March 18, 2010
By Leigh Torbin
UCFAthletics.com
ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFAthletics.com) - Former UCF football player Michael Lynche's first week as a finalist on FOX's American Idol will not be his last as he advanced through last night's cuts to be one of the final 11. The stakes for next week's shows will be especially high as the top 10 finalists are ensured a spot on the annual American Idol concert tour.
Lynche has been a consistent hit with the judges and many entertainment industry pundits have tabbed him as the male front runner on the show. Lynche earned another round of high praise this week for an R&B version of the Rolling Stones' classic "Miss You." During an interview segment on Tuesday's show he talked about his football career.
Lynche played defensive tackle for the Knights from 2001-02. He made an immediate impact as a freshman out of St. Petersburg's Gibbs High School which also served as UCF's practice site for the 2009 St. Petersburg Bowl. Lynche had 24 tackles in 2001, 17 of them solos, with eight tackles for loss and a sack. As a sophomore in 2002, Lynche played in all 12 games and started each of the last three. He had at least one tackle in 11 of those contests and finished the year with 46 tackles in all, including a pair of sacks and six TFLs. He left the team just before the start of the 2003 season, returned to his native St. Petersburg and helped care for his ailing mother, Michele.
To see the Knights in action in 2009, with season tickets starting as low as $99, either call the UCF Athletic Ticket Office at (407) 823-1000 or logon to UCFAthletics.com. Current season ticket holders have until April 1 to renew their tickets and maintain their seats.
For the latest news on the Knights, log on to www.UCFAthletics.com - the official site for UCF varsity sports. The site, which also contains ticket and Golden Knights Club donor information, is also the home of UCF's new online apparel store. Also visit www.UCFPhotos.com, the exclusive fan source for UCF action sports pictures.