FootballSaturday, September 10, 2016
6
UCF Q&A with the Knight News
Knights come into
Michigan Stadium
with new coach,
higher intensity
By MICHIGAN DAILY STAFF
Central Florida pays its first
visit to Michigan Stadium on
Saturday for a noon kickoff.
Football writer Tyler Graddy from
UCF’s student newspaper, Knight
News, took some time to shed
insight on Michigan’s unfamiliar
opponent this weekend.
The Michigan Daily: What’s
been your impression of Scott
Frost so far and the impact he’s
had on the program?
Knight News: Scott Frost
has completely recharged the
atmosphere
surrounding
UCF
Football. The level of excitement
around the program is at the
highest levels since the Fiesta
Bowl, and players have all talked
about how grateful they are for
the changes made. Practices are
more intense and up-tempo with
music constantly playing, and
players are no longer playing
scared.
Recruiting
has
seen
a
significant bump as well. The
program has been more relevant
on social media, more aggressive
in involving recruits and more
approachable with a coach less
known for his traditional brand of
old-school, no-nonsense football
and
much
more
concerned
with creating a player-friendly
environment.
TMD: Where have you seen
the biggest difference in the team
from last year?
KN: The conditioning. Frost’s
brand of UCFast football requires
constant hustle and it showed in
the home opener against South
Carolina State. Both sides of the
ball still have kinks to work out in
their respective systems, but the
Knights had plenty in the tank
all game. Summer practices were
structured to simulate longer and
more intensive physical efforts
than a game ever will, though the
mental game still is in its infancy.
As for the players themselves?
The Knights look like they’re
having fun playing football again.
Last year every game seemed
almost like a burden for the
winless squad.
TMD: Finishing 0-12 last year
had to have been humbling for
UCF. What do you think are the
team’s expectations for this year
after that?
KN: To be sure, expectations
have been tempered after winning
a share of the conference title in
2014 and then not winning a game
in 2015. These players have done a
remarkable job dropping the aura
of that haunting season, however,
and the expectation is for the
program to return to winning
ways this season.
That being said, Frost has
emphasized that he and the
coaching staff are less concerned
about the scoreboard every week
and more concerned with seeing
continuous progress.
TMD: How about for this
week? What are the expectations
in taking on a very tough
Michigan team?
KN: If the Knights can at least
execute their game plan well, I
think the team will consider it a
success. Most of these guys have
never even seen a crowd like this,
let alone played against a top-five
program.
The talk this week was that the
Knights are carrying confidence
with them from a great first
step last week, but that the most
important thing this week is
execution.
TMD: What weapons does
UCF have that could potentially
give Michigan problems?
KN:
Quarterback
Justin
Holman is the lifeblood of this
offense, but with a receiving
corps still working to establish
firm footing, look for the running
game to take a central role in
the UCF attack. Frost has four
quick running backs that he has
pledged to rotate in and out this
year, keeping fresh legs in the
game and Holman has been asked
to run more than ever before
during his tenure as a starter.
Eight different Knights had
at least a single carry in the first
week, but watch for Taj McGowan
and Jawon Hamilton to lead the
way.
TMD:
How
has
UCF’s
offensive line looked so far,
heading into a game against one
of the best defensive fronts in the
country?
KN: To say that the line is a
work in progress may be a bit of an
understatement — only one senior
on the roster has seen significant
action headed into this season:
Justin Rae. The unit performed
admirably against SCSU, blocking
to rack up almost 200 yards on
the ground but did allow three
sacks — to an FCS team that
led the nation in quarterback
takedowns last year. Michigan
will have ample opportunities to
get after Holman.
TMD: Do you have a prediction
for the game?
KN: Predictions can be tricky
even when both teams are known
commodities,
but
the
talent
disparity will be too much for
the Knights to handle. Michigan
wins 59-31, but UCF covers the
spread and leaves with a much
better idea of where the bar needs
to be set in order to return to the
glory days of 2013.
AMANDA ALLEN/Daily
Fifth-year senior defensive lineman Chris Wormley and Michigan’s front seven will have another chance to wreak havoc on an opposing offense Saturday against UCF.
For in-game updates
Follow @m_bultman, @JacobGase,
@KellyHall20 and @jakelourim on
Twitter during
Saturday’s game