Fans shouted the ever popular “you suck,” among other things, as he entered the tunnel. While looking into Rob Calabrese’s eyes as he walked you could see that not only was he aware of what was being said, but how much it was hurting him.
The Bowl by the Bay was more like a Bust by the Bay for the local team on Saturday night at the St. Petersburg Bowl inside Tropicana Field. Now it’s back to the drawing board for the UCF Knights, who following another season of promise and hope unfulfilled.
A UCF football player was named C-USA Defensive Player of the Year, basketball players from University and Winter Park high schools have impressive outings and a couple Florida Tuskers earn postseason awards from the United Football League.
The UCF football team defeats a ranked team, Isaac Sosa hits six three-pointers for the UCF basketball team, Lyman’s Spencer Shumway bowls his way to a state title, Olympia High alum Chris Johnson puts up big numbers in the NFL, and former Bishop Moore standout Jennifer George debuts in a big way.
By holding on for a 37-32 win against No. 12 Houston the Knights got their first win over a Top-25 team, they became bowl eligible for the third time, and they kept a fan base from completely jumping ship on a season full of uneasy surf.
This week AJ Turman and Skyler Skersick from Boone High School join UCF soccer coach Amanda Cromwell and UCF football player Bruce Miller on the Top-5 list alongside Orlando Magic’s Dwight Howard and the men’s and women’s soccer teams at Rollins College.
Remnants of Saturday night’s 27-7 loss at home to No. 9 Miami (5-1) can still be felt on a frigid Monday by UCF fans. It’s just another chilling reminder of how left out in the cold the Knights (3-3) have been in the eyes of the college football world.
The last time the UCF Knights took the field they were literally hurting at the wide receiver position. Not playing against Memphis were veterans Rocky Ross and Kamar Aiken. Then down went tight end Corey Rabazinski, leaving Brett Hodges to turn to Jamar Newsome A.J. Guyton and the unheralded Ricky Kay.
It wasn’t pretty. Not that anyone is going to complain too much about that though. At this point in the football season for UCF (3-2, 1-2 C-USA), the Knights should be thankful for a win any way they can get one. It took taking a few extra steps forward in the second half on Saturday to finally put Memphis away, 32-14.
UCF head coach George O’Leary couldn’t remember another time one of his teams in Orlando had fought back from a 10-point deficit. After being chewed out in the locker room at the break, the Knights emerged like the sleeping giant UCF has long since described its program as and reminded us all what made their defense one of the best in the country a year ago.