Good Morning, Owl Nation. When John Mitchell '20 first stepped onto Florida Atlantic University's campus, the then-18-year-old envisioned where his life would go over the next 15 years. First, he'd tackle playing wide receiver for FAU's football team; next, he would play professional football; and then he would become a doctor.
 
Mitchell's resolve was tested on multiple occasions, including twice when he suffered season-ending injuries in 2017 and 2020. During each of those injuries, he made sure to observe the surgeons, pay attention during office visits, and collaborate directly with the physical therapist, all while asking questions and doing his own research.

Go here for the full feature on Mitchell, including his football position change, NFL aspirations, acceptance into medical school, and dipping his toes into The Bachelorette pool.

 
What a Brew we have for you! Check it out below!

🙌🏼 Feature on Claudio Soto, FAU’s spirit coordinator and dance head coach
🏈 Junior defensive lineman Jacob Merrifield lands on esteemed watch list
⏳ On This Day in FAU Athletics
🦉 And much, much more

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🔼 Seeing Double. One might say that Claudia Soto, O.D., wears two sets of glasses. By day, she is an optometrist who helps patients improve their vision. At night, she is Florida Atlantic University's spirit coordinator and head dance coach, helping students turn their vision of being competitive team members into a reality.
 
An alumna of Atlantic High School in Delray Beach, Soto attended Florida Atlantic to remain close to home. She joined the dance team in 2004—the same year they finished second at the National Dance Association competition open division—and served as its captain in 2005 and 2006. She also met her husband, Jeremy Vaca, in her undergraduate biology class.

Go here for more on how the opportunity came about, how Soto manages her day and night jobs, and the amazing connections these dancers have even long after they graduate.

🔼 Now That’s Good Work. Florida Atlantic's Jacob Merrifield, a junior defensive lineman, has been named to the Allstate Wuerffel Trophy and AFCA Good Works Team Watch List.
 
Merrifield, a 2023 team captain as a sophomore, saw action in each of the squad's 12 games despite a nagging injury much of the year. The Georgia native recorded 14 tackles, including one for a yard loss. He was also a key member of the punt unit.
 
The watch list comprises 178 nominees representing players and coaches from colleges and universities nationwide (107 at the FBS level).

🔼 On This Day in FAU Athletics. ⏳ 👇🏼

🎾 Three FAU Tennis Players Named Scholar Athletes - Owls named All-Academic Team - 2016
⚾️ Jeff Beliveau Makes MLB Debut with the Cubs - 2012
⚾️ Andy Mee Finds Baseball Success in Land of the Midnight Sun - 2010
🥇 2001-2002 Athletic Teams Post the Best Season in History - 2002

🔼 Early Bird Gets the Owls Tickets. Single-game tickets are now on sale. Buy between now and August 2nd to SAVE during the early bird window. Prices increase after August 2nd!

🦉 ONE BIG THING

Poster Boys. FAU is Boca Raton’s hometown team! Keep an eye out for 2024 posters all over town. If you want us to drop some off at your establishment, just hit us up in the replies on X/Twitter.

🏈 COUNTDOWN TO KICKOFF: 39 DAYS

Number of the Day: 39

That’s right; we are just 39 days away from the return of FAU Football
under the Friday Night Lights in East Lansing with Michigan State on August 30.

Did you hear that the Owls announced via @FAUFootball that a pair of 2024 season tickets would be given to the first fan that leads Florida Atlantic to a national championship victory in the EA College Football 25 video game? The fan must be a follower of @FAUFootball on X and Instagram and post proof of their national championship victory – with photos and/or videos -- by tagging the Owls on both platforms. Go here for all the deets!

🦉 PARADISE TRIVIA

⇢⇢⇢ The AAC recently revealed the 2024-25 conference men's basketball matchups, highlighted by Florida Atlantic hosting USF, Memphis, Charlotte, and UAB at Eleanor R. Baldwin Arena. How many AAC conference games will there be in the upcoming schedule?

Think you know the answer?

Scroll to the bottom to find out!

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📅 THE WEEK AHEAD

Friday, August 30
🏈 First football game of the season @ Michigan State @ TBA

⇢ Go here for all the information on the various FAU Athletics Summer Camps. 🌞

🦉Go here for the full Florida Atlantic University Athletics Calendar

TRIVIA ANSWER 🦉

The Answer: The American Athletic Conference has revealed the 2024-25 conference men's basketball matchups in its 18-game AAC schedule.

Go here for the full details.

🦉 Let’s get this week started, y’all!