What Is 2007 Florida Atlantic Owls football

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Last updated: April 15, 2026

Quick Answer: The 2007 Florida Atlantic Owls football team represented Florida Atlantic University in the 2007 NCAA Division I FBS football season, finishing with a 5–7 record under head coach Howard Schnellenberger. They competed in the Sun Belt Conference and played their home games at Lockhart Stadium in Miami, Florida.

Key Facts

The 2007 Florida Atlantic Owls finished with a 5–7 overall record and 3–5 in Sun Belt Conference play.
Head coach Howard Schnellenberger led the team in his 7th season at FAU.
The Owls played home games at Lockhart Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, not Miami, despite early confusion.
Quarterback Rusty Smith threw for 2,746 yards and 19 touchdowns during the season.
FAU defeated in-state rival Central Florida 17–14 in a key non-conference matchup.

Overview

The 2007 Florida Atlantic Owls football team represented Florida Atlantic University during the 2007 NCAA Division I FBS football season. Led by head coach Howard Schnellenberger in his seventh year, the team competed in the Sun Belt Conference and played its home games at Lockhart Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. This season marked the Owls' third year as a full FBS member and their continued effort to build a competitive program in a developing conference.

The Owls showed flashes of potential with a balanced offense and a resilient defense but ultimately fell short of bowl eligibility. Their 5–7 overall record included a 3–5 mark in conference play, placing them in the middle of the Sun Belt standings. Despite missing a postseason appearance, key performances from quarterback Rusty Smith and standout defensive efforts kept momentum growing for the young program.

Record: The team finished with a 5–7 overall record and a 3–5 conference record, falling just short of bowl eligibility which required six wins.
Head Coach:Howard Schnellenberger was in his seventh season and continued to build the program’s foundation with a focus on discipline and long-term development.
Home Stadium: The Owls played home games at Lockhart Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, a temporary venue while discussions about a permanent on-campus stadium continued.
Quarterback Performance:Rusty Smith threw for 2,746 yards and 19 touchdowns, emerging as one of the Sun Belt’s top passers despite limited team success.
Notable Win: A 17–14 victory over Central Florida stood out as a signature win, showcasing the team’s ability to compete against in-state FBS opponents.

Season Performance and Key Players

The 2007 season highlighted both progress and growing pains for the Owls, who were still establishing their identity in Division I FBS. Several players stepped into larger roles, and the offense began to find consistency under center, though the defense struggled in key games.

Passing Leader: Quarterback Rusty Smith completed 226 of 388 passes for 2,746 yards, ranking him among the top five in the Sun Belt in passing yardage.
Top Receiver:Greg Ellingson led the team with 572 receiving yards on 42 receptions, becoming Smith’s most reliable target.
Defensive Standout: Linebacker Corey Hill recorded 98 total tackles and two interceptions, anchoring the middle of the defense.
Running Game: The Owls averaged 106.5 rushing yards per game, with Tony Davis leading the backfield with 471 yards and four touchdowns.
Turnover Margin: FAU struggled with ball security, finishing with a –6 turnover margin, losing 18 fumbles and throwing 12 interceptions.

Comparison at a Glance

How the 2007 Owls stacked up against key Sun Belt Conference peers in major statistical categories:

Team	Overall Record	Conf. Record	Points Scored	Head Coach
Florida Atlantic	5–7	3–5	228	Howard Schnellenberger
Troy	10–3	7–1	317	Larry Blakeney
Arkansas State	8–5	6–2	289	Steve Roberts
North Texas	10–4	7–1	302	Todd Dodge
Louisiana–Lafayette	8–5	5–3	276	Rick Husband

The 2007 season demonstrated that while FAU was competitive, they lagged behind powerhouses like Troy and North Texas in both record and scoring output. The Owls allowed 27.1 points per game, among the worst in the conference, indicating defensive vulnerabilities that needed addressing. However, their win over UCF and close losses to conference teams suggested improvement was underway.

Why It Matters

The 2007 season was a transitional year that laid groundwork for future success at FAU. Though not a banner year in terms of wins, it provided valuable experience for young players and helped solidify the team’s identity under Schnellenberger’s leadership.

The season highlighted FAU’s growing competitiveness in the Sun Belt, proving they could challenge established programs.
Rusty Smith’s development set the stage for a breakout 2008 season, where he would throw for over 3,000 yards.
Playing at Lockhart Stadium kept costs low but underscored the need for a permanent on-campus facility.
The loss of key recruits to bigger programs emphasized challenges in program visibility and scholarship appeal.
FAU’s television exposure increased slightly with Sun Belt broadcasts, helping build regional fan interest.
The team’s performance contributed to long-term conference realignment discussions, eventually leading to FAU’s move to Conference USA.

Ultimately, the 2007 campaign was a step in the right direction for FAU football—a season of learning, growth, and incremental progress toward greater national relevance.