Andrew Lebel of Falmouth, Maine, battles last month with an Atlantic bluefin tuna about 20 miles off the coast of southern Maine. SOUTH PORTLAND, Maine -- On a drizzling summer afternoon in South Portland, marine biologist Walt Golet is helping attach a quarter-ton Atlantic bluefin tuna to a heavy crane so it can be weighed as part of New England's premier tournament for the giant fish. And this year's derby is different from many in the past -- there are far more tuna. A decade ago, participants in the Sturdivant Island Tuna Tournament went consecutive years in which they didn't catch a single fish in the Gulf of Maine. This year, fishermen set a record with 30, including the 801-pound winner. Their record haul is happening amid a turning point for the giant tuna, an iconic species that scientists say appears to be slowly recovering in the Atlantic Ocean. The re-emergence of bluefin, which can weigh more than half a ton, has led to debate among fishermen, conservationists and … [Read more...] about Atlantic tuna making comeback
Atlantic
5 Takeaways: Chris Robison, Florida Atlantic look lost, lethargic in blowout 63-14 loss to No. 7 Oklahoma
Florida Atlantic quarterback Chris Robison (2) is pursued by Oklahoma linebacker Curtis Bolton (18) on Sept. 1, 2018. (Caitlyn Epes/The Oklahoma Daily) The start to perhaps the most anticipated season in Florida Atlantic’s history felt more like a reminder of the Owls’ darkest days, as FAU allowed 56 unanswered points in a 63-14 loss to No. 7 Oklahoma. Entering play having not won 10 straight games since a 34-31 defeat to Buffalo on Sept. 23, 2017, FAU (0-1) gave up a touchdown on its first drive and trailed 28-0 after the first quarter. Oklahoma quarterback Kyler Murray, the 9th overall pick of the Oakland Athletics in June’s MLB Draft, completed nine of his 11 passes for 209 yards and two touchdowns. Redshirt junior Rodney Anderson was one of four Sooners running backs to score rushing touchdowns and finished with 100 yards on only five carries, and Marquise “Hollywood” Brown caught six passes for 133 yards and a touchdown. As for FAU, the bright … [Read more...] about 5 Takeaways: Chris Robison, Florida Atlantic look lost, lethargic in blowout 63-14 loss to No. 7 Oklahoma
BREAKING: Florida Atlantic names Oklahoma transfer Chris Robison starting quarterback
Florida Atlantic Owls quarterback Chris Robison (2) during a scrimmage at FAU Stadium in Boca Raton, Florida on August 11, 2018. (Allen Eyestone / The Palm Beach Post) BOCA RATON — Florida Atlantic has found its starting quarterback, and it’s someone the Owls’ first opponent, the No. 7 Oklahoma Sooners, are all too familiar with. Redshirt freshman Chris Robison, who transferred to FAU last August after being dismissed from Oklahoma, started against those same Sooners on Satuday afternoon. Robison, 19, completed both of his passes for 26 yards on the Owls’ first drive, which lasted just over four minutes before stalling in Sooners territory. Robison, 19, beat out redshirt junior and former “Last Chance U” star De’Andre Johnson and graduate student Rafe Peavey, who joined the Owls shortly into camp. A four-star recruit from Texas, Robison signed with Oklahoma out of high school and enrolled early, but was arrested for public … [Read more...] about BREAKING: Florida Atlantic names Oklahoma transfer Chris Robison starting quarterback
How can Florida Atlantic upset No. 7 Oklahoma? 5 ways Owls can pull off biggest win in program history
FAU running back Devin Singletary runs up the middle against FIU during the Owls’ victory on Nov. 18, 2017. Singletary will need to build off last year’s historic season if the Owls hope to upset Oklahoma. (Allen Eyestone / The Palm Beach Post) BOCA RATON — The Lane Train begins its second trip around the college football world with potentially the most difficult stop yet. The talk of college football after going 11-3 last season and winning both the Conference USA Championship and the Boca Raton Bowl, Lane Kiffin’s Florida Atlantic Owls start the 2018 season with a road game against one of the nation’s best teams. Riding a ten-game winning streak and having scored at least 30 points in 12 straight games, the Owls could see both trends break in their Saturday showdown with No. 7 Oklahoma (noon, Fox). And while FAU is a popular pick both to pull off the upset and cover the spread (+21 as of Friday), Kiffin is trying to keep things in perspective. … [Read more...] about How can Florida Atlantic upset No. 7 Oklahoma? 5 ways Owls can pull off biggest win in program history
Florida Atlantic players “honored” to begin season with showdown against No. 7 Oklahoma
Rodney Anderson #24 of the Oklahoma Sooners reacts during the first half of the 2018 College Football Playoff Semifinal Game against the Georgia Bulldogs at the Rose Bowl Game presented by Northwestern Mutual at the Rose Bowl on January 1, 2018 in Pasadena, California. (Harry How/Getty Images North America) BOCA RATON — The challenge of facing a Power Five team early in the season is nothing new for Florida Atlantic’s veteran players. Still, there’s something about starting the year with a game against a nationally ranked, blue blood program in the No. 7 Oklahoma Sooners that has FAU players both excited and grateful. “We’re honored to go up there and play a team like Oklahoma,” said wide receiver Jovon Durante. Though FAU has played a Power Five opponent every year since major conference realignment began in 2010, the Owls are 0-16 in those games. FAU faced the then-No. 9-ranked Wisconsin Badgers last September in Madison and lost 31-14, … [Read more...] about Florida Atlantic players “honored” to begin season with showdown against No. 7 Oklahoma