Both Florida Atlantic and FIU begin Conference USA play Saturday when they meet in Don Shula Bowl XV. The Panthers will play their first game under interim head coach Ron Cooper as FIU seeks its first win of the season. FAU is 1-3 and looking to keep the Shula Bowl Trophy in Boca Raton for another year after defeating FIU 31-17 last season at FAU Stadium.
When the Panthers and Owls get together you might as well throw the records out the window because strange things happen in this series that will turn 15 years old Saturday. Having been a part of every Shula Bowl since its inception, whether as the Miami Herald FIU writer or now endorsing an FIU check, I can tell you something usually pops up out of the ordinary in the Shula Bowl.