http://www.tampabay.com/sports/college/2015-ucf-knights-football-preview/2243870
2015 UCF Knights football preview
Speculation over the future of 69-year-old coach George O'Leary, seemingly an annual exercise, spiked recently when USA Today (citing unnamed sources) reported O'Leary wants to leave the sideline at the end of this season and become the Knights' full-time athletic director.
O'Leary, hired as interim AD in June, told the Orlando Sentinel on Tuesday his coaching contract runs through 2020 and he remains focused on doing both jobs well. At last month's American Athletic Conference media days, he told theTampa Bay Times he's "a football coach first."
Still, those are two sizable hats to wear in 21st-century college athletics. Don't be shocked if the Thanksgiving night clash with USF is O'Leary's final regular season game as Knights coach.
More on the Knights' outlook:
1. Year of transition
The autumn should reveal whether UCF has evolved into a program that replenishes instead of rebuilds. O'Leary lost 16 starters and four assistants (including both coordinators) from last season's 9-4 team that won a share of the conference title.
Graduation and NFL departures hit the Knights especially hard at receiver (top five pass-catchers) and the secondary (all four starters). According to the school, UCF is tied for third in Division I-A with only nine seniors (scholarship and non-scholarship) overall, yet the Knights were picked to finish second in the AAC's East Division by league media.
"I thought (the younger players) came on fairly well," O'Leary said. "We're probably not where we need to be right now as far as the total package ... but what we put in they understand and execute very well, so I've been pleased there."
2. By George, it's Bresnahan
Shortly after his dimissal as USF defensive coordinator, Chuck Bresnahan made a lateral move, right across the midsection of the state.
Bresnahan has assumed the same job at UCF for George O'Leary, with whom he worked as a staffer on Georgia Tech's 1990 national championship team.
"I like what he put in as far as some of the things he brought with him," O'Leary said. "I think the big thing is, you can see that he can make adjustments quickly, and you can't buy that experience. We were very fortunate to have the opportunity to get him over here."
3. Twins formation
Don't be shocked to spot identical twins (and Lakewood High alumni) Shaquill and Shaquem Griffin, among three sets of siblings on the Knights roster, on the field at the same time this season.
Shaquill is projected to replace 2014 AAC Defensive Player of the Year Jacoby Glenn at cornerback. Shaquem, who lost his left hand at age 4 due to a rare condition during his mom's pregnancy, has been getting reps at second-team safety.
UCF schedule
Thursday Fla. International, 6
Sept. 12 at Stanford, 10:30
Sept. 19 Furman, 6
Sept. 26 at South Carolina, TBA
Oct. 3 at Tulane, TBA
Oct. 10 UConn, TBA
Oct. 17 at Temple, TBA
Oct. 24 Houston, TBA
Oct. 31 at Cincinnati, TBA
Nov. 7 at Tulsa, TBA
Nov. 19 East Carolina, 7:30
Nov. 26 USF, 7:30
2015 UCF Knights football preview
Speculation over the future of 69-year-old coach George O'Leary, seemingly an annual exercise, spiked recently when USA Today (citing unnamed sources) reported O'Leary wants to leave the sideline at the end of this season and become the Knights' full-time athletic director.
O'Leary, hired as interim AD in June, told the Orlando Sentinel on Tuesday his coaching contract runs through 2020 and he remains focused on doing both jobs well. At last month's American Athletic Conference media days, he told theTampa Bay Times he's "a football coach first."
Still, those are two sizable hats to wear in 21st-century college athletics. Don't be shocked if the Thanksgiving night clash with USF is O'Leary's final regular season game as Knights coach.
More on the Knights' outlook:
1. Year of transition
The autumn should reveal whether UCF has evolved into a program that replenishes instead of rebuilds. O'Leary lost 16 starters and four assistants (including both coordinators) from last season's 9-4 team that won a share of the conference title.
Graduation and NFL departures hit the Knights especially hard at receiver (top five pass-catchers) and the secondary (all four starters). According to the school, UCF is tied for third in Division I-A with only nine seniors (scholarship and non-scholarship) overall, yet the Knights were picked to finish second in the AAC's East Division by league media.
"I thought (the younger players) came on fairly well," O'Leary said. "We're probably not where we need to be right now as far as the total package ... but what we put in they understand and execute very well, so I've been pleased there."
2. By George, it's Bresnahan
Shortly after his dimissal as USF defensive coordinator, Chuck Bresnahan made a lateral move, right across the midsection of the state.
Bresnahan has assumed the same job at UCF for George O'Leary, with whom he worked as a staffer on Georgia Tech's 1990 national championship team.
"I like what he put in as far as some of the things he brought with him," O'Leary said. "I think the big thing is, you can see that he can make adjustments quickly, and you can't buy that experience. We were very fortunate to have the opportunity to get him over here."
3. Twins formation
Don't be shocked to spot identical twins (and Lakewood High alumni) Shaquill and Shaquem Griffin, among three sets of siblings on the Knights roster, on the field at the same time this season.
Shaquill is projected to replace 2014 AAC Defensive Player of the Year Jacoby Glenn at cornerback. Shaquem, who lost his left hand at age 4 due to a rare condition during his mom's pregnancy, has been getting reps at second-team safety.
UCF schedule
Thursday Fla. International, 6
Sept. 12 at Stanford, 10:30
Sept. 19 Furman, 6
Sept. 26 at South Carolina, TBA
Oct. 3 at Tulane, TBA
Oct. 10 UConn, TBA
Oct. 17 at Temple, TBA
Oct. 24 Houston, TBA
Oct. 31 at Cincinnati, TBA
Nov. 7 at Tulsa, TBA
Nov. 19 East Carolina, 7:30
Nov. 26 USF, 7:30
