Nov. 7, 2010
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By John Denton
UCFAthletics.com
ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFAthletics.com) - Positioned at No. 23 in the USA Today Top 25 Coaches poll and No. 25 in the Associated Press poll, UCF's surging football program earned its first national ranking in school history on Sunday.
At 7-2 overall, 5-0 in Conference USA play and winners of five consecutive games, the Knights have undoubtedly raised some eyebrows around the country with their play of late. UCF defeated Houston 40-33 on Friday night - its third victory of the season while playing before a nationally televised audience on ESPN2.
``It's very difficult when you're not in the top 25 from the start of the season to get there, and when you climb in it shows a lot of progress by your football team,'' UCF head coach George O'Leary said. ``I think it's great for the kids, I really do. They don't talk a lot about it because they are interested in one goal and that's the conference championship. But when nice things happen like (getting ranked) it means you are doing some nice things on the field. It's nice to honored by your fellow coaches.''
O'Leary had just learned of the school's first-ever national ranking Sunday afternoon, but word had already started to spread around campus. The team was scheduled to meet at 6 p.m. and O'Leary said he would start the meeting by congratulating his players on earning the ranking.
UCF's previous high ranking was No. 27 during the 2007 season. Now, the Knights are the highest ranked team in the Sunshine State in the coaches poll, sitting one slot and 14 points ahead of the University of Florida. Florida State fell out of the coaches' poll following a home loss to North Carolina while Miami also received votes.
``I'll say `congratulations' to them, and right after I'll ask them what their goal is and they'll say the same thing -- `To win the conference championship,''' O'Leary said. ``I think it's great for the school and for the football program to be ranked. But the key is to continue winning. That's the name of the game. Don't worry about the Top 25 stuff until the end of the year. That's when you should be looking at it.''
No. 23 UCF, No. 24 Florida and No. 25 Texas A&M entered the coaches' poll after not being ranked the week before. The Knights chances of earning their first-ever ranking were aided when Baylor, FSU and NC State all lost on Saturday.
The Knights have put themselves in position to win the East Division of Conference USA for a third time in six years. They host arch rivals Southern Miss on Saturday at noon at Bright House Networks Stadium in the final home game of the season.
The Knights close the season with road games at Tulane and Memphis. By virtue of its defeat of East Carolina two weeks ago, UCF controls its own destiny in the East Division. With two more victories the Knights will lock up the East Division title and homefield advantage for the Dec. 4 C-USA title game.
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John Denton's Knights Insider appears on UCFAthletics.com several times a week. E-mail John at jdenton@athletics.ucf.edu.