Jan. 2, 2011
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By John Denton
UCFAthletics.com
ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFAthletics.com) - Just as 2010 was about to turn to 2011 and approximately 50 black-and-gold clad UCF fans were at the Wayne Densch facility to greet a victorious Knights' football team, the magnitude of the moment hit veteran head coach George O'Leary.
The impact of No. 24 UCF's monumental 10-6 whipping of Georgia in the AutoZone Liberty Bowl stretches well beyond the fact that the Knights won a bowl game for the first time in school history and beat a traditional Southeastern Conference power. This win, celebrated by thousands of UCF fans in Memphis, will likely have both short-term and long-term implications for a program that's clearly on the rise.
``When you win a bowl game like that it gives you a great feel heading into the offseason,'' O'Leary said. ``And it helps you for next year. We'll probably move up in the Top 25 and it puts UCF on the lips of a lot of people around the country.
``UCF should be very proud of what it's accomplished this year and everybody here has a piece in it,'' O'Leary continued. ``As the head coach, I just want to thank everybody and I'm already looking forward to bigger and better things next year.''
UCF (11-3) pulled off its finest season in school history, winning its most games (11), capturing a second Conference USA crown in four years and toppling Georgia for the program's first bowl win in four tries.
And Friday's gritty game was a thing of beauty for the Knights. The offense, led by freshman phenom quarterback Jeff Godfrey who played through persistent ankle pain, scored the game's only touchdown with 9:01 to play on a 10-yard rumble by standout sophomore tailback Latavius Murray.
Then, a UCF defense that set a C-USA title game record by holding SMU to seven points went to work against Georgia and made the four-point advantage. The Knights twice got stops after taking the lead, showing their grit and determination to win. For the game, the Knights defense had six pass break-ups, three sacks, five tackles for a loss and two interceptions.
``Georgia had some really outstanding athletes and two, three or four of them are probably going to end up in the pros, but defensively while we gave up some yards but we didn't break,'' O'Leary raved. ``We gave up two field goals, but holding them without a touchdown was a great job by our defense. They kept us in the game and offensively we finally got one in the end zone and that was enough to win the game.''
And safety Kemal Ishmael, arguably UCF's most consistent defender all season, made the play that will live in Knights' lore for years to come. With fellow Knights' defensive backs Emory Allen (in front) and Darin Baldwin (behind) around him, Ishmael went high into the air and batted Georgia's final heave to the turf as if he were spiking a volleyball. It was the perfect cap to a great game for the sophomore safety, an all-conference performer this season, who had 11 tackles and two pass breakups.
Upon winning the Liberty Bowl, several Knights players paraded the replica Liberty Bell trophy around the stadium, much to the delight of the delirious UCF fans. In a symbolic manner, the ringing of the bell was a warning to the rest of the nation that UCF is here to stay as a power to be reckoned with.
``Three years ago, I hated the sound of that bell. But now I love it,'' said UCF star defensive end Bruce Miller, referring to UCF's Liberty Bowl loss in 2007. ``We're not going to stop ringing it now.''
O'Leary saw the delight that bowl victory brought the players, fans and even UCF administrators and he couldn't have been happier. Plenty of tears flowed from the eyes of those overcome with emotion after UCF finally got over the hump in a bowl game.
``It was a great win for the UCF football program, but also a great day for the UCF family all together,'' O'Leary gushed. ``And I just feel so good for our senior class. They had done everything with (conference) championships, but they finally got their bowl win against good competition. It was a great win in the Liberty Bowl.
``I tell you what, the fans were outstanding,'' O'Leary continued. ``We had a bunch of fans up in Memphis and they were very loud and really into the game. UCF did things with class, and this win is for our fans too. The fanbase was a big part of what we've done.''
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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.