Sept. 2, 2006
Orlando, Fla. (www.ucfathletics.com) - - The UCF Golden Knights will host Villanova University in both school's season-opener tonight at 6 p.m. at the Florida Citrus Bowl. Fans are encouraged to come out and support the Golden Knights, tickets can be purchased at the Citrus Bowl Ticket Box Office.
The season-opener at home will be the first time opening at home since 1999, six seasons ago. UCF is 11-6 in 17 season openers at home last winning in 1996, its first season in Division I-A.
The opener vs. Villanova marks the first-ever meeting between the two programs. All-time, UCF is 57-61-1 (.483) in 119 first meetings. Last season, UCF faced six opponents for the first time and this season, UCF will face another two in Villanova and Pittsburgh. On the 2006 schedule, UCF has only faced one of its foes at least five times (East Carolina). Combined, UCF has played 21 games against its 12 opponents.
UCF is 14-13 all-time in 27 season-opening contests and will look to break a program-high seven game losing streak in the season's first game. However, UCF has faced some of the top teams in the nation to start the season, including Steve Spurrier's South Carolina debut in 2005, #21 Wisconsin in 2004, #9 Virginia Tech in 2003, #24 Penn State in 2002, #19 Clemson in 2001, Georgia Tech in 2000 and #22 Purdue in 1999.
Head coach George O'Leary welcomes nearly 75 percent of last season's letterwinners back in 2006 for the Golden Knights. UCF returns 76 percent of its starters from a year ago when the Golden Knights finished the season 8-5, including a 7-1 mark as Conference USA Eastern Division champions. UCF returns 17 letterwinners on offense and 22 letterwinners on the defensive side of the football.
The game can be heard on the UCF ISP Sports Radio Network on WQTM 740 AM with the "Voice of the Golden Knights" Marc Daniels calling on the play action. Joining him in the booth will be color analyst and former NFL star Gary Parris. Roaming the sidelines and getting up close to the action will be Jerry O'Neill.
The UCF Radio Network can also be heard in the following markets: WMMV 1350-AM (Cocoa) WDCF 1350-AM (Dade City) WROD 1340-AM (Daytona Beach) WMMB 1240-AM (Melbourne) WZHR 1400-AM (Zephyrhills)
Scouting the Wildcats
Villanova enters the season with 31 letterwinners returning from 2005, including eight starters on both the offensive and defensive sides of the field.
The Wildcats begin the season on a three-game slide having dropped their final three of 2005 to Delaware, James Madison and Towson.
VU QB Marvin Burroughs returns in 2006 after sustaining a season-ending broken arm in the 2005 season-opener against Rutgers.
Overall, the Wildcats offense has to replace its top passer, receivers and rusher from last year's 4-7 squad, which accounted for 2,481 of the Wildcats' 4,452 offensive yards gained in 2005.
On defense, VU also loses two first-team All-Atlantic 10 players in Brian Hulea (LB) and Darrell Adams (DE). Hulea was one of the VU all-time greats with over 400 registered tackles in his career.
Look for returning senior safety Allyn Bacchus, who was a second-team all-conference performer in 2005. He has started every game of his collegiate career and had 118 tackles a year ago.