2008 UCF Knights football team

Last updated

2008 UCF Knights football
UCF Knights logo.svg
Conference Conference USA
DivisionEast
Record4–8 (3–5 C-USA)
Head coach
Offensive coordinatorTim Salem (5th season)
Defensive coordinator Dave Huxtable (1st as DC, 5th overall season)
Home stadium Bright House Networks Stadium
(Capacity: 45,323)
Seasons
←  2007
2009  →
2008 Conference USA football standings
ConfOverall
Team W L  W L 
East Division
East Carolina x$  6 –2   9 –5  
Memphis  4 –4   6 –7  
Southern Miss  4 –4   7 –6  
UAB  3 –5   4 –8  
UCF  3 –5   4 –8  
Marshall  3 –5   4 –8  
West Division
Tulsa xy  7 –1   11 –3  
Rice x  7 –1   10 –3  
Houston  6 –2   8 –5  
UTEP  4 –4   5 –7  
Tulane  1 –7   2 –10  
SMU  0 –8   1 –11  
Championship: East Carolina 27, Tulsa 24
  • $ – Conference champion
  • x – Division champion/co-champions
  • y – Championship game participant
Rankings from AP Poll

The 2008 UCF Knights football team represented the University of Central Florida in the 2008 NCAA Division I FBS football season. Their head coach was George O'Leary, in his fifth season with the team. For the second season, the UCF Knights played all of their home games at Bright House Networks Stadium on the school's main campus in Orlando, Florida. The Knights sought unsuccessfully to defend their Conference USA football championship.

Contents

Personnel

Recruiting 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, Florida)

Defensive Backs
Chad Keys (St. Paul's School – Covington, Louisiana)

Defensive Ends
Jarvis Gathers (Feather River C.C. – Andrews, South Carolina)
Robert Pritchard (North Gwinnett – Suwanee, Georgia)

Defensive Tackle
Theo Goins (Hightower – Fort Bend, Texas)
Chris Martin (Choctawhatchee – Fort Walton Beach, Florida)

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

Offensive Lineman
Chad Hounshell (Lake Catholic – Mentor, Ohio)
Jarien Moreland (Glade Central Community – Belle Glade, Florida)
John Oliver (Troup – LaGrange, Georgia)
Steven Robinson (Lincoln – Tallahassee, Florida)

Running Backs
Brandon Davis (Peachtree Ridge – Suwanee, Georgia)
Brynn Harvey (Largo – Largo, Florida)
Vance King (Stockbridge – Stockbridge, Georgia)
Latavius Murray (Onondaga Central – Nedrow, New York)

Tight Ends / Hybrid Back
Brendan Kelly (Shoreham-Wading River – Shoreham, New York)
Kyle Madden (Harrison – Kennesaw, Georgia)

Quarterback
Rob Calabrese (East Islip – Islip Terrace, New York)

Offseason

On August 22, 2008, 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. [1] He received a hardship waiver from the NCAA on September 5, giving him immediate eligibility. [2]

Schedule

DateTimeOpponentSiteTVResultAttendance
August 306:00 pm South Carolina State (FCS)*
W 17–042,126
September 67:00 pmNo. 17 South Florida *
 ESPN2 L 24–3146,805
September 201:00 pmat Boston College *
 ESPNU L 7–3441,267
September 278:00 pmat UTEP
CBSCS L 13–5833,339
October 43:30 pm SMU
  • Bright House Networks Stadium
  • Orlando, FL
CBSCSW 31–1743,147
October 113:45 pmat Miami (FL) *
ESPNUL 14–2040,011
October 268:00 pmat No. 22 Tulsa
ESPN L 19–4930,000
November 28:15 pm East Carolina
  • Bright House Networks Stadium
  • Orlando, FL
ESPNL 10–13 OT40,202
November 83:30 pm Southern Miss Dagger-14-plain.png
  • Bright House Networks Stadium
  • Orlando, FL
L 6–1741,652
November 154:30 pmat Marshall
CSS W 30–1424,059
November 222:00 pmat Memphis
W 28–2118,836
November 291:00 pm UAB
  • Bright House Networks Stadium
  • Orlando, FL
L 0–1523,644
  • *Non-conference game
  • Dagger-14-plain.pngHomecoming
  • Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game
  • All times are in Eastern time

Game summaries

South Carolina State

1234Total
Bulldogs00000
Knights0701017

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.

South Florida

1234OTTotal
#17 Bulls100140731
Knights73014024

Greco's struggles continued when the Knights hosted South Florida 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 South Florida 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.

Boston College

1234Total
Knights07007
Eagles03141734

UTEP

1234Total
Knights076013
Miners1017141758

SMU

1234Total
Mustangs1000717
Knights3714731

Miami (FL)

1234Total
Knights070714
Hurricanes10001020

Tulsa

1234Total
Knights0190019
Golden Hurricane77211449

East Carolina

1234OTTotal
Pirates0037313
Knights3700010

Southern Miss

1234Total
Golden Eagles077317
Knights60006

Marshall

1234Total
'Knights10103730
Thundering Herd077014

Memphis

1234Total
Knights1477028
Tigers707721

UAB

1234Total
Blazers363315
Knights00000

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2007 UCF Knights football team</span> American college football season

The 2007 UCF Knights football team represented the University of Central Florida in the 2007 NCAA Division I FBS football season. Their head coach was George O'Leary, in his fourth season with the school. The season was highlighted by the completion of their new on-campus stadium. The Knights moved out of the aging Citrus Bowl in downtown Orlando, and began playing their home games at Bright House Networks Stadium, located on the main campus of UCF in east Orlando, Florida. In addition, the team changed its nickname from "Golden Knights" back to simply "Knights." From its inception in 1979 to 1992, the football team had been known as the Knights, then used the name "Golden Knights" from 1993 until 2006.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2008 Miami Hurricanes football team</span> American college football season

The 2008 Miami Hurricanes football team represented the University of Miami during the 2008 NCAA Division I FBS football season. It was the Hurricanes' 83rd season of football and 5th as a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference. The Hurricanes were led by second-year head coach Randy Shannon and played their home games at Dolphin Stadium. They finished the season 7–6 overall and 4–4 in the ACC to finish in a tie for third place in the Coastal Division. They were invited to the Emerald Bowl where they lost to California, 24-17.

The 2010 UCF Knights football team represented the University of Central Florida in the 2010 NCAA Division I FBS football season. Their head coach was George O'Leary, who was in his seventh season with the team. For the first time in program history, the Knights were nationally ranked following a nationally televised rout of Houston on November 5. For the third time in six years, UCF won the Conference USA Eastern Division and later, became Conference USA champions for the second time in four seasons. As a result, the Knights appeared in the Liberty Bowl, in which they defeated Georgia 10–6, for the first bowl victory in program history. UCF finished the season ranked in both final national polls, 20th in the Coaches Poll, and 21st in the AP Poll.

Jeffrey Godfrey IV is a former American football Slotback. Godfrey played for the University of Central Florida Knights. He led the Knights to the Conference USA Championship in his freshman year (2010), becoming the first true freshman quarterback to win an FBS conference championship game.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2005 UCF Golden Knights football team</span> American college football season

The 2005 UCF Golden Knights football team represented the University of Central Florida in the 2005 NCAA Division I-A football season. Their head coach was George O'Leary, in his second season with the team. It was their first year as a member of Conference USA, playing in the East Division.

The 2011 UCF Knights football team represented the University of Central Florida in the 2011 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Knights played in the East Division of Conference USA, and played their home games at Bright House Networks Stadium in Orlando, Florida. The Knights were led by head coach George O'Leary, who was in his eighth season with the team. They finished the season 5–7, 3–5 in C-USA play to finish in a tie for fourth place in the East Division.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">George O'Leary</span> American football coach and college athletics administrator

George Joseph O'Leary is a former American football coach and college athletics administrator. He served as the head football coach of the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets from 1994 to 2001 and the UCF Knights from 2004 to 2015. He was famously hired in 2001 to be the head coach of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish but resigned after five days for lying on his resume. O'Leary was an assistant coach for the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League (NFL) from 2002 to 2004, and an assistant coach for the Syracuse Orange and San Diego Chargers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1996 UCF Golden Knights football team</span> American college football season

The 1996 UCF Golden Knights football season was the eighteenth season for the team and Gene McDowell's twelfth as the head coach of the Golden Knights. McDowell's 1996 team compiled a 5–6 overall record. The season marked UCF's first as a member of Division I-A, officially joining on September 1, 1996. At that time, the Knights became the first football program to play in four different NCAA divisions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1999 UCF Golden Knights football team</span> American college football season

The 1999 UCF Golden Knights football season was Mike Kruczek's second year as the head coach of the Golden Knights. Looking to build on the success of a nine-win season the year before, the Knights visited five high-profile opponents. Kruczek led UCF to an overall record of 4–7. With the departure of Daunte Culpepper to the NFL Draft, the quarterback duties were taken over by college journeyman Vic Penn. On two occasions, the Golden Knights nearly upset a major SEC opponent on the road.

The 2013 UCF Knights football team represented the University of Central Florida in the 2013 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Knights were members of the American Athletic Conference, and played their home games at Bright House Networks Stadium on UCF's main campus in Orlando, Florida. The Knights were led by head coach George O'Leary, who was in his tenth season with the team.

The 2014 UCF Knights football team represented the University of Central Florida in the 2014 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Knights were members of the American Athletic Conference, and played their home games at Bright House Networks Stadium on UCF's main campus in Orlando, Florida. The Knights were led by head coach George O'Leary, who was in his eleventh season with the team.

The 2015 UCF Knights football team represented the University of Central Florida in the 2015 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Knights were members of the East Division of the American Athletic Conference, defending conference co-champions, and played their home games at Bright House Networks Stadium on UCF's main campus in Orlando, Florida. The Knights were led by head coach George O'Leary, who was in his 12th and final season with the team. After starting the season 0–6, O'Leary resigned as UCF's interim athletic director, a position he had held since June when Todd Stansbury left for the same position at Oregon State. Following UCF's 59–10 defeat by Houston on homecoming, dropping the Knights to an 0–8 record, O'Leary resigned as head football coach. Quarterbacks coach Danny Barrett served as interim head coach for the remainder of the season.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">South Florida–UCF football rivalry</span>

The South Florida–UCF football rivalry, better known as the War on I-4 is an American college football rivalry between the South Florida Bulls football team of the University of South Florida and UCF Knights football team of the University of Central Florida. As of the 2022 meeting, the Knights hold a 8–6 lead in the series.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2017 UCF Knights football team</span> American college football season

The 2017 UCF Knights football team represented the University of Central Florida in the 2017 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Knights played their home games at the newly renamed Spectrum Stadium in Orlando, Florida, and competed in the East Division of the American Athletic Conference. They were led by second year head coach Scott Frost.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2018 UCF Knights football team</span> American college football season

The 2018 UCF Knights football team represented the University of Central Florida (UCF) during the 2018 NCAA Division I FBS football season. They played their home games at Spectrum Stadium in Orlando, Florida, and were led by first-year head coach Josh Heupel. The Knights competed as members of the East Division of the American Athletic Conference. The 2018 season marked the 40th season of football for the Knights program.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2019 UCF Knights football team</span> American college football season

The 2019 UCF Knights football team represented the University of Central Florida (UCF) during the 2019 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Knights were led by second-year head coach Josh Heupel and played their home games at Spectrum Stadium in Orlando, Florida. They competed as members of the East Division of the American Athletic Conference.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2020 UCF Knights football team</span> American college football season

The 2020 UCF Knights football team represented the University of Central Florida (UCF) during the 2020 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Knights were led by third-year head coach Josh Heupel and played their home games at Bounce House in Orlando, Florida. They competed as members of the American Athletic Conference. The Knights finished the regular season 6–4 and notably did not have any games of their revised schedule postponed or canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2021 UCF Knights football team</span> American college football season

The 2021 UCF Knights football team represented the University of Central Florida (UCF) during the 2021 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Knights were led by first-year head coach Gus Malzahn and played their home games at Bounce House in Orlando, Florida. They competed as members of the American Athletic Conference.

The 2021 Gasparilla Bowl was a college football bowl game played on December 23, 2021, with kickoff at 7:00 p.m. EST, televised on ESPN. It was the 13th edition of the Gasparilla Bowl, and was one of the 2021–22 bowl games concluding the 2021 FBS football season. Sponsored by mortgage loan company Union Home Mortgage, the game was officially known as the Union Home Mortgage Gasparilla Bowl.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2022 UCF Knights football team</span> American college football season

The 2022 UCF Knights football team represented the University of Central Florida (UCF) during the 2022 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Knights were led by second-year head coach Gus Malzahn and played their home games at the newly named FBC Mortgage Stadium in Orlando, Florida. They competed as members of the American Athletic Conference.

References

  1. ↑ Brandon Helwig (August 22, 2008). "Jackson transferring to UCF". UCFSports.com via Rivals.com. Archived from the original on September 19, 2008. Retrieved August 25, 2008.
  2. ↑ "Football's Richard Jackson Cleared By NCAA". UCFAthletics.com. September 5, 2008. Archived from the original on July 8, 2011. Retrieved September 8, 2008.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.