ORLANDO — For the first time in Azeez Al-Shaair’s four years at Florida Atlantic, the Owls will enter Conference USA play with a .500 record.
“I honestly don’t care about that,” the senior linebacker said after Friday’s 56-36 loss to No. 16 Central Florida.
Not that Al-Shaair, the Owls’ all-time leading tackler, could smile about anything after FAU (2-2) collapsed in the second half against a dangerous UCF (3-0) team. Up 17-14 late in the first half, the Owls were outscored 42-19 in the final 31 minutes.
A winnable game against a team which entered Friday night’s showdown with a 15-game winning streak instead saw the Owls waste three rushing touchdowns from AP All-American running back Devin Singletary (American Heritage) and 264 all-purpose yards by redshirt junior running back Kerrith Whyte (Seminole Ridge).