Dr. Blackwell's BLOG

The #21-ranked UCF Knights (5-1; 2-0 AAC) went into #8 Louisville (6-1; 2-1 AAC) on Friday in-front of a national audience on ESPN and defeated the team most sports analysts believed would dominate the new American Athletic Conference and take the league’s slot in what will be the final BCS Bowl Championship Series bowl game. The Knights’ win was the program’s first-ever against a top 10 opponent. And many are calling it UCF’s biggest win in program history. But the win was not easy. The Knights struggled during the first half, only putting up 7 points against the Cardinals. Blake Bortles shot down an aggressive initial drive with an INT in the end zone and UCF would go on to struggle offensively throughout the half. Down by a 21-point deficit, the Knights didn’t give up and fought back with 28 unanswered points, punctuating the game with an incredible finale, sealing their win with just :28 left on the clock. The win dismantled Louisville’s run for a national championship, fight for the AAC Championship, and any Heisman Trophy hopes for quarterback Teddy Bridgewater. UCF quarterback Blake Bortles made-up for his starting drive INT and continued to show his amazing skills at the helm, completing 21 of 32 pass attempts for 250 total yards. UCF edged out Louisville by just 1 yard, amassing 446 total yards to Louisville’s 445. UCF now holds the reins on their destiny in the AAC. Winning out would secure them AAC Champions and would land them in a BCS bowl for the first-time ever. UCF now returns home for the next two games, starting on Saturday with an AAC game against the Huskies of UCONN (0-6; 0-2 AAC). Kickoff is set for Noon at Bright House Networks Stadium on the beautiful UCF campus. The game will be nationally televised through ESPN3. Watch the highlights of UCF’s victory of Louisville courtesy of ESPN below:

The UCF Knights (4-1; 1-0 AAC) pulled off what ended-up being a miracle in their 24-17 win over the Tigers of Memphis (1-3; 0-1 AAC) in the opening of American Athletic Conference play for the 2013 season. The game was nationally televised on ESPN3. UCF came out of the gate flat and appeared grossly unprepared to play a Memphis team that was coming off their first win of the season against Arkansas State last week. Quarterback Blake Bortles struggled in his completions, falling way below his season average completion rate of 70% to completing just 8-19 passes. The Knights Defense unit didn’t perform much better. Multiple missed tackles and numerous penalties seemed to stifle the Knights’ progress, with a defensive penalty towards the end of the first half giving the Tigers an automatic first down, simultaneously dooming the Knights scoreless for the remainder of the half. Thanks to scoring two touchdowns within nine seconds in the last few minutes of the game, the Knights stole the Tigers’ victory and came away with the win. Take a look at highlights from the UCF vs. Memphis game courtesy of ESPN below:

Photo Courtesy The Commercial Appeal (Memphis, TN)

Coming off a historic win against the Nittany Lions of Penn State (3-1; 0-0 BG-10), the UCF Knights (3-1; 0-0 AAC) suffered a tough loss to #12 South Carolina (3-1; 1-1 SEC) on Saturday in-front of a sold-out crowd which tapped out close to 50,000. Two costly turnovers (INTs) doomed the Knights to a 25-28 loss, despite a heroic comeback in the 4th quarter. The loss was felt throughout the Knight Nation; but fans rallied behind the team and most have expressed support for a team that South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier said “Took divine intervention to beat.” The Knights now enter conference play in their new home, the American Athletic Conference. UCF travels to Memphis on Saturday to play in the Liberty Bowl against the Memphis Tigers (1-2; 0-0 AAC), who are coming off their first win of the season against Arkansas State. Take a look at highlights from the UCF vs. South Carolina game courtesy of the American below:

Photo Courtesy SB-Nation

The UCF Knights (3-0; 0-0 AAC) announced today that its home matchup against the Gamecocks of South Carolina (2-1; 1-1 SEC) this Saturday at Noon has officially sold out. Hundreds of students stood in line at the UCF Arena box office starting early Monday morning in an attempt to purchase guest tickets to the game. Most, however, were turned away when the last set were sold shortly before 12pm. Although UCF’s beautiful on-campus stadium sits about 46,000, the capacity grows closer to 50,000 once box seats, press, and other spectators in the stadium are factored into the tallies. UCF is coming off one of its biggest victories in program history with a 34-31 win against the Nittany Lions of Penn State (3-1; 0-0 BG10) in-front of a close to 100,000 capacity crowd at Beaver Stadium on 9/14. The Knights enjoyed a bye-week last Saturday and resumed practice after resting for a couple of days. Saturday’s game against the Gamecocks will also be the first game UCF will perform in-front of a nationwide standard broadcast. The game will air on national broadcast television on ABC. If you were unable to get tickets to the game, make sure to tune in and watch the Knights take on the Gamecocks at Noon on ABC! GO KNIGHTS!!!

The UCF Knights (3-0; 0-0 AAC) defeated the Nittany Lions of Penn State (2-1; 0-0 BG10) on Saturday in a packed stadium filled with close to 100,000 raucous fans. UCF now has a bye-week before hosting the Gamecocks of South Carolina (2-1; 1-1 SEC) on September 28th at Noon. That game will be broadcasted on ABC, ESPN, or ESPNU. Below, ESPN highlights the Knights’ historic win at Penn State:

The UCF Knights (2-0; 0-0 AAC) steamrolled right past the Panthers (0-2; 0-0 C-USA) of Florida International University on Friday night in-front of a nationwide CBS Sports Network audience. The Knights shut-out the Panthers 38-0 and displayed more offensive prowess in the second of four out-of-conference games that start their season. UCF quarterback Blake Bortles completed 12-19 passes for 214 total passing yards and 1 TD; and Storm Johnson dominated the rush amassing 89 yards on 18 carries and scored 3 TDs. Rannell Hunner also ran up 100 yards receiving for the first time. UCF will now travel to Penn State, where they’ll take on the Nittany Lions (2-0; 0-0 B-10) in what could be one of the biggest games of the season. Kickoff is set for 6pm and the game will be nationally-televised on the Big 10 Network. The UCF Alumni Association will also be hosting the Charge On! Beat Penn State Tailgate Tent Party at Penn State starting at 3pm on the field of the Penn State Track and Field area. Tickets to the event are just $15 and include an open bar and all-you-can-eat BBQ. For more information or to register for the event, visit: https://www.ucfknightsnetwork.com/UCFPennState2013

Photo Courtesy Orlando Sentinel

The UCF Knights (1-0; 0-0 AAC) opened the season with a resounding victory over the Akron Zips (0-1; 0-0 MAC) in front of a large crowd at Bright House Networks Stadium Thursday night. The game played to a nationwide audience on ESPN3. UCF beat Akron 38-7 and showed they could be a serious contender in the all-new American Athletic Conference this season. The Knights were lead by quarterback Blake Bortles, who showed some amazing talent as he broke the program’s longest touchdown pass in history with a 91-yard BOMB to receiver Breshard Perriman. Bortles also completed 18-24 passes for 314 total yards and three touchdowns. Head Coach George O’Leary praised Bortles’ performance, saying, “He has a world of talent.” The Knights travel to Florida International University next Friday for an evening game against the Panthers (0-0; 0-0 C-USA) that will be nationally televised on CBS Sports Network before heading to Penn State the following week to take on the Nittany Lions (0-0; 0-0 B-10). With repeats of performances like they gave tonight, the UCF Knights should be poised to have a stellar season! Photo Courtesy Orlando Sentinel.

UCF announced today that its basketball court will undergo a major change in look for next season, when the Knights will play in the former Big East conference. The new court will come from an NCAA tournament site and will feature a darker colored wood, stacked logo, and blackened lanes. Take a look at the new design below:

As the UCF football program begins play in a new conference (the former Big East) this season, Nike has revealed UCF’s new look. The new uniform comes in several black and gold combinations and provide a nice modern update. Take a look at my favorite pick among the lot below:

New UCF Football Uniforms from Nike

The UCF Knights football program will travel to Happy Valley in 2013 to take on the Nittany Lions of Penn State. UCF Athletics announced today it had finalized negotiations with Penn State for a home-and-home series with the Nittany Lions. UCF will travel to Penn State in 2013 but in return, the Nittany Lions will travel to UCF’s campus in 2014. The deal seals the Knights’ 2013 inaugural football season in the Big East. UCF will open against Akron at home on Thursday August 29th and will host games against Rutgers, South Carolina, Rutgers, UCONN, Houston, and rival USF. The Knights will play Penn State, Louisville, Memphis, Temple, and FIU on the road.

Pictured: UCF’s Alex Haynes rushes against the Nittany Lions at Penn State in 2003.