Bleacher Report - Articles by Jessica Reuter

UCF Fans: How To Secure A Bowl Game Ticket

Jessica Reuter — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 19:01:57 -0500

Will you be one of the many diehard Knights fans who will join the team on the road for their bowl appearance?

For those of you that are, there are many exciting destinations where UCF might be headed this year, including New Orleans, Washington D.C. They could even have an opportunity to party down not too far from town in the St. Petersburg Bowl.

In my articles, you've heard that the place to go for the latest UCF Knights bowl information is UCFBowl.com. Keep checking back there for the latest, as the site is affiliated directly with UCFAthletics.com.

You can begin ordering your bowl tickets now! All you've got to do to order your tickets immediately, no matter where the bowl ends up, is log onto the UCFBowl.com website or call UCF Athletics directly at 407-823-1000. You may also go in person to the UCF Athletics ticket office on UCF's campus.

To ensure that you will get bowl tickets, order directly through UCF Athletics and order today. To secure the best seating, orders must be placed prior to 5 p.m. on December 4, 2009.

"Seating assignments will be filled in accordance with the GKC Priority Point System when the bowl game is announced," said a CBS news release. "All other UCF fan orders will be filled by order date following the GKC allocation."

By purchasing this way you will definitely sit with the Knights faithful wherever they may go. And that's the best thing we can do for our team that has worked so hard this season—show our support!

UCF's Rocky Ross Named to ESPN Mag's Academic All-America Second Team

Jessica Reuter — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 15:35:15 -0500

UCFAthletics.com just announced to the media that UCF senior wide receiver Rocky Ross was named one of 2009's ESPN The Magazine's Academic All-America Second Team, one of the biggest awards a student athlete can earn. The College Sports Information Directors of America chose the members of this year's teams.

Ross is second this year on UCF's squad with 31 catches for 371 yards and three touchdowns. His best play of the season was against Marshall a few weeks ago on national television. Ross grabbed the game winning score with less than 20 seconds on the play clock, a truly remarkable event in a closely contested game.

The award winner has definitely been an instrumental part of the Knights' success this season, as they now go 7-4 into their last game of the season at UAB this coming Saturday. UCF has clinched a bowl game, the location of which has not been determined yet. For more information, go to www.ucfbowl.com.

UCF Knights Are Bowl Bound, but Where Will They Go?

Jessica Reuter — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 18:12:38 -0500

With a 49-0 at-home shutout against the Tulane Green Wave, the UCF Knights secured their seventh win and are now bowl bound. To which bowl will they go? It's not certain yet, but here's a look at the possibilities:

The Three Most Likely Bowls: St. Petersburg Bowl, Eagle Bank Bowl, R and L Carriers New Orleans Bowl

St. Petersburg Bowl

The St. Petersburg Bowl, which will take place on December 19, 2009, in St. Petersburg, Florida, will be a C-USA vs. Big East game. The sixth pick from the Big East and the fourth pick from C-USA will play.

During bowl week in St. Petersburg, there will be a slew of events, including the Player VIP Party at Red Mesa and PUSH Ultra Lounge, the "Party on the Pier" at the St. Petersburg Pier on Wednesday December 16th, a battle of the bands, block party, and a kickoff at the Tampa Bay Rays' Tropicana Field at 8:00 PM.

There has only been one other St. Petersburg bowl, last year, in which the USF Bulls played the Memphis Tigers-Matt Groethe led the Bulls to a 41-14 win. The game will be televised nationally on ESPN.

The field will be in the home plate corner of the stadium, extending down the first-base line into right field. You can now pick up tickets for this game at ticketmaster.com.

Eagle Bank Bowl

The Eagle Bank Bowl will be played in Washington, D.C. It will take place on December 29, 2009, at 4:30 PM, featuring ACC vs. Army/C-USA. Events open to the public include and ACC and Army/C-USA Welcome Reception, in which participating teams arrive in D.C. on Christmas evening and are greeted by fans, local alumni, and pep squads.

There will be "plenty of cider and hot chocolate" according to eaglebankbowl.com, and the event kicks off an exciting week of bowl entertainment.

The Eagle Bank Bowl teams luncheon will be held in Washington, D.C., at the JW Marriott Hotel, 1331 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, from 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm on Sunday, December 27, 2009. Tickets are $75.00 and can be purchased at eaglebankbowl.com, the same website in which you can find out all bowl information.

R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl

The third likely bowl for the Knights is the New Orleans Bowl held in, you guessed it, the Big Easy. It will be held December 20, 2009. The Sun Belt champion will be the home team for this bowl. Last year, Southern Miss squeaked one out against Troy, 30-27.

The game will be held at the Superdome, home of the New Orleans Saints. Notable events during bowl week include the Sun Belt Athlete Party, by invitation only, Wednesday, December 16, the C-USA Athlete Party December 17, the R+L Carriers Event Luncheon, open to limited public, a players' community outreach, a battle of the bands, a VIP party, and a tailgate party.

Tickets for this event can be bought at ticketmaster.com.

Less-Likely Bowls: Sheraton Hawaii Bowl, Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl

Sheraton Hawaii Bowl

The Hawaii Bowl hasn't been a successful venue as of yet for the Knights, but if they make it to the Hawaii Bowl this year, they'll have another chance to claim victory. On December 24, 2009, the game will take place at Aloha Stadium in Honolulu, Hawaii. On October 29, 2009, the Hawaii Bowl kicked off their celebration of the annual bowl with Octobeerfest, a three hour event at the Sheraton Waikiki Ballroom.

The halftime performance will feature one of Hawaii's most famous musicians, Henry Kapono. The game will take place between a C-USA team and a Western Athletic Conference team.

Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl

The Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl takes place in Fort Worth, Texas. Kickoff is 11 a.m. on New Year's Eve 2009 at Amon G. Carter Stadium. The game will feature a C-USA team vs. a Mountain West conference team.

The bowl will feature a patriotic theme, and big events during bowl week include a team kickoff luncheon, a guitar hero event, and a pep rally presented by Bud Light.

For more information about this bowl, go to armedforcesbowl.com. Tickets can be bought on Ticketmaster.

UCF Knights Football's 2010 Verbal Commitments

Jessica Reuter — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 20:51:52 -0500

No matter how the season turns out this year, 13 seniors will be leaving UCF's football squad, including quarterback Brett Hodges.

I decided to take a look at this year's recruiting information to find out who is coming to UCF next year, who might be coming to UCF next year, and what that will mean for a young 2010 team.

Rivals.com, a recruiting database, lists the committed/unsigned recruits from each NCAA football team, how many “stars” they are worth, and a multitude of other statistics. I utilized the web site to take a look at the verbal commitments we have on board already for the 2010 season.

Verbal Commitments

Blake Bortles, quarterback from Oviedo High School, just might be Brett Hodges' more successful successor. Bortles, who plays on his field just miles from UCF's, has had ample opportunity to take in the Knights' lifestyle.

Bortles is listed with three stars at Rivals.com, is 6'4”, and 230 lbs. Look for him to bulk up in the offseason and make a big impression on coaches before next season.

Glen Stanley, a linebacker from Thatcher, AZ, is one of UCF's big-time recruits and the kind of pick up we expect from the team. He is listed with four stars at Rivals.com, the average star number of a Florida recruit.

He's 6'2”, 245 lbs., and will definitely also have to hit the weight room this offseason. However, he's sure to be a powerful component of the Knights' squad in 2010.

Justin and Jordan McCray, brothers from Miami, FL, are both outside linebackers also star-rated. They will surely be a dynamic duo on the UCF defense.

Other star rated verbal commitments include Cornelius Whitehead, a WR from Mount Dora, FL, Cody Ralston, a linebacker from Georgia, Jordan Ozerities, a DB also from Mount Dora, Quenton Brown, a DE from Tucker, Georgia, Tommy Sanders, a linebacker from Cordele, Georgia, and Perry Meiklejohn, an OL from Miami.

There are eight other non-star-rated players that have verbally committed to the UCF football program.

The Knights, overall, look to have made some good recruiting decisions, especially for being one of the less glamorous Florida programs to play for. Ten of the players are star rated, and only 13 are leaving, which means that the team is replacing its strength, not just their numbers.

My prediction: The Knights will rule C-USA next year, with Blake Bortles at the helm.

UCF QB Brett Hodges Is Clutch Against No. 12 Houston

Jessica Reuter — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 20:58:19 -0500

UCF quarterback Brett Hodges completed 12 consecutive passes this weekend, earning him a total of 21 for 25 passes and the honor of Bright House Student Athlete of the Week.

Even though the crowd was far less than sold out, Hodges played as if for a large crowd, completing a total of 241 yards and a 24-yard touchdown pass to Quincy McDuffie in the fourth quarter.

That quarter was part of yet another 2009 after-halftime rally. The Knights were down 17-10 at thirty minutes, and managed to come back 37-32 over a No.12 ranked Houston team.

Hodges' consecutive pass completions are only second to Daunte Culpepper's 15 straight passes against Samford in 1997.

If Hodges would have played this way against teams all year, perhaps he would have been the Culpepper replacement I have been looking for—at least for this year.

Thanks to Hodges' and the Knights' exciting comeback, the team is now bowl eligible . A conference championship is still very possible, and another win is in UCF's sights as they play Tulane next Saturday at 2 p.m.

The game is the last of the Knights' home games this season. The last game of the year will be played against the UAB Blazers in Birmingham as C-USA's East Division shuffles out in dramatic fashion.

UCF Knights Football Set Their Sights on C-USA Championship

Jessica Reuter — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 19:02:12 -0500

History was made yesterday afternoon as the UCF Knights beat their first ranked team ever. Attendance was low, but the black-and-gold's morale wasn't. The team held the Houston Cougars off for a close 37-32 win.

Big scores from UCF showed that Brett Hodges and his crew are ready to put up numerous touchdowns at home against the Tulane Green Wave next week. Tulane is only 1-5 in conference play, a should-be easy game for the Knights.

If UCF indeed does win against Conference-USA competition Tulane next Saturday, they will be 5-2 in conference play, putting them in prime position for a conference championship game invitation.

What makes next Saturday more exciting—East Division No. 3 UCF will watch No.1 East Carolina and No. 2 UAB play against each other. Of course, the Knights will be rooting for the Blazers.

That makes Nov. 28 a crucial day at Legion Field in Birmingham, Ala. That will be the final regular season game and the day that UCF plays UAB in a definitive matchup.

If UCF wins, they will surpass UAB in the East Division standings. East Carolina will have to beat Southern Miss in order to win the East Division over the Knights, making it a sure-fire breathless late November day for Central Florida fans.

Brett Hodges and Brynn Harvey, who rested against Texas, came back with a vengeance yesterday at the Bright House. Hodges went 21-of-25 for 241 yards and one touchdown while Harvey rushed for 139 yards and three touchdowns.

Read Jessica at Examiner.com Orlando Sports

UCF Football's 2010 Schedule Features Matchup with Kansas State

Jessica Reuter — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 21:59:01 -0500

A fresh, exciting 2010 UCF football schedule has been finalized, with a two game-series against the Kansas State Wildcats starting in the '10 season.

The Knights will head to Manhattan, Kansas, and the Wildcats will come back to play part deux at Bright House Stadium in 2012.

Highlight games include ACC teams N.C. State and South Dakota State, and reigning MAC Champion Buffalo. Conference USA matchups include home games vs. division foes Southern Miss, East Carolina, and UAB, along with the West Division's Rice Owls.

The league road schedule features games against Tulane, Houston, Memphis, and Marshall.

The full schedule is as follows:

09/04/10	vs South Dakota Coyotes	Bright House Network Stadium - Orlando, Florida	TBD
09/11/10	vs NC State Wolfpack	Bright House Network Stadium - Orlando, Florida	TBD
09/18/10	vs Buffalo Bulls	Bright House Network Stadium - Orlando, Florida	TBD
TBD	vs FIU Golden Panthers	Bright House Network Stadium - Orlando, Florida	TBD
TBD	vs East Carolina Pirates	Bright House Network Stadium - Orlando, Florida	TBD
TBD	vs Rice Owls	Bright House Network Stadium - Orlando, Florida	TBD
TBD	vs Southern Miss Golden Eagles	Bright House Network Stadium - Orlando, Florida	TBD
TBD	vs UAB Blazers	Bright House Network Stadium - Orlando, Florida	TBD
TBD	at Houston Cougars	Robertson Stadium - Houston, Texas	TBD
TBD	at Marshall Thundering Herd	Joan C Edwards Stadium - Huntington, West Virginia	TBD
TBD	at Memphis Tigers	Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium - Memphis, Tennessee	TBD
TBD	at Tulane Green Wave	Louisiana Superdome - New Orleans, Louisiana	TBD

For all ticket information, visit www.ucfathletics.com.

UCF Wants a New Daunte Culpepper

Jessica Reuter — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 20:28:56 -0500

In the years since Daunte Culpepper was drafted in the first round by the Minnesota Vikings, the best way to describe subsequent UCF quarterbacks would be "boring," "ineffective," and "short lived."

There hasn't been any quarterback with the physical presence, psychological poise, and overall athletic ability that Culpepper displayed at the helm of the Knights' offense.

In Culpepper's four-year career at Central Florida, he completed over 11,000 passing yards and threw 81 touchdowns. He rewrote virtually all of the previous UCF quarterback records, approximately 30 in all. He also set an amazing NCAA record to beat Steve Young in single-season completion percentage.

So how can we compare five of the quarterbacks that came after Culpepper to the big man himself? Can we compare them at all?

Ryan Schneider

In the same year George O'Leary took the reins at UCF, starting QB Ryan Schneider was kicked off the team for academic violations. Therefore, his stats are not impressive, or even worthy of looking at.

The amount of academic trouble Schneider had put a minor smudge on the allure of the UCF football team, but the main concern for Knights fans is that there was no leader at the QB spot.

Steven Moffett

Moffett, who glimmered in his career, still can't compare by any means to Daunte Culpepper.

With a career 6,031 yards and 39 touchdowns, Moffett was a decent quarterback, but his team, in his years at UCF, just didn't have the talent and focus as a whole to make things happen.

Kyle Israel

The Kyle Israel era began the subsequent "Really now, where has my quarterback gone?" era. Israel, in his career with the Knights (he started in 2006 and 2007), Israel only netted 3,380 yards and 22 touchdowns.

Michael Greco and Rob Calabrese

As fans celebrated the departure of Kyle Israel from UCF football, Michael Greco entered center stage, but after no time, was replaced by Rob Calabrese. Calabrese, as a freshman, had the weight of the world on his shoulders, and Knights fans gave him credit for what he did do.

Now we're at a time in Knights history where Rob Calabrese is often sharing snaps with Senior Wake Forest pickup Brett Hodges.

Brett Hodges

In his last year as a college football player and his first year as a UCF Knight, Hodges has completed 1,558 yards and 10 touchdowns, and there are still a few games to go.

However, it really illustrates how the quarterback scouting strategy at UCF is weak, and has definitely dipped in the years since Daunte Culpepper. It also shows faulty strategies elsewhere. We need a four-year quarterback, and one in which we can have confidence.

Other Thoughts

1) Either we got lucky with Daunte Culpepper, which is the likely answer, since Culpepper had grades too low to get into the bigger Florida Schools, or scouting was "on it" in 1994 and 1995.

2) Since Culpepper's departure to the Minnesota Vikings and an NFL career, there hasn't been a quarterback to even compare to Daunte. Either the scouts don't know what they are doing, George O'Leary is running a ship without its wheel, or, for some reason, they believe that our running backs and wide receivers can make up for a quarterback, as the opinion was wrongly formed when the amazing Kevin Smith was a UCF Knight.

3) Knights fans want a team quarterback, a "franchise quarterback," one that will play for three or four years, and make for a solid team player. Hodges isn't a failure, but he'll be gone at the end of the season.

When do you think we will pick up another Daunte Culpepper-like quarterback? An imposing, athletic, dominant, four-year player? Write to me at sportsjess@live.com with your answers!

Homecoming Hoopla Adds More Excitement To Central Florida-Houston Matchup

Jessica Reuter — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 19:02:32 -0500

This week, UCF's 2009 Homecoming Week begins, featuring nights of movies, comedy, concerts, the famous spirit splash, and the Knights homecoming parade, culminating with an extremely important C-USA match versus the Houston Cougars.

Despite the excitement and pride the Knights football team has at this time each year, a gray cloud will be silently hovering over Bright House Stadium until the lights come up Saturday night.

Houston, who is currently ranked 15th in the BCS, has lost only one game this season. Does UCF have what it takes to conquer a team that took down, at the beginning of the season, a No. 5 Oklahoma State?

Keys to a win

The Knights simply have to push the beatdown by the Texas Longhorns out of their minds, and move forward to a crucial three-game C-USA match-up stretch. The Knights are 3-2 in conference play so far in 2009, and they definitely have the ability to beat their conference foes, including Houston.

Besides psychological fortitude and a sense of urgency and intensity, the Knights will have to do the following to keep the Cougars at bay:

Stop Case Keenum

The Houston quarterback is quite the force, and not just for Conference USA—Keenum is the nation's most productive passer. Additionally, Keenum made way for a Houston comeback in this past weekend's Houston-Tulsa game to make way for an in-the-last-seconds field goal by Matt Hogan.

The Cougars are used to such wild finishes, and will not hold the intensity to please the Knights for their homecoming game. The Knights must play 100 percent from quarter one to four, never letting up.

Charles Clay

The Knights defense has to make sure they have Charles Clay's number—he scored four touchdowns against Tulsa on Saturday.

Play Knights Football

The Knights know they can do it—heck, Tulsa nearly did. They would serve well to look at Houston-Tulsa tape, take a look at how hard Tulsa was working, what plays were made, and adjust from there.

To UCF's Offense—give both Hodges and Calabrese the confidence they deserve and pump them up.

The Good News

This past weekend, Tulsa almost squeaked out a win against Houston, 46-45. Tulsa is 4-5 overall and 2-3 in C-USA, which is not as impressive as UCF's 5-4, 3-2 record. "So you're saying there's a chance..."

And so the Knights come to a fork in the road: One side says NEXT 3 GAMES: 3 WINS and the other says NEXT 3 GAMES: with a big question mark.

UCF football must choose which one of those roads to follow, stick to it, and grind through the next three match-ups. Only 180 minutes will shuffle out those who will go to bowl games, and those who will watch them on their folks' TV.

What will it be, UCF?

Additional Information: Tailgating Time Change for Homecoming

UCF Athletics has informed us that there will be an early tailgating kickoff time due to homecoming festivities this Saturday, November 14 only. Tailgating activities will be allowed at 7 a.m. For the Tulane game, the tailgating time will go back to 8 a.m.

Following normal game day policy, the campus tailgating area alcohol ban will be lifted until game time, which is 12:00 p.m. Tailgating activities must end two hours after the game is over.

The Gold Zone, areas closest to the Bright House, will close starting at 8:30 a.m. Vehicles entering the Gold Zone after 8:30 a.m. must have the appropriate Gold Zone parking pass.

Other lots on campus may be used at a first come, first-served basis.

Homecoming Parade: Nov. 14, 9:30 a.m.

Fans are encouraged to join the Knights for the 9:30 a.m. Homecoming Parade start. If you plan to watch the parade, be on campus by 9:00 a.m.

The parade will begin on Greek Park Drive and will travel clockwise along North Gemini Boulevard before ending in front of UCF Arena.

To follow Jessica's column, Visit Examiner.com Orlando Sports

To contact Jessica or for any information related to the UCF Knights, email: sportsjess@live.com

For UCF Football, Attitude is Everything

Jessica Reuter — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 13:21:14 -0500

During Tuesday's University of Central Florida football weekly press conference, questions were on rapid fire concerning their upcoming game at Texas next weekend.

When asked if the team could possibly get "too excited" about playing the Longhorns, O'Leary answered that what he was actually concerned about was the early play time (11 a.m.) on a nationally televised stage. When it came down to it, though, he commented that attitude "determines everything else".

Indeed it will, as psychology has either helped or hurt the Knights in each game this 2009 season.

Just take a look at the Rice blowout. The entire Knights team, offense and defense, proved that they are a force to be reckoned with, but I hypothesize that the only reason that such domination occurred is because UCF believed it could happen.

If the team was nationally recognized, the Knights would not have performed so well, just because they feel in their hearts that it wouldn't be possible.

Just look at the games lost to the hand of opponents this year. At home, or away, it doesn't matter—it depends on the perceived prowess of the team. Wins occurred against Samford, Buffalo, Memphis, Rice, and Marshall, teams that, these days, no one cares about. When playing against nationally known Southern Miss, Miami, and East Carolina, the Knights choked, despite the well groomed personnel they have.

And so, Knights fans who have been catching on to the weak state of attitude are sure of a blowout loss against Texas this coming Saturday. And the game against Houston? They're nationally ranked. Can the Knights gather the courage and right attitude to harness a win?

Even though O'Leary claims that attitude is everything for his team, he is the guiding force, and his attitude isn't so great either. When has UCF's head coach ever shown intensity, spirit, excitement? A big never. And so psychological weaknesses will continue to plague the Knights in the coming years.

Coach O'Leary will be with the Knights until 2015 , unless the university can gather a pretty large amount of pocket change from somewhere other than the athletics budget.

Yes, the Knights do have a great chance to win a bowl game this year, but isn't it a weakness for your ball club if your fans don't believe you can win any high profile games? Of course not. If UCF's football organization wants to take things to the next level, they need new personnel, and a whole new outlook on competition.

UCF's Bruce Miller Dominates vs. Marshall

Jessica Reuter — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 20:16:56 -0500

Photo taken and edited by Jessica Reuter

It definitely wasn't a 1990's Buffalo Bills game, but it felt like it as the deafening roar of "BRUUUUUUCE" could be heard from end to end in Bright House Networks Stadium Sunday night.

Defensive end Bruce Miller was instrumental in the Knights' 21-20 comeback victory over the Thundering Herd, putting them on the fast track to C-USA East Division Champion contention.

Miller recorded a team-high 10 tackles against Marshall, including three tackles for a loss, and 2.5 sacks. What's more, with 2:12 left to play in the fourth quarter, Miller tore the ball away from Herd quarterback Brian Anderson, turning possession over to the Knights in what became a game-winning touchdown drive.

For this poignant performance, along with two forced hurries and a broken up pass, Miller was named this week's C-USA Defensive Player of the Week .

"I think he's exceptional," Coach George O'Leary said about Miller after the win. "He is like every good pass rusher, because they are always great second-effort players and they come to play. He was saying on the sideline 'Just hold him up and I will get it out,' and he did."

Miller told the media that the win against Marshall was a "huge boost" for UCF. High confidence to match the bag of offensive and defensive tricks that the Knights have been displaying in games of late is definitely essential for an on-the-road matchup next week against No. 2 ranked Texas.

This week's star defensive end is sure that his team is gaining momentum.

"It's huge for us, especially going in this weekend against Texas and three big conference games after that," he said.

Duly noted. The Knights will play Houston at Bright House on Nov. 14, followed by the Tulane Green Wave on Nov. 21, and will wrap up the regular season on the road against UAB on Nov. 28. If the black and gold can win these important conference games through the month of November, they are likely to be be bowl bound.

For UCF Knights Football, November's a Wild Card

Jessica Reuter — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 15:43:14 -0500

Since 2002, the UCF Knights football squad has gone just over .500 in November with 16 wins and 13 losses. There seems to be no consistent rule of thumb for the eleventh month of the year; in 2003 and 2004. The black and gold were winless in their November games, however, in 2007, they went undefeated for the entire month.

At Marshall in November, since 2002, the Knights lead the series 2-1, and are 4-3 against the Thundering Herd since 2002.

In Conference USA play in 2009, the Knights are 2-2, fifth in the C-USA's East Division. Marshall is second in the East Division with a 3-1 overall C-USA record.

Overall in 2009, the Thundering Herd has only one more win than the Knights, making tonight's nationally televised matchup between the two teams crucial for bowl contention.

UCF has flip-flopped between wins and losses so far this year, but they are coming off of an extremely impressive 49-7 victory over fellow C-USA team Rice.

Last week's win has the entire Knights squad confident coming into a Sunday night home game, and it also proved that the offense, when they want to, has the power to dominate—a key that they cannot forget tonight.

Key players

Brett Hodges

When is Hodges not crucial to the successful outcome of a Knights game? Hodges has been doing an admirable job of harmonizing the offense, having completed thus far 95-for-165 passes for 1216 yards, and eight touchdowns.

UCF's Wide Receivers

WR's Rocky Ross, A.J. Guyton, Jamar Newsome, Brynn Harvey, and Kamar Aiken have a total of 15 touchdowns and over 1,400 yards.

As recently discussed in my Marshall preview article , if the Knights can pull out a win against Marshall tonight on ESPN, they will have an excellent chance of winning C-USA's East Division. Without the W, Marshall will most likely slip into first place in the East Division come the end of November.

The question is, will the Knights make the most out of month number eleven in 2009?

UCF-Marshall: Knights Look to Slam Marshall

Jessica Reuter — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 22:41:20 -0400

Coming off of a 49-7 win on the road versus the Rice Owls, the UCF Knights football squad is looking for another C-USA win at home this coming weekend against the Marshall Thundering Herd.

The Knights will be under the lights starting at 8:00 pm on ESPN, looking to go 5-3 for the third time in five years.

Things look to be on the up and up for the black and gold's offense, as A.J. Guyton was named Bright House Networks athlete of the week for his outstanding performance against Rice.

Emerging stars like Guyton are finding their niche on the UCF offense, and the offense as a whole is flowing well.

Defensively, the Knights are as sharp as ever, and Jarvis Geathers is currently leading the conference in both sacks and tackles for a loss. In fact, the Knights have recorded double digits in TFLs three times in the last four games.

How else will the Knights attack the Herd?

Kickoff return coverage and punt return coverage. The Knights are second in the nation and ninth in the nation, respectively. Also, they are 4-3 through seven games, which bodes well for the future of the season.

The last two times the Knights were 4-3, they won their eighth game to improve to 5-3 and eventually took the C-USA East Division crown and advanced to a bowl game.

Since UCF has been in C-USA with Marshall, they have won all of their games against the Herd. The Knights are also 11-5 in November after joining the conference.

With such favorable conditions, the Knights look to once again win their eighth game on the schedule and build a strong winning record for bowl eligibility. The only bump in the road that could hinder the Knights' momentum is a game on November 7 against the Texas Longhorns at Texas.

Even though their chance of losing is almost inevitable, they must push the game out of their minds and prepare for an action-packed three-game run against C-USA teams.

Photo taken by Jessica Reuter

Read Jessica's articles at Examiner.com Orlando

UCF's First Half Explodes vs. Rice

Jessica Reuter — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 19:32:43 -0400

The curse of the first half was lifted Saturday afternoon as the UCF Knights obliterated the Rice Owls 49-7 on the Owls' home turf.

From the opening snap, UCF was in a position to dominate, as Brett Hodges connected with A.J. Guyton on a 76-yard touchdown to start the scoring attack. The Knights scored a total of 28 points in the first half, the biggest score the team has put up before halftime in the entire 2009 season.

Rice has been noted by many C-USA writers as a "bad" team , but that's no reason to discount the Knights' performance. The 49 points put up by A.J. Guyton, Jamar Newsome, and crew was the most attained by UCF on the road since Sept. 5, 1998, when UCF beat Louisiana Tech.

Additionally, it is UCF's most lopsided win since a 63-0 victory over Liberty in Orlando on Oct. 13, 2001. It is also tied for the 14th largest margin of victory in school history.

So what does this mean in regards to the Knights one week past the halfway mark and how their future will bode for the rest of the season? For one, it shows that the Knights have worked through a lot of their kinks on offense in the first 30 minutes.

Last Monday, Coach O'Leary told the media in his weekly C-USA football coaches' press conference appearance that the offense had been making improvements in line blocking but still were struggling in making effective offensive plays.

His advice to the offense for their improvement included working on fundamental offensive skills and building from that essential first piece. The "big thing" for O'Leary was the three-and-out situation, or lack thereof, for UCF's o-squad.

Against Rice, the Knights had 21 first downs, compared to only 11 against Miami.

Next week, UCF plays Marshall at Bright House on ESPN. The Herd is 5-3, and have been doing well in C-USA play so far this season, winning against three out of four of their conference opponents.

The Knights are 2-2 in conference play, and if they can pull out a win against Marshall next Saturday night, they will be tied for first place in the C-USA East Standings.

The last four games of UCF's schedule are against No. 3 Texas, No. 17 Houston, and C-USA opponents Tulane and UAB. The next two games will be a challenge for the Knights, and at Texas Nov. 7, will most likely record another loss. Houston is 2-1 in conference play, but 6-1 overall.

However, unlike a plate that is too full against Colt McCoy and his Longhorns, UCF can win against Houston if they employ a hearty offense similar to their performance against Rice.

Winning against Houston would surely catapult the Knights into a wonderful position, priming them to win their last two games of the season and finish at at least 7-5.

Securing the win, of course, against Marshall would bring the Knights to 8-4, with a fabulous chance to play in a C-USA championship game this season.

The Knights are in a confident position of flow right now, and Rob Calabrese has had another chance to participate in game play, filling in for Brett Hodges after the gap between UCF and Rice widened. A strong quarterback squad will only help the Knights here on out.

The Marshall/UCF game will air on ESPN at 8:15 next weekend. To get tickets, visit ucfathletics.com.

Photo taken by neilfein/flickr.com and edited by Jessica Reuter.

Visit Jessica's Central Florida Knights column at Examiner.com Orlando

UCF Fans Better Know a Stadium: Rice Stadium

Jessica Reuter — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 01:41:13 -0400

The Knights football team will play Rice at Rice Stadium in Houston this Saturday at 3:30 p.m. Many of you may not know the in and outs of where the Rice Owls play and what their stadium is like.

Here we employ our series Better Know a Stadium in which we check out Rice Stadium and its attributes.

Rice Stadium has been the home of the Rice University football team since 1950. It is the largest on-campus facility in Conference USA, and this year the stadium is celebrating its 60th season.

In February 2008, Rice upgraded their stadium and installed its FieldTurf Dursapine system, which is identical to the surfaces of West Virginia University and the home of the New England Patriots.

An entirely new scoreboard has been constructed above the north end zone, and new aluminum bleachers have been installed.

Rice Stadium retains some of its uniqueness because it was built for football only. There is no running track around the field's perimeter.

The Owl Club, atop the south end zone, is a virtual historical museum of the great Rice University athletes and teams. The room is also used for civic, academic, and other social events.

At various times, Rice Stadium has served as home stadium for the Bluebonnet Bowl, the University of Houston, the Houston Oilers, and Texas Southern University.

On Jan. 13, 1974, the stadium was the site of Super Bowl VIII, in which the Miami Dolphins defeated the Minnesota Vikings 24-7.

Rice Stadium is only one of three campus facilities still in operation that have hosted a Super Bowl.

The stadium has also hosted some major concerts. Pink Floyd, Eagles, Billy Joel, Elton John, and George Strait concerts have drawn large crowds in recent years. More than 10 million fans have watched Rice football at Rice stadium.

Central Florida Football: George O'Leary's Weekly Teleconference for Oct. 19

Jessica Reuter — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 21:07:15 -0400

Today Coach O'Leary talked to the Central Florida media about the loss against Miami, the upcoming game vs. Rice, and the offense. Here's what he had to say:

On the Miami game

"We had opportunities we didn't take advantage of. But Miami is a good football team. When you get opportunities against a top 10 team like Miami you have to take advantage of that. But we didn't."

On the Rice matchup

"I have been watching them on tape and each week they've played some good competition. They have good playmakers that can do something with the ball. I've always thought they were well coached.

"The big thing is getting opportunities to make plays. They have some really good football players there. I've been really impressed with their defensive ends. They are in the position to make plays and they're going to make them."

On Red Zone inconsistency

"Execution is more important than anything else. When you have the chance to make a play you have to make it. Saturday night, we had the ball on the two yard line. You have to punch it in. It's not acceptable obviously, and we have to continue to work on execution and getting better down there (in the red zone)."

On the offense midway through the season

"The offense has improved line blocking wise. We are making plays; we just aren't making enough plays right now. Again, I think the big thing is that they (UCF's football squad) continue to work on their fundamental skills and then go from there.

"Defensively, we're on the field in too many situations. The big thing is 1-10 on three-and-outs. We have to be better. Otherwise, the field changes dramatically."

There will be no UCF coaches' teleconference next Monday, October 26. Coverage of the weekly George O'Leary C-USA teleconference will resume Monday, November 2. In the meantime, check out Jessica's other UCF Knights articles at Examiner.com Orlando.

Again, UCF Misses Crucial Opportunities

Jessica Reuter — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 22:48:22 -0400

In my head-to-head offensive matchups article featuring Miami vs. UCF, I highlighted the prowess of both Brynn Harvey and UCF's wide receiving corps. I prophesied that if they executed properly, with the help of quarterback Brett Hodges, they would go far against the Hurricanes.

Just as Knights fans had feared, the skill of their offense did not matter Saturday night.

With the inability to score once in position, the Knights' Achilles heel for most of the season, they were powerless against a pumped Miami offense.

As Brett Hodges said after the game,"We had so many opportunities but just didn't take advantage of them."

These opportunities included a failed conversion from the two-yard line late in the third quarter when only trailing by 10, eliminating any hope of a comeback.

Soon after, the once-packed stadium begin to empty, signaling fans' frustration in the lack of excitement that the Knights bring to the field, and the same mistakes being made time and time again.

Both Miami and UCF's defenses played extremely well, and the Knights pressured quarterback Jacory Harris throughout the game.

In all, they recorded six sacks, the most in a game since last season against East Carolina.

Cory Hogue had two sacks, while Bruce Miller, Darius Nall, David Williams, and Jarvis Geathers each nailed Harris once.

With a better showing from UCF's offense, a win would have been possible. Instead, we are left questioning what the problem with the 2009-10 Knights seems to be.

Is it lack of adequate psychological training?A lack of adequate preparation in red zone scenarios?

Whatever the issue is, we will continue to examine it as UCF football continues to fall short of their potential.

UCF 2009-10 Men's Basketball Preview

Jessica Reuter — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 14:29:56 -0400

UCF's 2009-10 basketball season is slated to begin on November 4 with an exhibition game vs. Saint Leo University.

Coach Kirk Speraw is in his 17th year as the Knights' head coach, and he expects nothing short of success. The Knights basketball team has finished in the top half of the C-USA standings each year since Speraw's tenure began.

UCF is currently completing their two months of off-season workouts, and starting Friday, Oct. 16, they will begin regular season practice.

Many players, including Junior guard Taylor Young, are reporting immense improvement in the off-season. “I am shooting the ball more consistently,” Young told reporters. Last year Young shot only 31.6 from the field, but is looking to turn that around in 2009-10.

Young is only one of three upperclassmen on the squad this season, which makes the Knights one of the youngest teams in the nation. The young squad includes Michael Jordan's son Marcus Jordan, a true freshman out of Highland Park, Illinois, and one of the biggest stories of the off-season.

The team's upperclassmen, including Taylor Young, have made it their mission to serve as role models to their younger teammates, going over Speraw's offensive scheme, and ensuring that the group is gelling and progressing at a swift rate.

The kind of leadership that the Knights' coaching staff is palpable; there's no man on the Knights' basketball squad for himself.

Age is nothing but a number for this team. The Knights are expected to continue to dominate in C-USA this season.

Point Guard

Last year, Jermaine Taylor was the star of UCF basketball, winning the C-USA Player of the Year award, and averaging 26.2 points per game. He was selected in the 2009 NBA Draft. A.J. Rompza, a sophomore, is one of the big reasons for Taylor's success.

Rompza will return again this year and see a lot of time at point guard for the Knights, along with Marcus Jordan. Jordan was considered one of the 100 best recruits from many outlets in the off-season, and should add magic to point guard for the Knights.

Shooting Guard

Sophomore Isaac Sosa made eight starts and averaged 8.2 points as a freshman. His three-point field goal percentage was seventh on the UCF single-season register, and will be an integral part of the Knights' success this season.

Drew Speraw has been selected as team captain, and will continue to be a shooting star for UCF, as he had a 55 percent field goal percentage last year.

Other star shooting guards for the Knights include Nik Garcia, R.J. Scott, and Amara Thompson.

Small Forward

Due to an injury this year, Dave Diakite only appeared in five contests as a true freshman. He's looking to make a big difference in the Knights' game this season as a rebound giant.

Sophomore P.J. Gaynor can play both forward spots. As a rookie last year, he appeared in 25 contests as a reserve and averaged two points in just over nine minutes.

Post Players

A.J. Tyler averaged 7.1 points and 4.4 boards last year. He only made nine starts, but was a force against Southern Miss at the C-USA championship, leading UCF with 16 points and 6 boards in 29 minutes.

With Kendrick Zondervan lost to graduation, Tyler is set to be one of the Knights' primary offensive threats.

Keith Clanton signed a National Letter of Intent with the Knights last spring, and has created quite a buzz among UCF basketball fans. Last year Clanton was named Florida Class 1A Player of the Year and the Orlando Sentinel Player of the Year. He averaged 18.2 points, 12.5 boards, and 3.8 blocked shots, leading Orlando Christian Prep to the state title.

Jakub Kuzmieruk, a player from Poland, has lost 20 pounds in the off-season, which should help mobility on both sides of the floor. Last year he averaged 2.2 points in 14 games.

CBS College Sports will air three UCF men's basketball games this year to a national audience, including a matchup against Marshall on January 13, Tulsa on January 16, and Tulane on February 13. Regionally televised games include Memphis on February 10 and February 16 versus Houston, both on CSS.

Other exciting matchups include Notre Dame, USF, and Connecticut. In total, the Knights will meet 10 teams that went to the postseason last year. View the entire 2009-10 schedule here.

Better Know a Stadium: Bright House Networks Stadium

Jessica Reuter — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 21:08:02 -0400

Picture this: It's minutes before game time in The Swamp. The Florida Gators are about to take on the Georgia Bulldogs on home turf. All you can see for yards upon yards are swatches of orange and blue, blurs of orange and blue.

The noise is deafening, and it reaches an inconceivable peak as Tim Tebow and his team run out of the cheerleader-fashioned tunnel.

It's mayhem.

Bright House Networks, home of the UCF Knights, is nothing like this. Watching a game there is the perfect family event. But that's not a bad thing. Not at all.

In fact, the loud-but-not-too-loud sounds of cheering Knights fans' voices, coupled with the sight of toddlers in mini-UCF cheerleading uniforms being carried by their dads is the essence of the Bright House.

The stadium and university, is the heart of many surrounding suburban areas, like Oviedo, Winter Springs, and Waterford Lakes, which house big, bouncing families with jobs of all kinds and children of all ages.

That's the beauty of Orlando; it's not just a college town, but a town of all ages, and it's an all ages event at every Knights' game. While the UCF student section is rowdy, loud, and full of profanities, the other sections in the stadium permit a relaxing yet exciting atmosphere in which one can watch the game and also have a conversation.

Most of the time, there is ample space to move around in inside the stadium, making access to stairs (and snacks) quite simple.

Might I add that the lemonade is amazing.

The stadium seems to be of a perfect size for the current fanbase, holding just over 45,000 seats. It would be easy to expand on the structure if the program should reach new heights and require more seating. It was the first NCAA Division I FBS stadium to be built in the 21st century and features a clean, modern, and easy amenity access style.

Walking around the entire stadium is a pleasant walk, and you're sure to experience student culture without having to go near the student section.

Despite the uproar during the first game in September 2007 about the lack of water fountains in the stadium, the university installed water fountains around the entire main concourse and everything has gone without a hitch since.

Game days at UCF are a big deal in the Orlando area, with fans entering the campus parking areas to tailgate as soon as they possibly can. There's a plethora of fan events around the stadium before the game begins, and a day at Bright House Networks Stadium is worth every penny.

Other facts about the Bright House:

Surface: Natural grass (Bermuda grass)

Architect: 360 Architecture

Stadium Design: Planned for an expansion to 65,000. In the next 5-10 years, expansion will begin.

The Sponsor: On Aug. 8, 2006, UCF announced a 15-year, $15 million stadium naming rights deal with cable company Bright House Networks

The Cure Bowl: in 2010, a new bowl event will begin at Bright House Networks Stadium. Named the Cure Bowl, it benefits Susan G. Komen for the Cure and the American Cancer Society. Teams featured will be from C-USA and the Sun Belt Conference. The inaugural game will be on Dec. 18, 2010.

For more Better Know a Stadium articles, visit Jessica's column at Examiner.com Orlando.

Picture taken and edited by Jessica Reuter

Coach O'Leary Talks Miami Hurricanes

Jessica Reuter — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 20:52:29 -0400

In a conference call this afternoon with George O'Leary, UCF's head coach answered questions about the upcoming game against Miami. Reporters all over the state asked him a variety of questions, from the local impact of the game to the chance of using Rob Calabrese vs. the Canes.

Coach O'Leary on how the Bright House has elicited excitement

"The last piece of our puzzle was the stadium. Game day Saturday is a really exciting time for the fanbase and the student body. They are really taking to the tailgating, and it's a loud stadium to play in, and the big thing with the program is that we've improved each week."

Coach O'Leary on the importance of a win vs. Miami

"You schedule these non-conference games to challenge your own program to see where you are at. I think Miami is playing very well, and Coach Whipple and Coach Lovet have got them playing very well on offense and defense."

Coach O'Leary on the local impact of the UCF-Miami game

"Well, the game is sold out. Playing in-state teams is great...I'm always trying to get that done because I think it doesn't make sense to go two or three states away non-conference. It brings a much more meaningful game to your stadium (to play an in-state team). A lot of them (Miami and UCF players) have played together in high school, they hang out together in the summer, and I've met with a lot of them myself through recruiting in their living rooms."

Coach O'Leary on improving off of last year's game vs. Miami

"We gave up at least 16 points on special teams; we gave up a punt block and a safety in a high snap, and we dropped a punt return, so you can't do that, especially the way Miami's playing right now. They aren't hurting themselves. They are making good decisions."

Coach O'Leary on a win vs. Miami being a "signature win" for UCF football

"Anytime you beat the ninth ranked team in the country it should be a signature win. It's extra incentive to come out."

Coach O'Leary on the quarterbacks

"I've been very pleased with Brett (Hodges). He's had a couple mistakes in the past few games, but we won't just turn it over (to Calabrese). Calabrese hasn't been in the past few games because the scores have been too tight. I don't have a problem with bringing Rob in. It's about 60-40 in practice (Hodges to Calabrese). So Rob has the game plan and understands what takes place."

View Jessica's articles at Examiner.com Orlando

Photo: Taken/Edited by Jessica Reuter

Miami vs. UCF: Head-to-Head Defensive Matchups

Jessica Reuter — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 14:55:14 -0400

Two days ago, I broke down the head-to-head offensive matchups that I felt would be of note in the UCF/Miami game next Saturday. Today we are looking at how the sack, tackle, and interception leaders of both teams stack up against each other.

Sack Leaders: Bruce Miller and Jarvis Geathers (UCF) [WINNER] vs. Marcus Robinson and Allen Bailey (Miami FL)

So far this year, defensive end Bruce Miller and d-lineman Jarvis Geathers have each recorded 4.5 sacks (four solo and one assisted). Their efforts are ranked at No. 19 in the nation, and first in Conference USA.

Two of Miller's solo sacks were against Samford in Week One, and two came last week in a win over Memphis. If Miller can bring the same energy as last week next Saturday at the Bright House, Jacory Harris will be scrambling in the pocket.

Geathers hasn't had any sacks since the game at home vs. Buffalo, when he took down Zack Maynard three times, but he's been performing extremely well in other areas.

He leads the Knights in forced fumbles (two) and is second on the team in tackles for a loss (five). He has seven total tackles as well this season so far.

Marcus Robinson and Allen Bailey reign supreme in sacks on the Miami defense. They are ranked 58th in the country and fifth in the ACC. Last year vs. UCF, Robinson didn't net any sacks, but Bailey made two.

Look out for the twosome to bring a good amount of pressure to Hodges' game; however, Miller and Geathers are the kings of this head-to-head matchup. If the pair can pressure Miami QB Jacory Harris continuously, they should cut down on the amount of offensive gains Miami makes, lessening the pressure on UCF's offense.

Tackle Leaders: Cory Hogue and Derrick Hallman (UCF) [WINNER] vs. Colin McCarthy and Sean Spence (Miami FL)

UCF's Hogue and Hallman lead tackles for the defensive team. Together they are ranked 85th in tackles (40 each) in the NCAA, and ninth in C-USA. LB Lawrence Young isn't far behind with 38 tackles for the team.

Colin McCarthy and Sean Spence lead the Hurricanes' tackle board with 37 and 27 tackles, respectively. McCarthy is tied for 117th nationally in tackles, and is ranked sixth in the ACC.

This year so far, Hogue and Hallman have proved themselves to be more skilled than McCarthy and Spence. Thus, they are the winners of the tackle leaders matchup.

Interception Leaders: UCF (4) [WINNER] vs. Miami (2)

UCF's Josh Robinson, Cory Hogue, Lawrence Young, and Derrick Hallman have all stolen one ball this year, tying them all for 11th in interceptions in Conference USA. Their opponents have had six interceptions against them with one touchdown in addition.

Miami has two fewer interceptions than the Knights, with Randy Phillips and Brandon Harris getting one each. Their opponents have made seven interceptions against them, one resulting in a touchdown as well.

By number of interceptions, the Knights also win this category.

The Knights take the cake in every defensive area, but we must also consider strength of schedule. The Hurricanes have quite the hefty schedule this year, having already played Florida State, Georgia Tech, Virginia Tech, and Oklahoma, and they have won three of those games out of four. UCF has played only Samford, Southern Miss, Buffalo, East Carolina, and Memphis this year, winning three-out-of-five games.

On October 11, 2008, the Knights lost a very close game against Miami at Land Shark Stadium, 20-14. If the defensive giants on UCF's defense can play to their caliber, we just might see the Knights pull one off at home for the first matchup in Orlando against Miami since 1936.

Photo taken by Jessica Reuter. Read all of Jessica's articles on the UCF Knights at Examiner.com Orlando

Miami vs. UCF: Head to Head Offensive Matchups

Jessica Reuter — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 23:39:33 -0400

With only nine days until battle against Miami at Bright House Networks Stadium, there's a lot of debate in the Central Florida community over just how the game will turn out.

While many fear that Miami's Jacory Harris and Co. will completely blow over the Knights, others believe that UCF's corps will be able to squeeze one out, citing their proven 2009 home game track record.

In order to put some concrete evidence on the debate, I have decided this week to take a look at both UCF and Miami's key team components, compare them, and shed a little insight into what kind of matchups within a matchup we're dealing with.

Today's installment covers the star members of UCF and Miami's offense, while this weekend we will cover both teams' defensive squads.

Quarterbacks: Brett Hodges (UCF) vs. Jacory Harris (Miami) (WINNER)

No. 11 Brett Hodges has posted six touchdowns, 908 yards, and a 128.86 pass rating this year so far. The senior transfer from Wake Forest is projected to net a total of 2179 yards and fourteen touchdowns in the entire 2009 season.

His career stats sit at 1,310 yards and seven touchdowns; granted, this is his first year as a starting college quarterback. While he only arguably has more football experience than Jacory Harris, the Miami quarterback's stats say it all.

While sharing time in 2008, Harris was fantastic, and after being named the starting quarterback for the 2009 season, the seasoned sophomore is one of this year's Heisman hopefuls.

So far this year, Harris has recorded eight touchdowns, 1,008 yards, and a 151.85 pass rating, and has proven that he can bounce back from sound defeat after being beat by Virginia Tech in Week 3, 31-7. He is projected to nearly triple his yardage and double his touchdowns from last year.

Running Backs: Brynn Harvey (UCF) (WINNER) vs. Graig Cooper and Javarris James (Miami)

While Cooper and James are a bodacious fire and water-type team on the field, UCF's Brynn Harvey is as potent as the two Miami running backs combined. Harvey has rushed 536 yards this year with six touchdowns.

In last week's game against C-USA rival Memphis, Harvey carried the ball 42 times for 219 yards and one touchdown.

Brynn doesn't seem to be stopping anytime soon in the 2009 season, and much to Knights fans' excitement, he's only a sophomore. He's expected to run for 1,286 yards and fourteen touchdowns this year.

Javarris James has 293 yards and three touchdowns this year. He's expected to run 879 yards this year with nine touchdowns.

This is not to discount James' amazing athletic ability, however. With just 13 more yards, Javarris will surpass Frank Gore as the seventh-best all-time rusher in University of Miami history, and only the seventh player in school history to have 2000 career rushing yards.

Graig Cooper has quietly but solidly helped the Hurricanes to their three victories this year, with 200 yards and one touchdown. He will most likely net 600 yards and six touchdowns this year, however, for the game against Florida A&M on Oct. 10, Cooper is questionable with a “lower extremity” injury.

Wide Receivers: UCF's WR Corps (WINNER) vs. Miami's WR Crew

UCF's Rocky Ross, Kamar Aiken, A.J. Guyton, and Jamar Newsome have a combined 742 yards, 58 receptions, and five touchdowns, a solid effort for the foursome. Each receiver is projected to net between 300 and 500 yards this year, making up a large percentage of the Knights' total yardage.

Rocky Ross, in his senior year this year, is a particular fan favorite, with Aiken, Guyton, and Newsome making names for themselves among UCF fans and Conference USA.

Miami's wide receivers Travis Benjamin, Leonard Hankerson, LaRon Byrd, and Dedrick Epps have 692 yards, 40 receptions, and five touchdowns this year, showing similar stats to UCF.

What Miami exhibits, though, is that they are able to create more touchdowns out of less yards and receptions; basically, they are making every down count. Although UCF's wide receiving team deserves the blue ribbon in this matchup, the Hurricanes aren't far behind.

VERDICT: UCF 2, Miami 1

Both teams are highly talented, and the key to the Knights winning against the Hurricanes on Saturday, October 12 lies in Hodges' ability to keep his cool in the pocket (a la Memphis), and in the ability for the team as a whole to make the most out of every yard and every down.

Miami hasn't been home to Orlando since 1936, and the media's coverage of the game is already saturating central Florida's television and newspaper outlets, but it lies in the team's best interest to get in the zone and ignore the hype.

Read Jessica's UCF Knights articles at Examiner.com Orlando.

C-USA Coaches' Weekly Teleconference: Charlie Taaffe Edition

Jessica Reuter — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 19:29:51 -0400

Today Coach O'Leary was absent from the C-USA teleconference, and offensive coordinator Charlie Taaffe filled in to answer the media's questions. He did a great job, even if he did think his work was that of “the JV team." Here's what Taaffe had to say about Brynn Harvey, the offensive line, Brett Hodges, and more...

Coach Taaffe on Brynn Harvey vs. Memphis

“He had 41 carries on Saturday which was probably too much; but he got stronger as the game went on. It was an afternoon game so it was a bit warm, but he didn't seem to get tired. He's a great north and south guy with some great cuts. He's developing into one of the outstanding backs of this conference (C-USA).”

Coach Taaffe on the Offensive Line's Progress

“I've seen us improve each week. That was the case on Saturday. Ian Bustillo is doing a great job at center. The guards (Leggins and McCray) weren't even with us in Spring practice and have been slow in their development, but each week they get used to the calls that take place.

We are starting to see a lot more consistency. Our tackles have been solid, and Jah Reed has played really well. You don't rush that many yards without the guys up front, and they deserve that credit.”

Coach Taaffe on Brett Hodges and the Offense vs. Memphis

“He tried too hard not to make mistakes in the first half. Memphis had some things that they did differently. As the game went on, and the guys got what they were doing defensively, I think we were making good blocks after halftime and that helped out.

So much happens at the line of scrimmage as far as calls. It's a maturing process and the guys are getting used to playing together. Even at East Carolina I think we blocked really well.

We keep struggling with consistency and ability to move drives which knocks us off schedule (down-wise) but finally we got things going and we were able to have a good game.”

Coach Taaffe on the Red Zone

“We have missed plays, and (as a result) get behind on downs and distance. We would like more touchdowns than field goals and finally we switched degrees a bit. (Although) if we have a missed play we seem to have a hard time recovering from that.”

Additionally, there was no update from the team's medical staff on Corey Rabazinski's injury. Examiner.com Orlando's Jessica Reuter will keep the community posted on any injury releases.

Before Miami, Knights Need To Get Rid of Second-Half Syndrome

Jessica Reuter — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 13:05:40 -0400

Last night at Bright House Networks Stadium, the Knights defeated the Memphis Tigers by more than double their score, prevailing 32-14. The smooth, calculated relationship between Brett Hodges and Brynn Harvey cemented the victory, as Harvey ran for a career-high 219 yards and one touchdown.

Additionally, the team gelled as one, playing in a relaxed unison and using the phrase “One more step” as their inspiration. In many ways, the game was a success, and the confidence among the team is now palpable.

However, I must play devil's advocate and make note that the Tigers led late in the third quarter, 14-9, before the Knights were able to get moving physically and mentally.

Simply put, they won't get that kind of reprieve two weeks from now, when the University of Miami comes to town. Quarterback Jacory Harris is having a heck of a season, a Heisman heck of a season, already netting 1,008 yards and eight touchdowns.

The Hurricanes' passing game is immaculate, and while their rushing game makes up less of their victory plan, Javarris James and Graig Cooper aren't doing so bad, either.

If UCF doesn't come out of the tunnel ready to score, and ready to heartily defend, they will be physically and psychologically beaten down by the Hurricanes by halftime. It will take an immense amount of focus during the half to come back from a Miami-sized catch-up.

Then, for the remaining two quarters, the Knights will have to post a fair amount of points on the board while simultaneously shutting down the orange and green.

As the Knights have a bye next week before their meeting with Miami, George O'Leary and his coaching staff will need to mentally prepare the players for the large crowd, immense amount of media pressure, and game-time pressure the Hurricanes team will lay on.

In addition, they would be wise to directly address the remaining weaknesses in the first half of play. While doing this, and keeping the fantastic “One more step” attitude that the team is now carrying, UCF can rise above the chinks in their armor and make way for UM.

View Jessica's article at Examiner.com Orlando

UCF Football's Big Five: The Impact They're Making on the NFL

Jessica Reuter — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 23:08:08 -0400

From Shawn Jefferson to Daunte Culpepper, electrifying Knights football players have made their way to the NFL. Some were successful, others weren't; some are long gone, but many still play on pro turf today. There are a few UCF players that I call the “Big Five” right now—players that are of recent (and often dear) memory to Knights fans, and that are making an impact on their respective teams. Here are the present members of UCF's Big Five...

Begin Slideshow

UCF Women's Basketball Slates 2009-10 Season

Jessica Reuter — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 19:55:32 -0400

Today, UCF women's basketball head coach Joi Williams announced her team's 2009-10 schedule.

Williams, in her third year as skipper, is preparing her team for another tough non-conference schedule, which includes exciting home games against Washington, Notre Dame, Florida State, and Alabama.

The 25-game schedule includes nine total non-conference games and 14 home games. Coach Williams is confident that the difficult non-conference games will prepare the Lady Knights for their Conference USA matchups.

Notable starters this year include junior Emma Cannon (Rochester, NY). The 6-foot-2 Cannon averaged 15.5 points and 11.6 rebounds per game in 2008-09, and won C-USA MVP honors. She needs just 122 points to achieve the 1,000-point mark in her career.

UCF Junior Chelsie Wiley (Riviera Beach, FL) will join Cannon as a key player. She was an All-Conference USA performer in 2008-09.

Conference USA home games include Tulane (Jan. 31), Marshall (Feb. 4), East Carolina (Feb. 6), Rice (Feb. 18), and Houston (Feb. 20). The complete basketball schedule is listed below:

2009-10 UCF Women’s Basketball Schedule

Nov. 8 (Sun): St. Leo (Exhibition), 3 p.m.

Nov. 15 (Sun): at Middle Tennessee State, 3 p.m.

Nov. 20 (Fri): Bethune-Cookman; 7 p.m.

Dec. 1 (Tues): at Jacksonville, 7 p.m.

Dec. 6 (Sun): Washington, 1 p.m.

Dec. 12 (Sat): at FAU, 7 p.m.

Dec. 14 (Mon): Alabama, 7 p.m.

Dec. 16 (Wed): Florida State, 7 p.m.

Dec. 20 (Sun): Jackson State, 1 p.m.

Dec. 29 (Tues): Notre Dame, 1 p.m.

Jan. 8 (Fri): at Marshall*, 7 p.m.

Jan. 10 (Sun): at East Carolina*, 2 p.m.

Jan. 15 (Fri): Memphis* , 7 p.m.

Jan. 17 (Sun): UAB*, 5 p.m.

Jan. 21 (Thurs): Southern Miss*, 7 p.m.

Jan. 24 (Sun): at UTEP*, 4 p.m.

Jan. 31 (Sun): Tulane*, 2 p.m.

Feb. 4 (Thurs): Marshall*, 7 p.m.

Feb. 6 (Sat): East Carolina*, 7 p.m.

Feb. 12 (Fri): at UAB*, 8 p.m.

Feb. 14 (Sun): at Memphis*, 3 p.m.

Feb. 18 (Thurs): Rice*, 7 p.m.

Feb. 20 (Sat): Houston*, 7 p.m.

Feb. 25 (Thurs): at SMU*, 8 p.m.

Feb. 27 (Sat): at Tulsa*, 8 p.m.

Mar. 3 (Wed): at Southern Miss*, 8 p.m.

2010 Conference USA Championship (Reynolds Center - Tulsa, Okla.)

Mar. 8 (Mon): First Round, TBA

Mar. 9 (Tues): Quarterfinals, TBA

Mar. 10 (Wed): Semifinals, 5/7:30 p.m.

Mar. 12 (Fri): Championship Game, 12:30 p.m.

*Conference USA game

All times eastern and subject to change

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UCF's Keys to ECU: How Did They Fare?

Jessica Reuter — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 23:03:50 -0400

Last week, I wrote an article on the keys to UCF winning the game against East Carolina, and how valuable these keys were for the entirety of the season. So, how did my key players fare in the 19-14 loss against the Pirates?

Of note: Some of my keys to ECU and beyond either didn't make any plays during last Saturday's game, or didn't play at all. If the Knights would have played to their potential, surely some of these members would have shined.

In the future, I believe those key pieces that are not highlighted in this article will be essential components to the Knights' success.

Brett Hodges

Saturday afternoon against ECU, Hodges was not the calm, cool, and collected quarterback that we saw in the win against Buffalo. An inability to cope with threats in the pocket led to four interceptions, the last of which ended all hopes for a late-game comeback.

Hodges was also sacked four times, eliminating any fluidity and comfort to this game. His completion stats were average; nothing to write home to Orlando about, and no way to play a conference matchup.

If Hodges wants to lead his team to the first C-USA win of the season against Memphis this coming Saturday, he'll need to play much smarter football. His passing performance wasn't terrible against the Pirates, but any chance of the game being successful was lost in his picks.

The Tigers are coming off of a conference loss against Marshall with unimpressive statistics; if Hodges keeps his head in the game, we should see a much better showing vs. Memphis, which is only the beginning of the rest of the challenges the team will see in 2009.

Brynn Harvey

Harvey did all he could against East Carolina last Saturday, netting a 19-yard gain for a touchdown in the first quarter, and 71 yards total. With a better game from Hodges, Harvey would definitely have made a big impact in the game.

The running back is proving his anticipated worth for the 2009 season, and will be the key component to the Knights' running game against Memphis and beyond.

Jarvis Geathers

Last week, I noted Geathers' as a key member of the Knights' defense. He had a fantastic game against Buffalo, but was part of an ineffective and sack-less defensive team against East Carolina. In addition, the DE was without an unassisted tackle in the game and was a part of only two assisted tackles.

Defensive coordinator Dave Huxtable and his crew need to work out the kinks in the “D” before Saturday if Geathers is going to continue to be a clutch player for the rest of the season.

Kamar Aiken

Aiken did his job against the Pirates, with two catches for 50 yards and a touchdown. As the Knights' most electrifying player on the receiving end, he will achieve as much as Hodges (and the opponent's defense) allows him. Look for him to be a big piece of the success next week and in the rest of the season.

The Again Elusive First Half

The Knights were not completely shut out in the first half, but one touchdown with a touchdown and a field goal allowed doesn't make for a strong first 30:00.

The ECU Pirates are a great team, and to their credit were phenomenal vs. the Knights on Saturday, but if UCF continues to let teams dog all over them like they did, the first half will not get any better.

As Coach O'Leary noted in my interview with him last Monday, before the UCF-ECU game, the black and gold need to come out and play focused and hard from the moment the first whistle blows.

Without heeding their head coach's wisdom, they will continue to struggle in both conference and non-conference play.

Read Jessica's article at Examiner.com Orlando

Knights Better Know a Stadium: ECU's Dowdy-Ficklen

Jessica Reuter — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 22:48:15 -0400

The Knights have bounced from home to away status and back again since the beginning of the 2009 season, and we sure miss them when they're away.

To make you feel a little closer to George O'Leary's boys, here starts the column “Better Know a Stadium”--giving you insight as to where exactly the Knights are, and what the opponent's stadium is like. This week, we take a look at East Carolina's Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium, in Greenville, North Carolina.

The 411- History and Specs

Formerly known as Ficklen Memorial Stadium (1963-1994), the Dowdy-Ficklen is East Carolina's on-campus football facility for the East Carolina Pirates. In the heart of “Blackbeard's Alley”, the structure seats 43,000, making it the fourth largest stadium in North Carolina. Construction of the stadium cost $300,000, most of which was raised by the school's booster club.

It was originally named for James Skinner Ficklen, owner of Greenville's E.B. Skinner Tobacco Company. Skinner was considered a friend of ECU, and established a scholarship fund for the school.

From Ficklen to Dowdy Ficklen—The Dowdys and their Orlando tutelage

In 1994, Ron and Mary Ellen Dowdy of Orlando announced a $1 million gift to the ECU Educational Foundation, which would also contribute to the stadium's continuing renovations.

Ron Dowdy, class of 1966, is a member of ECU's Board of Trustees, and runs Dowdy Properties, a real estate company in the Orlando Area.

He has also served on the Executive Committee of the Florida Citrus Sports Association, the Board of Directors for the Florida Citrus Bowl, the Board of Directors at Humana Hospital Lucerne in Orlando, and the Senior Citizen Advisory Committee in Orange County, Florida.

The Marshall University Plane Crash

On November 14, 1970, the Marshall Thundering Herd lost 17-14 against the Pirates at the Dowdy-Ficklen. That evening, while on approach to Huntington Tri-State Airport, the Marshall team plane crashed, killing all seventy-five people on board.

On December 11, 2006, a plaque was erected at the visitors' entrance to the stadium. It depicts the memorial fountain on Marshall's campus.

Other Facts on the D-F

The surface is Bermuda Grass, the stadium architect is Dudley & Shoe, and the actual field is called Bagwell Field. Future expansion of the stadium includes enclosing the east end zone with additional seating including luxury seats.

A new press box, suites, and and an upper level consisting of office space, player’s lounge, locker rooms, classrooms, and meeting rooms, will be erected at the south side of the stadium, and after construction, the stadium's capacity will reach 62,000.

This is where the Knights will try to make themselves comfortable at 3:30 PM Saturday afternoon, and where we hope the team will make their own history to add to Dowdy-Ficklen's. Let's Go UCF!

UCF's Keys to ECU and Beyond

Jessica Reuter — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 20:55:24 -0400

For the Knights to be successful in their second C-USA matchup of the season against the East Carolina Pirates and in games to come, there are a few key players that need to step up and play their position day in and day out. Here are those key players and points and why they are so crucial:

Brett Hodges

Although he only made his first start last Saturday against the Buffalo Bulls, Hodges has proved himself to be the man for the quarterback job.

During his debut, Hodges completed 75 percent of his passes, and was responsible for 212 yards total offense. He was the epitome of calm, cool, and collected, and has appeared so even in his shared appearances with last year's starter Rob Calabrese.

However, Coach O'Leary has expressed his wish for some improvement in Hodges' game: “I think all quarterbacks have to improve in any aspect, but I think he's getting a feel for what the offense is about”, the Knights' skipper said in a media teleconference on Monday.

“He's a fifth year guy. He's poised and he's going to find the second or third guy out there. There are always things to improve on. Coming out of the huddle he needs to improve. We're taking too long.”

It's obvious that Hodges is finding his slot more comfortable with each appearance, but a fumbled snap during the matchup against Buffalo was a rookie mistake. Hodges needs to eliminate lapses of focus in his game and carry the confidence that he should as UCF's starter.

After the Buffalo game, Hodges told UCFAthletics.com's John Denton that he doesn't think he's “rescuing the team”. Bad outlook on things, Brett. Carry the confidence and intensity that comes with being a leading quarterback on a leading football team.

Fans have been looking for a definitive leader for the Knights for a long time, and Hodges could easily be that man.

Brynn Harvey

If there's anyone that has been a key to the Knights' success, it's RB Brynn Harvey. In UCF's season opening victory over Samford, Harvey recorded 111 yards and two touchdowns, and against Buffalo, ran for 98 yards and two scores.

If he can keep the momentum going, this time against a same-conference team, UCF's offense will be unstoppable. Only alumnus RB Kevin Smith has run for more yards in a game—217 in 2007 against NC State.

Harvey's quick legs will be essential for the long term this season as the Knights try to make a bowl run.

Jarvis Geathers

DE Jarvis Geathers is making a name for himself among the highly skilled UCF defense, and will be a key player throughout the rest of the 2009 season. In the come-from-behind win against Buffalo, Geathers made three and a half sacks, forced two fumbles, and recorded his stats in clutch fashion.

One of his forced fumbles led to the game-tying field goal, and the other effectively ended the game with 0:26 left to play.

If Geathers steps up, he will be irreplaceable this year.

Derrick Hallman

Junior Safety Derrick Hallman is another defensive key for the ECU game and beyond. He not only became tied for the team lead with eight tackles against UB, but forced a fumble and a quarterback hurry.

He additionally gained UCF's first interception of the season last week when the Bulls were trying to take the lead with less than three minutes left in the fourth quarter. His play sealed the victory, and his continued poise will be invaluable.

Jamar Newsome

WR Jamar Newsome had six catches in the game against UB, two of them on third downs to keep the drive alive. Hodges and Newsome have created quite the bond this season, spending much time practicing reps with each other.

“We have a real good feel and I think it's starting to help us out,” Hodges said. This special relationship between quarterback and wide receiver will prove critical this season.

Kamar Aiken

Arguably the most potent player on offense, WR Kamar Aiken caught three passes for 53 yards against UB, and those that have been following him know that all he needs is a one-on-one situation for him to make a big play. His use in the ECU game will be enormous, and he'll continue to be a star player for the entire 2009 season.

Hodges has said he has a lot of trust in Aiken, and told him before the UB game that if he got one-on-one, he was going to throw to him. That throw resulted in an over-the-shoulder 39-yard snag on a third down play, one of the biggest plays this season so far.

The Elusive First Half

The first half is an entity in this article, mainly because of its stark contrast with UCF's second quarter so far this season. Statistically, the Knights have been outscored 44-24 in the first 30 minutes of the game this year, but outscored opponents 46-23 after intermission.

Coach O'Leary noted to me that the team needs to “make quicker adjustments” and “play from when the whistle blows”.

He's worried that the team is not controlling the game tempo, and for the Knights to prevail in the first half as well as the second, this will be key.

All of the players above must come to play hard in their respective positions, but as a whole, as a team, the Knights need to play with increased rapidity and intensity.

Read Jessica's article at Examiner.com Orlando.

Coaches George O'Leary, Skip Holtz Talk C-USA Football

Jessica Reuter — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 20:52:19 -0400

Today, during the weekly Conference USA coaches' teleconference, I caught up with Coach O'Leary to hear what he had to say about new starting quarterback Brett Hodges, and how to make the first half of the game as successful for the Knights as the second.

East Carolina head coach Skip Holtz also spoke to the media about his team and the upcoming conference battle versus UCF this Saturday. O'Leary also had more comments on the offense and his opinion of the ECU Pirates on tape.

Jessica Reuter (Examiner.com): Hi Coach, how are you? You must have been pretty pleased with (Brett) Hodges' performance vs. the Bulls on Saturday. He played a great game, but are there any trouble spots you're concerned about regarding your starting quarterback?

Coach George O'Leary: I think all quarterbacks have to improve in any aspect, but I think he's getting a feel for what the offense is about. He works hard. He's a fifth-year guy, he's very poised, and he's going to find the second or third guy out there.

There are always things to improve on. Coming out of the huddle he needs to improve. We're taking too long.

JR: Your second half was markedly stronger, as you have been outscored 44-24 in the first half this year and outscoring opponents 46-23 after intermission. What will your team need to do to adjust this week in order to play strong in the first half against ECU?

GO: I think we should play the second half first (pauses and laughs). No, but we really need to come out ready to play and make quicker adjustments. We have to play from when the whistle blows.

That's the problem early in the game. We're not playing to the tempo of the offense or defense. and we're not making sure we are controlling the tempo.

It has been a problem. We have to start the game that way and make them understand that when the whistle blows and they cross that line that they're ready to play.

Coach O'Leary on last Saturday's win vs. Buffalo

"The key is that we went out in the second half and did what we had to get done. Offensively we were very consistent, running and passing, so I was pleased in the second half. I thought we played really well. We are doing the things we need to be doing to win games."

Coach O'Leary on the East Carolina Pirates

"They're a very good football team. They have a lot of experience back this year and it shows on the field. Offensively, they have a lot of weapons as far as running backs. The receivers all play with potential."

ECU Coach Skip Holtz on their loss against North Carolina last Saturday

"I thought the players competed and played together well. There are a few spots we can improve on. North Carolina's front seven were very strong.

"They have top-10 statistical numbers, and they earned it. Their defense is strong. There are some things we can do much better as we're going to have conference play this Saturday against UCF."

Coach Holtz on this Saturday's matchup at home vs. UCF

"I'm really impressed with them. I know they are playing with a lot of confidence right now. They are 2-1, and they are big, physical, and well-coached. They're very sound in their schemes. I looked at them on the offensive side of the ball, and Hodges is a very talented quarterback.

"I'm really impressed with both of their running backs, Harvey and Weaver. Their five wide receivers are also strong. They don't have just one go-to guy.

"They are spreading the wealth around. When I look at them defensively, they have strength. Their front four is the strength of their football team. Bruce Miller is one of their best players. They move him all over the place.

"Then they have Jarvis Gathers, who they are playing in third-down situations who last week alone had a bunch of sacks and forced fumbles.

"Their linebackers are big and physical, and their safety, Hallman, is a big linebacker-type body. Our numbers are very similar to theirs, statistically. I think this will be one of the best special teams we've played. They're averaging 32 yards in returns and only giving up 16."

Coach Holtz on the team's morale

"We broke our season down into the first three games of the season, which are all non-conference games. We said let's go through three weeks and see where we are, let's reassess the situation and then let's talk about conference play. There's lots of excitement and enthusiasm."

For weekly C-USA coaches' teleconference recaps, visit Jessica Reuter's articles at Examiner.com Orlando.

Next week, Sept.28, 2009, there will not be a coaches' conference call. It will resume Oct. 5.