Sept. 11, 2006
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ORLANDO - After facing seventh-ranked Florida in Gainesville last weekend, UCF returns home to face cross-state foe USF on Saturday at the Florida Citrus Bowl. Kickoff is set for 2:30 p.m. The teams will be meeting for the second time.
USF is 2-0 on the year and will be facing the Golden Knights (1-1) in Orlando for the first time.
The game will be televised live nationally on CSTV. Tom Hart will handle the play-by-play and Trev Alberts will provide the color commentary. Live video is also available at www.ucfathletics.com.
Locally, the contest can be heard live on the UCF ISP Sports Radio Network and its flagship station, WQTM 740 AM in Orlando. Marc Daniels will handle the play-by-play and Gary Parris will provide color commentary. Jerry O'Neill will report from the sidelines.
The broadcast 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). A live radio webcast is also available at www.ucfathletics.com.
Tickets for the game are still available. To purchase tickets or for more information, please call (407) 823-1000.
UCF-USF Game Notes
? The USF game on Sept. 16 marks the second consecutive game against a school from the state of Florida. Ironically, it will mark the first time in program history that UCF will play two state schools back-to-back in the same season.
? Last season in Tampa, UCF met USF for the first time, dropping the inaugural cross-state rivalry game, 31-14, at Raymond James Stadium.
? With USF remaining on the 2006 schedule, UCF will be looking to record its first victory against a Division I-A opponent from Florida.
? The USF game will mark only the fourth time this decade UCF has played a Florida school, USF last season, and then-DI-AA Florida Atlantic (W, 33-29) in 2003. A week ago the Golden Knights played at Florida. From 1981 to 1995, 15 seasons, UCF played Bethune-Cookman annually going 10-5 against the Wildcats. UCF's inaugural game was at St. Leo College in 1979.
? The USF game on CSTV will mark just the second time the Golden Knights appear on that network (at UAB; 11/25/05).
Facing the Big East
UCF will have two chances this season to record its first victory over a Big East opponent with USF and Pittsburgh slated to play at the Florida Citrus Bowl in 2006.
Against schools currently in the Big East, UCF has gone 0-6 (0-1 USF; 0-2 West Virginia; 0-3 Syracuse). Including former Big East member Virginia Tech, who had the affiliation at the time of the game, UCF is 0-9 against the Big East. The inaugural Big East meeting was in 2000.
Mike Walker Returns in 2006 to Lead Receivers
Senior receiver Mike Walker (Orlando/Edgewater HS), who played in the team's first 11 games last year before injuring a knee, returned to the starting line-up vs. Villanova and appeared to be back to all-conference form.
Walker led the team with six catches for 77 yards, including two first-half touchdows of three and 13 yards, respectively. It was the third two-touchdown game of his career (at Southern Miss and East Carolina last season).
In the Florida game, Walker again led the receiving corps with his six catches. The 12 catches in back-to-back games was the most for Walker since early last season when he had 8 and 10 catches, respectively, against Southern Miss and Memphis.
Sha'reff Rashad Becomes a Key Disruption on Defense
Sophomore safety Sha'reff Rashad (Jacksonville/Episcopal) is quickly emerging as a team leader on defense as he played a role in the first three UCF turnovers this season.
In the Florida game, he forced a Percy Harvin fumble in the first quarter and picked off a Chris Leak pass in the third quarter. The INT on Leak was his team-leading second of the season after picking off Villanova's Marvin Burroughs in the season-opener.
Walker Named to Biletnikoff Award Watch List
Senior Mike Walker (Orlando/Edgewater HS) was recently named to the initial preseason 2006 Biletnikoff Award Watch List on August 18th, as selected by the Tallahassee Quarterback Club Foundation, Inc and presented to the nation's outstanding college receiver.
Among the 51 receivers listed are 2006 opponents:
? Dallas Baker, Florida (Sept. 9)
? Andre Caldwell, Florida (Sept. 9)
? Vincent Marshall, Houston (Oct. 28)
? Aundrae Allison, East Carolina (Nov. 4)