Oct. 18, 2007
ORLANDO, Fla. (www.ucfathletics.com) - Don't be surprised if some of the Knights look different on the floor this season. Several UCF players strived in the weight room during the offseason and the results are easily apparent.
Players like juniors Kenrick Zondervan (Hoofddorp, Holland) and Jermaine Taylor (Tavares, Fla./Tavares) gained weight during the offseason. Zondervan was listed at 215 in the team's media guide prior to last season. The junior center currently weighs 250 pounds.
"Our guys made tremendous gains in the weight room. This was one of our better summers in the weight room since I have been here," UCF head coach Kirk Speraw said.
Senior Dave Noel (Boynton Beach, Fla./Boynton Beach), annually the team's top achiever in the eight room, has been pleased with the team's effort during training sessions.
"Everybody is working real hard. We had to get stronger," he said. "Last year as a team we were not as big as we needed to be."
UCF assistant strength and conditioning coach B.J. Faulk manages the team's training sessions.
"We have to give B.J. all the credit," Noel said. "He is the one there pushing us. He is telling us what to do, even what to eat. He likes to mix it up. We do not do the same thing every day."
Season tickets are currently available by calling 407-UCF-1000. One lucky season ticket holder for will get to drive home from the new UCF Arena in a brand new 2008 UCF edition Mazda CX-9, courtesy of Classic Mazda, the presenting sponsor of this year's season ticket drive. UCF fans who purchase two season tickets can be entered into a drawing to win the 2008 UCF edition Mazda CX-9.
The Knights open the campaign at home on Nov. 11 against Nevada. The squad will play 16 regular-season contests at home this year.
For the latest news and information on the Knights, tickets or apparel, log on to www.ucfathletics.com - the official site for UCF varsity sports. Also check out www.ucfphotos.com, the exclusive fan source for UCF action sports pictures.
Notes: Several Knights have seen (and enjoyed) the new men's basketball splash page on www.UCFathletics.com. The page promotes UCF's season ticket campaign and features Noel, seniors Stanley Billings (Orlando, Fla./Oak Ridge), Mike Battle (Waldorf, Md./Southern Maryland Christian Academy), Chip Cartwright (Houston, Texas/Phillis Wheatley), Mike O'Donnell (Largo, Fla./Largo) and Taylor with Speraw standing in front of the new UCF Arena. The page was designed by the UCF University Marketing office in conjunction with UCF's Sports Marketing and Promotions staff. The photographs of Speraw and the players were taken in late August.