What Is 2008 Florida Atlantic Owls football

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Last updated: April 15, 2026

Quick Answer: The 2008 Florida Atlantic Owls football team represented Florida Atlantic University in the 2008 NCAA Division I FBS football season, finishing with a 9–3 record and winning the 2008 GMAC Bowl 44–27 over Central Michigan on January 6, 2009.

Key Facts

The 2008 Florida Atlantic Owls finished the season with a 9–3 overall record
They won the 2008 GMAC Bowl on January 6, 2009, defeating Central Michigan 44–27
Head coach Howard Schnellenberger led the team for the final time before retiring
Quarterback Rusty Smith threw for 3,359 yards and 27 touchdowns during the season
The Owls played their home games at the 30,000-seat Lockhart Stadium in Fort Lauderdale

Overview

The 2008 Florida Atlantic Owls football team represented Florida Atlantic University (FAU) in the 2008 NCAA Division I FBS football season. Competing as a member of the Sun Belt Conference, the Owls posted a 9–3 overall record and captured their first bowl victory in program history.

Under the leadership of head coach Howard Schnellenberger, who announced his retirement during the season, the team achieved its most successful season to date. The Owls' strong performance culminated in a decisive win in the GMAC Bowl, marking a milestone for the relatively young football program.

Record: The Owls finished the 2008 season with a 9–3 overall record and a 7–1 mark in Sun Belt Conference play, securing second place.
Head Coach: Howard Schnellenberger, who built the FAU football program from scratch in 2001, coached his final season in 2008 before retiring.
Bowl Game: The Owls won the 2008 GMAC Bowl on January 6, 2009, defeating Central Michigan 44–27 in Mobile, Alabama.
Quarterback Performance: Rusty Smith threw for 3,359 yards and 27 touchdowns, ranking among the top passers in the Sun Belt Conference.
Home Stadium: FAU played home games at Lockhart Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, a 30,000-seat venue that served as their home from 2001 to 2019.

Key Players and Season Highlights

The 2008 season was defined by standout individual performances and a historic bowl victory. With several future NFL players on the roster, the Owls demonstrated both offensive firepower and defensive resilience.

Rusty Smith: The senior quarterback passed for 3,359 yards and 27 touchdowns, earning First-Team All-Sun Belt honors.
Gregory Howell Jr.: The wide receiver recorded 77 receptions for 1,058 yards and 10 touchdowns, forming a key connection with Smith.
Julius Gregory: A reliable target, Gregory had 56 catches for 738 yards and six touchdowns during the regular season.
Defensive Standout: Linebacker Alfredo Lopez recorded 108 tackles, leading the team in defensive stops and earning All-Sun Belt recognition.
Offensive Line: The Owls protected Smith effectively, allowing only 15 sacks in 12 games, one of the best rates in the conference.
GMAC Bowl MVP: Running back Toney Clemons rushed for 127 yards and two touchdowns in the 44–27 win over Central Michigan.

Comparison at a Glance

The 2008 season compared favorably to previous and subsequent FAU seasons in terms of wins, bowl success, and national recognition.

Season	Overall Record	Conference Record	Bowl Result	Head Coach
2006	5–7	4–3	No bowl	Howard Schnellenberger
2007	4–8	3–5	No bowl	Howard Schnellenberger
2008	9–3	7–1	Won GMAC Bowl 44–27	Howard Schnellenberger
2009	6–6	4–4	No bowl	Carl Pelini
2017	11–3	8–0	Lost AAC Championship	Lane Kiffin

The 2008 season remains one of the most successful in FAU history, surpassed only by the 2017 team’s 11-win campaign. However, the 2008 GMAC Bowl victory was the program’s first-ever bowl win, making it a landmark achievement. The team’s 7–1 conference record was the best in the Sun Belt that year, trailing only the undefeated champion Troy. Despite losing Schnellenberger to retirement, the 2008 season laid the foundation for future success under new leadership.

Why It Matters

The 2008 season was a turning point for FAU football, proving the program could compete at a high level and achieve postseason success. It validated Howard Schnellenberger’s vision of building a competitive team from the ground up.

Program Legitimacy: The 9–3 record and bowl win established FAU as a rising program in the FBS landscape.
Recruiting Boost: Success in 2008 helped attract higher-caliber recruits in subsequent years.
Retirement of Schnellenberger: His final season was capped with a win, cementing his legacy as the founder of FAU football.
Historic First: The GMAC Bowl win was the first bowl victory in school history, a milestone celebrated by fans and alumni.
Media Exposure: The nationally televised bowl game increased visibility for the university and athletic department.
Foundation for Future: The success of 2008 set a standard that future coaches, including Lane Kiffin, would later build upon.

The 2008 Florida Atlantic Owls football season remains a defining chapter in the university’s athletic history. It demonstrated that a young program could achieve national relevance through consistent development and strategic leadership. While later seasons would bring more wins, none carried quite the same symbolic weight as this breakthrough year.