FAU Football: WR DeAndre McNeal thanks Wisconsin for hospitality

FAU football receiver DeAndre McNeal made sure to thank Wisconsin football for its hospitality in the wake of Hurricane Irma.

In new head coach Lane Kiffin’s second game with the FAU football program, the team faced  monumental challenge: heading to Madison, Wisc., to take on No. 10 Wisconsin. Despite the tall order on the field, the Owls had an even harder challenge facing them in the wake of Hurricane Irma.

Wisconsin defeated the Owls 31-14 this past Saturday, moving Florida Atlantic to 0-2 on the season, while the Badgers improved to 2-0. While completely opposite in record so far, the two shared a connection that is much bigger than football.

The Owls traveled to Madison a few days prior to the game and knew that a major tropical storm was awaiting their hometown of Boca Raton, Fla. While the college football Saturday provided a nice escape from it all for a brief moment, the team knew that would have some hardships getting back to the university and the state itself.

That is where the Wisconsin Badgers stepped in. Already paying FAU money to come and play the football game, the Wisconsin program also offered to house and provide meals for the Owls team should they not be able to return home folloiwng the game.

And that is exactly what happened.

The Badgers were able to provide hospitality to the team and their entire staff and FAU and their players made sure to thank the school, team and city for everything they did.

One of the players from FAU that was more than grateful was wide receiver DeAndre McNeal. During Saturday’s game, McNeal hauled in three catches for 103 yards, including the wide open bomb that secured the first score of the game for the Owls and silenced a loud Camp Randall Stadium.

“Scoring a touchdown in Camp Randall was breath taking,” McNeal said. “I used to play at the University of Texas and I never got to score a touchdown in DKR but [scoring] a touchdown in Camp Randall was a moment I’ll never forget!”

McNeal transfered from Fullerton College in California after attending Texas for a brief time. McNeal was a three-star recruit out of college, but the No. 25 wide receiver in the nation from the class of 2015 according to Rivals. He has become a huge get for Kiffin and the Owls.

“Playing for Coach Kiffin is honestly an honor and a privilege, he’s a exceptional genius at what he does,” McNeal said of his coach. “But it is my job and responsibility to take all the tools he gives me and make them happen on and off the field.”

McNeal has done just that, hauling in seven catches for 191 yards and two touchdowns on the young season. But despite his early success, the recent situation going on with the weather in Florida has put everything into perspective and for the Badgers to lend a helping hand means everything to McNeal and the FAU team.

“God is definitely clapping his hands and bragging on the Badgers for the hospitality they’ve given us,”McNeal said. “As soon as I heard what they were going to do for us I tweeted to them immediately. Words can’t explain how grateful we are for the Badgers, and the city of Madison, Wisc. From the bottom of our hearts we appreciate everything that Wisconsin has done for us.” 

McNeal immediately took to Twitter to thank the Wisconsin football team for its hospitality and once that happened, McNeal received tons of blessing and praise from Badger fans that saw his message.

While this was far from a vacation, McNeal made the most of his short stay in Madison, reminding him of his time back in Texas, specifically Austin.

“I’ve definitely enjoyed the scenery that the beautiful state of Wisconsin has to offer,” McNeal responded when asked about his time in Madison. “I’m from Texas so I can kinda relate to the cornfields, but Texas is flat and Wisconsin is very hilly. The good ole Great Plains.”

McNeal’s upbeat personality has helped make light of the situation and truly points out that there can be a silver lining in every situation. Ready to get back to Florida, his thoughts are with those who were hit hard by the storm.

“Prayers and thoughts go back to all my teammates’ families back in Florida and God Bless all the Floridians that were affected by Hurricane Irma.”

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The Owls are scheduled to return home this Saturday against Bethune-Cookman.