ORLANDO, Fla. -
By John Denton
UCFAthletics.com
This is how shockingly far UCF has progressed in a matter of one calendar year: A Knights team that limped to the finish line last November and was embarrassingly shut out in their finale has transformed now into a team that is doing the shutting out of foes and running up records in the process.
Knights outgain Green Wave 504-50 in 49-0 shutout win.
Nov. 21, 2009
ORLANDO, Fla. – UCF head coach George O’Leary met with the media following his team’s 49-0 shutout of Tulane along with several of the Knights who helped make the win possible and improved the team to 7-4 on the season. Here is a sampling of what was said.
Head Coach George O’Leary
On his team’s win over Tulane:
“Each week we are getting better as a team. I feel we did a lot of good things on offense and defense and in the kicking game. I was very pleased with the execution of the team, and being able to put that many points on the board.”
On the play of the offense:
“Our offense has certainly made some improvements and their confidence level is going up. Our passing game was very good today, and Brett Hodges did an excellent job at making his reads. Brynn Harvey and Jonathan Davis both had great games running the ball. Harvey made a few reads in the first half where he was cutting too early. But as the game progressed, he made some excellent cuts and got through the hole. Essentially, it came down to the blocking up front and those guys creating the holes for Brynn to run through.
On seeing his seniors in the last home game:
“The key to winning the game was all in how well they played together, and I was very happy for our seniors. It was an awesome game for them to come out and all get in there and pitch the shutout.”
Senior center Ian Bustillo
On senior day:
“It has gone by so the fast. At the Citrus Bowl you did not get the home feeling. You had to drive thirty minutes to get to the stadium and all the fans were not there. Staying on campus was a great change. In 2007 going to the conference championship and having all the fans and students there you get that home feel.”
On senior day:
“It is always great playing at home. You never want to lose at home. We had one tough loss against Miami, but we had a great season at home.”
On the running game:
“We were able to attack on the running game. We had a lot of good drives; we just need to finish better in the red zone.”
Junior wide receiver Kamar Aiken
On the chemistry with Hodges:
“Brett is going to keep looking for me. Brett told me in the first half to keep running my routes and he would find me. He did that and kept coming to me.”
On the offense’s improvement:
“It started from practice. We take practice more seriously and try to be perfect in practice and it is carrying over in the games.”
Senior Torrell Troup
On the defense today:
“Everybody is doing their job and we can rely on everyone to do their job. Everyone is going to help when the ball breaks outside. Everyone is running to the ball to make plays.”
On the emotions of senior day:
“I did not have many emotions. I was ready to play the game. It probably will not hit me until we play a bowl game and it is about to be over.”
On the younger players stepping up:
“I commend them. They really stepped up for us. Coach preached that this game was for the seniors and the younger kids really stepped up and helped us big time.”
Harvey’s Hundreds
Brynn Harvey had another impressive day on the ground for the Knights. The sophomore was a workhorse early on for the team, and the team’s dominance allowed Harvey to watch his fellow running backs from the sidelines in the fourth quarter. Harvey finished the game with 129 yards on 16 carries with three touchdowns. It was his second-straight 100-yard rushing game, his fourth of the season and the fifth of his UCF career.
On the strength of a 50-yard touchdown scamper early in the first quarter, Harvey had 107 yards and was over the 100-yard plateau by the end of the first 15 minutes.
With his three touchdowns, Harvey now has 13 on the season, tying Willie English (1991) for the third-most in school history. He also collected back-to-back three-touchdown games, becoming the first Knight to do so since Kevin Smith rand for three against Memphis (Sept. 22, 2007) and Louisiana-Lafayette (Sept. 29, 2007).
Rushing Defense
The consistent strength of UCF all season and having entered the game third in the nation, the rushing defense was even better Sunday, holding Tulane to -30 yards on the ground. The total is the second fewest for a team in FBS this season. Including today, UCF has held its last four opponents to under 100 yards rushing.
Led by the dominance against the run, UCF was able to post its first shutout since shutting out South Carolina State in the season opener a season ago. Tulane had only 50 yards of total offense in the game, and the Knights’ defense forced five Green Wave turnovers.
The UCF offense benefitted from the takeways, scoring 28 points off turnovers, including on three-straight possessions early in the third quarter.
“Their defense is really good, much better then I thought,” said Tulane head coach Bob Toledo. “I thought we could establish some kind of run and be able to throw the ball a little bit, but they snuffed us out. They are really good.”
Putting It Away
After taking a 14-0 lead into halftime, UCF left no question of the outcome of the game with a dominant third quarter. The Knights forced three turnovers in the quarter, and scored touchdowns on each of their four possessions to outscore the Green Wave 28-0 in the period.
The last time UCF scored 28 points in a single quarter was on Sept. 22, 2007 when it scored 28 in the second quarter in a 56-20 victory over Memphis.
The dominance in the second half is nothing new to the Knights, who have now outscored their opponents 186-102 after halftime this season.
No Letdowns
Showing maturity and discipline, UCF has avoided letdowns after playing ranked teams this season. In the three games after games against Miami, Texas and Houston, the Knights are 3-0 with victories over Rice, Houston and Tulane.
You Can’t Score Without the Ball
Over the course of the last two games, UCF has been tremendous controlling the time of possession. In tonight’s game, UCF held the ball for over 19 minutes in the first half and finished the game with 37:23. On the strength of Harvey’s success on the ground, the Knights have a combined 76:53 in time of possession while their opponents have had the ball for only 43:07.
Other Notes
UCF improves to 21-10 all-time on senior day…UCF is now 6-1 at home this season and 14-6 in the three-year history of Bright House Networks Stadium…The Knights are 6-0 all-time at Bright House Networks Stadium against Conference USA West Division teams…UCF outgained Tulane 504 to 50 in total offense…The 504 yards of total offense are the most since 506 on Nov. 10, 2007, at UAB…Redshirt sophomore Darius Nall had two first-half sacks and now has four on the year…Justin Boddie became the 11th different Knight to record a sack this season…Junior Reggie Weems, a Louisiana native, had his first career interception in the second quarter… Since 2005, UCF has won 14 out of 19 games, including three out of four games this season. That marks the most wins in any month of the calendar over that span…With the offensive outburst, UCF improved to 17-1 over the past 32 games when scoring 20-plus points. The Knights are only 1-13 when scoring less than 20 over that stretch…The 29-yard Kamar Aiken touchdown reception on the first play of a third-quarter drive was UCF’s fifth single-play scoring drive this season…Scout Team Players of the Week were Brandon Davis and Nick Black(offense), Emery Allen (defense) and Ash Weekley (special teams).
UCF will conclude Glenn Wilkes Classic Sunday.
Nov. 21, 2009
• UCF finished the contest with a 43-29 edge on the glass. UCF totaled 17 offensive rebounds, compared to seven for the Purple Eagles.
• In addition to 12 points, A.J. Tyler registered seven boards and two blocks in 31 minutes.
• Taylor Young scored nine points in 19 minutes off the bench.
• UCF made just eight trips to the free-throw line, and made six foul shots. Niagara went 14-of-19 at the line.
• A.J. Rompza made his 30th career start in the contest.
• UCF and Niagara were meeting for the first time since 2003.
• The game was the second of three contests in three days for the Knights in Daytona. On Friday, the squad posted an 84-74 victory over Auburn. UCF will conclude the Glenn Wilkes Classic versus Drake at 3:30 p.m. Sunday.
By Doug Richards
UCFAthletics.com
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (UCFAthletics.com) – On Friday, UCF was the aggressor early against Auburn. The Knights came out with great intensity, built a big lead and finished with an 84-74 win over the Tigers.
UCF could not duplicate the effort Saturday at the Ocean Center, as Niagara got off to a great start and cruised to a 63-46 victory over the Knights at the Glenn Wilkes Classic. The loss was the first of the campaign for the Knights (3-1).
he Knights at the Glenn Wilkes Classic. The loss was the first of the campaign for the Knights (3-1).
UCF is on a roll and takes care of business today in the final home game of the season. Thinking George O’Leary has them coached up to avoid a let down following last week’s big win over Houston. Tulane is not in the same class. They have a few playmakers on offense, but UCF’s defense, especially against the run, is strong. Should befuddle the Green Wave all afternoon. Time for a big salute to the Seniors! Let’s get a big lead and see everyone play. Calling it UCF 34 Tulane 10
1. This was easily the biggest win in school history, the first over a SEC school, and it was no fluke. The guys took it to a bigger, more physical SEC program, and just (to use Kirk’s words in reverse) slapped them around. We saw the enormous potential this young team has, and we saw them make underclassmen mistakes. They scored the first 13 points of the game, held Auburn scoreless for the first seven (that’s 7!!) minutes of the game, led by as many as 21, and showed resiliency when the lead narrowed to 6 in the first half, and 4 in the second. Auburn never lead.
2. Player of the game – AJ Tall. I have no stats, but he scored in a variety of ways, rebounded, held his own inside, and had one helluva game. This was his coming out game!
3. CK and I had the distinct privilege of sitting with Stan Pietkiewicz, WPHS BB legend, Auburn alumn, former NBA and international pro, and most certainly one of the most influential BB people in Central Florida. Also one of the most unpretentious and nicest guys on the planet. CK asked him who he was rooting for, and Stan smiled and said, “You tell me – I give money to both programs.” BTW, his starting NBA salary was $27K.
4. Normally a tournament like this results in a crowd that resembles a funeral. Not so tonight! There were at least 1K UCF fans in the attendance, and took over the crowd. The students and RKs screamed, cheered and heckled the entire game (strategically sitting behind the Auburn bench), using all of the usual “Left-Right” (3 times!), “Good Coach, Bad Coach”, and “Air Ball” in-the-head techniques. I hear we’ve been voted Rudest Fans of the Tournament in an internet poll.
5. Murray the Troll was there…
6. AU’s Sullivan started on five (that’s 5!!) Alabama HS state championship teams.
7. Game dings – Diakite (lower back, cut over eye), Clanton (ankle), MarJ (wrist). All returned to play.
8. Dave gets all of the attention for his leaping ability, but PJ has some SERIOUS ups as well! If MarJ’s pass was a couple of inches lower, the alley-oop to PJ would have brought the house down!! PJ’s also developed a mean little wrap-around entry bounce pass to AJ Tall that was effective a couple of times tonight.
9. So we’re up by 17 with 8 minutes to go in the first half when AJ Small & Isaac both get their 2nd PF and have to sit. Result – Auburn whittles the lead to 6 (aided in no small part by silly TOs). To everyone’s surprise, Kirk puts AJ Small back in the game with 4:30 to go. Result – a 17-point halftime lead.
10. I had perhaps the worst hamburger of my life in the Ocean Center.
11. I am so happy for MarJ – 5 points, steady ball handling, and good D (1 interior block). He can leap, too!
12. Isaac proved that he can have an off-night scoring and contribute in other ways. Kuba frustrated Auburn’s post players. TY had 2 extremely quick drives to the basket.
13. As you might expect, Auburn came out with a ton of intensity and (aided in no small part by silly TOs) cut the lead to 4. Kirk switches to a zone defense that frustrates Auburn and returns the lead to 21. Until the 3:00 mark, when they hit 5 straight 3’s. Thank God we hit our FTs…
14. DD played a helluva game, and once he gets just a little more under control he’s going to be unstoppable. And I’ve noticed that he shoots with the ball a little low in his hand.
15. [Warning - unsavory mental image follows!!] So I’m in the Men’s Room after the game “minding my own business,” when I hear a familiar voice a few positions to my left – KL: “I guess The Hoops Report™ won’t be the same since there wasn’t a Knight Moves halftime show.” Au contraire! He obviously missed the ever scintillating Ball Boy Shootaround…
16. Keith displayed a versatility that post players of any age aren’t supposed to possess, and he made it look easy. Bringing the ball up the court against a relentless press, hitting a turnaround, fall-away jumper, a high-arc inside push-shot over a defender’s outstretched arms, taking a charge, etc, etc, etc, etc, AND etc. Stanley P wasn’t surprised – he’s seen Keith play like that for years…
17. Even though Kirk was substituting like a mad-mad, I hope the team has something left in the tank for tomorrow. Niagara is a very good team (even though they lost to Auburn by a couple), and the crowd WILL be funeral-esque as most fans will be at the FB game.
18. Kirk is coaching his brains out!
This post was edited on 11/20 9:56 PM by Hoops McKnight*
Team captain ranks ninth in school history with 144 career receptions.
Nov. 20, 2009
ORLANDO, Fla. – Rocky Ross has been a fixture at wide receiver for the Knights over the past five years. He is now a team captain, one of the leading receivers in UCF history, and a college graduate working on a master’s degree. UCFAthletics.com caught up with Ross for a Q&A prior to what I sure to be an emotional Senior Day for the Jacksonville native.
By Doug Richards
UCFAthletics.com
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (UCFAthletics.com) – For 40 minutes Friday at the Ocean Center, UCF out-hustled, out-smarted and out-played Auburn. Sure the Tigers made a late run, but the result, an 84-74 victory for the Knights, was just what head coach Kirk Speraw wanted as his young team began a stretch of three games in three days at the Glenn Wilkes Classic.
