Athletics.
Florida Atlantic’s 19 varsity sports teams, the Owls, compete in NCAA’s Division I. The Owls joined Conference USA for the 2013–14 season. The university’s athletics program began in 1979, when Florida Atlantic first started sponsoring intercollegiate teams.
Since then, the university has worked to expand the quality of its intercollegiate program by attracting coaches such as Howard Schnellenberger, Carl Pelini, Matt Doherty, Rex Walters, Lane Kiffin, Mike Jarvis, Dusty May, Willie Taggart, Tom Herman and women’s softball and golf coach Joan Joyce. The university’s colors are FAU Blue, FAU Red, and FAU Silver.
On October 21, 2021, Florida Atlantic accepted the invitation to join the American Athletic Conference (AAC) and became a full-member on July 1, 2023.
Traditions
The “Rat’s Mouth” student tailgating area located at the grassy area directly in front of FAU Stadium. In 2015, this area was moved to Lot 5 behind the stadium.
FAU is home to a number of sports-related traditions and school spirit organizations.
Every fall before the first football game of the season, FAU’s Student Government Association sponsors the annual football “Bonfire” where the opposing team’s mascot is burned in effigy. This event typically includes a concert and a speech by the university’s head football coach.
Also in football, Florida Atlantic challenges its rival Florida International (FIU) in the annual Shula Bowl. This intercollegiate football game is named after legendary coach Don Shula; so named because at the time of its inception, both head coaches, Florida Atlantic’s Howard Schnellenberger and Florida International coach Don Strock, had worked under Shula at some point during their careers. Even though both universities have since moved on to new head coaches, the Shula Bowl is still played. As a home game, the competition takes place at university’s own stadium; as an away game, the bowl is played at FIU Stadium.
For basketball, Florida Atlantic celebrates the “Red Hot Madness and Stroll Off” pep rally that introduces fans to the team and coaches, host a number of basketball-related contests such as 3-point shoot-outs and slam dunk competitions, and features step performances by the school’s National Pan-Hellenic Council fraternities and sororities. During the regular season, the “Bury the Burrow in Red” event calls for Florida Atlantic students to wear as much red as possible and fill the Burrow, the university’s multi-purpose arena, during the annual basketball rivalry game between Florida Atlantic and Florida International University.
The official spirit group supporting Florida Atlantic athletics is the “prOWLers”. The group began in February 2002 to support the men’s basketball program during the team’s run for the Atlantic Sun Conference Championship. The group is funded by the Student Alumni Association, and can now be found at most sporting events cheering for Florida Atlantic.
The prOWLers are joined by the Owl Rangers, a fan group that paints their bodies in the Florida Atlantic school colors. The hOWLetts are a student club that attend gameday events and assist in recruiting athletes.Since 2002, Florida Atlantic students have been using Owl Fingers (the “OK” hand sign) to show school pride and wish the athletic teams luck during football point after attempts (PATs) and basketball free throws.