July 5, 2011
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By David Buchman
UCFAthletics.com
ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFAthletics.com) - For a second-straight week, the Knights host an in-conference opponent when Tulsa comes to town on Nov. 3. This will be Tulsa's third time playing at Bright House Networks Stadium, and its first trip back since the 2007 Conference USA Championship Game in which the Knights won 44-25. Kickoff for this matchup is set for 8 p.m. with CBS Sports Network televising the game.
The Golden Hurricane finished the 2010 season with a 10-3 record. Their greatest margin of victory in 2010 came against Memphis, in which the final score was 48-7. With key victories against Notre Dame, UTEP and Southern Miss, the Golden Hurricane finished the season second in the C-USA West Division and won nine of their last 10 games. Included in those victories is their bowl win against Hawaii in the Sheraton Hawaii Bowl. Tulsa ended 2010 ranked eighth in the nation with 505.6 yards per game and seventh in the nation with 41.4 points per game.
Offensive Player to Watch
Wide receiver Damaris Johnson is returning to the Golden Hurricane in 2011 for his senior season. He led the NCAA in all-purpose yards for the second-straight season last year with 202.2 yards per game. Johnson currently owns two NCAA records: career kickoff return yards (3,427) and career all-purpose yards (7,796). Last season he was honored with the C-USA Special Teams Player of the Year award and earned second team All-American honors as an all-purpose performer.
Defensive Player to Watch
Safety Marco Nelson was a true freshman last season with the Golden Hurricane. The former all-state prep tailback from Oklahoma had minimal difficulties making the transition to safety. He was third on the team in tackles with 86, while tallying six interceptions and six pass breakups as well. His best performance of the 2010 season was his three interception game against Houston, in which Tulsa hung on to win 28-25 over the Cougars.
Local Ties
For one Golden Hurricane, the trip to Orlando to play the Knights will be somewhat of a homecoming event. Place kicker Kevin Fitzpatrick of Jensen Beach, Fla., is a thre- year lettermen at Tulsa and will get to show off his talents in front of his home state crowd. While Fitzpatrick is the only Tulsa player with Florida connections, the Knights' roster has no connections to Oklahoma.
UCF 2011 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