52-6 rout in 2005 that was later vacated by the NCAA.

So heading into Shula Bowl X, even despite their 0-8 standing, the Owls had every reason to believe that they could pull out their ninth Shula Bowl title.

On the first two drives of Shula Bowl X, it looked like the winless Owls might stand a chance.

But those hopes were quickly dashed on the first of Graham Wilbert’s three interceptions ended the only productive drive for the Owls of the first half, in which they fell behind in a 31-0 hole.

The tempers were already flaring in this heated rivalry and FAU ended the first half with 10 penalties for 97 yards. They finished with 14 penalties for 142 yards.

“It doesn’t make any difference what it’s a product of,” said Coach Howard Schnellenberger. “It cannot happen.”

Following the 41-7 blowout loss, all Schnellenberger could do was apologize about his team’s embarrassing play in the first half.

“I have to apologize to Paul Bryant and Blanton Collier and Don Shula and all of the people I learned how to play and coach football from,” he said. “I want to apologize to Florida Atlantic University for the first half of football that we played here today.”

Anything and everything that could go wrong for a football team has gone wrong with FAU this season.

I have to emphasize with sports writers that have to cover teams, such as the 0-16 Detroit Lions. It’s hard to watch a team lose week after week after week. It’s hard to watch a team come close in some contests and get blown out in others. It’s hard to watch young men give everything they’ve got and still come out of it empty-handed and embarrassed.

With New Mexico’s 21-14 win over UNLV on Saturday, FAU is the only winless team left in the nation. They also have the longest active losing streak with 12, dating back to last season.

But there are still three games left for the Owls to narrowly escape what could be Schnellenberger’s only winless season. FAU will face the second to last team in the Sun Belt in Troy next Saturday and will host UAB and Louisiana-Monroe in the final two games.

But the good news is that it can’t really get much worse.

Actually, the winless season would be the final blow in a season that is garnering a reputation for historic in all of the wrong ways.