Nov. 18, 2008
ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFAthletics.com) - This week UCF heads back to Memphis, site of last December's AutoZone Liberty Bowl contest, for a 2 p.m. showdown with the Tigers on Saturday. The Knights are a perfect 3-0 against Memphis since joining Conference USA.
UCF HOPES TO STEP ON BLUE SUEDE SHOES
UCF is 3-1 all-time against Memphis and 3-0 since joining Conference USA. UCF lost a 37-28 game at Memphis in 1990, its first year as a Division I-AA school. The Knights downed the Tigers 38-17 in 2005 at the Florida Citrus Bowl, 26-24 in 2006 at the Liberty Bowl and 56-20 on Sept. 22 of last season, earning their first ever win at Bright House Networks Stadium.
WALKING IN MEMPHIS AGAIN
In addition to its 1-1 record at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium against the Tigers, the Knights also travelled to the home of Graceland in December for the AutoZone Liberty Bowl. UCF dropped a 10-3 decision to Mississippi State in that contest.
KNIGHTS HOPE TO WIN WITH BRYNN
True freshman Brynn Harvey has started each of the last four games at tailback. He has carried the ball 99 times on the season for 358 yards and one touchdown. Against Marshall, he ran for 150 yards, the most by a UCF player this year and the most by a Knight freshman since Kevin Smith in 2005.
KNIGHTS AMONGST C-USA'S BEST ON DEFENSE
UCF leads Conference USA in total defense (331.60 ypg) and passing efficiency defense (106.76 rating). The Knights are second in rushing defense (124.60 ypg). The Knights are third in scoring defense (21.20 ppg).
ALL FOUR DEFENSIVE BACKS IN UCF INTERCEPTION LEADER CHART
The Knights have an interesting historical situation. All four of UCF's starting defensive backs are in UCF's all-time top 10 in career interceptions. Joe Burnett is first with 15, Sha'reff Rashad is second with 14, Johnell Neal is fourth with 12 while Jason Venson is tied for sixth with eight.
THREE OF THE TOP 22 FOR PASSES DEFENDED
A trio of Knights (Sha'reff Rashad, Johnell Neal and Joe Burnett) are all amongst the top 22 nationally in passes defended. Rashad is seventh with 1.40, Neal is tied for 12th with 1.30 and Burnett is tied for 22nd with 1.20. Passes defended is defined by the NCAA as the sum of interceptions plus passes broken up. The three are all amongst the Conference USA top four in this category and UCF is the only school nationally with three players ranked this high.
For complete game notes, click on the link at the top of this release.
UCF returns home for the final game of the regular season when it meets UAB Nov. 29 at 1 p.m. Tickets can be purchased by heading to TicketMaster.com.