BOCA RATON, FL - Throughout the spring practice, the summer workouts and preseason camp, Florida Atlantic players kept saying they had learned their lesson.
This season they would not start out like they did in 2008, when they were picked to repeat as Sun Belt champions but staggered to a 1-5 start.
Despite all those words, FAU could not walk the talk, and began this season 0-4.
There is another part of last season that FAU also wants to repeat, and that is a surge after the anemic start.
FAU went 5-1 in its final six regular season games in 2008, and that was good enough to get an invitation to the Motor City Bowl, which the Owls won, salvaging a season that had been headed for disaster.
FAU began this year's version of its surge two weeks ago with a 44-40 come-from-behind win over North Texas.
"It puts your back against the wall and evidently that is what has helped our team win consistently during that time," coach Howard Schnellenberger said after that win.
Last week the Owls won again, beating Louisiana-Lafayette 51-29, and now stand at 2-4 and 2-1 in the Sun Belt heading into Saturday's game against Middle Tennessee (4-3, 2-1) at Lockhart Stadium.
"If we can continue to win the game in hand, if the offense doesn't lose ground and defense gains ground there is no reason we can't compete for wins in our remaining games," Schnellenberger said.
FAU's fate does lie with its defense, which is statistically one of the worst in the country, giving up 446.5 yards and 35.5 points per game.
If the defense does not improve, the surge may end quickly.
The defense has give up 27 or more points in every game, and until the last two games, the offense could not keep pace as opponents ran up the score.
"We have a long way to go," said FAU defensive coordinator Kirk Hoza.
"We still have a huge step to take before we become the defense we want to be," linebacker Ed Bradwell said.
Bradwell is one of three senior starters on a defense that had eight new starters.
It was expected the inexperienced defense would be behind the offense, but not this far behind.
The recent play of the offense, which gained 1,153 yards in the two wins, has helped take some of the pressure off the defense.
"Whenever you get a good performance out of the offense you have to pick up on defense," said defensive back Tavious Polo.
"The offense is doing awesome right now. They took it upon themselves to carry the team since the defense was struggling," Bradwell said. "They have turned the corner."
And if the offense has made the turn, what about the defense?
"We have the blinker on and are getting ready to turn. Hopefully this week we make it. I am tired of being the little brother on this team," Bradwell said.
