Nov. 21, 2009
Recap | Final Stats | Notes | Photo Gallery 1 | Photo Gallery 2
ORLANDO, Fla. - UCF head coach George O'Leary met with the media following his team's 49-0 shutout of Tulane along with several of the Knights who helped make the win possible and improved the team to 7-4 on the season. Here is a sampling of what was said.
Head Coach George O'Leary
On his team's win over Tulane:
"Each week we are getting better as a team. I feel we did a lot of good things on offense and defense and in the kicking game. I was very pleased with the execution of the team, and being able to put that many points on the board."
On the play of the offense:
"Our offense has certainly made some improvements and their confidence level is going up. Our passing game was very good today, and Brett Hodges did an excellent job at making his reads. Brynn Harvey and Jonathan Davis both had great games running the ball. Harvey made a few reads in the first half where he was cutting too early. But as the game progressed, he made some excellent cuts and got through the hole. Essentially, it came down to the blocking up front and those guys creating the holes for Brynn to run through.
On seeing his seniors in the last home game:
"The key to winning the game was all in how well they played together, and I was very happy for our seniors. It was an awesome game for them to come out and all get in there and pitch the shutout."
Senior center Ian Bustillo
On senior day:
"It has gone by so the fast. At the Citrus Bowl you did not get the home feeling. You had to drive thirty minutes to get to the stadium and all the fans were not there. Staying on campus was a great change. In 2007 going to the conference championship and having all the fans and students there you get that home feel."
On senior day:
"It is always great playing at home. You never want to lose at home. We had one tough loss against Miami, but we had a great season at home."
On the running game:
"We were able to attack on the running game. We had a lot of good drives; we just need to finish better in the red zone."
Junior wide receiver Kamar Aiken
On the chemistry with Hodges:
"Brett is going to keep looking for me. Brett told me in the first half to keep running my routes and he would find me. He did that and kept coming to me."
On the offense's improvement:
"It started from practice. We take practice more seriously and try to be perfect in practice and it is carrying over in the games."
Senior Torrell Troup
On the defense today:
"Everybody is doing their job and we can rely on everyone to do their job. Everyone is going to help when the ball breaks outside. Everyone is running to the ball to make plays."
On the emotions of senior day:
"I did not have many emotions. I was ready to play the game. It probably will not hit me until we play a bowl game and it is about to be over."
On the younger players stepping up:
"I commend them. They really stepped up for us. Coach preached that this game was for the seniors and the younger kids really stepped up and helped us big time."