DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Bethune-Cookman returns to the "Sunshine State" this weekend following being displaced for a number of days in the wake of Hurricane Irma. The Wildcats look to keep their winning ways intact as they head south to Florida Atlantic for a meeting against the Owls at FAU Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 16, at 6:30 p.m.
 
Bethune-Cookman at Florida Atlantic
Sept. 16, 2017 | 6:30 p.m. EST
FAU Stadium | Boca Raton, Fla.
WELE Radio | WSOS Radio | WSIR Radio
 
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Bethune-Cookman 1-1 (0-0 MEAC)
Roster | Coaches | Schedule & Results | Stats | Game Notes
 
Florida Atlantic 0-2 (0-0 C-USA)
Roster | Coaches | Schedule & Results | Stats | Game Notes
 
Live Stats: Game Tracker
 
Game Day Hashtags
#BCUvsFAU | #BeatFAU | #BCUResurge | #PreyTogether
 
The Game
Bethune-Cookman rekindles an old Football Championship Subdivision (formerly Division I-AA) series with the Florida Atlantic Owls this weekend in Boca Raton, Florida. The two teams have met three times previously when both were in the former I-AA level of football, including a memorable NCAA I-AA Playoff opening game in 2003, played at Municipal Stadium in Daytona Beach, Florida. This will be the first time BCU is playing FAU with the Owls on the upper tier of collegiate football as a member of the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS).
 
Story Lines
• This weekend's game marks the third of four consecutive away games to begin the 2017 campaign. Dating back to last season, BCU will have played seven consecutive games away from Municipal Stadium before the home opener on Sept. 30 versus MEAC foe Savannah State.
• Bethune-Cookman has played three previous games against opponents from Conference USA, including FIU (2013, 14) and UCF (2014).
• Redshirt senior quarterback Larry Brihm, Jr. threw for 354 yards at Southeastern Louisiana, and he connected on a career-high 25 passes in 39 attempts. He also passed for a pair of touchdowns, as well as running for a score.
• This will be the first time Bethune-Cookman and Florida Atlantic are meeting each other aside from both being FCS opponents. With FAU in the FBS, it's the first-meeting between the schools with one in a different division of football.
• Redshirt senior wide receiver Jawill Davis has caught a pass in 23 consecutive games – the longest active streak on the current roster.
 
Series Notes
• Florida Atlantic leads the all-time series against Bethune-Cookman, 2-1.
• FAU won its first-ever game as a football playing institution against Bethune-Cookman.
• BCU played its first-ever NCAA postseason contest in the FCS Playoffs (formerly the Division I-AA playoffs) at Municipal Stadium back in 2003.
• Bethune-Cookman's lone win in the series came on the road to FAU at Lockhart Stadium.
 
The Broadcasts
The game will be carried live on beIN Sports for television, while the CatEye Radio Network carries the contest via all three stations in the form of WELE 1380 The CAT, WSIR 1490 and WSOS 99.5 & 1170 with Nolan Alexander (play-by-play) operating alongside Larry Wesley (color) and Terrance Gatling (sideline).
 
The Coach
Head Coach Terry Sims is now in his third year at the helm of the Bethune-Cookman Football program. The Knoxville alum holds a record of 14-9 overall with the Maroon and Gold, and is making his first coaching experience against FAU.
 
The Weather
Projected temperatures on game day: Daytona Beach – 87/75. Boca Raton, Fla. – 90/77.
 
#GimmeFive
1. The Wildcats are seeking their first non-conference road win in the state of Florida since BCU defeated FIU on Aug. 30, 2014 (with Terry Sims serving as an assistant coach).
2. Bethune-Cookman is seeking its second ever win against Florida Atlantic, the previous victory also coming on the road.
3. Bethune-Cookman is seeking its third win all-time against a team from Conference USA, having previously defeated FIU twice and falling to UCF once.
4. The Cats had eight (8) different players register a pass reception a week ago at Southeastern Louisiana.
5. Five different players rushed the ball in the road win over Southeastern Louisiana a week ago in Hammond.
 
A Win Over Florida Atlantic Would…
• Even the series all-time against FAU at 2-2.
• Give BCU its third win all-time against an opponent from Conference USA.
• Allow the Wildcats their third win all-time against an FBS opponent.
• Be the 488th win all-time in school history.
 
What's the Word?
• Each team throughout the 2017-18 BCU athletic year will have a word that represents the program.
• The word for BCU Football is "Resurge". The meaning comes from the team and Head Coach Terry Sims looking for a resurgence in 2017. The team endured an uncharacteristic 4-6 season last year, marking the first losing campaign at Bethune-Cookman since 2009.
 
Playoffs?
• Despite the introduction of the Celebration Bowl in February 2015, a member of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) still has the possibility of participating in the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) Playoffs. A member would have to accept an at-large bid to the playoffs, which last happened with North Carolina A&T accepting the at-large bid in 2016.
 
Non-Conference Success
• Since 2000, Bethune-Cookman is 36-13 in regular season, out-of-conference contests, earning notable victories against the likes of Alabama State, FIU (2x), Southeastern Louisiana and Tennessee State, respectfully.
• Of the 13 losses in non-conference play, seven have come against teams from the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS), including Florida State, Miami (4x), North Texas and UCF.
 
#IBackTheMEAC
• The Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference begins its 48th year of intercollegiate competition heading into the 2017-18 academic year. Located in Norfolk, Virginia, the MEAC is made up of 13 outstanding historically black institutions across the Atlantic coastline.
• On June 8, 1980, the MEAC was classified as a Division I conference by the NCAA. Prior to that year, the conference operated as a Division II conference. The month after it achieved Division I status, the MEAC received an automatic qualification to the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Championship.
 
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