2008 UCF Knights football team
Encyclopedia
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.
-- --- -- --- -- --- -- --- -- --- --
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)
. Jackson was a star prospect from East Ridge High School
in nearby Clermont, Florida
. He received a hardship waiver from the NCAA on September 5, giving him immediate eligibility.
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.
University of Central Florida
The University of Central Florida, commonly referred to as UCF, is a metropolitan public research university located in Orlando, Florida, United States...
in the 2008 NCAA Division I FBS football season
2008 NCAA Division I FBS football season
The 2008 NCAA Division I FBS football season, or the college football season, began on August 28, 2008, progressing through the regular season and bowl season, and concluded with the Bowl Championship Series National Championship Game in Miami Gardens, Florida on January 8, 2009, where the #2...
. Their head coach was George O'Leary
George O'Leary
George Joseph O'Leary is the head football coach of the UCF Knights football team that represents the University of Central Florida located in Orlando, Florida; he previously coached the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets football team from 1994 to 2001, and served as an assistant coach for the Minnesota...
, 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
Bright House Networks Stadium
Bright House Networks Stadium is the football stadium for the University of Central Florida’s football team, nicknamed the Knights. Located in Knights Plaza on the main campus of the University of Central Florida in Orlando, Florida, the stadium was the first on-campus stadium in NCAA Division I...
on the school's main campus in Orlando, Florida
Orlando, Florida
Orlando is a city in the central region of the U.S. state of Florida. It is the county seat of Orange County, and the center of the Greater Orlando metropolitan area. According to the 2010 US Census, the city had a population of 238,300, making Orlando the 79th largest city in the United States...
. The Knights sought unsuccessfully to defend their Conference USA
Conference USA
Conference USA, officially abbreviated C-USA, is a college athletic conference whose member institutions are located within the Southern United States. The conference participates in the NCAA's Division I in all sports...
football championship.
Schedule
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 DameNotre Dame Fighting Irish football
Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team is the football team of the University of Notre Dame. The team is currently coached by Brian Kelly.Notre Dame competes as an Independent at the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision level, and is a founding member of the Bowl Championship Series coalition. It is an...
. Jackson was a star prospect from East Ridge High School
East Ridge High School (Florida)
East Ridge High School is a school in Clermont, Florida and one of seven public high schools in Lake County. East Ridge is the largest school in Lake County...
in nearby Clermont, Florida
Clermont, Florida
Clermont is a city in Lake County, Florida, United States, west of Orlando. The population was 13,100 in 2008. The city is essentially residential in character and its economy is centered in retail trade, lodging, and food and beverage establishments, which are tourism oriented. The historic...
. He received a hardship waiver from the NCAA on September 5, giving him immediate eligibility.
Week 1: South Carolina State (August 30)
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)
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.