When head coach Howard Schnellenberger took the seemingly impossible task of building the Florida Atlantic program from scratch, he guaranteed FAU would be at the I-A level in five years. After a 47-6 loss in his 200th game as a head coach to the third-ranked Eastern Illinois Panthers, Schnellenberger was questioning whether the Owls can compete on the I-AA level.

“We are certainly aren’t ready to go on the road against a team like this,” Schnellenberger said. “No aspect of this game was quality at all.”

Schnellenberger has molded players like Jim Kelly, Vinnie Testaverde and Bernie Kosar to starters in the NFL and led the University of Miami to its first national championship in 1983, but at 67 years of age, he may be facing his toughest challenge ever.

After generating over $10 million for the program, Florida Atlantic completed a respectable 4-6 record in its inaugural season with a mostly freshman roster, but a 1-9 start with three losses of more than 40 have lowered high expectations.

“I’m pretty much sick of losing,” sophomore defensive end Ramon Rickards said.

Florida Atlantic came ranked 118th in total offense, 111th in scoring offense and 123rd in rushing offense and actually dropped after having -1 yards of total offense at halftime.

“We simply weren’t during anything on offense,” Schnellenberger said.

When asked if Eastern came out with purpose during a first half where they scored 40 unanswered points, Schnellenberger voiced his clear frustration.

“I believe that they came out to kick our ass,” Schnellenberger said. “It was the varsity playing the junior varsity.”

The 41-point loss to the Panthers ensured Schnellenberger will have his worst season in his 18 years as a collegiate head coach.

The only explanation could be the schedule the Owls have played in the 2002 season. Eastern marked the fourth I-AA ranked team along with three I-A teams the Owls have competed against in its second season.

“I really don’t know what’s happened this season, but it was definitely embarrassing today,” Schnellenberger said. “We have to stop the bleeding.”

FAU has one more rivalry game left against Florida International to salvage a dying season but Schnellenberger isn’t seeing any light at the end of the tunnel.

“I can’t find any positives yet, but I sure try,” Schnellenberger said.