Dec. 20, 2005
HONOLULU - Greetings from another picture perfect day in sunny Honolulu. With temperatures in the mid 80s and no clouds in sight, the Golden Knights spent a busy day filled with plenty of events.
After a spectacular evening on Waikiki Beach Monday night at the Outback Steakhouse Barefoot Pep Rally, UCF was back at practice bright and early for a 90-minute workout Tuesday morning.
Following Tuesday's practice in full pads, UCF head coach George O'Leary along with senior WR Brandon Marshall and senior DE Paul Carrington met the media at the Sheraton Hawaii Bowl press conference at the Sheraton Waikiki.
"I have been to many bowls in my career and if you are not going to play in the national championship, this is the place to be," said O'Leary on being in Hawaii. "We are very happy to be here."
After the press conference, the Golden Knights ate lunch as a team and held meetings before boarding four busses to visit Pearl Harbor and the USS Arizona Memorial. The team was joined by UCF President Dr. John C. Hitt and director of athletics Steve Orsini as they toured Pearl Harbor and the USS Arizona Memorial.
The team viewed a short film about Pearl Harbor before heading on a ferry to visit the USS Arizona Memorial.
The event was especially important for one player in particular, junior DE Chris Welsh. "This is unbelievable," commented Welsh. "I always wanted to come here and see this. Even though I did not have relatives who fought in World War II, both my grandfather and grandmother fought in the Korean War. This really puts a lot of things in perspective."
The team closes out the day with the Sheraton Hawaii Bowl Welcome Luau at the Royal Hawaiian Hotel on Waikiki Beach. The Golden Knights will take in the sights and sounds of Hawaii while four players will learn the official hula dance.
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.