Aug. 5, 2011
="" alt="Knight Head" border="0" class="imported"> Read John Denton's Knights Insider | ="" alt="Twitter Logo" border="0" class="imported">Twitter | ="" alt="Facebook Logo" border="0" class="imported">Facebook
By Brian Ormiston
UCFAthletics.com
ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFAthletics.com) - After opening preseason camp Thursday, UCF got back to work with a busy Friday which featured the Knights' annual media day at Bright House Networks Stadium and Nicholson Fieldhouse. Approximately 40 media members were on campus to cover the Knights, who were ranked No. 33 in USA Today's Preseason Coaches Poll and are the defending Conference USA champions.
Eighth-year head coach George O'Leary kick-started the event with a press conference held inside the Steve and Brenda Sloan Media Room, and shared his thoughts on a variety of topics including team leadership.
"I always look at the senior class on both sides of the ball and their experience leads to confidence which should lead to leadership," said O'Leary. "I think defensively it's still very young. Darius Nall, Josh Linam and Kemal Ishmael are some guys who have been playing a lot of downs for us and it's going to fall into their hands. I've never won unless you've had a senior class that leads and had good chemistry that controlled the locker room."
While O'Leary was answering questions, players were funneling through the locker room for a video shoot with UCF Video Services as well as to take their headshots. Several Knights then proceeded to photo shoots with the Orlando Sentinel and Cal Sport Media Wire Service before meeting the media inside Nicholson Fieldhouse.
Practice will resume Saturday beginning at 3:20 p.m. as the Knights are focusing in on the season-opener Sept. 3.