Stories for UCF

• Central Florida defeats East Carolina 67-56
  posted on February 02, 2010 - 06:40:03 pm
  
  

  GREENVILLE, N.C. -- Taylor Young scored 16 points to lead Central Florida to a 67-56 victory over East Carolina on Tuesday night.

  
  
  
• Hurtt, Uzoh lead Tulsa past UCF 55-50
  posted on January 30, 2010 - 04:40:08 pm
  
  

  ORLANDO -- Justin Hurtt scored 16 points and Ben Uzoh added 15 and eight rebounds to help Tulsa hold off a late Central Florida rally in a 55-50 victory on Saturday.

  
  
  
• SMU defeats UCF, 65-43
  posted on January 27, 2010 - 07:30:09 pm
  
  

  DALLAS -- Robert Nyakundi scored 18 points and SMU defeated UCF 65-43 in Conference USA play on Wednesday night.

  
  
  
• Culpepper scores 39, UTEP dominates UCF 96-59
  posted on January 23, 2010 - 04:35:08 pm
  
  

  ORLANDO -- Randy Culpepper scored 39 points and UTEP held Central Florida to 19 percent shooting in the second half as the Miners pulled away for a 96-59 victory on Saturday.

  
  
  
• Heir Jordan leads Central Florida to 78-71 victory
  posted on January 20, 2010 - 08:55:02 pm
  
  

  HOUSTON -- Marcus Jordan scored a season-high 23 points and A.J. Tyler matched his career high with 19 as Central Florida defeated Houston 78-71 Wednesday night.

  
  
  
• Tulsa stays hot at home, beats UCF 90-70
  posted on January 16, 2010 - 07:45:03 pm
  
  

  TULSA, Okla. -- Justin Hurtt scored a career-high 22 points and Jerome Jordan added 21 points, 11 rebounds and four blocks as Tulsa defeated UCF 90-70 on Saturday.

  
  
  
• Whiteside key, Marshall tops Central Florida 81-75
  posted on January 13, 2010 - 08:10:02 pm
  
  

  ORLANDO, Fla.

  
  
  
• Central Florida defeats Rice 77-58
  posted on January 09, 2010 - 04:40:09 pm
  
  

  ORLANDO, Fla. -- A.J.

  
  
  
• White leads No. 14 Mississippi over Central Florida
  posted on January 05, 2010 - 07:20:03 pm
  
  

  OXFORD, Miss. -- Terrico White scored 21 points and No. 14 Mississippi beat Central Florida 84-56 on Tuesday night.

  
  
  
• UCF-Mississippi Preview
  posted on January 04, 2010 - 07:20:02 pm
  
  
  STATS Writer

  A record-tying performance from behind the arc helped Mississippi extend its home winning streak against non-conference opponents.

  
  
  
• Jacksonville pulls away from Central Florida 61-51
  posted on December 30, 2009 - 07:40:11 pm
  
  

  ORLANDO, Fla. -- Ben Smith scored 20 points to lead Jacksonville to a 61-51 victory over Central Florida on Wednesday night.

  
  
  
• UCF beats Liberty 82-58
  posted on December 29, 2009 - 07:35:02 pm
  
  

  ORLANDO, Fla. -- Isaac Sosa and A.J. Tyler scored 13 points apiece to lead Central Florida past Liberty 82-58 in the first round of the UCF Holiday Classic on Tuesday night.

  
  
  
• No. 14 UConn beats Central Florida 60-51
  posted on December 20, 2009 - 12:25:02 pm
  
  

  HARTFORD, Conn. -- Stanley Robinson scored 26 points and No. 14 Connecticut came from behind to beat Central Florida 60-51 Sunday.

  
  
  
• Freshman comes up big as Rutgers routs Central Florida in St. Petersburg Bowl
  posted on December 19, 2009 - 09:05:02 pm
  
  

  ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- With versatile freshman Mohamed Sanu doing a little bit of everything, Rutgers extended its string of postseason success with a 45-24 rout of Central Florida in the St.

  
  
  
• UCF-Connecticut Preview
  posted on December 19, 2009 - 12:40:03 pm
  
  
  STATS Senior Writer

  The end of finals week is typically a cause for celebration. This is especially true for Jim Calhoun's Connecticut team.

  
  
  
• Strong defenses key to St. Petersburg Bowl
  posted on December 18, 2009 - 12:30:02 pm
  
  

  ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- The shortest bowl trip in America works for Brynn Harvey and the Central Florida Knights.

  
  
  
• South Florida holds off Central Florida 69-65
  posted on December 16, 2009 - 06:50:06 pm
  
  

  TAMPA, Fla. -- Dominique Jones had 27 points, six rebounds and five steals, leading South Florida to a 69-65 victory over Central Florida on Wednesday night.

  
  
  
• UCF-Rutgers Preview
  posted on December 14, 2009 - 10:45:02 am
  
  
  STATS Writer

  While reaching five consecutive bowl games would be considered a major accomplishment for many programs, Rutgers' recent success has some Scarlet Knights fans wanting more.

  
  
  
• UCF defeats Bethune-Cookman 63-50
  posted on December 12, 2009 - 04:40:03 pm
  
  

  ORLANDO, Fla. -- A.J. Tyler scored 18 points to help Central Florida defeat Bethune-Cookman 63-50 on Saturday.

  
  
  
• Rutgers to face Cent. Fla. in St. Petersburg Bowl
  posted on December 06, 2009 - 04:00:32 pm
  
  

  PISCATAWAY, N.J. -- Rutgers has accepted a bid to play in the St. Petersburg Bowl against Central Florida, the Scarlet Knights' fifth consecutive bowl appearance.

  
  
  
• Abromaitis leads Notre Dame to 90-72 win over UCF
  posted on December 06, 2009 - 11:15:03 am
  
  

  SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- Tim Abromaitis scored a career-high 31 points, Luke Harangody added 29 and Notre Dame shot 55 percent to beat Central Florida 90-72 on Sunday.

  
  
  
• Central Florida rolls past Newberry 80-62
  posted on December 01, 2009 - 07:20:02 pm
  
  

  ORLANDO, Fla. -- A.J. Tyler had 16 points and nine rebounds to lead Central Florida to an 80-62 victory over Newberry College on Tuesday night.

  
  
  
• Diakite, Central Florida edge Albany (N.Y.) 76-72
  posted on November 28, 2009 - 04:50:11 pm
  
  

  ORLANDO, Fla. -- Dave Diakite scored a career-high 19 points and made a game-clinching steal to lead Central Florida to a 76-72 victory over Albany (N.Y.) on Saturday.

  With the Knights (5-1) leading 74-72 in the closing seconds, Diakite picked off an inbounds pass by the Great Danes (3-4) and made both free throws after being fouled.

  Diakite, a redshirt freshman forward, also had eight rebounds to lead the Knights.

  Isaac Sosa added 13 points, shooting 3-for-4 on 3-pointers, and Taylor Young scored 10 for Central Florida. Young's layup and free throw gave the Knights their 74-72 lead with just over 1 minute to play.

  Tim Ambrose scored 25 points and Will Harris added 23 to pace Albany, combining for 19 of the Great Danes' 28 baskets.

  The first meeting between the two schools was tied 37-37 at halftime.

  Copyright 2009 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

  
  
  
• UCF 34, UAB 27
  posted on November 28, 2009 - 03:10:13 pm
  
  

  BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- Brett Hodges threw two touchdown passes and Central Florida beat Alabama-Birmingham 34-27 on Saturday.

  Hodges went 24-for-38 for 230 yards, including a 12-yard touchdown pass to Kamir Aiken and a 5-yarder to Billy Giovanetti for the Knights (8-4, 6-2 Conference USA).

  Brynn Harvey ran for 130 yards, including a 25-yard touchdown and went over the 1,000-yard rushing mark for the season. Harvey's score gave the Knights a 31-14 lead, all the cushion it would need.

  The Blazers (5-7, 4-4) scored twice in the fourth quarter but lost for the second time in a row and failed to become bowl eligible.

  Blazers' quarterback Joe Webb led the late rally with a 35-yard touchdown pass to Jeffrey Anderson and a 5-yard scoring pass to Frantrell Forrest. Webb went 20-for-35 with 332 yards passing and rushed for 137 yards and a touchdown.

  Copyright 2009 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

  
  
  
• UCF 34, UAB 27
  posted on November 28, 2009 - 02:25:09 pm
  
  

  BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- Brett Hodges threw two touchdown passes and Alabama-Birmingham beat Central Florida 34-27 on Saturday.

  Hodges went 24-for-38 for 230 yards, including a 12-yard touchdown pass to Kamir Aiken and a 5-yarder to Billy Giovanetti for the Knights (8-4, 6-2 Conference USA).

  Brynn Harvey ran for 130 yards, including a 25-yard touchdown and went over the 1,000-yard rushing mark for the season. Harvey's score gave the Knights a 31-14 lead, all the cushion it would need.

  The Blazers (5-7, 4-4) scored twice in the fourth quarter but lost for the second time in a row and failed to become bowl eligible.

  Blazers' quarterback Joe Webb led the late rally with a 35-yard touchdown pass to Jeffrey Anderson and a 5-yard scoring pass to Frantrell Forrest. Webb went 20-for-35 with 332 yards passing and rushed for 137 yards and a touchdown.

  Copyright 2009 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

  
  
  
• Central Florida defeats Drake 59-50
  posted on November 22, 2009 - 02:50:10 pm
  
  

  DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- A.J. Rompza hit two difficult shots down the stretch and Central Florida held Drake scoreless over the final 6 minutes for a 59-50 victory on Sunday.

  Isaac Sosa led the Knights (4-1) with 15 points, all on 3-point field goals, and P.J. Gaynor added 11 points in only 17 minutes.

  But it was Rompza, a 5-foot-9 sophomore guard not known for his scoring, and freshman Dave Diakate who stood out with the game on the line in the Glenn Wilkes Classic.

  Rompza made a shot high off the glass to put UCF up 53-50 with 4:57 remaining, and followed that up with a scoop shot under a taller defender. Diakate, who finished with 10 points and eight rebounds, sealed the win with a dunk off a steal.

  Adam Templeton had 15 points for Drake (1-4).

  The Bulldogs led just once after halftime, when two free throws by Ben Simons gave them a 46-44 advantage with 10:20 to go.

  Copyright 2009 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

  
  
  
• Harvey, Aiken lead UCF to 49-0 rout of Tulane
  posted on November 21, 2009 - 02:50:02 pm
  
  

  ORLANDO, Fla -- Brynn Harvey ran for 129 yards and three touchdowns and Kamar Aiken had two of touchdown receptions as the Central Florida routed Tulane 49-0 on Saturday.

  The Knights (7-4, 5-2 Conference USA) forced five turnovers and held Tulane to just 50 yards on total offense.

  Harvey ran 50 yards for a touchdown on the fourth play of the game and scored two more times from 2 yards out. Aiken caught scoring passes of 29 and 16 yards from quarterback Brett Hodges, who was 19 of 28 for 234 yards.

  Tulane (3-8, 1-6) lost two fumbles and quarterback Ryan Griffin threw an interception in the first five minutes of the second half, allowing UCF to push a 14-0 halftime advantage to 35-0. The Knights needed only six plays and 1:33 of playing time to get Harvey's last scoring run and the Hodges touchdown passes to Aiken.

  Copyright 2009 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

  
  
  
• Niagara rolls past Central Florida 63-46
  posted on November 21, 2009 - 02:55:06 pm
  
  

  DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- Demetrius Williamson scored 13 points and Niagara took advantage of Central Florida's mistakes and poor shooting in the first half in a 63-46 victory on Saturday.

  Anthony Nelson added 11 points for the Purple Eagles (3-1), who were never threatened after going on a 14-4 run to end the first half.

  Less than 24 hours after UCF shot better than 50 percent from the floor to soundly defeat Auburn in the Glenn Wilkes Classic, the Knights (3-1) went 1-for-12 from 3-point range and had 14 turnovers in the opening 20 minutes.

  UCFs only points over the final 5:49 of the first half came on a layup and two free throws by freshman guard Marcus Jordan, the son of NBA great Michael Jordan.

  A.J. Tyler scored 12 points for the Knights, who ended up committing 23 turnovers and shooting 31.6 percent from the floor.

  Copyright 2009 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

  
  
  
• UCF beats Auburn 84-74
  posted on November 20, 2009 - 05:35:02 pm
  
  

  DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- A.J Tyler had 19 points and eight rebounds as Central Florida defeated Auburn 84-74 at the Glenn Wilkes Classic on Friday night.

  Taylor Young and Dave Diakite had eight first-half points apiece for the Knights (3-0), who opened the game with a 13-0 run en route to a 41-24 lead at intermission. Each finished with 12 points.

  Auburn (1-2) got 22 points from Frankie Sullivan and DeWayne Reed added 15.

  The Knights held Auburn scoreless until Reed hit a 3-pointer 7 minutes into the game. The Tigers pulled within 21-17 later in the first half on Sullivan's jumper.

  But UCF put together another spurt, outscoring the Tigers 15-3, including a nifty lay-up basket by Young, to go ahead 36-20.

  UCF preserved the win by hitting 8 of 8 free throws during the final minute.

  The Knights entered the game 0-27 all-time against SEC teams.

  Copyright 2009 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

  
  
  
• Central Florida defeats Howard 68-59
  posted on November 17, 2009 - 06:25:02 pm
  
  

  ORLANDO, Fla. -- Taylor Young scored 15 points to lead four Central Florida players in double figures as the Knights defeated Howard 68-59 on Tuesday night.

  UCF (2-0) held the Bison (0-2) to 42 percent shooting (22-for-53) to open the round robin Glenn Wilkes Classic.

  The Knights maintained a double-digit lead for nearly 19 minutes of the second half. A 9-0 Howard run trimmed UCF's advantage to 63-55 with 1:12 remaining, but the Bison could get no closer than seven the rest of the way.

  Isaac Sosa finished with 14 points for the Knights. Dave Diakite added 10 points and 11 rebounds and freshman Keith Clanton scored 10 points, all in the first half, and pulled down 10 rebounds.

  The Knights hit only 39 percent from the floor (12-for-31) in the first half compared to the Bison's 30 percent (7-for-23).

  Calvin Thompson led Howard with 15 points and eight rebounds.

  Copyright 2009 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

  
  
  
• UCF stops Keenum in 37-32 upset of No. 13 Houston
  posted on November 14, 2009 - 12:45:02 pm
  
  

  ORLANDO, Fla. -- Central Florida not only found a way to slow down Case Keenum and No. 13 Houston, the Knights didn't give the nation's most prolific passer a chance to pull off another improbable comeback.

  Brett Hodges outplayed the Cougars quarterback and Brynn Harvey rushed for 139 yards and three touchdowns Saturday, leading UCF to a 37-32 upset that stopped a five-game winning streak Keenum had kept alive with a pair of last-minute rallies.

  Harvey scored on runs of 1, 41 and 7 yards, the last set up by an interception that stopped Keenum's streak of consecutive passing attempts without a pick at 123. Hodges completed 21 of 25 passes for 141 yards and one TD.

  Keenum threw for two TDs in the closing minutes, cutting into a 17-point deficit. He finished 33 of 56 for 377 yards and three scores. He had more than 500 yards in each of the previous two games.

  Copyright 2009 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

  
  
  
• Defense carries UCF past UMass, 84-67
  posted on November 13, 2009 - 08:50:02 pm
  
  

  ORLANDO, Fla. -- Isaac Sosa scored 26 points and Central Florida rode a strong defensive effort to beat Massachusetts on Friday night, 84-67.

  The Knights held the Minutemen to 33 percent shooting and used a 9-0 run early in the second half to pull away to a comfortable victory.

  After UMass (0-1) tied the game at 43 early in the second half, the Knights clamped down and got key baskets from Sosa and freshman Keith Clanton as UCF (1-0) built a 12-point lead.

  UMass guard Freddie Riley made a 3-pointer to get his team within nine, but Sosa answered with one of his own to push the lead back to double digits. The Minutemen got no closer despite attempting a school-record 38 3-pointers.

  Freshman guard Marcus Jordan, son of NBA Hall of Famer Michael Jordan, played 11 minutes for the Knights and was 0 for 2 from the floor. He had two assists and three turnovers.

  Copyright 2009 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

  
  
  
• Keenum takes Houston's aerial show to UCF
  posted on November 13, 2009 - 02:45:03 pm
  
  

  ORLANDO, Fla. -- Central Florida coach George O'Leary doesn't have any illusions about what the Knights have to do to keep pace with No. 13 Houston and the Cougars' prolific quarterback Case Keenum.

  For starters, Conference USA's top defense likely will have play its best game of the season on Saturday. The Knights will have to find a way to score like crazy, too - and even that might not be enough.

  "Hopefully we will not have to match points because they are averaging about 45 points a game, and to good teams, too," said O'Leary, whose team is first in the league in scoring, rushing and total defense, despite giving up a conference-high 267 yards per game.

  Houston (8-1, 4-1) actually only averages 42.1 points with a high-octane, no-huddle attack that puts relentless pressure on opposing defenses. Keenum has thrown for 433.7 yards per game and topped 500 yards each of the past two weeks.

  "I think the key with these guys is field position for one, and being able to produce a lot of three and outs to secure that field position," O'Leary said. "I enjoy playing these kinds of offenses because it amounts to a game of conditioning. ... It boils down to who has conditioned better during the week leading up to the game."

  Central Florida (5-4, 3-2) is coming off a 35-3 loss at No. 2 Texas and trying to remain in contention for the Conference USA East Division championship. The Knights need one victory to become bowl eligible, but may need to win at least two of three down the stretch to ensure a berth.

  Houston has won eight of its first nine games for the first time since 1990 and is tied with SMU for first place in the West Division. The Cougars rallied for a 46-45 victory at Tulsa last week, scoring nine points in the final 21 seconds to finish an improbable comeback.

  Keenum completed 40 of 60 passes for 522 yards and three touchdowns. Matt Hogan kicked a 51-yard field goal on the last play of the game for the victory.

  "We're getting everyone's best shot, and we've been able to come out of it," Houston coach Kevin Sumlin said.

  "Obviously, the fashion in which we won we would not like to have that every week, but there's no such thing as a bad win. As a matter of fact, that was a really good win based on everything that's at stake."

  Central Florida played without quarterback Brett Houdges (ribs) and leading rusher Brynn Harvey (ankle) at Texas. Both practiced this week, though O'Leary said it could be a gametime decision on whether they play.

  Either way, the Knights will have to make the most of any scoring opportunities against a porous Houston defense that's allowed 469.8 yards and 30.1 points per game. Central Florida is averaging just under 22 points.

  "I think we will just have to be ourselves. We will not have to change up who we are, but go out and play our game," O'Leary said.

  "We are about 50-50 with the run and the pass. In a game like this, it will not come down to field goals, but more touchdowns to produce more points. Being able to sustain the run and coming up with big plays in the pass game will be the key for us to maintain control of the flow of the game."

  Sumlin called Central Florida "a dangerous team" with a defense - despite ranking at the bottom of Conference USA against the pass - that poses a lot of potential problems for the Cougars.

  The Knights lead the conference with 29 sacks and are allowing a league-low 85.4 yards per game rushing in addition allowing a league-low 21 points per game. Bruce Miller and Jarvis Geathers lead the way with nine sacks apiece.

  "The statistics are starting to mean more and more as you get to game 10, 11 and 12 instead of the first couple of games," Sumlin said.

  "This is a really big challenge for us to go on the road again. ... You have to look at the fact that they're one game away from being bowl eligible. They have two losses in the East. Looking at the schedule, if they win the rest of their games, they can represent the East in the championship game."

  Copyright 2009 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

  
  
  
• Houston-UCF Preview
  posted on November 10, 2009 - 01:35:02 pm
  
  
  STATS Writer

  One of the worst defenses in the country hasn't prevented Houston from winning eight of its first nine games, and it may actually be helping quarterback Case Keenum's unlikely candidacy for the Heisman Trophy.

  Keenum has needed more than 500 yards passing in each of the last two games to lead the 13th-ranked Cougars to last-second victories, and he'll try for another prolific performance as Houston visits Central Florida on Saturday for its toughest remaining test.

  The Cougars' success has been especially impressive considering they rank 115th out of 120 Football Bowl Subdivision teams in total defense, allowing 469.8 yards and more than 30 points per game.

  But the defensive problems for Houston (8-1, 4-1 Conference USA) have only gotten Keenum back on the field quickly, allowing the junior to compile almost surreal numbers to lead the nation in passing yards (3,815) and touchdowns (28). He has been the driving force behind the country's most productive offense, which averages more than 42 points and 575 yards.

  "Our team believes in him," coach Kevin Sumlin said. "Offensively, defensively, everybody does, that no matter what the score is, we're never out of the game."

  It required a dramatic comeback for the Cougars to notch their fifth straight victory last Saturday after they trailed by eight at Tulsa in the final minute.

  Keenum was sacked on the potential game-tying 2-point conversion attempt after finding James Cleveland for a touchdown with 21 seconds left, but Houston recovered the onside kick and Keenum completed two quick passes to set up freshman Matt Hogan's winning 51-yard field goal at the gun.

  The quarterback finished 40 for 60 for 522 yards and three touchdowns in the 46-45 win, one week after he was 44 of 54 for 559 yards and five TDs in a 50-43 victory over Southern Miss. He threw for the winning score in that game with 21 seconds remaining.

  "I don't know what the Heisman voters are thinking," Keenum said. "My goal right now is to beat UCF. My goal is not to win the Heisman or break records. Any individual award is a team award. If you're not being successful and winning games, those team accolades are not going to come your way."

  Keenum is trying to lead the Cougars back to the conference title game for the first time since they won it in 2006 behind another standout quarterback, current Philadelphia Eagles backup Kevin Kolb.

  While Houston remains tied with SMU atop the West division, the Cougars hold the tiebreaker, meaning they'd lock up the division by winning their final three games. They close the regular season by facing Memphis and Rice, a combined 1-9 in conference play.

  UCF (5-4, 3-2) appears to be Houston's most challenging remaining opponent, but the Knights have already suffered lopsided losses to a pair of ranked teams, falling 35-3 at No. 2 Texas last Saturday.

  After Longhorns star Colt McCoy threw for 470 yards, UCF will almost certainly have to improve its defense against Keenum. This will be the first time the Knights have seen him - the teams haven't met since Oct. 28, 2006, when Kolb led Houston to a 51-31 home win.

  "Our defense is going to have to work hard," coach George O'Leary said. "It is not going to be the plays as much as it is the conditioning. Houston runs a very fast-paced offense, and as soon as the play is dead they are right back up there ready to go again."

  The Knights have also been hampered by injuries lately. Quarterback Brett Hodges and running back Brynn Harvey both missed the game against Texas, and it's unclear if either will suit up Saturday.

  Rob Calabrese started at quarterback, going 10 of 19 for 76 yards and getting sacked six times. Harvey's replacement, freshman Jonathan Davis, managed 71 yards on 22 carries.

  O'Leary called Hodges a "game-time decision," but said he's hoping his offense won't have to get involved in a shootout.

  "I think the key with (Houston) is field position for one, and being able to produce a lot of three and outs to secure that field position," O'Leary said.

  The Knights' biggest strength may be its pass rush, with ends Jarvis Geathers and Bruce Miller each having nine sacks.

  
  
  
• Shipley's record day leads No. 2 Texas, 35-3
  posted on November 07, 2009 - 12:30:02 pm
  
  
  

  Jordan Shipley and the Longhorns are beginning to think about BSC travels.

  AUSTIN, Texas -- Two months ago, Texas would have avoided any direct talk of playing for a national title.
   
  Back when the No. 2 Longhorns (8-0) were initially scheduled to play Central Florida (5-3), anything so bold would have been waved off as too much, too soon.
   
  Now, however, the Longhorns know what's in front of them if they keep winning, starting Saturday.
   
  "This becomes a national game now," Texas coach Mack Brown said. "If it were at the first of the season, it would not have been talked about a lot, but if you look at it now, we are in the mix at the end where everything we do is important. This game takes on a lot more importance than it would have if it were the third game of the year."
   
  Texas is sitting at No. 2 in the Bowl Championship series standings and No. 1 in the Big 12 South with a four regular-season games left before the conference championship game.
   
  Win out and Texas books passage to the BCS title game in Pasadena, Calif., on Jan. 7. That's a much better feeling for the Longhorns than this time last year, when they were coming off their only loss of the season at Texas Tech.
   
  "We know that feeling," quarterback Colt McCoy said. "We don't want to feel it again."
   
  Even with the talk of national goals, Brown said he senses a sharper focus for an opponent Texas is favored to beat by five touchdowns.
   
  "The freshmen feel like they've got forever here. The seniors understand that bunch last year missed an opportunity of a lifetime to win a conference and national championship because of one game," Brown said.
   
  "In fact, a couple of the seniors have said, 'You've got the rest of your life, we've got four weeks. Keep your mouth shut and play.' That's kind of been the message around here," Brown said.
   
  McCoy and the other seniors also remember a tough game with Central Florida in 2007, when the Longhorns escaped Orlando with a 35-32 win. They've also noted how the Golden Knights had six sacks in a 27-7 loss to Miami on Oct. 17. The Golden Knights were in that game until Miami pulled away late.
   
  Another effort like those and Central Florida could hobble Texas' championship march on the national stage.
   
  "We got up a little bit and never put it away (in 2007). We just let them hang around and hang around. We had to make some plays at the end to actually win the game," McCoy said.
   
  Brown is familiar with the tough defenses that Central Florida coach George O'Leary has put on the field over the years. The two used to square off in the ACC when Brown was at North Carolina and O'Leary was coaching at Georgia Tech.
   
  "That's the way they beat you, so you can't let them hang around," Brown said.
   
  For the Golden Knights, the key is to find ways to stand up to the Texas defense that ranks No. 1 in the country against the run and has surrendered only four touchdowns in the last three games.
   
  "Texas has all the pieces in place to make a run at the national championship," O'Leary said.
   
  Texas had already scheduled activities at the game to be a tribute to veterans, ceremonies that are sure to take on a more somber tone after the killings at Fort Hood, the sprawling Army post that is about 60 miles north of Austin. The ceremonies will include a military flyover with pilots who graduated from Texas.
   
  Brown visited troops in Iraq last summer.
   
  "We have also asked our players to dedicate the game to somebody, if they feel the need to, who is in their lives and is in the military," Brown said the day before the Fort Hood shootings. "We would like for them to play for them this weekend."
   
  Copyright 2009 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
  
  
  
• Longhorns starting to talk about 'national' goals
  posted on November 06, 2009 - 09:10:08 am
  
  

  AUSTIN, Texas -- Two months ago, Texas would have avoided any direct talk of playing for a national title.

  Back when the No. 2 Longhorns (8-0) were initially scheduled to play Central Florida (5-3), anything so bold would have been waved off as too much, too soon.

  Now the Longhorns know what's in front of them if they keep winning, starting Saturday.

  Texas is No. 2 in the Bowl Championship series standings with four regular-season games left before the conference championship game. A trip to the BCS title game in Pasadena, Calif., on Jan. 7 is within reach if the Longhorns win out.

  Copyright 2009 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

  
  
  
• Air Jordans cost UCF future deal with adidas
  posted on November 04, 2009 - 08:40:01 pm
  
  

  ORLANDO, Fla. -- A fight over the shoes Michael Jordan's son will wear at the University of Central Florida has cost the school any future sponsorship with adidas.

  "The University of Central Florida has chosen not to deliver on their contractual commitment to adidas," adidas spokeswoman Andrea Corso wrote in an e-mail to The Associated Press. "As a result we have chosen not to continue our relationship with them moving forward."

  Freshman guard Marcus Jordan wore a pair of white Air Jordans during UCF's 84-65 win in an exhibition game against Saint Leo on Wednesday night, the Orlando Sentinel reported on its Web site. Jordan has said he will only wear his father's Nike Air Jordan shoes because they hold special meaning to his family.

  UCF is in the final year of a five-year contract with adidas that requires coaches and athletes to use the company's apparel and equipment.

  "We are disappointed to learn that adidas has chosen to discontinue its relationship with UCF Athletics," the school said in a statement Wednesday night released by spokesman Joe Hornstein. "Once we receive official notice we will be able to further respond."

  Copyright 2009 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

  
  
  
• Air Jordans cost UCF future deal with adidas
  posted on November 04, 2009 - 07:40:06 pm
  
  

  ORLANDO, Fla. -- A fight over the shoes Michael Jordan's son will wear at the University of Central Florida has cost the school any future sponsorship with adidas.

  "The University of Central Florida has chosen not to deliver on their contractual commitment to adidas," adidas spokeswoman Andrea Corso wrote in an e-mail to The Associated Press. "As a result we have chosen not to continue our relationship with them moving forward."

  Freshman guard Marcus Jordan wore a pair of white Air Jordans during UCF's exhibition game against Saint Leo on Wednesday night, the Orlando Sentinel reported on its Web site. Jordan has said he will only wear his father's Nike Air Jordan shoes because they hold special meaning to his family.

  UCF is in the final year of a five-year contract with adidas that requires coaches and athletes to use the company's apparel and equipment.

  "We are disappointed to learn that adidas has chosen to discontinue its relationship with UCF Athletics," the school said in a statement Wednesday night released by spokesman Joe Hornstein. "Once we receive official notice we will be able to further respond."

  Copyright 2009 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

  
  
  
• Air Jordans cost UCF future deal with adidas
  posted on November 04, 2009 - 06:30:02 pm
  
  

  ORLANDO, Fla. -- A fight over the shoes Michael Jordan's son will wear at the University of Central Florida has cost the school any future sponsorship with adidas.

  "The University of Central Florida has chosen not to deliver on their contractual commitment to adidas," adidas spokeswoman Andrea Corso wrote in an e-mail to The Associated Press. "As a result we have chosen not to continue our relationship with them moving forward."

  Freshman guard Marcus Jordan wore a pair of white Air Jordans during UCF's exhibition game against Saint Leo on Wednesday night, the Orlando Sentinel reported on its Web site. Jordan has said he will only wear his father's Nike Air Jordan shoes because they hold special meaning to his family.

  UCF is in the final year of a five-year contract with adidas that requires coaches and athletes to use the company's apparel and equipment. A school spokesman did not immediately respond to a message seeking comment.

  Copyright 2009 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

  
  
  
• Air Jordans cost UCF future deal with adidas
  posted on November 04, 2009 - 06:05:02 pm
  
  

  ORLANDO, Fla. -- A fight over the shoes Michael Jordan's son will wear at the University of Central Florida has cost the school any future sponsorship with adidas.

  In an e-mail to The Associated Press, adidas spokeswoman Andrea Corso says the school "has chosen not to deliver on their contractual commitment to adidas," prompting the company not to continue its relationship with the school moving forward.

  Freshman guard Marcus Jordan wore a pair of white Air Jordans during UCF's exhibition game against Saint Leo on Wednesday night, the Orlando Sentinel reported on its Web site.

  UCF is in the final year of a five-year contract with adidas. A school spokesman did not immediately respond to a message seeking comment.

  Copyright 2009 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

  
  
  
• UCF-Texas Preview
  posted on November 03, 2009 - 02:00:02 pm
  
  
  STATS Writer

  Amid the pressure of the Big 12 race and the BCS title game hunt, Texas would appear to catch a break with Saturday's non-conference game against Central Florida.

  The second-ranked Longhorns, however, know very well not to take the Golden Knights lightly.

  Texas (8-0) moved past Alabama into second in the BCS standings after last week's 41-14 win over then-No. 13 Oklahoma State. The Longhorns picked the Cowboys off four times, nearly a year after their defense faltered in a stunning last-second loss at Texas Tech that cost them a shot at the national title.

  Defensive backs Curtis Brown and Earl Thomas, who allowed the Red Raiders' Michael Crabtree to score the winning touchdown in last season's only defeat, returned interceptions for TDs last Saturday.

  "That was a bad feeling, and I think (Texas coach Mack Brown) kind of put it on the seniors' shoulders and said, 'Hey, this is your team. You control your destiny. Don't let it happen again,"' said Colt McCoy, who threw for 171 yards and his 100th touchdown.

  Since winning the national title in 2005, November has been the Longhorns' most treacherous time. Two defeats in the month in 2006 kept them out of the conference title game, as did last season's loss in Lubbock on Nov. 1.

  Texas missed out on a chance to share the Big 12 South championship in 2007 after a loss to Texas A&M.

  For the first time since their championship season, the Longhorns will play all of their November games in their home state. After hosting the Knights, they travel to Baylor, host Kansas and face Texas A&M on the road.

  Texas had been scheduled to face Texas Tech this week, but that game was moved up to Sept. 19.

  "We've got a lot at stake now, and we understand that," Brown said. "When you get past OU at our place, there's some more stuff out there for you. When you get past Oklahoma State, this was a game everybody was looking for, so we can't say now that it's over, we're there.

  "We have to restart and make sure that we keep our foot on the gas and make sure we move forward."

  The Longhorns begin the month against a team that nearly upset them two seasons ago.

  In the only meeting between the schools, Texas pulled out a 35-32 road win Sept. 15, 2007, rallying after trailing by one in the fourth quarter. Central Florida scored a touchdown with 35 seconds left and forced Texas to recover the final onside kick.

  "We've got to be prepared for them," said McCoy, who was 32 of 47 for 259 yards and a touchdown in that game. "I just remember we didn't finish it like we wanted to. We got up a little bit and never put it away. We just let them hang around and hang around. We had to make some plays at the end to actually win that game."

  Central Florida (5-3) could again prove to be a tough opponent. The Golden Knights boast the nation's seventh-best rush defense at 87.8 yards per game and are sixth with 3.3 sacks a contest.

  Two of their losses, road defeats to Southern Miss and East Carolina, came by a combined 12 points. Central Florida, though, needed a last-minute touchdown to beat Marshall 21-20 on Sunday night.

  With 23 seconds left, Rocky Ross caught a 1-yard score from Brett Hodges, who finished with a career-best 325 yards and two TDs.

  "These kids have a lot of fight in them," coach George O'Leary said. "They don't worry about mistakes. They worry about making the next play, and that's what we did. When we needed a play, somebody stepped up and made it."

  Central Florida will face the top-scoring team in the nation and third-best defensive squad this week. Texas is averaging 41.0 points and giving up 240.8 yards per game.

  The Longhorns also own the country's best rush defense, giving up 52.9 yards a game on the ground.

  
  
  
• UCF edges Marshall 21-20 on late TD
  posted on November 01, 2009 - 09:10:08 pm
  
  

  ORLANDO, Fla. -- Brett Hodges threw 1-yard touchdown pass to Rocky Ross with 23 seconds left to give UCF a 21-20 victory over Marshall on Sunday night.

  UCF (5-3, 3-2 Conference USA) scored twice in the final 8 minutes to overcome a 20-7 deficit and beat Marshall (5-4, 3-2) for the fifth straight time.

  Brynn Harvey scored on a 2-yard burst with 7:51 left to cut it to 20-14. The Knights turned the ball over on downs on their next possession, but got a break when Marshall quarterback Brian Anderson fumbled on his own 30 with 2:12 left.

  Josh Robinson recovered the fumble to give UCF one more opportunity. Hodges had to convert a fourth-and-7 play from the 24, but did it with a 23-yard pass to Kamar Aiken. Hodges found Ross uncovered in the end zone on the next play.

  Copyright 2009 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

  
  
  
• Central Florida has no trouble with Rice 49-7
  posted on October 24, 2009 - 03:55:02 pm
  
  

  HOUSTON -- Brett Hodges was 8 of 13 passing for 145 yards and a touchdown and ran for another score Saturday in Central Florida's 49-7 victory over Rice.

  Brynn Harvey led UCF (4-3, 2-2 Conference USA) on the ground with 71 yards on 12 carries, and Ronnie Weaver added 58 yards on five carries with a touchdown. A.J. Guyton finished with four receptions for 113 yards, including a 76-yard scoring catch. He also threw a 36-yard TD pass.

  Nick Fanuzzi finished 17 of 26 for 116 yards through the air for Rice (0-8, 0-4), and Charles Ross ran for 63 yards and a touchdown on seven carries. Toren Dixon had six catches for 54 yards.

  Copyright 2009 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

  
  
  
• Jordan's son won't wear adidas shoes for UCF
  posted on October 22, 2009 - 05:50:02 pm
  
  

  ORLANDO, Fla. -- A fight over the shoes Michael Jordan's son will wear at the University of Central Florida could cost the school financially.

  Freshman guard Marcus Jordan is refusing to wear shoes made by adidas, the brand the university has a contract with for all its sports. He says he will only wear his father's Nike Air Jordan shoes because they hold special meaning to his family.

  The problem is UCF is in the final year of its contract with adidas that requires coaches and athletes to use the company's apparel and equipment. UCF says its five-year deal with adidas ends June 30, 2010.

  There have been media reports that UCF is negotiating a new deal that could be worth up to $3 million and last up to six years.

  UCF said in a statement Thursday that adidas was aware of the situation during contract renewal discussions. The university says it was "led to believe that there would be a workable solution to a unique situation."

  Copyright 2009 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

  
  
  
• Jordan's son has adidas issues, UCF in tough spot
  posted on October 22, 2009 - 10:50:02 am
  
  

  ORLANDO, Fla. -- A fight over the shoes Michael Jordan's son will wear at the University of Central Florida could cost the school as much as $3 million.

  Freshman guard Marcus Jordan is refusing to wear shoes made by adidas, the brand the university has a contract with for all its sports. He says he will only wear his father's Nike Air Jordan shoes because it holds special meaning to his family.

  The problem is UCF has a $3 million, six-year contract with adidas that requires coaches and athletes to use the company's apparel and equipment.

  UCF said in a statement Thursday that adidas was aware of the situation during contract renewal discussions. The university says it is working with adidas "in determining how this unique set of circumstances will work for both parties."

  Copyright 2009 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

  
  
  
• Harris, Miami cool off UCF 27-7
  posted on October 17, 2009 - 07:55:07 pm
  
  

  ORLANDO, Fla. -- Jacory Harris completed 20 of 26 passes for 293 yards and a touchdown, Javarris James rushed for another score on the way to topping the 2,000-yard mark for his career, and No. 9 Miami pulled away to beat Central Florida 27-7 on Saturday night.

  Damien Berry added a fourth-quarter touchdown run for the Hurricanes (5-1), who matched their best start since 2005.

  Brett Hodges threw for 163 yards for UCF (3-3), but the team's top rusher - Brynn Harvey, who was coming off a 219-yard effort against Memphis - was held to 25 yards on 12 carries.

  UCF is now 0-20 against teams in the AP Top 25 since moving to Division I-A in 1996.

  Copyright 2009 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

  
  
  
• No. 9 Miami knows wins at UCF aren't always easy
  posted on October 16, 2009 - 12:00:04 pm
  
  
  AP Sports Writer

  Texas escaped in 2007. South Florida rallied in 2008.

  If Miami wasn't already going to take Central Florida seriously, the fortunes of the Longhorns and Bulls probably got the Hurricanes' undivided attention.

  Central Florida had Texas on the ropes before falling by a field goal in its new home stadium two years ago, then took South Florida to overtime on that field last year. Now another ranked team is heading to Orlando, the ninth-ranked Hurricanes (4-1) visiting the Knights' on-campus stadium on Saturday night.

  
  
  
• Cancer in the past for UCF defensive end
  posted on October 14, 2009 - 01:20:07 pm
  
  
  Associated Press

  Darius Nall was 19, a 6-foot-3, 249-pound chiseled, happy-go-lucky kid who had everything he wanted, attending college in Orlando and playing defensive end for Central Florida.

  So imagine his surprise when heartburn turned out to be cancer.

  "Right there," Nall said, "that changed everything."

  A year and a half later, Nall is back on the field and contributing for the Golden Knights (3-2), who host No. 9 Miami (4-1) Saturday night in Orlando. Nall missed last year after doctors removed a baseball-sized lump on his right lung, leaving a scar snaking from his chest around to his back.

  Just last week, Nall got his latest test results: All indications are he's been cancer-free for nearly a year.

  "I don't know if a kid that didn't have the passion for football would have came back like he did, because of what he went through with radiation and all that stuff when he had the tumor removed," Central Florida coach George O'Leary said. "We're happy to have him back. He's playing well this year. He's just a kid that always has a smile on his face and he's very grateful for what was done for him."

  Even in a backup role, Nall is tied for the team lead with three quarterback pressures through five games and has recovered a fumble this season. Slowly, he's regaining the form that made him an Conference USA all-freshman player two years ago.

  "It seems like it almost never happened," said Nall's mother, Wanda Willis. "It seemed like it happened so very long ago. This time last year, he was preparing to go through radiation treatments. It's kind of unexplainable, because what can you really say, as a parent, when you go through something like that?"

  When she heard that her son was having chest pains, Willis' best guess was indigestion or a stomach ailment. After all, she had just seen her son, noticing nothing wrong.

  Willis deals with cancer and other serious illnesses all day at work. From her desk at an Atlanta hospital, she helps arrange and obtain authorizations for patients to have certain procedures done, MRIs and CT scans and things of that nature. Then one day, her office phone rang with the stunning news.

  "When they said a baseball-sized tumor, I almost dropped the phone," Willis said. "The initial shock was kind of terrifying. He was just 19. We'd just seen him. No idea. But I knew I had to be strong for my son. He's a big kid, but he's a kid."

  The kid would be all right.

  "They got it all," Nall said. "Nothing had spread or anything like that. I was 19 years old and yes, the first time I heard it, I was afraid. Then I talked to my mom, we decided to let God take over and I went through it all with a smile on my face."

  Three surgeries and months of radiation later, Nall was back with the Knights last fall, albeit in a very limited capacity.

  "The biggest thing that we had to watch was just getting him back, as far as conditioning, into contact-type shape," O'Leary said. "We took our time, getting it done right as far as giving him so many reps and taking him out. Doctors just last week gave him another clean bill of health and everything's gone really well."

  The Knights have had more than their share of problems in recent years.

  Linebacker Cory Hogue was diagnosed with compartment syndrome - tissue in both of his legs was swelling and had nowhere to go, causing intense pain - last season. Nell got cancer, and that blow came less than four months after freshman Ereck Plancher died during a conditioning session.

  How much could one team take, anyway?

  "When it first happened to Darius, it was a shock," Hogue said. "Our prayers were out for Darius and when he came back, everyone was relieved, really. Everyone was excited."

  The excitement is there this week, too.

  Central Florida's on-campus stadium will be sold out Saturday night. The Knights almost beat the Hurricanes last year, and had two near-misses at home against AP Top 25 teams since 2007, giving both Texas and South Florida all they wanted before eventually losing close games.

  "If we win this game, it'd mean everything," Nall said. "It'd finally show what we are capable of doing."

  
  
  
• Miami-UCF Preview
  posted on October 13, 2009 - 12:15:01 pm
  
  
  STATS Writer

  After surging into the BCS conversation with success during a challenging first month of the season, Miami is hoping to avoid a letdown on an easier stretch of its schedule.

  The No. 9 Hurricanes look to improve to 5-1 for the first time in four seasons by winning their second consecutive game against an unranked opponent Saturday night when they visit Central Florida.

  Miami (4-1) played each of its first four games against a ranked opponent, and its lone loss in that stretch came at then-No. 11 Virginia Tech on Sept. 26. The Hurricanes rebounded with a 21-20 win over then-No. 8 Oklahoma on Oct. 3 and then routed Florida A&M 48-16 last Saturday.

  The Hurricanes piled up 470 yards against the Rattlers in their first game against an opponent outside the Top 25.

  "You need a game like this," said coach Randy Shannon, whose team has also defeated Florida State and Georgia Tech. "We came out focused and started the game fast."

  Playing only the first 30 minutes as Miami had 303 yards and a 31-3 lead at halftime, sophomore quarterback Jacory Harris completed 16 of 24 passes for 217 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions.

  "Overall we had a good night," Harris said. "I made a couple of mistakes, but we put up points and made a lot of plays."

  With running back Graig Cooper sidelined with a lower extremity injury and leading rusher Javarris James carrying the ball once for four yards, junior Damien Berry rushed for 162 yards, including a 35-yard touchdown.

  "I was a little nervous," said Berry, a former safety, after making his first collegiate carries. "My heart was going 150 mph."

  Berry's rushing total was the most by a Hurricanes player since 2005, surpassing James' career-high 150 yards against the Sooners the previous week.

  Cooper, who led Miami in rushing the last two seasons, is questionable for Saturday's game. He rushed for 90 yards and a touchdown in a 20-14 victory over UCF on Oct. 11, 2008, the teams' first meeting.

  The Hurricanes held the Knights to 78 total yards in that matchup in Miami but needed a fourth-down stop with 1:52 remaining to seal the win.

  Miami, looking to go 5-1 for the first time since opening 8-1 in 2005, is fourth in the ACC in rushing with 137.6 yards per game. It will face a UCF team with the nation's 15th-ranked rush defense, allowing 94.4 per game.

  The Knights (3-2), who are coming off a bye week, are 0-19 against Top 25 teams since becoming a Division I program in 1996.

  Central Florida has trailed at halftime in all of its games this season, including its 32-14 win over Memphis on Oct. 3. The Knights outscored the Tigers 29-7 in the second half to improve to 3-0 at home.

  It was the Knights' highest point total in the second half of a game since they had 31 against Buffalo in a 45-21 victory on Nov. 9, 2002.

  "The big thing is sometimes you need a wake up call," coach George O'Leary said. "Finally the offense started clicking in the second half."

  Sophomore Brynn Harvey, who carried 42 times for a career-high 219 yards and a touchdown against the Tigers, is third in Conference USA and 16th in the Football Bowl Subdivision with 107.2 rushing yards per game.

  Harvey caught one pass for four yards against the Hurricanes last season, and Knights quarterback Brett Hodges - a Wake Forest transfer - will face Miami for the first time.

  Harris and the Hurricanes started looking toward this game immediately after their last one.

  "I know that Central Florida's going to be a sold-out game in Orlando, it's a night game and that's something we love playing in," Harris said last Saturday night. "We're going to go up there, just have fun and endure this three-hour-long bus ride."

  Miami will be without sophomore linebacker Jordan Futch for the rest of the season after he injured his knee last Saturday. The Hurricanes also announced Monday that senior cornerback Ryan Hill (shoulder) and freshman defensive end Dyron Dye (left knee) will not play the remainder of the season.

  
  
  
• Central Florida rallies to beat Memphis
  posted on October 03, 2009 - 04:20:08 pm
  
  

  ORLANDO, Fla. -- Brynn Harvey ran for a career-high 219 yards and Central Florida defeated Memphis 32-14 on Saturday.

  The Knights (1-4, 1-2 Conference USA) trailed 14-9 late in the third quarter when Brett Hodges threw a 7-yard touchdown pass to Ricky Kay on the final play of the period. Hodges, who finished 16-for-28 with 214 yards, then connected with Jamar Newsome on a 22-yard score to put UCF ahead 22-14 with 7:28 left.

  The Tigers (1-4, 0-2) led 7-3 at halftime despite UCF controlling the ball for more than 19 minutes and gaining twice as many first downs. The Knights drove the ball across midfield five times in the half, but managed just a 24-yard field goal by Nick Cattoi in the second quarter.

  Cattoi tied a UCF school record with four field goals, also connecting from 46, 42 and 26 yards.

  Copyright 2009 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.