Dec. 21, 2011
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By John Denton
UCFAthletics.com
ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFAthletics.com) - As the final days of 2011 fade away and 2012 approaches, we here at UCFAthletics.com wanted to look back at the best moments of the past year and honor arguably the most significant 12 months in school history.
Starting on Dec. 22, we'll be counting down the Top 10 moments of the 2011 involving UCF Athletics on a daily basis. We've taken fans' feedback and the input from staffers on hand at each event and compiled the list of grand achievements.
Here is a look at the honorable mention picks that did not make the Top 10 list. Check back tomorrow for the start of the countdown, beginning with No. 10.
Honorable Mention:
-A.J. Rompza's buzzer-beating shot as UCF beats Southern Miss: With UCF trailing 64-62 with 11 seconds to play, Marcus Jordan drove the length of the court and found Rompza, who buried a 23-foot 3-pointer in the final seconds to give UCF a 65-54 victory. Said Rompza: ``I kept telling myself if I got the ball that I was going to knock down the shot. I knew what I was going to do when I got it. Marcus made a great play. I think we were going for a two, but I didn't hear coach. It's a shot if I make it we win the game, and if I miss it I get yelled at.''
-Jah Reid and Bruce Miller selected in the NFL Draft: Reid and Miller, two of the leaders on a UCF team that won 11 games, a Conference USA crown and the school's first-ever bowl victory, were rewarded by being selected in last spring's NFL Draft. Reid, a 6-foot-7, 310-pound tackle, was a third-round selection by the Baltimore Ravens, who traded two picks to get the UCF product. Miller, UCF's all-time leader in sacks with 35.5, was a seventh-round selection by the 49ers. Miller has since made a position switch to fullback where he has helped the Niners win their first division title in more than a decade.
-Opening of soccer/track stadium: UCF's upgraded track-soccer stadium was unveiled last spring just before the UCF Twilight Meet to rave reviews. The $1.2 million upgrade to the facility added 1,475 more seats that takes the capacity to more than 2,000. There is also a new press box, sound system and permanent restroom facilities. The main entrance of the facility was upgraded as well as additions made to the track to give UCF's highly successful squads an even better place to compete. Said UCF track and field coach Caryl Smith-Gilbert: ``It's just a beautiful place. People come here and they are absolutely wowed by what we have on this campus. Schools all come here now and when I first got here I couldn't get anybody on campus. Now, they come here and the weather is nice and the facilities are great.''
-Women's basketball Gevenia Carter buzzer beater to defeat UTEP: UCF needed a furious rally to wipe out a five-point deficit in the final two minutes and then won it on Carter's miracle. Carter took the ball in the backcourt, was freed up by a screen from Ashia Kelly and let go of a one-handed shot from just inside the halfcourt stripe with two-tenths of a second remaining. The shot nicked the back iron, but otherwise went through the hoop unscathed to set off a wild reaction by UCF's players. Said Carter: ``Yeah, I thought it was good all the way. Our motto on this team is trust and we believe in what our coach says and does. She drew it up. Our second option was for me to just try and get a good shot and that's what I did and I hit it.''
-J.J. Worton's TD catch at Southern Miss: The 2011 season was mostly a forgettable one for UCF's football team, but one of the greatest highlights will be Worton going up between two defenders to pull in a touchdown catch on the final play of regulation. The 25-yard touchdown catch capped off a brilliant night for the reshirt freshman, one in which he caught 11 passes for 114 yards. The play allowed UCF to get within 30-29, but the try for the victory failed when the Knights went for a two-point conversion and Blake Bortles' pass was batted down. Bortles, who will enter next season as UCF's starter at quarterback, completed 24 of 34 passes that night for 248 yards and two TDs.