With Add/Drop day coming this Friday being the last day for spring enrollees (I know some magic can be done in the early parts of next week) what needs have been addressed and what is still open? Is there anyone other than the Fresno Center that we are still working on for the Spring?

By my count we still have 7 scholarships available.

LB: Needed 3 (1 instant starter and 2 depth)
- None unless we convert ECU S Wilson to LB.

DL: Needed 1 DT and 2 DE for depth.
- None added.

Secondary: Needed 2 CB and 1 S.
- Addressed - CB: Davis (Clemson) and George (aTm) and S: Wilson (ECU) and Mask (TexSt.)

OT: Needed 2 (1 starter and 1 to push Grable).
- Addressed - Kight (Bama) and Marshall (Kent St) brought in.

OG: None needed as long as everyone expected heals/returns.

Center: We need 1 for at least competition at the position since all we have are 2 unknowns.
- Maybe addressed with Fresno State Bula Schmidt?

TE: Needed 1 that can block.
- None added.

QB: Not going there... lol. Gus says he wants 4 and we have 4.

WR: Needed 2 (1 Speed and 1 Possession)
- Maybe addressed - Missed on Leary for speed, so I guess sticking with X, and Possession addressed via Whittemore (UF) and Magwood (UK)

RB: None needed as we get Bowman eligible this year.

AP Poll: 8-5 Texas finished ranked #25, edging out 9-4 Duke who came in 26th.

Other notables:
#2 TCU
#9 Tulane
#14 Kansas State
#19 Troy
#24 Fresno State

Is it wrong of me to root for Oklahoma? I'm torn between rooting against their qb and wanting fsu knocked off their high horse. Who you guys got?

And with Mordecai headed there how could a couple of them not be wondering what the hell they're doing.....right?

I believe one of the bigger issues UCF faces when it comes to NIL collectives is educating the donor base on what's really happening behind the scenes.

Players want to be paid: existing players, recruits and transfers. Your star players may hit the portal is they don't feel appreciated ($$$). If you don't have a competent NIL collective, there will be a talent drain and difficulties recruiting. At least if you want to compete at a high level. We've already seen it on a limited scale.

It seems to me that SEC boosters know the game because they've already been playing it... Now that it's "legal," they've had no issues transitioning to a front-facing operation.

Or does UCFAA see donations to a collective as competition for their own fundraising interests?

Clemson and other schools are now being direct in educating their fans to give big money to collectives... and this is mainly geared to the collectives that are focused towards higher donations for pay-for-play, not the smaller scale operations that solicit $10-20/mo.

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Thoughts?

https://bit.ly/3ycOupb

Future storage shed?

It's a big one inside Addition Financial Arena on Wednesday as UCF plays host to Memphis.

Both teams are looking to contend with Houston at the top of the American and are jockeying to enhance their NCAA Tournament resume. UCF is currently No. 36 in the NET ratings while Memphis is No. 58.

The Knights are 12-4 overall and 3-1 in the AAC, coming off an 85-53 win against SMU on Sunday.

Penny Hardaway's Tigers are 12-4 overall with a 2-1 mark in the AAC. Memphis is led by newcomer Kendric Davis, though he's a familiar face to those in the AAC. A superstar previously at SMU, Davis transferred in this past offseason and currently leads the Tigers in scoring with 20.0 points per game. DeAndre Williams is chipping in 15.8 points per game.

Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. with coverage from ESPN+.

We caught up with UCF head coach Johnny Dawkins and players Taylor Hendricks and C.J. Kelly following Tuesday's practice.

Video interviews and synopsis below:

Johnny Dawkins

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All nine of Memphis' top scorers are seniors.

"You have a team that's not going to beat themselves," Dawkins said. "They're very experienced. They know what they want. Their coach understands them. They've done a good job. I've looked at them all season long and they've been very consistent. They play well with each other and their chemistry comes with them being older and understanding what it takes to win."

Kendric Davis was the AAC Player of the Year last season -- at SMU. Now he's at Memphis.

"He's a talented player. Kendric is one of the best guards in our conference and one of the best in the country. He's one of the toughest guys to defend, that's for sure. I think he's meshed real well. I think Penny has done really good with him, he and his staff, understanding what the Memphis system is. He's embraced them and that system. That's why it's worked out so well."

UCF point guard Darius Johnson suffered a lower leg injury last week at ECU and did not play on Sunday against SMU. Dawkins said his status is "day to day." Asked if he expects Johnson to play against Memphis, Dawkins said no.

If Johnson can't go, UCF will rely again on backup point guard Jayhlon Young. He had a phenomenal game on Sunday against SMU, registering his first-ever double double with 10 points, 10 rebounds and also dished out six assists.

"Jay has been very solid for us all year. He understands what I want as a coach. He runs our team well. He makes guys better. He's a capable scorer as well. I think he's done a really good job. He's been in this role before. This is nothing new for him."

Asked about improvements, Dawkins wants to see more efficiency on the offensive side.

Big man Michael Durr has provided some stability down low.

"He's given us some maturity and some physicality in the post. He plays with composure down there. A lot of guys at any position, under pressure you can lose your composure. Mike seems to have that. I think one it comes with his experience, his age. Two, it's kind of his demeanor. He has a calming effect when he's out on the floor."

Dawkins spoke about C.J. Kelly and how he's been such a unique player and personality.

"He's not just a scorer, but he's a facilitator. He can play multiple positions on the perimeter. He can play off guard, can play the wing or the point. He's been one of the more versatile guys we've had here with the ability to score the way he does. He's unique in who he is. He's done a good job for us."

He also spoke about Kelly's "intellectual curiosity," how he's always asking questions.

Asked about leadership, Dawkins mentioned Kelly, Lahat Thioune, Michael Durr and Darius Johnson.

Dawkins is hoping for a packed arena come Wednesday night.

"I want to see everyone in our community out here, our student section full. I want to see this gym full. We've done that on multiple occasions. I'd like to see it done tomorrow. I think our players are working hard. They're excited about these opportunities. The only way we're going to do this is if our community is doing it with us. We have to all be in. If we do that, we have a chance to compete with anyone."

Taylor Hendricks

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Asked about the significance of this game, Taylor Hendricks knows it's a big one.

"This one means a little bit more," Hendricks said. "We feel like we're one of the best teams in the conference, if not the best, and we've got to come out and prove it tomorrow."

Hendricks was asked if the win against SMU represented their best overall team performance. He said he thought their win against Oklahoma State in the Bahamas, overcoming a 17-point deficit, is their best win to date.

What stands out about Memphis?

"They have a lot of length. They play really hard on defense. They average 10 steals a game. They're going to try to turn us over."

Hendricks said he prides himeslf on his shot-blocking ability.

He later said if he didn't choose to go to UCF, he probably would have gone to Memphis.

"They were very big in my recruiting, but I'm happy with my choice... (I liked) their whole program, they have great coaches and nice facilities. It's a great basketball school too."

C.J. Kelly

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"We know Memphis is a good team," Kelly said. "They have a bunch of good players. We treat every game like it's our last. We're ready and looking forward to it.

"Memphis has good guards. Kendric Davis, he creates a lot. Their guards have a lot of freedom. It's a good team. They're led by Penny Hardaway."

Kelly was asked about his versatility. He also prides himself on being a leader, though that's somewhat new to him. He hasn't been as vocal in the past, but now he's more comfortable with it.

He loves playing for a legend like Johnny Dawkins and wants to take every opportunity to learn from him.

Taylor Hendricks is a "freak of nature."

Kelly was asked what he knows about Memphis coach Penny Hardaway and his playing days. He's 24, so he's a bit older than some of his teammates. He actually met Penny when he was six years old.

"Penny is a big guard. A lot of the big guards I study and watch. My mom got us tickets to see the Knicks. I met him and he gave me a signed pair of shoes. I know Penny Hardaway. I'm a big fan. I won't be a fan when they come here, I'll tell you that. He's a guy that I've watched and studied."

He says he still has the pair of Penny-signed sneakers back home in Long Island.

"If they beat us, I'll burn the sneakers."

that a 4 year class didn't win a conf title.

2004 Class won in 2007 (and 2005, 2006 and 2007 won that ring too).

Those 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010 class won a championship ring in 2010.

That 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013 classes won a ring in 2013...and 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014 won another ring in 2014.

2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017 won a conf championship ring in 2017...while 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018 won a conf title in 2018.

Class of 2019 was the first 4 year class to leave UCF without a conf title (some still have a shot to win in year 5) since the 2003 UCF Class.

Southeastern Conference commissioner Greg Sankey has seen enough. At least when it comes to the December early signing period, which now has six seasons of data behind it, including one season with the December-January transfer portal window.

“We’re crushing coaches in December,” he said Saturday in a wide-ranging conversation with The Athletic two days before the national championship game. “We’re going to add Playoff games (in December). We have to change early signing.”

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For those that have been around. It is that time of year again. For those new. This isn’t a scam. It’s just a silly bit of fun that has been done for many years.

It’s my wife’s birthday. Can you help fill her phone with text messages wishing her well. Her name is Irene 407-493-4981.

I thank you in advance for all your help. Go Knights

I wonder if this is what our offense is going to look like OR will Coach Gus give him (coach Hinshaw) a sketch for him to color inside the lines.

Friday, Dec. 16

Bahamas Bowl (11:30 a.m., ESPN)

Miami (Ohio) vs. UAB

Cure Bowl (3 p.m., ESPN)

No. 24 Troy vs. No. 25 UTSA

If you could change college football would you get rid of or keep the transfer portal?

With the football season at its official end here are the total win loss stats for the AAC 1.0 sorted by in conference win percentage.

Thought I would share this cool story for those not aware of it yet. There is a guy attempting to attend the most college football games (travel only by car) in history. I guess the record is currently 50 games attended in one season and he has set out to attend 60 games all via road trip. I believe he has squeezed in a few unplanned games and is now on pace for 67.

He attended the UCF game on Wednesday night. This was squeezed in due to the hurricane reschedule. I reached out to him on Twitter when he mentioned the possibility and I ended up "hosting" (free ticket and talked his ear off how UCF is the best school in Florida - hes a gator) him for the game. Right after the UCF game he started his drive to be at the San Jose State vs UNLV game tonight. 48 hours to make a 41 hour drive. The guy is an animal.

His story is starting to pick up some steam. He has already been interviewed by a lot of the SEC media guys and was interviewed by multiple Orlando outlets at our game. He had nothing but good things to say about UCF.

College football fan attempting to break record for most games attended by road-trip in one season

Fox 35 Orlando story on his trip to UCF
College football fan on mission to break the record for most games attended in a season

Anyways he's a great follow on all social media platforms (@BenGChase on twitter) for those who want to follow his madness.

By the time Tanner Mordecai entered the transfer portal last Thursday night, word quickly spread across social media that Wisconsin had emerged as the favorite to land the coveted SMU quarterback. So when Mordecai committed to the Badgers on Friday — instantly elevating the program with one of the most intriguing offseason pickups in college football — the natural inclination was that this transaction had been a long time coming with backroom conversations.

Click to expand...

lol ok

Gus Malzahn: TCU’s national title run is motivation for Big 12-bound UCF | Commentary​

Jan 07, 2023 at 6:14 pm
Next season, this could be you, UCF.

And that’s why there are no ifs, ands or buts about what I am about to write:

If you are a UCF Knight — a fan, a player or a coach — you are absolutely, positively rooting for the Big 12′s TCU to beat the SEC’s big, bad Georgia Bulldogs in the national championship game on Monday night.

The fact of the matter is, there’s not much difference at all — just one letter, in fact — between TCU and UCF.


UCF coach Gus Malzahn has experience as a first-year coach leading a team into the national-title game. (Matthew Hinton/AP)

“There’s no doubt we’re going into a great conference,” says UCF coach Gus Malzahn, whose team, along with Cincinnati, Houston and BYU, will join the Big 12 next season. “The way TCU is playing is very impressive, and that’s great for everything [UCF is trying to accomplish].

“The landscape of college football has really changed over the last two years and it’s going to change even more next season with everything that’s going on,” Malzahn adds. “The old traditional three or four teams that make it [to the playoff] every year — those days are in the past. TCU is one of the up-and-coming teams and there’s going to be more and more of those programs in the Big 12. It’s an exciting time for us moving into this league.”

I’m not saying UCF is going to be in the CFP semifinals next season, but would you really be surprised if it happened in today’s whacked-out, wild-wild-west world of college football where anything is possible on a year-to-year basis?

Full column:

For reference, here is what UCF's 10 assistant coaches were making for the 2022 season:

DC Travis Williams - $600,000
OC Chip Lindsey - $450,000
OL Herb Hand - $450,000
DB David Gibbs - $450,000
WR Grant Heard - $425,000
RB Tim Harris - $325,000
ST/TE Brian Blackmon - $275,000
DB Addison Williams - $250,000
DE Kenny Ingram - $200,000
DT Kenny Martin - $175,000

For the upcoming 2023 year, newly-promoted DC Addison Williams will make $700,000, a lofty raise from his previous salary. New OC Darin Hinshaw will make $600,000 (Chip Lindsey was making $450K).

We'll see if the other coaches get raises.

For the next 8 Monday's, the Dawkins Radio Show will take place at IWC at 6 pm.

In addition to JD, a basketball player and probably another UCF Coach from a different sport will be a part of the 1 hour show.

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Let's see if the Dungeon gets as riled up about this one as Matt Lee. Obarski hits the portal (we all knew this was coming though).

Bills fans not very impressed.
Honestly, I expected a bigger jump from him year 2 to 3. Not a bad year though.
https://twitter.com/search?q="Gabe Davis"&src=trend_click&vertical=trends


Yikes
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