March 26, 2008

The Florida Atlantic University football team officially began their defense of the Sun Belt and 2007 R + L Carriers New Orleans Bowl titles with their first spring practice on Wednesday outside the Tom Oxley Athletic Center.

FAU went through a two-plus hour practice with helmets and shorts. The Owls went through individual workouts, seven-on-seven drills and a brief team session. The practice was an opportunity to get starters such as quarterback Rusty Smith on offense and Frantz Joseph on defense some time to fine tune within their respective units. For a few others, it was the first time back on the practice field in a while. Such was the case with defensive lineman Josh Savidge, who missed most of last season with a knee injury. For Savidge, it was good to get back on the field.

"I felt pretty good out there today," said Savidge. "This team has been a pretty tight knit group and I'm looking forward to continuing to be out there with them."

FAU will resume practice on Friday, March 28 outside the Tom Oxley Athletic Center at 3:30 p.m. All spring practice sessions are open to the public. The Owls will practice on Monday's, Wednesday's, Friday's and scrimmage on Saturday's until April 19, when FAU holds it spring game at the FAU Track and Field Complex.