Dec. 19, 2005
HONOLULU - Hello from sunny Honolulu! After a day filled with 30 mile per hour wind gusts and overcast skies Sunday, Monday's conditions in Honolulu are as expected - sunny skies, temperatures in the 80s and an overall perfect day for football practice and some fun in the sun.
The Golden Knights held their second practice in Honolulu Monday morning at the University of Hawaii. It was UCF's first practice in full pads and lasted 20 periods (one hour and 40 minutes).
"It was a typical Tuesday practice for us and went well," commented UCF head coach George O'Leary following Tuesday's workout. "It is nice to be out here with the nice weather ... there is not a cloud in the sky."
O'Leary spent time talking with University of Hawaii head football coach June Jones during Tuesday's practice. The two coaches spent time in the Atlanta area as head coaches as O'Leary was the head coach at Georgia Tech and Jones was the Atlanta Falcons head coach.
With practice over by 10:30 a.m. local time, the players have the rest of the day off to enjoy the sunny weather in Honolulu. The team is invited to the Sheraton Hawaii Bowl Barefoot Pep Rally presented by Outback Steakhouse Monday evening at 6 p.m. on Waikiki Beach. Fans and alumni are invited to join the Golden Knights at the pep rally.
One Golden Knight who is familiar with the surroundings in Hawaii is senior tri-captain James Cook. The Jacksonville native spent three years living in Hawaii from 1994-97 while his father was stationed in Hawaii. "It is fun to be back and talk to some of my old friends," commented Cook.
UCF meets Nevada in the Sheraton Hawaii Bowl Saturday at 8:30 p.m. ET (3:30 Hawaii time) in its first-ever bowl appearance. ESPN will televise the game live to a national audience.