July 25, 2011
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By Brian Ormiston and Joe Hornstein
UCFAthletics.com
ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFAthletics.com) - With a flip of a switch, the towering lights above a picturesque playing field sparkle to life. Chills will go up and down your spine when those black jerseys and UCF helmets first storm out of the locker room. Kickoff for the 2011 campaign will quickly be here on Sept. 3. Did you UKNIGHT and Get "THE PATCH" yet? Forget the sofa, the remote control and that stale bag of chips, UKNIGHT with thousands of screaming UCF fans in person at Bright House Networks Stadium for another memorable season on the gridiron.
On what should be a gorgeous Central Florida evening Saturday, Sept. 3, the defending Conference USA champion Knights will rumble with Charleston Southern at 7 p.m. to open up Bright House Networks Stadium's fifth season. And after butting heads with the Buccaneers, the Black and Gold will entertain high-octane ACC foe Boston College Sept. 10 at 8 p.m. The last time UCF faced a program from a BCS automatic qualifying conference, the Knights ceremoniously stifled the Georgia Bulldogs, 10-6, in the 2010 AutoZone Liberty Bowl. It was UCF's first bowl-game victory and vaulted the Knights to a No. 20 national ranking in the final poll.
The season-opener will be the culmination of an amazing day, that starts with the first annual "THE PATCH" Parade of Champions, a full-on parade that will dance through the campus all the way to the front of Bright House Networks Stadium. Nothing goes better with the pageantry of college football then a tradition-rich parade featuring all of your favorite UCF champion teams from year's past. Game two, versus Boston College, will be the always successful Family Weekend. Families UKNIGHT, as the game is dubbed, will also feature UCF's College Open House during the day leading up to the game as well as a respectful salute to the 10th anniversary of 9-11 at halftime.
As UCF enters 2011 victorious in nine of its last 10 games overall, it also won its final four contests of 2010 en route to an 11-3 record. The Knights will need the continued support of their fans if they want to keep that streak alive in the initial home-stand against Charleston Southern and Boston College. After non-conference road trips at FIU and BYU to close out September, the Black and Gold return home to face top rival Marshall on Oct. 8. The UCF-Marshall game will carry special meaning as it has been dubbed UKNIGHT in PINK, bringing needed recognition to breast cancer awareness. Homecoming closes out October with Memphis coming to town on Oct. 29, as part of Homecoming UKNIGHT: The Black and Gold Revolution. Tulsa (Nov. 3), a nationally-televised Thursday night affair, will pay salute to greater Central Florida as part of Community UKNIGHT and UTEP (Nov. 25) sits squarely on Black Friday and will honor the region's youth as part of Future Knights UKNIGHT.
The best way to catch this exciting home schedule is through season tickets:
GKC Priority Sections (East & West Sidelines) - $210
East Sideline and West Corner Sections - $180
East Side Corner Sections - $150
North End Zone Sections - $140
UCF Faculty/Staff GKC Priority Seating - $180
UCF Faculty/Staff Section East Sideline - $150
GKC Student Season Tickets - $65
GKC Young Alumni Section - $100
Also available are affordable fan, corporate and community packages:
-- Two Tickets: $299; Four Tickets: $499
2011 Corporate Season Packages:
-- Field Goal: $2,000; Touchdown: $3,000
Coach O'Leary's Community Packages:
-- Black: $1,250; Gold: $2,500
Call 407-823-1000 or visit UCFAthletics.com to make your selection today.
After purchasing your season tickets at UCFAthletics.com, also check out the Publications Store to put in your order for the 2011 Knights Insider College Football Preview magazine. This full-color special edition will help get you updated on this year's team so you can be the most knowledgeable UCF fan prior to the season-opener Sept. 3.
The magazine helps highlight a dynamic group of returning veterans to the 2011 squad. On the offensive side of the ball, C-USA Freshman of the Year and Freshman All-American Jeff Godfrey will be back under center after leading all freshmen in the nation with a 66.8 completion percentage. He also set the UCF single-season quarterback record with 566 rushing yards.
Godfrey's legs will not be the only quick feet in the backfield as the Knights have three running backs to choose from in Latavius Murray (C-USA Championship Game and AutoZone Liberty Bowl MVP), Ronnie Weaver (890 yards and 11 touchdowns) and Brynn Harvey (1,109 yards and 14 touchdowns in 2009). While standouts such as Cliff McCray, Theo Goins, Jordan Rae, Chris Martin and Nick Pieschel will be holding down the line, Quincy McDuffie and A.J. Guyton return to serve as two of Godfrey's top wide receiver targets.
Although the offense brings fans to their feet more than the defense, UCF faithful have experienced one of the most terrifying defenses in the country lately. In 2010, the Knights ranked eighth in the nation in rushing defense and scoring defense. The defense also reached the endzone a few times as well, with Bruce Miller (two), Jordan Ozerities, Troy Davis and A.J. Bouye all returning interceptions for scores, and Josh Robinson posting a 56-yard fumble recovery for six points.
And when the opening kickoff occurs, fans will be watching the top special teams unit in the FBS. UCF ranked first in kickoff returns and 12th in punt returns, while placing third in kick return defense. McDuffie alone ranked second on the individual kickoff return chart and Robinson grabbed ninth in punt returns.
Robinson alone was on four different national preseason watch lists including the Bronko Nagurski Trophy for the nation's top defensive player, and Godfrey was placed on the Davey O'Brien Award Watch List for the country's top quarterback.