Florida Atlantic University issued the following announcement on Nov. 2.
“To Believe is to Be Strong”
That phrase was introduced to Florida Atlantic University fans by inaugural head coach Howard Schnellenberger in 1998. It was the legendary football coach’s mantra when he wooed community leaders, philanthropic fans and then-recruits as his dream of building a football program in “Paradise” started to come to fruition.
This Saturday, the Owls will look into the eyes of Hagerty Head Football Coach Willie Taggart as he prepares them to play host to Marshall this weekend, for the 250th game in program history. And, as Taggart looks into the eyes of his gathered players, one player will look back with the wisdom and focus no other player possesses, defensive back Zyon Gilbert.
Since taking the field for the first time on Sept. 1, 2001, 817 players have practiced, prepared, and represented the FAU football team. But none more than Gilbert, a senior cornerback. Gilbert will dress for his 57th game as an Owl, missing just one opportunity to play in 58 chances, since coming to FAU in 2017 as a true freshman.
His 57 games played is the most of any Owl and his total stands at 23 percent of all Owl games played all-time. There are just four former Owls who have represented the university more. Schnellenberger and his longtime assistant Kurt Vanvalkenburgh worked the FAU sidelines together for the program’s first 11 seasons totaling 132 games, while both Jared Allen and Nexon Dovilus combined their playing careers with a coaching career that tallied 131 and 72 games, respectively. One other tops them all, Kris Bartels played for FAU from 2004-2007 (42 games) and has chronicled the Owls from either the radio or television booth for a total of 144 games.
Schnellenberger saw football as a rally point for a university where “mommas and papas” could return each year, for Homecoming, and show their sons and daughters where their parents met. He believed college football could be an opportunity for both young men to grow and for a community to rally behind.
Gilbert hails from the state of Alabama, a place where Schnellenberger cut his teeth under the instruction of Hall of Fame coach Paul “Bear” Bryant in the mid-60’s, winning four national championships. Gilbert was recruited by Lane Kiffin, who joined the Owls in 2017 after serving as an offensive coordinator for the Crimson Tide, where he too won a national championship.
Gilbert knew of Kiffin but would learn to respect Schnellenberger, who not only founded the FAU football program, but oversaw the construction of an on-campus stadium which field bears his name, and where Gilbert has played each of his home games since 2017, including two Conference USA Championship games and two Boca Raton Bowl Championship games.
“Lane [Kiffin] gave me the opportunity...I came here to play a lot of ball and knowing that I’ve played 56 games and have had the impact that I have had is a goal accomplished. When you’re playing, you don’t even realize and aren’t thinking about a total number. I’m just playing every game like it’s my first.”
Gilbert showed his belief and strength by moving 680 miles from home to live out his dream. He started four games as a freshman playing safety. He has adjusted to five defensive coordinators and switched positions prior to the 2020 season. He chose FAU after his visit to Boca Raton and agreed to the position switch just as quickly.
Since arriving in the summer of 2017, he has learned a lot about Schnellenberger, who he was and what he did for the university, for the team and for the community around FAU. It’s apropos that Schnellenberger was on hand at the 2017 Boca Raton Bowl to present Kiffin and the Owls their third bowl trophy in as many appearances, while Gilbert danced and celebrated with his teammates.
“Winning the championship those two years [2017 and 2019] are my best memories so far. If I don’t remember anything else, I’ll remember winning those championships. That’s something nobody can take away from any of us. Seeing what it did to the community around us makes us want to keep doing it year after year.”
Gilbert aspires and trains to continue his playing career but has also heeded the advice given to him by his family. He will earn his communication degree this December and knows that he is well prepared for any job that may come his way.
“You learn a lot as a student-athlete. Good or bad, you take everything that you learn and review it for yourself,” said Gilbert. “You learn to accept both success and failures. So, the next time you get a challenge, you think back on the things that happened with the last supervisor or last coach and adjust and you just keep being consistent with the good.”
Schnellenberger dreamt of FAU’s on-campus stadium serving as the cornerstone to the university’s campus and worked to make that a reality. Gilbert dreamt of playing Division I college football and has worked to become a cornerstone of the Owls’ defense.
“In any defense, if you have good corners, it gives your defense a lot of flexibility and what the other positions – safeties, linebackers, and defensive line – can do. If you don’t have a good corner that always needs protection over the top, it takes somebody away from something else they could have been doing.”
Much like any building (or stadium), if your cornerstone is strong and built on a solid foundation, the rest of the house can be created.
“The pass game and coverage go hand-in-hand. If you don’t have one, you have to have the other, added Gilbert.”
Gilbert’s success has gone hand-in-hand with the Owls’ success. No matter what his future holds, he will leave with the knowledge that “To Believe is to Be Strong.”
“Whatever you believe in, don’t let anyone take that from you. Be strong with your decisions. Be strong with your life. Believe in it and go get it, concluded Gilbert.”
Gilbert will leave FAU at the conclusion of the 2021 season with his degree in hand, two – if not three – conference titles, and potentially four bowl games under his belt. He has served as a cornerstone for the FAU program and has been instrumental in its success.
Original source can be found here.
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