June 21, 2011
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By Josh Molino
UCFAthletics.com
ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFAthletics.com) - In a nationally-televised game shown in primetime on CBS College Sports, UCF takes on Conference USA foe UAB at Legion Field in Birmingham, Ala., Thursday, Oct. 20 with kickoff set for 8 p.m. ET.
UAB finished last season 4-8 and 3-5 in C-USA play. A young team in 2010, the Blazers played a tough non-conference schedule that featured opponents such as Tennessee and Mississippi State. This slate of games proved troublesome for the Blazers. However, a 50-49 double-overtime victory at Southern Miss and a 31-15 win against Memphis in the Battle of the Bones rivalry game highlighted the 2010 campaign for UAB.
UCF is 7-1 all-time against UAB following last season's 42-7 victory when the Blazers and Knights met in a nationally-televised primetime game on ESPN. UCF controlled the game from start to finish, jumping out to a 21-0 halftime lead. Quarterback Jeff Godfrey and safety Kemal Ishmael led the way for the Knights with stellar performances, while UAB's offense struggled to put points on the board against a stingy UCF defense. The Knights head to Birmingham having never lost at Legion Field, sporting a 4-0 record.
Offensive Player to Watch
Quarterback Bryan Ellis returns to lead the offense for the Blazers. Ellis played in 11 games last season, passing for 2,940 yards and 25 touchdowns. Against the Knights, Ellis accounted for the only touchdown, a 23-yard pass to wide receiver Patrick Hearn. In the spring game, Ellis looked in mid-season form passing for 250 yards and two touchdowns in one half of play.
Defensive Player to Watch
Redshirt junior linebacker, D.A. Autry has a lot to prove. Transferring from Jones County Junior College with teammate Jamie Bender, Autry sat out last season recovering from an injury. In the spring game, he proved why he will be an impact player for the Blazers this fall as the 6-foot, 230-pound Mississippi native recorded a team-high 11 tackles.
Connections
The Blazers like players from the state of Florida as they have nine Floridians on the current roster. Keeping the Sunshine State theme, UAB will play three Florida schools this season beginning with Florida, followed by UCF and finishing with FAU.
Oddball
This marks the second consecutive mid-week nationally-televised game between UAB and UCF.
2011 UCF Football season ticket packages can be purchased or renewed online at UCFAthletics.com or by calling the UCF Athletics Ticket Office at (407) 823-1000. Home games include Charleston Southern [Champions UKNIGHT (Sept. 3)], Boston College [Hall of Fame Weekend (Sept. 10)], Marshall (Oct. 8), Memphis [Alumni UKNIGHT - Homecoming 2011 (Oct. 29)], Tulsa (Nov. 5) and UTEP [Senior Day (Nov. 26)]. Should UCF host the C-USA Championship Game for the fourth time in seven years, it would be played on Saturday, Dec. 3 and season ticket holders will receive the first shot at the best seats.