Dec. 1, 2009
ORLANDO, Fla. (www.UCFAthletics.com) - The Knights are going bowling for the third time under head coach George O'Leary and won't even have to get on an airplane as UCF announced on Tuesday that it has accepted an invitation to represent Conference USA in the St. Petersburg Bowl on Dec. 19 at Tropicana Field. The Knights will face a team from the BIG EAST Conference in the game.
Playing in the St. Petersburg Bowl is tremendously convenient for traveling UCF fans as the bowl game takes place on a Saturday night at 8 p.m., a short drive across I-4 for many Orlando-area Knight fans. The school has launched www.UCFBowl.com, the official bowl website of the Knights, where UCF fans and supporters can purchase tickets to the game and make travel plans through Anthony Travel.
"We are thrilled to have this opportunity to play so close to our fans in St. Petersburg," said O'Leary. "Our senior class has done an excellent job leading this team. We've won our last six games in the conference and have eight wins on the season. It will be great to have a large fan base behind us as we go for our ninth victory against a quality team from the BIG EAST Conference. It is a great opportunity and one that I know our players wanted."
"On behalf of our football program, athletics department and University, we couldn't feel more privileged and excited at being selected to play in this year's St. Petersburg Bowl versus a prominent BIG EAST opponent," said UCF's Director of Athletics Keith R. Tribble. "I'm proud of our team's accomplishments this season, winning six straight Conference USA games and finishing 8-4, but our season is long from over and we have a great challenge ahead of us. St. Petersburg is an excellent bowl destination and I know our players and fans are in for a great experience."
The bowl game will be a deserving cap to an 8-4 campaign during which UCF won six-straight league games en route to the sixth-best win total in school history. The Knights accomplished this feat behind the fourth-best rushing defense in the nation (trailing only Texas, Alabama and TCU) and an offense that is nearly 120 yards and 10 points per game better in 2009 than last fall. UCF finished its C-USA slate at 6-2, becoming just the second team in league history to finish a year 6-2 in C-USA play after starting 0-2.
The Knights previously played in the 2007 AutoZone Liberty Bowl as the C-USA champion, and against Nevada in the 2005 Sheraton Hawai'I Bowl.
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Please support UCF by purchasing bowl game tickets in the official team section TODAY by logging on to www.UCFBowl.com; by calling the UCF Athletics Ticket Office (407) 823-1000; or in-person at the UCF Athletics Ticket Office at Bright House Networks Stadium.
You can help UCF when you purchase bowl game tickets through the UCF Athletics Ticket Office. In every bowl game, each participating school is required to sell a specified number of tickets. By purchasing from the school, you will sit amongst the UCF Knights faithful, creating a stunning display of support for your team and your University. By helping UCF sell its ticket allotment, it will also help the school develop a reputation as a school that "travels well." This reputation can benefit the Knights, as it will make UCF an attractive team for future bowl bids. While you may be able to buy bowl game tickets through the bowl game website, we strongly encourage you to make your purchase directly through the UCF Athletics Ticket Office.