Nov. 2, 2011
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By John Denton
UCFAthletics.com
ORLANDO, Fla. - Faced with a do-or-die situation, UCF's Conference USA championship game, in essence, started last week against Memphis, carries over to Thursday's showdown against Tulsa and will extend through the rest of the regular season.
Simply put, UCF knows if it's going to find its way back into the real C-USA title game on Dec. 3 that every game from here on out must take on a win-or-else mentality. Losing is not an option if the Knights want a second straight title and a third one in five years.
``Coach told us the other day that in 2005, '07 and '10 that we were pretty much in this same position. So we know that as long as we win out these four games we'll be in the conference championship and all of our goals are still in front of us,'' UCF senior right tackle Nick Pieschel said. ``We've just got to take every day and every game for what it is and know that it's out conference championship game every week that we play.''
Thursday's nationally televised game between UCF (4-4 overall and 2-2 in C-USA play) and Tulsa (5-3 and 4-0) could take on a conference championship feel because of the quality of the two teams and what's at stake. UCF's defense has not allowed a touchdown at home all season and the Knights have won 12 of the past 14 games at Bright House Networks Stadium since 2009. Hardened by playing one of the nation's most difficult schedules, Tulsa has put together a late-season run and enters on a four-game winning streak. The Golden Hurricane is trying to keep pace with No. 13 Houston (8-0 and 4-0), who they host on Nov. 25 in the regular-season finale.
``I look forward to it being a whale of a football game,'' UCF head coach George O'Leary said.
What worries O'Leary most about Tulsa are senior quarterback G.J. Kinne and one of the nation's most balanced offenses. Kinne is second in the conference in passing efficiency (147.7) and fifth in passing yards per game (236.9) while also throwing 16 TD passes. Tulsa ranks 41st in the nation in passing offense (252.1), 39th in the country in rushing yards (182.9), 40th in the nation in scoring (31.6 ppg.) and their hurry-up, fastbreak offense is a concern of any defensive coordinator.
``I really like Kinne because he doesn't make a lot of mistakes out there and he's a headsy player,'' O'Leary gushed. ``They run a high-tempo offense, but what we've always preached to the kids is three-and-out. That's the best way of controlling those (up-tempo) teams. Don't give up any sustained drives.''
UCF's defense has been good at limiting drives and getting off the field, especially at home. The smothering, stingy defense has allowed UCF to outscore foes 149-9 at home this season with the lone TD coming off a fumble return. SMU was the last opposing team to score an offensive touchdown at Bright House Networks Stadium and that was last December in the fourth quarter of the C-USA title game.
``We take a lot of pride in playing good defense,'' said junior safety Kemal Ishmael, UCF's leading tackler this season. ``We've always had good defenses at UCF since I've been here and feel like now it's on us to keep that going. We don't like letting anybody score on us.''
UCF quarterback Jeff Godfrey led the Knights to plenty of scores in last week's 41-0 thumping of Memphis. With his 200 yards passing and 97 yards rushing, Godfrey played with a conviction that was reminiscent of 2010 when he was C-USA's Freshman of the Year. Godfrey didn't worry as much as staying in the pocket and played with a freedom to make plays with both his feet and strong right arm.
``Coach told me to stop trying to force things and do the things that I did last year,'' Godfrey admitted following last Saturday's victory. ``I was just trying to play and have fun again.''
Winning will keep things fun for UCF, and it will keep them in the race to win another East Division crown. The Knights have critical road games against Southern Miss (7-1 and 3-1) and East Carolina (4-4 and 3-1) looming, so they know beating Tulsa at Bright House Networks Stadium is a must if they are going to stay in the hunt for another championship game berth.
``All (four) of the games left are a must-win situation and we've just got to take them a game at a time,'' Godfrey said. ``Our goal is to try and win out and get another conference championship. We believe in ourselves and think we can do that.''
John Denton's Knights Insider appears on UCFAthletics.com several times a week. E-mail John at jdenton@athletics.ucf.edu.