One name to know is freshman Emely Rodriquez. She plays pretty good. Offense and defense.

On a tech call with a client in AZ. ASU came up and they said he’s actually out vs questionable.

I’m going to take a grain for salt for that as it could be message board rumors, but she was pretty adamant. Like “he’d probably go if his leg was cut off but he can’t” type of vibe.

We’ll see in 24 hours.

UCF Knights Mens Basketball vs. Texas A&M Aggies Mens Basketball​

Mon • Nov 04, 2024 • 7:00 PM Addition Financial Arena, Orlando, FL

I can't make the game but I see a bunch of resale tix on ticketmaster.

Texas A&M is 4.5 favorites according to my Hard Rock Betting App.

ESPN matchup predictor has TAMU 51.1 percent chance of winning.

I read a couple articles on Texas A&M, They have a veteran team with two great guards. They had some transfers come in as well. They had a run in the tourny last season. Picked to finish 5th or 6th in SEC (I forget).

UCF has a challenge on their hands.

Coming off of just their second conference win of the season, the UCF Knights must head west to take on a tough Arizona State Sun Devils team. Coach Gus Malzahn and his players know they are going to have to perform well on both sides of the ball if they want to come out with a win.

Please click here for more from Andrew Cherico ... for the Sons of UCF.

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On this week's Sons of UCF LIVE: We welcome Christian Simmons of The Pegasus Podcast as co-host as we talk UCF Men's Basketball with former Knights Strength & Conditioning Coach Ben Hazel.

Plus, we preview UCF Football at Arizona State with Ralph Amsden, host of The Fork Cast covering Sun Devils Football.

Thanks for watching here.

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On this week's Sons of UCF LIVE: We welcome Christian Simmons of The Pegasus Podcast as co-host as we talk UCF Men's Basketball with former Knights Strength & Conditioning Coach Ben Hazel.

Plus, we preview UCF Football at Arizona State with Ralph Amsden, host of The Fork Cast covering Sun Devils Football.

Thanks for watching here.

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The UCF Knights football team got their first win in over a month thanks in large part to an effective offense led to QB Dylan Rizk, RB RJ Harvey, and WR Jacoby Jones. Now their sights turn to Arizona State, and a tough road matchup this weekend.

More here from the Sons of UCF.

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GKCO!

If this is posted deep inside some other thread feel free to point me in that direction.

How do we stack up against Arizona St defense? What do they run? 4-3? 3-4? How are their linebackers and DL? Will Harvey have time? Rizk?

What about their offense versus our OL and DBs?

Miss the in-depth football chatter. Maybe Six can watch some tape for me?

Kirk sucks, but nobody deserves to lose their best friend. I loved seeing Ben on the game casts.

What else are you going to do on a Friday night that costs less than $12 per lower bowl ticket?

Cheap tix for Friday's game:


Same $11.70 lower bowl tix (includes fees) for the BIG game vs FAU next Tues night:


These kids deserve your SUPPORT all the time...and not just for 1 or 2 games per year.

Press release:

Shaquem Griffin and Joey Grant are returning to their roots to give local athletes a chance to showcase their talents and explore new sports opportunities. Through their partnership with GMTM, they are launching The Search for Greatness Combine at UCF on Saturday, November 9th—an event designed to transform the lives of young athletes.

Combining Expertise & Vision​

• Shaquem Griffin, a UCF Hall of Famer being inducted on November 2nd, is widely celebrated for his tenacity, setting an NFL Combine record with the fastest 40-yard dash by a linebacker and playing in the NFL despite the challenges he’s overcome. Born and raised in St. Petersburg, Shaquem’s return to UCF not only honors his past but gives back to future athletes.
• Joey Grant, GMTM Founder, former UCF team captain and Lake Brantley Patriot, has always been a leader on and off the field. Through GMTM, he’s helping athletes unlock new opportunities, building a platform that empowers them to explore professional careers in new sports.

Together, Shaquem and Joey are bringing the Search for Greatness Combine to UCF, which they envision growing across Big 12 schools and potentially nationwide.

A Groundbreaking Event for Athletes​

The Search for Greatness is unlike any combine you’ve seen before. It provides local athletes—whether they’re former professionals, amateurs, or simply individuals who still have the competitive drive—a chance to shine in new sports through a selection process called Transfer Talent. GMTM has partnered with over 25 National Governing Bodies of sport (including Olympic organizations) to help athletes transition from one sport to another by assessing key athletic traits such as:

• 40-yard dash
• 5-10-5 agility drill
• Powerball toss
• Vertical jump
• Additional tests for Functional Threshold Power, Grip Strength, and Loaded Velocity

Athletes selected from this event could potentially enter professional programs in a wide array of sports like cycling, bobsledding, speed skating, triathlon, flag football, and more. This event creates one centralized opportunity to be evaluated for multiple sports, eliminating the barriers of attending multiple trials at different locations.

How It Works: The Athlete Selection Process​

Participation is free and invite-only, targeting athletes between the ages of 18-25. To be considered, athletes must submit a highlight video via GMTM’s platform, showcasing their athleticism. GMTM will evaluate submissions and invite the most promising athletes to participate in the combine.

The goal for this year’s event is to get 1,000 athletes to submit videos and be part of the combine process. Athletes chosen will receive personalized invites with further instructions, including event time slots and details.

Expanding the Vision​

This combine isn’t just a local opportunity. It’s the start of a bigger movement that Shaquem, Joey, and GMTM plan to roll out across other Big 12 schools and eventually nationwide, giving athletes from across the country access to these combine opportunities and professional sports careers. The Search for Greatness not only offers a second chance but allows athletes to dream even bigger and take their talents to new heights.

This is an incredible opportunity for your audience to hear directly from two of Central Florida’s most inspiring athletes. I’d love to set up an interview with Shaquem Griffin and Joey Grant to discuss:

• Their vision for The Search for Greatness
• Shaquem’s induction into the UCF Hall of Fame
• How GMTM is reshaping the future of sports by giving athletes new paths to success

For more details on The Search for Greatness, the selection process, and how to get involved:

• Event Info & Sign-Up
• Media Kit with Long-Term Objectives

About GMTM​

GMTM is a digital platform connecting athletes with opportunities in sports. Through virtual combines, training sessions, and recruitment showcases, GMTM has democratized access to athletic opportunities, working with top-level sports organizations to identify and develop talent. Learn more at gmtm.com.

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After a big 56-12 Space Game win against Arizona with new coordinators and a new quarterback, UCF now heads to Tempe to take on Arizona State this Saturday at 7 p.m. EST on ESPN2.

To get prepped for the matchup, I caught up with Hod Rabino, publisher of Devils Digest on the Rivals network, to learn more about Arizona State.

Rabino is the longest tenured reporter on the ASU beat having covered the Sun Devils since 2000. Terrell Suggs was ASU's defensive star in those early days with multiple awards after setting the NCAA single-season sack record in 2002. Suggs of course went on to have a stellar NFL career, including winning two Super Bowls.

Rabino was there for the tail end of Bruce Snyder era (1992-2000), then Dirk Koetter (2001-2006), Dennis Erickson (2007-11), Todd Graham (2012-2017), Herm Edwards (2018-2022) and now Kenny Dillingham (2023-present).

Edwards was a disaster, hired solely due to his close friendship with former ASU AD Ray Anderson (who was Edwards' one-time agent).

Kenny Dillingham didn't play college football, but he's a Phoenix native who graduated from ASU and had earned a reputation as a top offensive coordinator with stops at Memphis, Auburn, Florida State and Oregon. Rabino said the fanbase was totally on board with the hire.

"He had very memorable introductory press conference where he was a balling for a good few minutes, because that's how excited he is, but also that's how genuine he was in wanting turning around this program," Rabino said.



ASU finished with a 3-9 record during Dillingham's first season in 2023 and was predicted dead last in the 2024 Big 12 preseason poll.

The Sun Devils have been a major surprise with a 6-2 overall record and 3-2 mark in the league.

"Everybody figured the fan base is going to have to exercise patience and it's going to be a little while until you can really contend for conference championships, but here they are, the first week of November, and already bowl eligible in only Dillingham's a second year at the helm," Rabino said.

"That's definitely exciting. Fans could definitely see this program, not only moving in the right direction, but probably moving in that direction more quickly than anybody thought they would."

Ray Anderson was still in the AD position when Dillingham was hired in late 2022, though Rabino said he was more of a booster hire. Deion Sanders and Tom Herman had also been linked to the job, but Dillingham's passion for ASU won out.

"Arizona State, obviously, it was a very dark place at the end of the Herm Edwards era," Rabino said. "This is exactly the type of coach that they needed. They didn't need a mercenary. They didn't need somebody who's going to use this job as a stepping stone after they rebuild it.

"Everybody knows that Kenny Dillingham is here for the long haul and his genuine passion for the program and to really rebuild this team, getting back to 10-win seasons like they had when he was here with Todd Graham. He wants to bring it back to that level if not more.

"Even before he coached one game at ASU, I think the passion and what he had to say in his press conferences really absolutely resonated with the ASU fanbase."

While outsiders weren't expecting much of ASU this season, those around Tempe were much more optimistic.

"Kenny Dillingham used (the Big 12 preseason poll) as bulletin board material," Rabino said. "I'm not saying that's the end all, be all why Arizona State is having a so much better season, but that motivation did help. And in terms of the players that he brought in from the transfer portal last year, there's still a lot of them are key players this year."



Offensively in Big 12 games, Arizona State is averaging 28.0 points (No. 11 overall in the league), 415 total yards (No. 6), 199.0 rushing yards (No. 4) and 216.0 passing yards (No. 11).

A new transfer, redshirt freshman quarterback Sam Leavitt (Michigan State), has been a key reason for this year's success.

"You trust a guy like Kenny Dillingham because you saw what he did to revive Bo Nix's career," Rabino said. "He coached Jordan Travis at Florida State. Rightfully or not, he's gained this quote-unquote quarterback whisperer title.

"And I think for a redshirt freshman, Sam Leavitt has been playing a lot of good football and he's going to be that foundational piece for the offense for years to come."

In seven games, Leavitt has completed 60.77 percent of his passes (110 of 181) for 1,470 yards (210.00 average) and 11 touchdowns with four interceptions. He has a season PFF grade of 79.9.

"Sam Leavitt, I think what people are impressed by is his maturity, his decision making and he's somebody who I think is more mobile than anybody thought that he would be. He's really a true dual-threat quarterback, even though that was never his calling card coming out of high school or even coming to ASU."



ASU's biggest star is running back Cam Skattebo, a senior who transferred in last year from Sacramento State. Skattebo is the Big 12's third-leading rusher behind UCF's RJ Harvey and Texas Tech's Tahj Brooks, though his status for Saturday's game is in question. Dillingham said Monday Skattebo is "doubtful to questionable" after suffering a late injury last week at Oklahoma State and will not practice this week.

"Now, is Cam Skattebo good enough not to practice all week and still play on Saturday? Yes, he is," Rabino said. "What kind of physical condition he's going to be in, that really remains to be seen. Right now it's really an unknown whether Cam Skattebo is going to play or not. If he does play, I don't expect him to get that near 20 carry load that he's been getting almost each game."

Skattebo is averaging 125 rushing yards through eight games.

"He's definitely elevated his game quite a bit," Rabino said. "People think that he was an unknown in 2023. He had a very good year in 2023, but the offense was so horrible that it was just really easy to gloss over that. But yeah, he's done a great job reshaping his body in the offseason and really understanding the game more.

"He's just a very complete running back, great in pass blocking, great in receiving the ball. I'm curious to see how this ASU offense can operate without him if he doesn't play."

Leavitt and Skattebo have a lot to do with ASU's turnaround, but another big asset was the addition of offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Marcus Arroyo, who previously served as UNLV's head coach from 2020-22. During his Oregon days, Arroyo tutored Justin Herbert.

Tight end Chamon Metayer, a North Miami native who previously attended Cincinnati and Colorado, has been a standout player.

Jordyn Tyson, another Colorado transfer, is ASU's top wide receiver with 39 catches for 558 yards and five touchdowns.

However, Rabino said ASU's wide receiver corps doesn't run very deep.



Defensively in Big 12 games, ASU is giving up 25.0 points (No. 7), 352.2 total yards (No. 4), 139.2 rushing yards (No. 5) and 213.0 passing yards (No. 6).

Rabino said DE Clayton Smith (4.0 sacks), DT C.J. Fite, LB Keyshaun Elliott, safety/nickel Shamari Simmons, CB Keith Abney II and CB LT Welch are among ASU's top defensive players.

"LT Welch, a transfer from LSU, had four pass breakups just in the second half against Oklahoma State," Rabino said. "He was huge in that game.

"There's a lot of depth on the ASU defense. It's very aggressive defense that sometimes have a little of the bend but not break element to them. I'm really curious to see what they're going to do against UCF, facing the best running back in the Big 12 and a very inexperienced quarterback who had the game of his life last week against Arizona."

ASU is a three-point favorite.

Rabino says the obvious keys are to try to contain RJ Harvey and force UCF to beat them via the passing game.

"They know what Dylan Rizk did last week," Rabino said. "Maybe he snuck up on Arizona because there wasn't much film on him. I think ASU will come up with a game plan to frustrate him on a higher level than Arizona did."

If Skattebo isn't available or limited at running back, Kyson Brown will be next man up.

"He just had a breakout game of his own, 15 carries for 63 yards and two touchdowns at Oklahoma State," Rabino said. "I don't think it's gonna be a whole lot of drop off if he's going to be the starting running back."

Sam Leavitt is also coming off his best game at quarterback.

"He completed 20 of 29 passes (at Oklahoma State) for 300 yards and three touchdowns," Rabino said. "Can he build on that momentum knowing this could be a game Cam Skattebo doesn't play? There will be more required of him. Can he handle that pressure?"

This will be ASU's first home game since Oct. 11 so Rabino is expected a quality atmosphere inside Mountain America Stadium. The temperatures are also starting to cool down in the Valley of the Sun.

This is shaping up to be a popular road trip for UCF fans. Rabino recommends a visit to The Chuckbox, a popular burger joint not too far from the stadium. There's also a lot of great restaurant and bar options on Mill Avenue.

Will be interesting with the first year of the 12 game playoffs on how it pans out.

Wish UCF was in the conversation. Maybe next year.

The ladies are bank rolling..........


Dunne, 20, won’t give specifics on her earnings, which at least one industry analyst projects will top $2 million over the next year.......

Hey Yall:
Thank you fellow Knights for your business! I sincerely appreciate your business. It's means a lot and every sale makes a difference for my business, for my family and my crew.

Our website is www.dillsborochocolate.com

We ship Monday to Thursday and if we run out of a product we are making fresh daily. I am not Amazon in that most orders take 2 day ground on UPS.

Again, thank you for your support. It means a lot to us.

Bobby

I guess i don't follow basketball outside of the conference UCF plays in, because when I saw a Purdue on the schedule I was thinking Big10 Purdue.
I guess it's like USF University of San Francisco. Lol
So what should we expect for a our game Friday night?
Charge On

Welcome to The Knighted One’s Podcast, Episode number 63!! We are the ONLY podcast that features a former UCF National Champion, a former UCF radio host, an ESPN Analyst and Hoops Player, a INfamous rapper, Our Resident Influencer, and an IG star, shooting the breeze, talking UCF Sports. Remember to like and follow us Youtube, IG, and check out the 70+ teams and conferences on the College Huddle.

This week we talk huge wins as Rizk & RJ led us to a huge win over Arizona, and just before we started recording, our Hoops Knights took down Texas A&M!! We discuss the huge wins, what they both mean for the teams moving forward, we look towards our next game @ ASU, strategize shutting down Skattebo, and we bask in the feeling of potentially being a competitive football team once again.



Please comment for subjects that we should cover in our Intern Re-Education segment!

Go Knights! and Charge On!


Introductions
- Ben Takes Over The Intro?!?
BREAKING HOOPS NEWS!!! KNIGHTS TAKE DOWN TEXAS A&M - 00:01:03
- Bringing The Noise
- Plays On Both Sides of The Court
- Defying Expectations
- Fast Play
- Excited To See The Pieces Come Together
- Making Kirk's Jerks Proud
- Getting It Done On Defense
- This Isn't Fools Gold
- The Talent Is Making A Difference
Rizk & Reward! Dylan & RJ Takeoff In The Space Game! - 00:32:13
- The Losing Streak Is Gone!!
- Dylan Did What KJ Was Supposed To
- A Confident Passer Makes All The Difference
- Restoring Hope In Our Program
- Rizk Has Contagious Energy
- Why Haven't We Used Him Sooner?
- What Other Hidden Gems Do We Have?
- Blake Bortles 2.0?
- RJ Is Cementing His Place In UCF History
- Big Talent, Big Plays
- TE Connections
- Seizing The Moment
Lets Talk About Defense - 01:16:35
- One Big Difference On Defense
Team Stats From The Game - 01:18:29
- Leaving AZ in The Dust
- Sacks Galore
- The Hopium Game
Week 11 Preview: ASU - 01:23:54
- The Skattebo Strategy
- We Feel Competitive Again
- Pregame Content On The Way?
Week 10 Score Predictions Review - 01:30:40
- Nobody Was Close
Week 11 Score Predictions - 01:37:17
Big 12 Scores Recap - 01:44:43
- Texas Tech Upsets
- Houston Is Also Upsetting
- BYU Still Undefeated
Listener Love - 01:47:19
- The Money Line
- Bringin' The Receipts
- Football Is Not Complicated
Allen's Oxymoronic Stats Of The Week - 01:57:03
- RJ Climbing The Ladder of Greatness
Josh’s Sometimes Funny Fact Of The Week - 02:01:24
- Name That Coach!!
- Some Roger Memories
A Quick Update On Other UCF Sports - 02:07:42
Final Thoughts - 02:10:49

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After a big 56-12 Space Game win against Arizona, UCF's Grand Canyon tour continues this week with a trip out to Tempe to play Arizona State.

The Sun Devils are one of the surprise teams in the Big 12 this year with a 6-2 overall record and 3-2 mark in the league. It's a remarkable turnaround for second-year head coach Kenny Dillingham, who is a former offensive coordinator under Gus Malzahn, working with him at Auburn in 2019.

Here's everything Malzahn said durnig his Monday press conference.

Opening statement:

"Okay, first of all, looking back on our game watching the film, real pleased, really, with a complete team. Real proud of our players defensively. I thought we played with great energy to hold a team to the rush yards that we did was real impressive. We disrupted the quarterback at times, got to him a few times too.

"I thought that was really good offensively. We were very balanced, the most balanced we've been all year, and it showed. RJ (Harvey) had another good game. Dylan (Rizk) came in and really handled the offense extremely well, made some big-time throws, and we got in a rhythm, so that was a really good win.

"Now we're set up to finish this thing strong, so had a good practice last night. Playing an Arizona State team that's 6-2, really good team. Kenny Dillingham is doing a super job. He's from there. That's his hometown, and his team is playing with his personality.

"Their defense, I think they're No. 25 in the country defensively. They're very good against the run. They'll get after you, and then offensively they have a running back that is one of the best in the entire country, so it would be a good test for us. Looking forward to going out west."

For Dylan Rizk, a phenomenal starting debut. For a first-time outing when you watched the film, what stuck out the most? What maybe surprised you and what were you most impressed with?

"Well, Dylan knows the offense. He's been around here the longest. He knows the offense really inside and out. He really managed everything well. The game slowed down for him for the first time out there starting. That was real impressive, probably the most impressive thing. He made a couple mistakes early, but he settled down.

"He made some good plays in the passing game. He made a couple with his feet, too, the big third down when we were backed up with that. But he handled himself extremely well and was very efficient in the passing game."

What did you see from Tim Harris, his first time calling a game and how much it means to him growing up as a high school coach and getting an opportunity to do that?

"Yeah, I got a lot of confidence in him. Like I said, he's been around here and been with me a lot. He's been waiting on this moment, and he seized the moment. He did a great job. He had good command of what they were giving us and really put our guys in a really good situation. So that's just the first, and I'm really excited for him."

Coach, we talked a lot about the goal late in the season is to continue improving. All the good teams do that. Obviously, this team's seen a lot of changes on the field, a lot of changes on the sideline with the coaching staff. What is the big thing that you felt like was cured in the Arizona win, and was this enough of a reset for you?

"We had changes, and like we said, sometimes change is good. There was a lot of positive vibes on the sideline, even from the start, and it kind of goes back to both of our coordinators, our relationship guys. Our players believe in both of them and really responded well for both of them, and it carried over in our game."

What are some play calls that you liked most from Saturday?

"The ones that worked. That's what I like most probably."

With Addison Williams taking a step back to begin the season and being able to observe and watch and then now getting into the defensive coordinator role, do you find like a newfound confidence in him being able to grow?

"I think with Addison, that was a learning experience for him last year, and then we brought in some veteran guys, some very talented guys, and then the guys that have been here. They have a lot of confidence in him, and it was good for him to sit back and see things from a different light, I believe. And, you know, the guys played extremely hard for him. It didn't surprise me at all, and he did a really good job, you know, managing the game as it went."

You mentioned Kenny Dillingham just a minute ago. How do you describe his personality and what you're seeing on film from Arizona State that reflects it?

"Yeah, first of all, he has a dynamic personality, and he's an extremely hard worker. He was smart guy in the year he was with me. He helped me a whole lot. You know, he knows football. He can relate to players. He's got all the attributes to being a really good coach. So it doesn't surprise me at all that he's got that thing going like he does and got some good coaching staff around him.

"David Gibbs is a guy that's an off-the-field guy that is out there with him, too, obviously, that's been with us. So there's some familiarity."

Coach, you said the goal moving forward is to make a bowl game. Does that satisfy the expectations coming into the season?

"You know, it is what it is right now. I mean, obviously, we didn't foresee it going exactly like it is, but what we can do is control what is ahead of us, and we're real happy with the way we've played and the way our guys responded to a tough five-game stretch. And now we're trying to finish it.

"It's one game at a time. That's the way we're approaching it. We're playing a 6-2 team on the road in our conference. I think everybody knows in this conference there's a lot of teams that are good teams, and you've got to play well to win. So, you know, we're taking it one game at a time. And, you know, our goal is to make a bowl game. And to do that, you know, we've got to play good football."

What are the challenges now for Dylan Rizk preparing for his first road game?

"Well, I think a road game. I think you just said it. I mean, I think that's the big thing. You know, at home it's a different deal. You know, it's quiet, and he can articulate the things. On the road it's going to be loud. And, you know, Dillingham has that place where, you know, it's going to be loud. Those people are going to show up. We're going to have to handle the noise. That will be the biggest challenge, I think, for a new starter."

What's it like to have young guys like Chasen Johnson stepping into the starting lineup back-to-back weeks?

"Yeah. He's been a guy that he had a great spring, first of all. And you could tell that's his skill set. He's done a really good job for us. We've got a lot of confidence in him right now. And he's playing at a high level for a true freshman."

Coach, to have the game you guys had over the weekend, how can you use that kind of performance to make a resurgence going into these last few games in this season?

"Yeah. Well, the good thing is we played our best overall game. Like I said, we made some changes. It really gave our players some new life. I know you get a chance to talk to some of our players, and they can speak on it probably a little bit further. But, you know, we got a little new energy, and we've got three games left. And, you know, we've got to finish it one game at a time."

The teams you've played from out west when they've come here, they've left a day early just because of the travel and the time change and stuff. You're going out west. Is there anything different you do? Do you go early? Do you stay overnight?

"No. The good thing for us, we'll keep our normal routine. Obviously, it's a long flight. That's probably the biggest difference. But we have an off week next week. So it's not like we've got to rush back and routine and all that. So we'll keep the same plan. We'll have to leave a little earlier and all that and have a long flight. But we'll try to stay on schedule the best we can."

I wanted to ask about SJ Tuohy is moving on. He's meant a great deal of this program. I know he was part of your inaugural staff. First Chief of Staff and did a lot with The Kingdom. Just what was his impact these last few years?

"Yeah, SJ was one of the more important people, if not the most important person since I've been here. Not just setting our program up when he was the Chief of Staff, the right-hand man, but what he did with our collective starting from scratch is unbelievable. And he laid a foundation for the future.

"I can't say enough good things about him. And he's in the A.D. world now, and he'll be in A.D. and a big shot before long. I'm real proud of him and proud of the person he is."

Gus, RJ had another big performance on Saturday night. Is there anything he does that doesn't impress you anymore? I mean, based on what he's been able to do this season.

"Yeah, he's impressive. And what I appreciate about him is the way he prepares, the way he practices. I mean, it doesn't matter if we went through the five-game losing streak or a game like that. He comes and brings his A game every day in practice. And I think he's one of the big reasons why the other guys hadn't let up. And we've got some other leaders that have set the tone, too.

"But, you know, he didn't say much. But when he does, people listen. You know, he spoke to our team before when we were at the hotel before the game. And it resonated with a lot of the guys."

Coach, you mentioned that you love play calling and it was hard giving it up. Do you think giving up has allowed you to concentrate and have better control overall of the team?

"I think the big thing as a leader, you've got to do what's best for your team. This day and time, I mean, the job description of a head coach, like I said, the last year, maybe year and a half, has like accelerated. It's almost like a different – I'm not going to say a different profession. But it is so much more.

"And so I just evaluate everything. And that was best for our team. And obviously Tim seized the moment. It was really good for me to be with the defense more and with Coach Addi more during the transition and all that.

"And so, yeah, sometimes you just do what's best for your team. And that's what I felt strong about doing."

Do you feel like you're able to apply more discipline, being able to be on all parts of the team now?

"I think more of being on top of things is probably the best way to put it. Having a better feel for everything that goes with it and not, you know, in the film room worried about third and one or fourth and one."

What stands out to you about Arizona State's running back, Cam Skattebo, about the challenge that he presents to you?

"You've got to gang tackle. He breaks tackles. They did a really good job last week, you know, scheming up, throwing it to him and getting him in situations in the pass. But he's a dynamic player, you know, that really starts with him."

Coach, was the playbook completely open for Dylan? And if not, does it excite you that he can probably take on more after what you saw?

"Yeah, so he knows the offense. You know, he's been here for, what, a little over two years. So he knows the ins and outs. Tim could call anything, and he has a good understanding of the whole thing. I think that showed. I mean, there were some new wrinkles, some new plays and all that. And so, yeah, he can execute the whole playbook."

You mentioned during his press conference the other night his preparedness, Dylan. What stood out to you about just the way he's absorbed information over the course of the year and a half he's been here?

"Yeah. Like I said, he's had a lot of reps. He understands the passing game extremely well with protections and everything goes with it. You know, RPO game, he does a really good job with understanding his reads and really everything that goes with it. And it just carried over.

"I mean, it was what he did for the first start. I mean, it was really hats off to him. I mean, it was really a phenomenal effort. He played with great effort. He played with great toughness. He blocked on a guy. Now, we've got to help him. We don't want him to block, you know, guys moving forward, you know, unless it's for the game.

"But I just love he's playing it like it's the Super Bowl. That's who he is. Real proud of him. He seized the moment. He's a great example for all the other younger guys that we have on our team about just seizing the moment when the opportunity presents itself."

Coach, your next two games are away. I know you've got the bye week in between, but how do you help your players prepare for all that travel?

"Yeah, I think the big thing, like we said earlier, is going to be the noise more than anything, being on the road with a quarterback that hadn't started on the road. This time in the year, you just about have your routine when you travel. And so it's not like a shock to your system. The only difference is the five-hour flight, you know. But our guys, they'll handle that okay."

You know how big Kobe is in the passing game, but seven different players caught passes on Saturday. How important is it to spread the ball around?

"Yeah, I think when we spread the ball around, because you saw earlier in the season teams would double Kobe and all that. And the fact that we're getting more guys involved, it helps everything. And not only does it help everything, it helps the run game too. It all kind of works together."

Speaking of that, Jacoby Jones obviously was trying to get his confidence back early in the season after an injury last year, now 100-yard games back-to-back.

"Yeah, he's playing with a lot of confidence right now. And, you know, you've seen it probably the last half of the season in practice, his confidence. Like in getting everything that goes with it, more familiar with the offense. When he's got the ball, he seizes the moment. And he's tough to handle after the catch. I mean, I think you can see that.

"But couldn't be more happy for him. He's a wonderful human being. He's waited his time and he sees the moment."

Kaven Call, a former player, released a letter saying he had some problems with your Chief of Staff, Ross Newton. Do you have a response to that?

"Yeah. You know, I've only kicked off one person since I've been here, and that was because of an arrest. All right. We wish him nothing but the best."

Coach, offense and defense both had strong games. Special teams, wanted to hear your evaluation of them.

"We've got to catch the ball. I mean, I think that's the biggest thing. The hitting yards right there. I think the big one for me was the ball was down there on the five-yard line and they flipped the field. I mean, the wind was blowing a little bit, but we got to back up. We got to put him in better position with that.

"They pinned the ball down on the one. That was kind of a tough one. It was kind of raining, and the guy kicked it, and that was a tough one. But the one that, you know, we had on the five-yard line, the hidden yards right there, that was disappointing with that. But we got to help him out. We got to move him back when the wind's blowing."

You mentioned this a little bit earlier. How much of getting that win, breaking that losing streak, how much of a relief did you notice in the locker room and maybe in practice with some of those players to be able to put that behind them now and kind of turn the focus?

"Yeah, the guys have hung in there, and just to see the smiles on their faces in the locker room and to play a good, clean football game, I mean, that was a great feeling and great to see."

I wanted to ask real quick about Coach Dillingham. He was with you in 2019. I know he'd been with Mike Norvell. I know he was a young guy at that point. He's still a young head coach. But when he was with you for that year, did you see a future head coach in Kenny Dillingham?

"Yeah, you know, he got a special thing about him. I went to visit Mike when he was a head coach at Memphis and spent time and watched practice and got a chance to meet him there. And you could just tell that he has a dynamic personality, and it really made a positive impression on me. And then, obviously when I got a chance to hire him as OC, that had a lot to do with it. And then Mike's confidence in him, too.

"So I got a chance to spend a year with him, and he helped out a lot. Obviously we had a good year, Bo Nix's freshman year, and he did a good job. So it doesn't surprise me at all. He's a young guy, but he doesn't act young. I mean, he's got a gift."

Did he really get hurt tonight?

His mom just tweeted a picture at Auburn… anyone have any context here??

The 2024 UCF Knights basketball team has some extremely talented guard play, but to compete in the Big 12 they'll need to control the paint and get rebounds. Transfer Rokas Jocius is eager to get on the court and help however he is needed.

Rokas is in conversation with Andrew Cherico of the Sons of UCF ... here.

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Fans should get an email stating ticket prices will be frozen this year...even though many other teams are raising them for the expected Player Payrolls that are most likley coming.

Do we anticipate season ticket prices increasing for the 2025 renewal?