[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 1] [Extensions of Remarks] [Pages 40-41] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]TRIBUTE TO HEAD COACH HOWARD SCHNELLENBERGER AND THE FLORIDA ATLANTIC UNIVERSITY OWLS FOOTBALL TEAM ______ HON. ROBERT WEXLER of florida in the house of representatives Tuesday, January 15, 2008 Mr. WEXLER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Head Coach Howard Schnellenberger, his coaching staff and the Florida Atlantic University Owls Football Team for their momentous win in the R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl on December 21, 2007. Their 44 to 27 victory over the University of Memphis Tigers marked the first bowl victory in FAU's history, setting an NCAA record as the youngest program in NCAA history to win a bowl game. In only its seventh year, the Florida Atlantic University football program has ascended quickly under the leadership of Coach Schnellenberger. Known for his success at rebuilding programs at the University of Miami and the University of Louisville, Schnellenberger was hired as Director of Football Operations in 1998 to build a new program at FAU, and he immediately set the goal of building a program that would eventually compete for a National Championship. The program's string of successes to date shows the Owls are on their way to reaching that goal. Beginning with an upset victory over Bethune Cookman College in only its second game in 2001, FAU's short football history is full of accomplishments. In 2003, its third season in Division 1-AA, the Owls reached the national semifinals and finished the season ranked fourth in the nation. Following four seasons in Division I-AA, FAU jumped to Division I-A in 2004 and joined the Sun Belt Conference, where it was immediately competitive and took on a schedule of tough non- conference opponents from the Big Ten, Big 12 and SEC. This season, FAU defeated its first [[Page 41]] Big Ten opponent, the University of Minnesota, as well as defending Sun Belt Conference champion Troy University to win the 2007 Sun Belt Conference Championship and a berth in the R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl. The Owls jumped to an early lead in the R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl, which was never relinquished behind Quarterback Rusty Smith, who won the Most Valuable Player Award after completing 25 of 32 passes for 336 yards and five touchdowns. FAU was also well-decorated at the Sun Belt Conference Awards, where Smith received the Player of the Year Award, Coach Schnellenberger received the Coach of the Year Award, and six players including Smith were named First-Team All-Conference. This win is one that brings great pride not only to those affiliated with Florida Atlantic University, but to the entire South Florida community, and I am proud to recognize their historic achievement. ____________________