http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/sfl-fau24nov24,0,4604640.story?coll=sfla-sports-headlines USF a role model for FAU, FIU By Ted Hutton Staff Writer Posted November 24 2005 In the race to be the No. 4 team behind the big three of Florida, Florida State and Miami, upstarts Florida Atlantic and Florida International lost ground this season to South Florida and Central Florida. Saturday's fourth annual Shula Bowl between FAU and FIU features the state's only Division I-A teams that are not bowl-eligible. That leaves FIU and FAU lagging in terms of on-field success and national attention, and it also may be felt in the critical area of recruiting, especially after USF and UCF get their expected invitations to bowl games. "It's tough every year," FIU coach Don Strock said about recruiting against USF and UCF. "I'm sure the success they have had will escalate their recruiting." "You want to be able to show you made it to a bowl, because that is quite an achievement," said FAU assistant head coach and recruiting coordinator Kurt Van Valkenburgh, "so they will push that." South Florida (6-3, 4-1 Big East) has a chance to get to a Bowl Championship Series game and huge payday of $13.5 million by winning its final two games. Central Florida (8-3, 7-1 Conference USA) will be hosting the conference championship game Dec. 3, with a trip to the Auto Zone Liberty Bowl, and the $1.3 million per team payout, likely going to the winner. FAU (2-8, 2-4) and FIU (3-6, 1-4) are finishing their first full seasons in I-A and first year in the Sun Belt, and the only thing at stake Saturday is bragging rights. FAU coach Howard Schnellenberger is not too concerned and said Florida has enough talent to fuel all seven I-A teams. "I don't see it threatening us that much," Schnellenberger said, referring to the out-of-state teams that flood Florida looking for talent. "They have moved up on the carpetbaggers from the north, and so have we." Schnellenberger visited USF when he was creating the Owls' program, and has said the Bulls served as a model, since they moved quickly from Division I-AA to I-A. USF is four years ahead of FAU and finishing its ninth season. FAU is finishing its fifth. "What South Florida has done is miraculous," Schnellenberger said. "We hope that we can continue to trail them at the accelerated pace that we have and not fall behind in our development."