Aug. 29, 2006
ORLANDO - UCF football head coach George O'Leary met with the media on Tuesday and spoke about the Golden Knights' 2006 season opener against Villanova. The Golden Knights host the Wildcats at the Florida Citrus Bowl on Saturday at 6 p.m.
What concerns you about season-opening games?
"The first game, just like everything else is always the unknown. It comes down in every level to how well you play your base defense, offense and kicking game because that is really what it comes down to. Eventually you are going to have to adjust out of that base and be fundamentally sound."
What lead the team's success in close games last season?
"I think basically that it comes down to conditioning a lot of times in the fourth quarter. I think that the fourth quarter is an attitude that you have to develop as a football team, it just doesn't happen. I think that you have to practice that way. We work extremely hard with the clock, so that the kids do not loose their poise during that time because the next play is the most important play. That is what is being stressed all the time with the players. A lot of it goes back to conditioning and making a play when given the opportunity. That is what we have to do more of this year on both sides of the ball, make plays and not give them up."
What kind of problems does Villanova quarterback Marvin Burroughs bring with his mobility?
"He is a good quarterback. I had an opportunity to watch him play in the one game he played [on film] last year. He is a very poised guy who can hurt you with his feet or arm. Any time that you have a mobile quarterback, I think that it presents a problem for the defense because it is like having another running back in the back field. We will have to make sure that we know where he is. Villanova returns a very experienced offensive line that played last year. They have some receivers that are big and have range. They run a finesse type of game offensively, so it will be interesting to see how we will match up against their personnel."
What is the benefit of having seven home games this year?
"I do think that having seven home games is big because it is the surroundings. Everything that you do in a football program is based on time management and when you have to change the geography and locale, things change. The more that you can keep things the same for young kids and coaches, the more comfortable they feel. Having seven home games and getting the fan base out to allow them to see the team play. You always like to open up at home, if you can. I think that it is great for the kids, their families and students as far as coming out to see the game.
Since UCF does not have a true bye week this year, how does that affect the team?
"I like playing 12 straight weeks. The way that it falls now, we really do not have any bye dates because of the [midweek] scenario. Unless you get a bye around the sixth or seventh game, then you do not mind it because you are trying to lick your wounds a little bit with some nagging injuries. I think that there is some type of movement with keeping things the same and just changing the game dates. It is good for the [television] exposure that we are getting. That is what you are looking at. The conference gives you a schedule that is what you have to play."