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No Nike? No problem. Adidas-school ECU has awesome apparel availability 📷

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ECU has a very cool apparel store located just off campus - UBE (University Book Exchange) and their apparel area is coined "Pirate Wear." It's a multi-level/room store.

UCF's lack of merch options has more to do with not having a retail establishment like this.

ECU signed an apparel deal with Adidas with 2015, but Adidas honestly wasn't the dominant merch manufacturer in this store. There was a wide variety of Nike items, including polos, t-shirts, pullovers, hoodies, hats, etc. I'm pretty sure I spotted more Nike gear than Adidas.

But you know what? I think there was more Under Armour than anyone. The store had Under Armour branded signage.

They also had quality stuff from Tommy Bahama, Cutter & Buck, Horn Legend.

There was a special display in the front showing off their "Vault Collection" (old logo stuff, mostly on Cutter & Buck products).

So much cool stuff... tons of kids and women's items too. Home decor, Christmas stuff, knick-knacks, etc.

Here's a comprehensive photo gallery and I'll share a few photos in the posts below.

Cincinnati coach Luke Fickell expects "hostile environment" at UCF ⚔🐻🏈

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Cincinnati head coach Luke Fickell is expecting a "hostile environment" inside UCF's Bounce House on Saturday. Here's everything the winningest coach in Bearcats history said about the Knights during his weekly press conference on Tuesday.

A few quotes...

On playing a game at UCF:

"This is our first true challenge since week one (Arkansas) to go on the road in a hostile environment and play a great football team. I'm not taking anything away from the teams we've played on the road. It hasn't been a hostile environment since week one. This week will be that. It's another challenge for us... This group has found ways to rise to the challenge of whatever it takes."

On the "rivalry" with UCF:

"It's huge to me because I kind of go back to what starts it. In year one (in 2017), I'm not saying it was the beginning of the rivalry but all I remember was that game. Whether it was called because of the weather or called because of anything else, the reality is it was called. It wasn't a game. Whether it's become a rivalry because they were champs and we ended up knocking them off a couple years ago, all rivalries are created differently.

"To me, any team that has beaten us, any team that has embarrassed like they did in year one, that was something that will never go away for me. In my own mind and my own heart, it's been a rivalry since then. I would say I've got quite a few of those. Anybody that's beaten us. I do think as everything moves forward too, I think you're going to see this one is going to stay. This one is going to be created."

On facing UCF QB John Rhys Plumlee:

"He's going to be uniquely different than anybody else that we've probably faced as far as a running quarterback. It's great that we've seen some of those situations. It's great that we've done well and it's great that we've struggled a little bit. We've got to figure out what's the best fit for us.

"They'll do some things a little bit different. They'll adjust some things like they do because they're really good coaches and players. You know who the players are on their team. The offense is going to run through (Plumlee). Whether he's running the football, he's scrambling around or making things happen with his feet and his arm, I think the entire first seven games helped prepare you for whatever it is you're going to see. It might be a little bit different. It might not be as many shots down the field we prepared for last week. If you neglect to prepare for those things, that's when some of their biggest plays have come as well. I think the whole picture of it the entire year from what we faced in week one to this past week is what helps us grow and be able to adapt and put a plan in place."

Fickell was asked a question about UCF losing at ECU, he spoke about parity and teams playing better at home:

"A lot of teams play better when they're at home. From what I've watched on film for UCF is they're a really, really, really good football team and they're an even better football team when they're at home."

***UCF DE Josh Celiscar "fired up" to beat Cincinnati ⚔🏈

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UCF defensive end Josh Celiscar has only experienced defeat at the hands of Cincinnati, so he's ready to get after it on Saturday when the Bearcats come down to the Bounce House.

The junior appeared at Monday's press conference.

Celiscar reflected first on the 34-13 loss at ECU. How much of it was a poor defensive game, great offense from ECU or a combination of both?

"They schemed us up pretty well," Celiscar said. "I believe it falls on the d-line to get pressure on the quarterback. Yeah, (Holton Ahlers) went 30 for 36 in passing. He was very efficient in that game. It was us getting pressure on him and the DBs holding their coverage. That's all it really is. I feel we could have been better. We just have to progress from now on."

He later added that it seemed the Pirates had answers to everything the defense tried to do.

"(ECU) really schemed us up pretty well," Celiscar said. "We had calls made for them. We couldn't have had another perfect call, but they schemed it up pretty well. Everything they needed to do, they did. We could have done better. At the same time, it is what it is. You have to go back to work and get ready for the next game."

Celiscar was on the field for the entire game - all 70 snaps on defense. You may see a linebacker or defensive back do that on occasion, but that's rarer for defensive linemen.

"It wasn't nothing crazy," Celiscar said. "I felt I had the energy. I wasn't really exhausted. We had other guys that we wanted to play, but I don't believe the coaches were comfortable with them playing. At the same time, it is what it is. We just have to go back to work. Everybody has to be ready. Next man up mentality has to be the key for this week."

The result from ECU was a setback, but Celiscar said it won't linger.

"I liked everybody's response to the loss," he said. "Especially Sam (Jackson). He was the key leader, telling us how we've got to go back to work and be ready for Cincy. I believe everybody reacted to it pretty well. Nobody was pouting or moaning that we lost, we suck or something like that. Everybody was leaving it at that. The game is over. We've got to move on."

Cincinnati does have some different personnel on offense this season. Quarterback Desmond Ridder, wide receiver Alec Pierce and running back Jerome Ford were among the nine Bearcats selected in the 2022 NFL Draft.

This year's group is headlined by quarterback Ben Bryant, running back Charles McClelland and wide receiver Tyler Scott.

"Cincinnati, they're the same," Celiscar said. "They've been the same since I've been here. Nothing has changed scheme wise. We just have to prepare like Coach T-Will prepares. He's going to get us in positions to make plays. I believe we're going to have a better game this year. We have to go to work and progress throughout practice."

Is there a rivalry between UCF and Cincinnati?

"I'm pretty sure, yeah," Celiscar said. "It's a big rivalry between us. Ever since I've been here it's always been key to beat Cincy. It's never going to change. I believe we've got to go out there, scheme it up well, work hard this week and we'll achieve everything we want to achieve."

Cincinnati beat UCF last year, 56-21.

"It's more of a sense of urgency because it's Cincy," Celiscar said. "We want to beat them especially this year because those are the guys who beat us last year. They've been the ones to give it to us every year. We want to get back on them."

If UCF wants to win the American Athletic Conference, Saturday's game is pretty much a must-win game.

"I'm real fired up," Celiscar said. "I want to be locked in on them. I want to go out there and play a great game, win the game and just show people they're beatable and that we're the best team in the conference. We just have to go to work this week. Preparation has to be key. Have to be locked in. More of a sense of urgency so you can be ready for the game on Saturday."

UCF will also break out their "Knight Mode" jerseys for the first time.

"I like them," Celiscar said. "It's real different. It's like a color rush, like Madden. Something like that. It's kind of cool."

Knightline 280 Frustration

This one was interesting and I think reflects the fanbase right now.

Breakdown of ECU including Greenville and bbq
Was this a bad performance
Consistency
The QB situation
Where Do we go from here
Cincy breakdown
Tre’s take and a players perspective on what’s wrong and where we go from here.
Our picks
Ask Knightline.

This was a long one and I think reflects the fanbase right now. Lots of discussion on opposing sides. Almost 3 hours of content.


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B12, one thing I'm looking forward to

not dropping road games to teams like ECU! I'm sure there will soon come a time when we lose to a team like TT on the road and be very disappointed, but not now. Will your disappointment be the same as ECU if we lose to ISU on the road? We lost to Pitt a few years ago and it wasn't good, but I knew it was possible going into that game. I think what I'm looking forward to is seeing UCF not overlooking teams like we did last Sat.

***UCF OL Sam Jackson ready to get after Cincinnati ⚔🏈

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UCF offensive lineman Sam Jackson and his teammates have ECU in their rear-view mirror and have set their sights on taking down No. 20 Cincinnati.

The sixth-year senior appeared on Monday's press conference.

"We're obviously disappointed with what happened on Saturday," Jackson said in reference to the 34-13 loss at East Carolina. "That's what we used Sunday for, to come in and watch film and put it behind us. I think the team is ready to play the next game. Especially after a disappointing loss, you always want to get back on the field."

Cincinnati leads the nation in sacks, averaging 4.14 through seven games. Linebacker Ivan Pace Jr. is the nation's individual sack leader with seven to his name.

"It's going to be a great challenge for our o-line. I know the guys want to prove themselves and want to prove we're as good of an offensive line as we think we are."

If UCF still hopes to win the American Athletic Conference, the Cincinnati game amounts to a "must win."

"In the grand scheme of things and what we want to do, we know we have to win out," Jackson said. "Cincinnati is one of the teams to beat in our conference. That's the mindset we have as a team. Going into Saturday, I think that's how everyone is feeling. We need to come out with a win. Any means necessary."

Cincinnati leads the AAC in total defense allowing 305.4 yards per game with a third-best scoring defense mark in the league giving up 22.0 points per game.

"They play really hard," Jackson said. "They play sound defense. They do what they're coached to do which makes them very successful. You saw that from last year to this year. Especially with how many guys they lost on defense and not having a drop off, that speaks volumes to who they have as players. We've got to earn everything. A lot of it will depend on our o-line play."

Coach Gus Malzahn said he didn't think UCF's players "matched the energy" of ECU's team. What did Jackson see?

"I think ECU, they did a really good job versus us, and to their credit," Jackson said. "We've won a lot of games against them (in the past). It's probably one of those things where they were looking forward to that game. They did a really good job with what they did. I think that's what (Gus Malzahn) means. They were at home and it was a big game. We just didn't come out with the intensity."

Did the fact UCF was coming off two dominating wins perhaps lull some players into complacency?

"I don't think that's what it was," Jackson said. "It's tough to say. Especially after the Temple and SMU games. It's one of those things where you would hope that's not what happened. I just feel we didn't play well. Everything bad that could have happened to an offense happened to us that night and everything good happened for them. Not to take anything away from what they did."

Jackson feels a rivalry has developed with Cincinnati and believes it will only continue since both teams are headed to the Big 12 next season.

"I would say they need to match our energy this Saturday," Jackson said. "That's not going to be a problem for us. Like I said earlier, you want to play the next game as fast as possible. That's on my mind. We're ready to get after it this week and get after it on Saturday."
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