EAST LANSING - It all fell apart for the FAU Owls in their 17-0 shutout loss to Michigan State and hopefully, as they continue in their development as a FBS subdivision school, they learned a valuable lesson.
Keep your mouths shut.
FAU's senior defensive tackle Jervonte Jackson started the trash talking early in the week; "They are big and strong, but we have the same thing in certain areas and we have a little speed as well. We'll show them, and we'll give them a little run for their money."
Then it was senior tailback Charles Pierre who added his two cents; "Michigan State is a good team, but they are definitely beatable. I feel like if we go out there and play close to perfect football, we'll come out on top."
But the worst of it came from kick returner Jeff Blanchard who promised "We will score a lot against them, trust me."
Instead, the Owls were on the losing in of an old-fashioned tail-whipping. The Spartans ran over and through the big-mouthed Owls to the tune of 282 yards and two touchdowns by Spartans senior tailback Javon Ringer.
Second, the Owls need to find better transportation.
The plane they were to board to East Lansing had a broken overhead compartment forcing them to move all their luggage and equipment to another plane and not take off until just before 10:00pm.
They landed in East Lansing shortly before midnight for a 12 noon kickoff.
Third, FAU's best player came up small.
Quarterback Rusty Smith, who is viewed in many quarters as a NFL prospect, saw his stock drop big time with a 8-of-34 performance for 143 yards and a fumble lost.
Pierre rushed 12 times for just 58 yards and a fumble.
Only FAU's Frantz Joseph showed he was ready to play with the big boys in a 14-tackle performance.
After talking trash and getting whipped by Texas and now repeating the mistake, FAU should have learned a valuable lesson.....keep your mouth shut, work hard and good things will happen....eventually.