Aug. 31, 2010
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By Claire Supplice
UCFAthletics.com
ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFAthletics.com) - With so many seniors on the UCF team, this season is extremely important for a lot of players. It is their last go round and they're determined to make an impact for the Knights. A senior from Lexington, S.C., David Williams has done nothing short of making his mark on the team. Last season, he played in all 13 games with 12 starts at left defensive end and a total of 27 tackles for the season.
Williams talked Tuesday morning about his senior season and the Knights taking on South Dakota for their season opener.
How excited is the team to finally open the season?
"We're so excited, especially because coming off of three to four weeks of camp you get tired of hitting each other, so we're really just looking to get some different competition and start toward the season and get that grind going. We're ready to go."
How much are you looking forward to hitting someone other than your teammates.
"You just can't even imagine, it's something we're all looking forward to. South Dakota is a great team, we're really excited to start off against them and like you said, hit somebody different."
Does this opening week feel different to you because it's your senior season?
"It does and it doesn't. It does for the simple fact that we know that it's our last go round for the fifth-year seniors and the seniors, but at the same time were also accustomed to it and we've gotten use to the field and how it all transpires. So we're really excited and it's a great feeling."
In your opinion, what was the most positive thing to come out of the preseason?
"I think the most positive thing to come out of preseason is kind of how the whole team has come together chemistry wise. Being that our senior class is so large, and we have so many fifth year seniors. A lot of us have been around and we know each other and just doing that gives us an opportunity to play harder together and really play like a band of brothers."
How difficult is it to play a team like South Dakota that really has nothing to lose?
"I wouldn't say that. I feel like South Dakota has a lot of things to gain from this game. I think getting them down here and giving them a chance to play a team like us is a great opportunity for them as well as for us. We're excited to play them. I've watched them on film and they're a great team and we're not expecting anyone to sneak up on us. We can see they're talented and they're a great football team so I think that it'll be a great game."
What do you miss the most about the offseason when there are no games?
"When there are no games, it's just not the same. You come out here and you work together so hard , and most of the year is really dedicated to the season, even in the offseason when you're working out with the guys and really getting that comradery together. It's all based on the games and the season so it's going to be a big deal when season is over because it's my last one. I'm definitely going to miss it."
What is the toughest part about game weeks?
"The toughest part about game week is definitely the practices. A lot of times people think that camp practices are the hardest and in some instances they are just because we're here every single day doing a lot of the same things and you're just tired of meetings and things like that. In reality game week practices are a faster tempo. There are less breaks, there are less guys to rotate in and we're really trying to get that game type of feel from the scout team so, I would definitely have to say that practice is the hardest thing."
UCF's season opener is set for 6 p.m. this Saturday against South Dakota at Bright House Networks Stadium. The Knights will play six contests at home in 2010, including games against the NC State Wolfpack, Southern Miss Golden Eagles, East Carolina Pirates, UAB Blazers and Rice Owls.
Season tickets for UCF's 2010 football campaign at Bright House Networks Stadium are currently available by calling the UCF Athletics Ticket Office at 407-UCF-1000 or logging on to UCFAthletics.com.