UCF Looks to Ride Momentum To Bowl Game Victory

Photo courtesy of ucf.edu

With the last UCF home game drawing to a close, the thoughts of students and fans are drawn to the bowl season. With seven wins, the Knights are more than bowl eligible, and fans are craving the next big win.

For those that do attend home games, it has been an exciting bunch. The first game of the season, a come-from-behind victory against the Samford Bulldogs with Rob Calabrese at the helm, UCF looked a bit rusty.

But since then, with Brett Hodges taking control, UCF has added a couple more games to UCF’s “Classic Moments.”

The first one that comes to mind for most is the fourth quarter comeback against Marshall. The game, being played the Sunday night of Halloween weekend, did not draw a large crowd.

But, and what seems to be the theme of the season, those that did attend were in for a show, and a memory.

The next big win was an unforgettable win against a 13th ranked Houston for UCF’s first win over a ranked opponent. Again, the few that did attend witnessed history, and possibly the biggest ever victory for UCF’s football program.

Surely building on the momentum of the Houston game, in the last home game of the season UCF routed Tulane 49-0. Those that were there saw UCF at their finest, holding Tulane to negative-30 yards rushing and not allowing them to score a single point, even with the backups in. After a standing ovation by fans, UCF’s sights turn to a competitive UAB team.

While it is a conference game, it does not hold much importance. After East Carolina’s win against UAB, the Knights are officially eliminated from the C-USA championship game as East Carolina and Southern Mississippi are left to battle for the East Division spot. The only importance to the game is to simply finish with a better record and earn bragging rights against another conference team.

All focus is now on the question: What bowl game will UCF be playing in?

ESPN projects that UCF will play Troy in the R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl, or Middle Tennessee State in the Eagle Bank Bowl, which is played in Washington D.C.

No one is complaining that UCF is bowl eligible for the third time in five seasons, but the buzz seems to be that fans want to play a game of more importance, or at least proximity.

Many want to play the USF Bulls in St. Petersburg in a redemption match. It is also possible that UCF could play FSU in the Eagle Bank Bowl, which would draw much attention and give UCF a shot to leap frog the struggling Seminoles in the state of Florida.

The momentum from the recent victories over Marshall and Houston is building as UCF is playing the best football it has played all season.

The Tulane blowout only adds to the Knight’s thunder, and students are confident that the team will earn it’s first-ever Bowl Game victory this time around.

But next week is UAB, and we are taking it one game at a time.