Oct. 15, 2007
UCF Football Game Notes - The Tulsa Game in PDF Format
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ORLANDO - UCF's football team returns to Conference USA play Saturday when it hosts Tulsa at 4 p.m. at Bright House Networks Stadium. The meeting with the Golden Hurricane highlights Family Weekend on the UCF campus, and fans can purchase tickets to the football game at www.ucfathletics.com or by calling 407-UCF-1000.
The only time the two programs met on the gridiron was in the inaugural C-USA Championship game at the Florida Citrus Bowl in 2005 (Tulsa won, 44-27). UCF enters the weekend with a 3-3 record and is 1-1 in C-USA (third in the East Division), while Tulsa owns a 4-2 mark and sits in second place in the West Division with a 2-1 league record.
For more information on this weekend's festivites, check out >UCF Family Weekend.
Mid-Season Accolades
Junior running back Kevin Smith is off to a record-setting pace this season and national media is taking notice. Smith has appeared in feature articles in the New York Post, USA Today, and CBSSports.com. Smith also garnered national attention from SI.com and Phil Steele's Magazine, as both news sources named him to their respective mid-season All-American teams. Si.com placed Smith on its second team, while Phil Steele had the Miami native on his third team. Through six games, Smtih has 915 yards rushing and 11 touchdowns. His 915 yards is already the ninth-best single season effort by a UCF running back - Smith already owns three of those marks. With 55 yards against USF (Oct. 13), he became just the third back in school history to eclipse the 3,000-yard mark.
Home is Sweeter in 2007
Off to a 2-1 start at the new facility, there is no doubt that the Knights are enjoying Bright House Networks Stadium. UCF has totaled 125 points at the new on-campus venue so far this season. In 2006, the Knights played seven home contests at the Florida Citrus Bowl and scored a total of 143 points at the stadium. The Knights have already matched their home win total from 2006 (2-5).
Go For It
The Knights are tops in Conference USA this season on fourth-down conversions, making the yardage they needed in 7-of-10 attempts (70 percent). The team converted its first fake punt attempt of the season vs. USF (Oct. 13) when Steven Baker picked up four yards on a rush up the middle on a fourth-and-one.
Rashad Racks Up the Tackles
Junior strong safety Sha'reff Rashad took over the team lead in tackles with his career-high, 12-tackle effort against USF (Oct. 13). Rashad had 10 solo tackles in the game, which also served as a career-high, and was credited with a safety in the fourth quarter. The safety was the second of the season for the Knights, who also registered a two-pointer in the season-opening victory over NC State (Sept. 1). Rashad now has 48 tackles on the season and his 36 solo stops are tied with free safety Jason Venson for the team lead.
Rookie Tag Team
Wide receivers Kamar Aiken and A.J. Guyton became the first true freshmen duo to haul in touchdown passes in the same game since the Knights made the move to the Football Bowl Subdivision in 1996. Aiken corralled a 21-yard scoring reception in the first quarter and Guyton added a 39-yard score in the second quarter against East Carolina (Oct. 6). The two rookies combined for 14 catches and 194 yards in the loss to the Pirates.