It’s taken too damn long for the Bills to figure out what we already knew

5 receptions for 85 yards and 2 TDs

Stop screwing around and get this guy the damn ball!

A weekend visit to UCF is giving New Mexico offensive line transfer Cade Briggs a lot to think about.

The California native and 2019 graduate of Las Vegas' Bishop Gorman High School has been a starter for all three of his seasons at UNM, including the last two as the Lobos' No. 1 left tackle. He entered the NCAA Transfer Portal last week and immediately starting drawing national interest.

"It's definitely been a lot crazier than I would have thought," Briggs said. "Putting your name in the portal can be a scary thing. You're hoping somebody reaches out eventually. That first day I had five or six offers. It made me take a deep breath and settle myself that I do have options. It's been crazy."

UCF was one of the first schools to reach out.

"I grew up with Trevion Shadrick-Harris, who plays safety at UCF," Briggs said. "We grew up in California together. So when (UCF offensive line) Coach (Herb) Hand contacted me and wanted to get me out there on a visit, I jumped on it.

"I knew it would be a good trip. Obviously Orlando is a nice area. I grew up on the west coast and my parents are actually looking to move to the Southeast so I'm looking at a few schools in that area. The weather was crazy. When we left Albuquerque it was 30 degrees and we're all bundled up. When we landed it was 80 degrees and sunny outside. The campus was super nice and so were the facilities. Honestly, there was so much I liked."

UCF is looking for some experienced offensive linemen that would be ready to contribute next season and Briggs fits the bill. He has two seasons of eligibility remaining and a redshirt year should he need it.

"Coach Hand and I sat down and watched film," Briggs said. "I'm an inside guy build wise. At New Mexico they had me at left tackle because we were short on tackles. I'm excited to get back inside and play with more power. He talked about getting me center reps too, but I'd be competing for the left guard spot because their left guard will probably declare for the draft."

The left guard he's speaking of - Cole Schneider - just wrapped up his fourth season at UCF as a full-time starter. Schneider was also UCF's emergency center when Matt Lee was sidelined.

"I've never taken center snaps in a game before," Briggs said. "I've always been a guard or tackle. But I definitely know how to snap. I'm ready for a team to put me there so I can get comfortable with it."

As a true freshman at New Mexico in 2019, Briggs played in nine games and started five, mostly at right guard. He made the move to left tackle in 2020 and has been the starter ever since.

"My sophomore year (2020), they threw me out there (at left tackle) like a week before the first game," Briggs said. "My first few games were a little bumpy. I'd never played the left side either. I was swapping everything in my head. It took me four or five games to get used to it. This whole offseason I was like, if I'm going to be 6-3 and playing left tackle, I'm going to be the most athletic and have the best feet and just try to make the most of it."

Briggs earned a solid 74.4 season grade from PFF, which put him in the top five for Mountain West Conference tackles.

Trevion Shadrick-Harris was also his player host for the weekend.

"Like I said, I grew up with him in California, so it was real comfortable being with him," Briggs said. "He told me the truth about everything UCF has to offer. He showed me around downtown too. Good atmosphere. It's nice to be somewhere where there's things to do. I'm there to play football, but I want to enjoy my last years of college too. It was a good time."

He enjoyed meeting head coach Gus Malzahn.

"He's a great guy," Briggs said. "We had breakfast at his house with his family and wife. He's obviously experienced, coming from Auburn. It was almost surreal talking to somebody that's coached Cam Newton and has beaten Alabama multiple times and won a championship. Just talking to coaches of that caliber, Coach Hand too. He knows his stuff. So when UCF asked me to visit I definitely jumped on it. I know they can develop me and make me the best player I can be."

Asked to name one thing that stood out, Briggs said it was definitely the coaches.

"They're so experienced," he said. "I want a coach to be straight up with me. I'm not in high school, I'm not 17 anymore. I'm a grown man. I want coaches to be hard on me and tell the truth. Coach Hand will get on me for every little thing and I want that. I like the truth and honesty. They're also family people. Big family guys. I felt real comfortable the whole weekend."

He also liked UCF's academics. He needs to finish two more semesters to complete his undergraduate degree.

"My mom is from Iran, so I've always been interested in that side of the world," he said. "I've been studying international studies (at UNM) with an Arabic minor. UCF has global studies, which is great that I could continue down that path. That fascinates me. UCF having the major is definitely a plus."

Briggs is also learning more about the UCF fanbase.

"That UCF post I put on Twitter a few hours ago, I didn't expect that to blow up the way it did," he said. "I got off the plane, obviously no service in the air. I have 400-something notifications on Twitter and my phone is freezing up. It's been crazy."

Briggs has not yet decided on a decision timeline, though additional visits are possible.

"There's no specific date," Briggs said. "I want to enroll in January, so I know I don't have a lot of time. I am looking to schedule a visit with Maryland and Illinois. We've been talking. Cal was calling me today trying to see when I can get out there. I'm from the Bay area. They want to get me back home and check it out. It's definitely been a busy day."

As for contact and visits, transfers fall under the same guidelines as high school and junior college recruits. This week through the coming weekend will be the final days in December to take a visit.

He said UCF didn't try to pressure him into making a quick decision.

"Just whenever I feel comfortable," Briggs said. "Whenever the time is right. They're welcoming and want me to come here. They're understanding of the whole process... I definitely felt very comfortable there with the coaches and the situation, also school wise and location. They're definitely my No. 1 right now."


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Following the Peach Bowl, I purchased myself a sweet Milton jersey and had the Peach Bowl patch sewed on. Looks great. I wore it for the season opener the following year and we trounced UCONN in Heupel's debut.

Here's the problem. The next 3 times I wore this jersey were as follows:
1) 2018 Black Friday vs cows when he broke his leg.
2) 2019 game vs. Pitt heartbreaker
3) 2021 vs. Louisville pick 6 to lose

I usually like to match what the team is wearing. So with the team wearing white jerseys for the Gasparilla Bowl, I'm thinking about wearing it again. Maybe with KZ coming back around the program recently it's time to lift the curse. Also, with the game being held in the same place where the curse began I can exorcise them demons.

What should I do? I know we are supposed to wear black and with the weather supposedly dropping that night, I will have a black hoodie to go over it. Do I even bring it to Tampa??

With the Ravens missing a bunch of defensive backs he was elevated from the practice squad today. I’m a Ravens fan, but a bit conflicted because I believe this is the guy that injured KZ.

In all seriousness no harm was intended and I believe they have actually built a friendship. Just thought it was an interesting tidbit to share as I think this may be his NFL debut.

Great game and great atmosphere. True freshman Mellott took over as QB for the playoffs when their starting QB entered the portal.

Merry Christmas everyone! Looks like Townsend is official. First big pickup of the day.

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So I have 2 extra tickets and a vip parking pass.
sec 108 row s and lot 3 vip parking pass right next to stadium.

I’m offer this to ucf fans only first. $350. Text me if interested.
Travous 386-690-1636

The Georgia native can play on the left or ride side or at guard and he's nasty on film so it's no surprise to see so many schools interested. Location doesn't seem to play into this as he's looking for the right fit athletically and academically coming from the Ivy League.

not really a good fit but we made the list..........

Bringing 4 friends, 2 are UF-ing gators unfortuntely but I didn't choose the family I inherited

Seems to me this game is a crapshoot. I could legit see us winning or losing by a lot. It seems...
- We have more to play for to prove something
- They have a lot to play for to make sure they're not forever embarrassed in the gator history books
- They have players opting out because of draft hopes?
- We have NFL prospects wanting to show off? (Bowser, Big Kat, etc.)
- They have a new head coach to impress
- They also are down and unmotivated since they had to squeak by FSU to even be bowl eligible.

Can somebody sum up how they think this will go and why?

See you on game day!

David

Nm

Send message or @ me here

All UCF fans need to start a "transfer" chant

....find someone to play

Simple game. Call the first score by UCF. Winner gets name on the Wall of Fame and a Coozie.

Rules: you MUST call both the QB and receiver for passing scores along with the yardage. For all other scores RB, kickers, defenders, punt/ kick off returns you must call the yardage and the name of the player. Closest to the yardage wins. Price is right rules: If two people are exact yardage apart, closest without going over wins. You can only play once per account.

2021 Wall of Fame:

Boise State - Dungeon skunked

Bethune-Cookman - MaineKnight

Louisville - k ranch

Navy - sjb43

ECU - ed4ucf

Cincinnati - We Want Ducks

Memphis - Dungeon Skunked

Temple - LHall24

Tulane - Chase the Knight

SMU - Chase the Knight

UConn - jackfs

usf - ?


Congrats to @jackfs, who makes the call of Richardson for 35 yds, actual was 9 yds. Nice call! If you would like a Call it Now winners Coozie, send me an address to send it to via DM.

This week I’m calling Keene to Robinson from 16 yds out.

Go Knights!!!

With NSD in the books, who are you all the most excited about?

I think for me it's Jordan McDonald. Aside from the fact that Malzahn says he's "the best RB in the country", which is obviously exaggeration, his film is impressive - and I'm excited to have a big back with his downhill running style.

Windows 11 Yes or No? Should I upgrade or not?

Well , it's that of year when we enjoy the warm embrace of kifs and ken. What's your favorite Christmas movie ?

I saw a blurb on the Gasparilla Bowl site that parking lots open at 3 - from memory, I feel like tailgating typically started more than four hours before the game…but, maybe, it just felt that way because kickoff was earlier?


Anyone hear anything different?

Way to go Blazers!

🍻

Last Year for Jimmy Buffets Birthday which falls on December 25 I got a Rec Teq 700 Bull pellet smoker / grill . It has changed the way I cook everything from fish to dirty bird. I even have smoked a few briskets and tonight I finished my 3 Rd set of ribs and they turned our phenomenal. I did the 3-2-1 method and I used Butt Rub brand dry rub but I added cinnamon and brown sugar to the dry rub. I also smoked some chicken wings too.

For Christmas I am planning on smoking a whole turkey breast and a small ham. I will inject the turkey with Tony Chacheries creole butter and smoke at 220. My smoked turkeys come out as good if not better than our fried turkeys in the past. I love my rec teq and really enjoy smoking and cooking food on it.

What are y'all cooking for the day ?

Yessir