Dr. Blackwell's BLOG

After a dismal 4-8 season and a slew of negative publicity surrounding the death of a player and collapse of another,  UCF Knights’ Football Coach George O’Leary has been working hard to put together a stellar recruiting class that can get UCF back on-track. The Knights were 2007 Conference USA Champions and played in the Liberty Bowl, the league’s premier post-season bowl game. But 2008 marked a significant downfall in the program and redhot rumors quickly circulated that UCF was strongly considering letting O’Leary go. But Athletics is giving O’Leary another chance to prove he has what it takes to make UCF a successful football program that can win championships and bowl games and eventually leap-out of Conference USA in-favor of a BCS conference. Despite some of the negativity, all indicators show UCF will have an amazing recruiting season. While these commitments are non-standing until the Letters of Intent are signed and faxed Wednesday, the Knights’ commitment list is pretty impressive, including one 4-star recruit and seven 3-star recruits:

SIGNED LETTER OF INTENT	Pos	Stars	Ht	Wt	40	RR	Video	Enrolled	Hometown
Josh Robinson	ATH		5-10	178	4.4	5.8			Lauderhill, FL
Jim Teknipp	TE		6-5	225	4.8	5.4			McDonough, GA

COMMITTED/UNSIGNED	Pos	Stars	Ht	Wt	40	RR	Video	Enrolled	Hometown
A.J. Bouye	DB		6-0	175	–	5.3			Tucker, GA
D.J. Brown	TE		6-2	207	–	5.3			Dunnellon, FL
Jonathan Davis	LB		5-9	205	4.4	5.7			Tucker, GA
Dontravious Floyd	WR		6-2	210	4.59	5.5			Homestead, FL
Javen Harris	LB		6-1	220	4.6	5.2			Eufaula, AL
Samuel Johnson	OL		6-5	245	–	5.5			Ellenwood, GA
Deon Simon	DT		6-4	280	5.19	5.5			Baton Rouge, LA
Henry Wright	DB		6-1	185	–	5.2			Orlando, FL

I will be attending the Golden Knights’ Club’s Signing Day tomorrow afternoon before watching the Knights BB team take-on Houston. Let’s hope tomorrow brings good news to a program that desperately needs it!  

GO KNIGHTS!!! GO BLACK & GOLD!!!

SOURCE: http://www.ucf.rivals.com

After ranking dead-last in all of NCAA IA football in total offense for 2008, the UCF Knights are hopefully getting an offensive infusion designed to put points on the board and “W’s” in the win column. Head Coach George O’Leary has hired Charlie Taaffe, a former Maryland assistant coach with extensive Canadian Football League experience, to take over as the Knights’ offensive coordinator. O’Leary also demoted offensive coordinator Tim Salem to tight ends coach and special teams coordinator, moved George Godsey from quarterbacks coach to running backs coach and shifted Brent Key from tight ends coach and special teams coordinator to offensive line coach.

Taaffe, 58, was a two-time coach of the year in the Canadian Football League (1999 and 2000) while leading the Montreal Alouettes. He was 5-23 as the head coach of the CFL’s Hamilton TigerCats until he was fired in September. Taaffe previously had left the CFL to be the offensive coordinator at Maryland (2001-05), helping the Terrapins set school records twice for most points in a season. Taaffe has run both the spread and triple-option offenses. Before the CFL, Taaffe was the head coach at the Citadel. He posted a 55-47-1 record at the school, winning the Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year award after an 11-2 season in 1992. (Note: Portions of this article are courtesy of the Orlando Sentinel).

The UCF Knights ended their 2008 football season with an all-time low loss to the Blazers of UAB. It was the first time in over two decades the Knights were shutout at home, losing 15-0. The Knights’ overall record was a horrific 4-8 and 3-5 in Conference USA. Even more dismal, the Knights’ offense ranked the lowest in the nation at #119. The amazing “fall from grace” the Knights took in 2008 comes only one season removed since UCF was crowned Conference USA Champions and made an appearance in the Liberty Bowl, the crown jewel of Conference USA’s Bowl ties. Let’s hope 2009 proves to be a better year for the Black & Gold. With such a terrible season in 2008, many donors, Alumni, and season ticket holders have been clamoring for change, suggesting athletics strongly consider terminating Head Coach George O’Leary. Perhaps the off-season will be even more interesting than the season itself. GO KNIGHTS!!! GO BLACK & GOLD!!!

The UCF Knights suffered another humiliating defeat on Sunday before a live nationwide audience. The Tulsa Golden Hurricane crushed the Knights 49-14. The Knights, leading at the half, were stifiling TU’s progress on the gridiron the entire first 1/2 of the game. Two turnovers turned into points and the Knights actually displayed some of their former swagger. But after the half, the team fell flat and wouldn’t score the rest of the game. TU (#18, 8-0) rests solely on-top of C-USA West while the Knights (2-5) continue a downward spiral leaving many shaking their heads in disbelief, wondering what has happened to last year’s C-USA Champions. UCF finally returns home this Sunday with a nationally-televised showdown against fellow East Division foe East Carolina @ 8:15pm on ESPN. For those attending the game live, the COHPA/CON Tailgate Party begins in Lot E6 at 2:00pm. GO KNIGHTS!!! GO BLACK & GOLD!!! BEAT THE PIRATES!!!

The UCF Knights went into the University of Miami to play their final out-of-conference game this Saturday and although the Knights kept the game close and rallied to almost pull off the win, they fell short 14-20. The Knights (2-4; 1-1) took over 10,000 fans into Dolphins’ Stadium, including the Marching Knights and were boisterous, loud and spirited. Unfortunately, that wasn’t enough to give the Knights on offense. The O-Line sputtured the entire game managing only a total of 78 yards of offense. UCF will now finish-up their season in Conference  USA play with the hope the Knights can repeat as Conference Champions. It will be a very difficult task. Marshall currently stands on-top of C-USA East at 2-0 in conference play. The Knights are tied with East Carolina for 2nd place in the division. The next game for UCF is in 2 weeks when the Knights take-on the Golden Hurricane of Tulsa on 10/26 @ 8pm on ESPN2. GO KNIGHTS!!! GO BLACK & GOLD!!! BEAT THE GOLDEN HURRICANE!!!