21968232196823

UCF Football Preseason Report - Aug. 19

Aug. 19, 2008

ORLANDO, Fla. (www.ucfathletics.com) - A pair of hearty fans were on hand on Tuesday afternoon as the UCF football team held its final open practice session of preseason camp in the Nicholson Fieldhouse amidst the rains and winds of Tropical Storm Fay, taking full advantage of the only indoor football practice facility of any Florida-based program.

UCF head coach George O'Leary added during his comments to the media afterwards that there is no question that the team would have been unable to practice today were it not for the fieldhouse, appreciating that it permitted the program to continue its preparation.

UCF has also received some positive news as the NCAA has cleared place kicker Daren Daly (Coral Springs, Fla.) to compete for the Knights this fall while he attends graduate school at the university. Daly earned his bachelor's degree at Miami where he handled most of the Hurricanes' kickoffs last fall while going 4-for-6 in field goal attempts.

The team will hold a closed scrimmage on Wednesday to conclude its preseason camp before commencing its formal practices in preparation for the season opener next Saturday night against South Carolina State.

With the university closed on Tuesday, UCF President John C. Hitt had time to visit Nicholson Fieldhouse to watch the Knights in action. Hitt addressed the team during a break in practice.

The annual UCF Community Kickoff Luncheon is slated for Aug. 28 at the Orlando World Center Marriott. For more information on the event, visit www.orlando.org.

UCF's season opener is set for Aug. 30 against South Carolina State at Bright House Networks Stadium. The Knights will play six contests at the on-campus facility in 2008.

Season tickets are currently available. To order season tickets, or to learn more about attending games at Bright House Networks Stadium, call 407-UCF-1000.

The Knights went 10-4 last season, captured the Conference USA Championship and participated in the AutoZone Liberty Bowl.