TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Smith Leads FAU To Win

ADVERTISEMENT

The Associated Press

Published: December 27, 2008

DETROIT - Florida Atlantic has played eight seasons of major college football and already has the hang of it in bowl games.

Rusty Smith threw for 307 yards and two second-half touchdowns to help the Owls beat Central Michigan 24-21 on Friday night in the Motor City Bowl.

Florida Atlantic began playing in the Football Bowl Subdivision in 2001 but has won both its postseason games.

The teams were tied at 10 midway through the third quarter when Smith hit Chris Bonner with a 52-yard scoring pass. Smith found Cortez Gent with an 18-yard strike early in the fourth to give the Owls (7-6) a bit of a cushion.

ARMY: Rich Ellerson grew up around Black Knights football and is leaving his coaching job at Cal Poly to come to a place he knows well. His father and two brothers graduated from the U.S. Military Academy, where brother John led the 1962 team to a 6-4 record. And he's worked before with former Army coaches known for running successful schemes on both sides of the ball.

Ellerson replaces Stan Brock, who was fired Dec. 12 after a pair of 3-9 seasons. Brock, a former New Orleans Saints offensive lineman, was Army's offensive line coach for three years before replacing Bobby Ross in early 2007.

AUBURN: Coach Gene Chizik began assembling his coaching staff Friday, retaining linebackers coach James Willis and several key support staff members.

MICHIGAN STATE: Coach Mark Dantonio got a new contract Friday, a deal that will pay him a $2 million bonus if he remains with the program into 2016.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT