FAU cornerback D'Joun Smith offered a unique explanation as to why then No. 22 Nebraska moved the ball so freely in the Cornhuskers 55-7 season-opening victory over the Owls: FAU was over confident.
This happened despite the fact that most prognostication services considered FAU at least a three-touchdown underdog.
“Even though people thought we were the underdog in our mind we weren't the underdog,” said Smith, a preseason All-Conference USA selection.
Smith said he and his teammates thought that if they came out and “punched them in the mouth” Nebraska players would wilt, and FAU's superior talent would take over.
Nebraska, however, punched them back, racking up 784 yards of total offense – the most ever against an FAU team.
Despite those numbers Smith still thinks FAU could take Nebraska, given another shot.
“If we go back to Nebraska again I still think in our hearts, and I think we all think that, we are going in and beating them,” Smith said. “They sure weren't faster than us. We had way more speed than them. They just capitalized on our mistakes.”
Yes, that's a whole corn field of mistakes. The Owls, of course, don't get another shot at Nebraska. Instead, they travel to No. 2 Alabama. And it's still uncertain whether Smith will be able to face the Tide.