Swedish pop superstar Eric Saade appeared on Swedish television last week to perform his new single, “Like U Used To” (available now on iTunes). The song highlights Saade’s evolving sound, which features less emphasis on a traditional pop sound. Check out his fantastic performance, below:
The 2021 University of Central Florida’s Founders Day Ceremony was held on Wednesday April 7th. The University honored recipients earning prestigious awards from the University and their respective Colleges. Dr. Blackwell was among those recognized. Dr. Blackwell earned the 2021 Excellence in Graduate Teaching award from UCF’s College of Nursing. The award recognizes graduate Faculty that have contributed significantly to graduate education, including substantial teaching of graduate courses (including thesis and dissertation courses), shown innovation to improve graduate teaching, and who have exhibited evidence of significant impact on graduate teaching. The award marks Blackwell’s second major recognition in the 2020-2021 academic year, after being inducted into the University’s prestigious Scroll and Quill Society at the end of 2020.
On the April 2nd episode of the Graham Norton Show, Rupaul’s Drag Race superstar Michelle Visage joined UK mega-star pop group Steps to perform their new single, “Heartbreak in this City” from Step’s new album What the Future Holds. While fans were quick to note Steps’ member Lisa Scott-Lee was missing from the performance, the group clarified her absence as a consequence of traveling restrictions into the UK from Dubai, where Scott-Lee resides. Lisa will rejoin Steps for their world tour later in the year. Excitingly, the group also announced Visage will be lending some guest vocals on Steps’ September release of a new album, What the Future Holds, Part 2! Check out Steps’ performance of “Heartbreak in this City” featuring Michelle Visage, below:
Swedish pop superstar Eric Saade returned to familiar roots a few weeks ago performing his new single, “Every Minute” in the Medlodifestivalen Swedish song competition. The song marks a return to performing in English after Eric’s last album, Det svarta faret (Black Sheep), recorded entirely in Swedish, proved to be a major hit. Take a look at Eric’s live performance on Melodifestivalen below in addition to the song’s official music video:
Terry Mohajir, UCF Knights new Athletic Director, wasted no time in hiring a new football coach for the program after Josh Heupel left for Tennessee last month. Former Auburn Football Coach Gus Malzahn will take over the reigns of the program. Malzahn, a mega-successful Coach with a stellar career, will be paid $11.5 million over a 5-year period. Take a look at the hire analysis by CBS Sports, grading it an A+, below:
The video for Jason Derulo and Adam Levine’s collaboration, “Lifestyle” was released today. Punctuated by great makeup and costumes, the video for the catchy and fun song is fantastic. The real star of the video, however, is the incredible choreography. Take a look at the video for “Lifestyle” below:
Dr. Blackwell’s original article, “HIV Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis Through Use of Emtricitabine/Tenofovir Alafenamide” has been accepted for publication in the Journal for Nurse Practitioners. The article is co-written by Dr. Humberto López Castillo, an Assistant Professor dually-appointed in the University of Central Florida’s College of Health Professions and Sciences and College of Medicine. The article will be published in mid-2021. The abstract appears below:
Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) involves use of antiretroviral medication in concert with safer sex practices to significantly reduce risk of HIV-1 infection. In October 2019, daily use of emtricitabine/tenofovir alafenamide (FTC/TAF) 200mg/25mg was approved as a newer agent for PrEP to prevent HIV-1 infection in at-risk adults and adolescents. The purpose of this article is to: 1) Provide an overview of the FTC/TAF regimen and its safety and efficacy profiles; 2) Discuss indications and contraindications of FTC/TAF as PrEP; 3) Provide a focused comparison of FTC/TDF with FTC/TAF; and 4) Examine issues surrounding cost and accessibility in the United States.
The UCF Knights (6-3; 5-3 AAC) learned today they will face the #14-ranked Cougars of Brigham Young (10-1) in the Boca Raton Bowl next Tuesday (12/22) at FAU Stadium. Kickoff is set for 7:00pm and the game will be nationally televised on ESPN. The game will be the third time the Knights have faced off with the Cougars; the series is split 1-1, with UCF claiming the last victory 31-24 in 2014.
Per UCF Athletics (John Heisler):
UCF’s trip to Boca Raton, Florida, for the RoofClaim.com Boca Raton Bowl pits the Knights against 14th-ranked and once-beaten BYU.
UCF (6-3) and BYU (10-1) will square off at 7 p.m. Dec. 22 in FAU Stadium on the Florida Atlantic University campus in Boca Raton. ESPN and ESPN Radio will provide the coverage.
The Cougars will provide a major challenge for UCF in every phase of the game—with BYU ranking as the only team in the country to stand in the top 10 nationally in total offense (10th at 510.1 yards per game), total defense (10th at 308.9), scoring offense (eighth at 43.0 points per game) and scoring defense (third at 14.6). In addition, BYU boasts the top-ranked field-goal kicker in the nation (13 for 13 by sophomore placekicker Jake Oldroyd), and the Cougars rank 16th in net punting.
“BYU plays complementary football, in terms of offense, defense and special teams, as well as any team in the country,” says UCF head coach Josh Heupel. “This will be a tremendous challenge for our football team—and certainly one our players are excited about.”
BYU finished 10-1 (7-0 at home), with its only loss at unbeaten and ninth-ranked Coastal Carolina (22-17) in a game that ended with the Cougars on the Coastal Carolina one-yard line. BYU currently ranks 14th (AP) and 16th (coaches poll) and the Cougars ranked 18th last week in the CFP poll. BYU is one of only four FBS teams that have won at least 10 games so far in 2020—joining Alabama, Notre Dame and Coastal Carolina. The Cougars ranked as high as eighth in the AP poll prior to the loss to Coastal Carolina.
It’s the first 10-win season since 2011 for BYU against a 2020 schedule ranked 21st-most difficult in the country by the NCAA. The Cougars are coached by Kalani Sitake, concluding his fifth year. BYU is playing in a bowl game for the 15th time in 16 years.
BYU boasts one of the best defenses in the country—ranking third in scoring defense and 10th in total defense. The Cougars held three different opponents scoreless in three of four quarters. They also complete 72 percent of their passes, score 43 points per game and average 510 total yards and 323 passing yards. Only two teams in the country—North Carolina and Alabama—have recorded more first downs in 2020 than BYU.
BYU quarterback Zach Wilson and UCF counterpart Dillon Gabriel both have thrown 30 TD passes. Wilson ranks second nationally in TD passes and points responsible for, third in passing efficiency, fourth in completion percentage—and he’s the first BYU quarterback in 11 years to throw at least one TD pass in every game.
The Cougars are led by junior signal-caller Wilson (3,274 passing yards, .731 completion percentage), junior wide receiver Dax Milne (1,099 receiving yards), redshirt sophomore running back Tyler Allgeier (957 rushing yards), redshirt senior rover Isaiah Kaufusi (184 tackles) and redshirt sophomore middle linebacker Keenan Pili (184 tackles).
BYU has won at least eight games 11 times over the past 15 years (including 2020) and boasts 10 or more wins six times during that span. Competing as an independent since 2011, the Cougars have eight bowl victories over those 15 seasons. This is a preview of two upcoming regular-season games between UCF and BYU: 2023 at the Bounce House, 2024 in Provo. These two teams played twice previously–in 2011 (BYU won 24-17 in Provo) and 2014 (UCF won 31-24 in OT in Orlando).
A limited public ticket sale is expected at a later date, with pandemic protocols in place. The game has been approved for 20% stadium capacity. UCF donors and season-ticket holders already have been contacted by the UCF Ticket Office.
Fans unable to attend this year’s bowl game who would still like to support the UCF football program may consider making a donation to the Keep Charging On Fund. All donations are tax-deductible and accrue priority points for future post-season ticket allocation.
In an incredibly heartwarming announcement to the Knight Nation, McKenzie Milton made the announcement that he has made the incredibly difficult decision to enter the transfer portal for his final year of NCAA eligibility. Milton suffered a devastating injury during the UCF vs. USF matchup in 2018 and has faced an incredibly hard-fought battle to get back to the field.
But he also faced the difficult reality that the UCF Knights football team is now under the helm of his dear friend QB Dillon Gabriel. Gabriel has been prolific at UCF and has broken many records for the Knights. Milton would have to compete against Gabriel to play for the team in 2021, a tenuous and challenging predicament.
Acknowledging he wanted nothing best for the Black & Gold and its QB leader Gabriel, Milton is chasing his dream of playing in the NFL and is transferring to another team for his final year. Watch this amazing video of Milton’s goodbye to UCF below. Have tissues handy:
The UCF Knights (6-3; 5-3 AAC) defeated S. Florida (1-8; 0-7 AAC) on Black Friday in the annual War on I4. The game was nationally-televised on ESPN. As reported by the AAC:
Quarterback Dillon Gabriel threw for 336 yards and four touchdowns and added a rushing TD to lead UCF to a 58-46 win against USF Saturday in the annual War on I-4 matchup at Raymond James Stadium.
abriel and the Knights came out on top in a shootout that saw the teams combine for 1,223 yards, 66 first downs and 109 points. USF quarterback Jordan McCloud threw for a career-high 404 yards and four touchdowns along with a rushing touchdown on his own.
Both teams finished with two 100-yard rushers and a 100-yard receiver, but the Knights had the final answer after the Bulls had closed to within seven points in the fourth quarter.
UCF built a 31-14 lead at halftime on Daniel Obarski’s 23-yard field goal with nine seconds left in the second quarter and the Knights led 45-28 after Gabrie’s 12-yard touchdown run with 1:13 in the third period.
But the Bulls answered with Jared Sackett’s 30-yard field goal early in the fourth quarter and USF took advantage of Gabriel’s only miscue when Brian Battie scored on a 1-yard run with 10:10 left after a Gabriel interception, making it 45-38.
The Knights scored on back-to-back drives to close the game out as Greg McCrae scored from 11 yards out with 6:34 left to cap a short drive after USF had fumbled. Bentavious Thompson added an insurance score on a 2-yard run to make it 58-38, and McCloud’s fourth touchdown pass with 14 seconds left was too little, too late.
Gabriel, who entered the game as the national leader in passing yards, added to his total with his sixth 300-yard game of the season as he completed 22 of 36 passes. Tight end Jacob Harris had five catches for 110 yards and three touchdowns, while McCrae (130 yards) and Thompson (110 yards) both hit triple digits.
USF enjoyed its best offensive showing of the year as McCloud led the way with his first career 400-yard game. Tight end Bryce Miler had 11 catches for 121 yards and two touchdowns, while Kelly Joiner and Battie both surpassed 100 rushing yards. Joiner had 116 yards on 14 carries, while Battie had 15 carries for 102 yards and a touchdown.
The Knights now await their fate in the college football bowl post-season. Many predictions are placing UCF against Liberty in the Boca Raton Bowl on 12/22. Check out highlights of UCF’s victory over S. Florida, courtesy of the AAC, below:
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