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Marc Daniels' From the Press Box: More Than Just a Football Player

April 2, 2012

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By Marc Daniels
UCFAthletics.com

ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFAthletics.com) - He walked on to the UCF football team, but the son of a UCF Hall of Fame member has more than earned the right to stand outside of his father's shadow. Billy Giovanetti is the Knights starting fullback.

He is the perfect example of what a hard work ethic can lead to. After battling a depth chart to be recognized by coaches in his first few years in the program, Billy is a key part of what UCF does on offense. But we could talk about his blocking ability or what are the key to picking up a blitz, but there has to more to the guy wears number 32. Right after Saturday's scrimmage we played a little rapid fire with senior Billy Giovanetti:

What kind of milk do you drink?
"TG Lee, 1%." (Tough for Giovanetti to go with any other answer. His dad, Billy Sr., who is in UCF's Hall of Fame from his playing days on the football field, is an executive with the company)

Why do football players clap when breaking the huddle?
"It's kind of like a unity thing. Just make sure we are all on the same page."

Of all the officials on the field, what does the umpire do?
"He calls the balls and strikes."

Which quarter of the game is your favorite?
"The fourth....wait, I want to change that, it would be the first."

There's a good chance you will eat this today?
"A protein shake."

Reality TV show you would like to star in?
"Oh, let's go with MTV's "Real World"....no, Jersey Shore...yes, Jersey Shore."

Favorite character on "Jersey Shore?"
"That would be Pauly D."

Better invention, the microwave or the $5 footlong at Subway?
"The $5 footlong."

You can choose only one of these, which do you choose to be a swashbuckling pirate or one of the non-important guys who signed the Declaration of Independence?
"Oh, I want to be a pirate...all the way."

Odds you could get 1-2 yards if I tried to tackle you?
"100%."

Favorite Power Ranger?
"The red one."

Are halfbacks, half the players of fullbacks?
"I'd like to think so."

The last thing you've ironed?
"Oh man...I guess a button down shirt."

True or false. Teammate Sean Beckton has a father named Sean Beckton?
"This is true."

When combined, what does rapper Flo Rida's name become?
"Florida?"

People often confuse me as either George Clooney or Brad Pitt?
"I can definitely see George Clooney."

Knights notes and more: George O'Leary's football team went through a spirited scrimmage on Saturday. Among the highlights is the depth at running back with Latavius Murray, Brynn Harvey, Storm Johnson and Cedric Thompson. O'Leary he still needs to see the backs dance a little less and hit the hole a little faster. Some of the biggest runs of the day belonged to one of the smallest players on the field...Receiver Brashad Perriman continued to work with the No. 1 offense and O'Leary commented on his progression...Linebacker Terrance Plummer continues to shine as he settles in at the middle linebacker spot...There's a reason the kickers and punters have a bounce in their step today. In UCF's post-practice exercise players grab sides of a plastic device, when filled with water can weigh over 100 pounds, and go toe-to-toe in a test of strength. It's kind-of-like a tug of war. After battles of a pair of running backs against two safeties and a series of other showdowns, the day ended with the kicking specialists defeating the secondary...Huge sweep for Terry Rooney's Knights at Houston. UCF now stands at 23-6 overall and 5-1 in the league with a big non-conference game at Miami on Wednesday (radio coverage can be heard on the UCF IMG Sports Network). The Knights continue their climb up national polls and continue to garner national attention. Kendall Rogers, who covers college baseball for Perfect Game USA, a leading college baseball outlet, said after D.J. Hicks homered in Saturday's win that one national scout told him Hicks was the nation's elite hitter...Final thought: Is the "g" and "h" in doughnut silent? Or just the "g"?

Marc Daniels' From the Press Box runs several times per month on UCFAthletics.com. Listen to Marc during UCF football, men's basketball and baseball radio broadcasts on the UCF Sports Network. Each weekday, Marc hosts The Beat of Sports on ESPN Radio 1080 in Orlando.