GAINESVILLE — Florida Atlantic coach Howard Schnellenberger thought the cramp he suffered on the team bus Friday would be the worst pain he'd experience this the weekend.
Then he watched his team play Florida.
Schnellenberger was in the press box on Saturday for the Gators' 41-3 pasting of the Owls, opting to rest the surgically-repaired hip that acted up Friday, forcing him to be rushed to a Treasure Coast hospital for X-rays.
"I don't like it at all and I'm not going to be up there any more," said Schnellenberger, who had never watched a game from anywhere but the field in 28 seasons as a head coach.
"On the sidelines I want to make sure I have enough quicks to protect myself and stay alive."
Schnellenberger experienced a "major cramp" while the FAU team bus was stalled on the turnpike. The doctor who performed Schnellenberger's hip replacement surgery one month ago was traveling with the team and suggested he have it checked out immediately.
With that setback in the past, Schnellenberger and his coaches now will be examining the Owls' offense.
FAU totaled 30 yards on the ground, half of that coming in the final four plays of the game. Alfred Morris, the leading rusher in the Sun Belt Conference two seasons ago and the Owls' single-season record holder, had 16 yards.
Schnellenberger was not the only representative of FAU moving in slow motion.
"I watched the game unfold, (and) it became obvious either we weren't prepared mentally for the game or we didn't expect them to be as good as they were," Schnellenberger said. "But more important than that is I can't determine how hard they played and I can't determine how talented or lack of talent we have because we made an error on almost every play that we had."
Said Morris: "I felt like we left the defense hanging."
The defense, which will have to carry the Owls' offense this season, forced three turnovers - interceptions by Marcus Bartels, Toney Moore and Keith Reaser. Good thing, too, because as Schnellenberger said, "it kept them from scoring 21 more points."
Florida led 24-0 before interceptions on consecutive series late in the first half led to the Owls' only two scoring chances of the game, both field goal attempts.
"It was bleak in that first and second quarter," Schnellenberger said.
Schnellenberger, who was walking with a cane before the game, blamed himself for Friday's episode, saying he started doing exercises on the bus.
"I crossed my legs across two seats," he said. "Like an idiot I continued to rehab while we were on the bus."
After his brief stay in the hospital, Schnellenberger continued the trip in his family car, which was being driven by his wife, Beverlee. He missed Friday's practice at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium after being caught in traffic.
The trip home Saturday night was much quicker. Schnellenberger joined university President Mary Jane Saunders on a private plane provided by Brett Greenberg of Boca Aviation.
Schnellenberger looked uncomfortable the entire day. Hours before kickoff he joined former FSU coach Bobby Bowden at a press conference to announce the formation of a the Battle of Florida, a college all-star game that will be played at the FAU's new on-campus stadium on Jan. 21. The game will feature Bowden (North) and Schnellenberger (South) as the coaches.
Players who were born in Florida or played high school or college football in the state are eligible to play in the game.
Bowden, 81, and Schnellenberger, 77, last faced each other in 1983 when Schnellenberger was in his final season at Miami and Bowden in the eighth of his 34 seasons at Florida State. The two coaches had gimmicks to promote their games back then, including posing while wearing boxing gloves.
Bowden was asked if they would be reenacting the stunt for the Battle of Florida.
"No," he said, adding if they did, "I ain't afraid now the way I saw him walk."
