74-year-old Florida Atlantic coach Howard Schnellenberger is known for its running attack and this team is no different

He knows that the conference's reputation hinges on the success of his team, especially in bowls.

Conference champion Troy played Sunday in New Orleans Bowl, during the Southern Miss to overtime before losing 30-27. So it is up to Florida Atlantic in the Motor City Bowl if Sunday Belt is having a post-season wins this year

Schnellenberger, 74, will attend his sixth bowl as a head coach. Four of his five victories have been by double-clicking digits. The second, his most memorable was a stunning 31-30 victory over Nebraska in the 1984 Orange Bowl Classic that propelled the University of Miami to its first national championship.

Schnellenberger credits his bowl knowledgeable that his days as an assistant coach under Bear Bryant at Alabama in the early 1960s.

He believes Friday night's game at Ford Field another step forward for a program that played its first game in 2001.

2008-owls, which finished 6-6 and had to lobby for a post-season bid, the first Schnellenberger-coached team to play in successive bowl games. Oklahoma was 5-5-1 in his only season there, but he has now seen two teams from each of his main stops (Miami, Louisville, FAU) in bowls.

And FAU has done in just three years as a full Division IA member.

Carr recalled "Coach Schnellenberger. When you see this man, coach, you will understand why he has been able to do the things he has done in his career.