2008 UCF Knights football team

NCAATeamFootballSeason
Year=2008
Team=UCF Knights

---

Conference=Conference USA
Division=East
ShortConference=C-USA
Record=2-3
ConfRecord=1-1
CoachRank=
APRank=
HeadCoach=George O'Leary
OffCoach=Tim Salem
DefCoach=Dave Huxtable
OScheme=
DScheme=
StadiumArena=Bright House Networks Stadium
Champion=
Bowl=
BowlResult=The 2008 UCF Knights football team will represent the University of Central Florida in the 2008 college football season. Their head coach is George O'Leary, in his fifth season with the team. For the second season, the UCF Knights will play all of their home games at Bright House Networks Stadium on the school's main campus in Orlando, Florida. The Knights seek to defend their Conference USA football championship.

All games are broadcast live on the UCF-ISP Sports radio network. The flagship will continue to be WQTM 740 AM in Orlando, despite its format change away from sports. The games are called by Marc Daniels (play-by-play) and Gary Parris (color commentary), with Scott Adams and Jerry O'Neill as field reporters. Other UCF radio programming will be carried on NewsRadio 540 WFLA.

The team does not have a local TV contract, but their games will appear nationally on cable television seven times—two on ESPN, one on ESPN2, two on ESPNU and two on CBS College Sports (formerly CSTV).

chedule

CFB Schedule Start
ranklink=yes
time=yes
tv=yes
rank=no
attend=yesCFB Schedule Entry
date = August 30
nonconf = yes
homecoming =
time = 6:00 p.m.
opponent = S.C. State
rank = no
site_stadium = Bright House Networks Stadium
site_cityst = Orlando, FL
tv =
w/l = w
score = 17-0
attend = 42,126CFB Schedule Entry
date = September 6
nonconf = yes
homecoming =
time = 7:00 p.m.
opponent = USF
opprank = 17
rank = no
site_stadium = Bright House Networks Stadium
site_cityst = Orlando, FL
tv = ESPN2
w/l = l
score = 31-24
attend = 46,805CFB Schedule Entry
date = September 20
nonconf = yes
homecoming =
time = 1:00 p.m.
away = yes
opponent = Boston College
rank = no
site_stadium = Alumni Stadium
site_cityst = Chestnut Hill, MA
tv = ESPNU
w/l = l
score = 34-7
attend = CFB Schedule Entry
date = September 27
nonconf = no
homecoming =
time = 8:00 p.m.
away = yes
opponent = UTEP
rank = no
site_stadium = Sun Bowl Stadium
site_cityst = El Paso, TX
tv = CBS-C
w/l = l
score = 58-13
attend = CFB Schedule Entry
date = October 4
nonconf = no
homecoming =
time = 3:30 p.m.
opponent = SMU
rank = no
site_stadium = Bright House Networks Stadium
site_cityst = Orlando, FL
tv = CBS-C
w/l = w
score = 31-17
attend = 43,147CFB Schedule Entry
date = October 11
nonconf = yes
homecoming =
time = 3:45pm
away = yes
opponent = Miami
rank = no
site_stadium = Dolphin Stadium
site_cityst = Miami Gardens, FL
tv = ESPNU
w/l =
score =
attend = CFB Schedule Entry
date = October 26
nonconf = no
homecoming =
time = 8:00 p.m.
away = yes
opponent = Tulsa
rank = no
site_stadium = Skelly Field at H.A. Chapman Stadium
site_cityst = Tulsa, OK
tv = ESPN
w/l =
score =
attend = CFB Schedule Entry
date = November 2
nonconf = no
homecoming =
time = 8:15 p.m.
opponent = East Carolina
opprank = 14
rank = no
site_stadium = Bright House Networks Stadium
site_cityst = Orlando, FL
tv = ESPN
w/l =
score =
attend = CFB Schedule Entry
date = November 8
nonconf = no
homecoming = yes
time = 3:30 p.m.
opponent = Southern Miss
rank = no
site_stadium = Bright House Networks Stadium
site_cityst = Orlando, FL
tv =
w/l =
score =
attend = CFB Schedule Entry
date = November 15
nonconf = no
homecoming =
time = 4:30 p.m.
away = yes
opponent = Marshall
rank = no
site_stadium = Joan C. Edwards Stadium
site_cityst = Huntington, WV
tv = CSS
w/l =
score =
attend = CFB Schedule Entry
date = November 22
nonconf = no
homecoming =
time = TBA
opponent = Memphis
rank = no
away = yes
site_stadium = Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium
site_cityst = Memphis, TN
tv =
w/l =
score =
attend = CFB Schedule Entry
date = November 29
nonconf = no
homecoming =
time = 3:30 p.m.
opponent = UAB
rank = no
site_stadium = Bright House Networks Stadium
site_cityst = Orlando, FL
tv =
w/l =
score =
attend =

2008 Signing Class

"Coach O'Leary and his coaching staff announced these people to the 2008 UCF Knights Football Team on Wednesday February 6, 2008; as it was the National Football Signing Day:
"-- --- -- --- -- --- -- --- -- --- --

Athlete
Marquee Williams (Vanguard - Ocala, FL)

Defensive Backs
Chad Keys (St. Paul's School - Covington, LA)

Defensive Ends
Jarvis Gathers (Feather River C.C. - Andrews, SC)
Robert Pritchard (North Gwinnett - Suwanee, GA)

Defensive Tackle
Theo Goins (Hightower - Fort Bend, TX)
Chris Martin (Choctawhatchee - Fort Walton Beach, FL)

Linebackers
Josh Linam (Tavares - Tavares, FL)
Loren Robinson (Lyman - Longwood, FL)
David Williams (Cardinal Gibbons - Ft. Lauderdale)

Offensive Lineman
Chad Hounshell (Lake Catholic - Mentor, OH)
Jarien Moreland (Glade Central Community - Belle Glade, FL)
John Oliver (Troup - LaGrange, GA)
Steven Robinson (Lincoln - Tallahassee, FL)

Running Backs
Brandon Davis (Peachtree Ridge - Suwanee, GA)
Brynn Harvey (Largo - Largo, FL)
Vance King (Stockbridge - Stockbridge, GA)
Latavius Murray (Onondaga Central - Nedrow, NY)

Tight Ends / Hybrid Back
Brendan Kelly (Shoreham-Wading River - Shoreham, NY)
Kyle Madden (Harrison - Kennesaw, GA)

Quarterback
Rob Calabrese (East Islip - Islip Terrace, NY)

Other News

On 2008-08-22, wide receiver Richard Jackson announced that he had completed his enrollment at UCF, completing a transfer from the University of Notre Dame. Jackson was a star prospect from East Ridge High School in nearby Clermont, Florida. [cite web|url=http://ucf.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=841217|title=Jackson transferring to UCF|source=UCFSports.com via Rivals.com|author=Brandon Helwig|date=2008-08-22|accessdate-2008-08-25] He received a hardship waiver from the NCAA on September 5, giving him immediate eligibility. [cite web|url=http://ucfathletics.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/090508aad.html|title=Football's Richard Jackson Cleared By NCAA|source=UCFAthletics.com|date=2008-09-05|accessdate=2008-09-08]

Game Summaries

Week 1: South Carolina State (August 30)

Linescore Amfootball
Road=SC State
R1=0
R2=0
R3=0
R4=0
Home=UCF
H1=0
H2=7
H3=0
H4=10

The Knights began their season at home against South Carolina State. Making his first start at quarterback, Michael Greco had a difficult time trying to find his groove, completing 9-of-16 passing for 90 yards, and running 13 times for 57 yards. But the defense remained strong and carried the team, holding the Bulldog offense to less than 22 minutes of play time, with Jason Venson catching an interception.

Week 2: #17 South Florida (September 6)

Linescore Amfootball
Road=#17 USF
R1=10
R2=0
R3=14
R4=0
R5=7
Home=UCF
H1=7
H2=3
H3=0
H4=14
H5=0

Greco's struggles continued when the Knights hosted USF for the last match in their "War on I-4" rivalry. While the Bulls scored first, Joe Burnett answered back with a 91-yard kickoff return for a touchdown. The Knights defense held as well as they could, holding the Bulls to 10 points in the first half and allowing the Knights to tie the game going into halftime. However, the Knights had difficulty maintaining their discipline, and it cost them in penalties. The Knights had 12 penalties for 148 yards, one of which negated a touchdown on an interception in the second quarter.

Although it appeared the Bulls would begin to run away with the game, scoring two touchdowns in the third quarter, Michael Greco finally awoke toward the end of the fourth quarter, leading two touchdown drives in the final minutes of regulation to force overtime. However, they came up short on a fourth-down run on their turn, failing to answer a quick USF touchdown.

Although sluggish for most of the game, the Knights offense did not turn the ball over. After their first two games, UCF has a +3 turnover ratio.

The unanticipated struggles for the Bulls dropped them back to their preseason #19 ranking in the AP poll despite the win.

Week 3: Bye

Week 4: Boston College (September 20)

Linescore Amfootball
Road=UCF
R1=0
R2=7
R3=0
R4=0
Home=BC
H1=0
H2=3
H3=14
H4=17

Week 5: UTEP (September 27)

Linescore Amfootball
Road=UCF
R1=0
R2=7
R3=6
R4=0
Home=UTEP
H1=10
H2=17
H3=14
H4=17

Week 6: Southern Methodist (October 4)

Linescore Amfootball
Road=SMU
R1=
R2=
R3=
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Home=UCF
H1=
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Week 7: Miami (FL) (October 11)

Linescore Amfootball
Road=UCF
R1=
R2=
R3=
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Home=Miami
H1=
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H3=
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Week 8: Bye

Week 9: Tulsa (October 26)

Linescore Amfootball
Road=UCF
R1=
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Home=Tulsa
H1=
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Week 10: East Carolina (November 2)

Linescore Amfootball
Road=ECU
R1=
R2=
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Home=UCF
H1=
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Week 11: Southern Miss (November 8)

Linescore Amfootball
Road=USM
R1=
R2=
R3=
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Home=UCF
H1=
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H3=
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Week 12: Marshall (November 15)

Linescore Amfootball
Road=UCF
R1=
R2=
R3=
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Home=Marshall
H1=
H2=
H3=
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Week 13: Memphis (November 22)

Linescore Amfootball
Road=UCF
R1=
R2=
R3=
R4=
Home=Memphis
H1=
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Week 14: UAB (November 29)

Linescore Amfootball
Road=UAB
R1=
R2=
R3=
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Home=UCF
H1=
H2=
H3=
H4=

References

External links

* [http://ucfathletics.cstv.com/ Official UCF athletics site]
* [http://www.ucftickets.com UCF Tickets]