April 8, 2009
ORLANDO, Fla. - Despite sunny skies in Orlando, the UCF football team spent Wednesday morning inside the Nicholson Fieldhouse for its final true spring practice of 2009. The Knights' 14th session will be a pad-less walk through on Friday afternoon that is closed to the public. The 15th and final practice of the spring will of course be the annual Spring Game on Saturday at 2:00 p.m. at Bright House Networks Stadium.
UCF worked out for about two hours on Wednesday in shoulder pads and shorts. It wrapped up the installations of the team's new offensive system which has produced noticeably better results this spring in practice and scrimmage play. It was also one last chance for the defensive unit to hone its systems and the second full practice for new assistant coach Sean Beckton working with the UCF defensive backs. A good crowd was on hand today including Director of Athletics Keith Tribble and a pair of highly-touted 2009 signees in Jonathan Davis and Nico Flores. The PA voice of the Knights, Erik Kohler, also made an appearance as the Spring Game draws near.
UCF will hold its conclusion to spring practice with its annual Spring Game on Saturday, April 11 at Bright House Networks Stadium. The scrimmage begins at 2 p.m. and general admission tickets can be purchased in advance by contacting the UCF Ticket Office at (407) 823-1000, online at UCFAthletics.com, or in-person at Bright House Networks Stadium. The game itself is the center piece of a full day of UCF football action that includes the Bubbalou's Pre-Game Pig-Out, Select-a-Seat for season ticket holders and a post game autograph session with the team.
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Following practice, UCFAthletics.com caught up with junior Wes Tunuufi Sauvao of Leesville. Tunuufi Sauvao moved over from defensive tackle to offensive line this spring, working at both center and guard. The unit appears much improved from last year under the guidance of new offensive line coach Brent Key and bolstered by Tunuufi Sauvao and fellow converted defensive lineman Theo Goins.
On changing positions from defensive line to offensive line:
"The transition has been going well. I have carried it over from last spring when I was over there. I have been just picking it up from there."
On how coach Brent Key has been able to motivate the offensive line:
"Coach Key is great. When we came in, he told us in our first meeting together that everything that is in the past is over with. We are a new offensive line and that we are going to be more of a unit. He gets us going and gets us fired up. I think that coach Key has really slowed us down and got us all together on the same page. Not working where the needs are, but just going over it as a whole, in general."
On how you can apply the tendencies that you have learned from playing on defensive line:
"I have always given respect to the offensive line. It is hard going up against guys like Torrell [Troup] and Travis [Timmons], but I use the techniques and keys that I have learned on defense to know a little bit about what they are going to do."
On blocking a blitzing linebacker:
"It is hard, when you have someone like Cory Hogue. Who runs like a 4.6 coming at you on a dog. You just have to suck it up. Stick your neck back, take it on and do what your coach has told you to do."
On what you remember from playing offensive line in high school:
"It is starting to come back a little. I am three years out. Once you have played it, you always have a general idea on how the position is played."