You get up every morning from your alarm clock's warningTake the 8:15 into the cityThere's a whistle up above and people pushin', people shovin'And the girls who try to look prettyAnd if your train's on time, you can get to work by nineAnd start your slaving job to get your payIf you ever get annoyed, look at me I'm self-employedI love to work at nothing all dayUCF postgame locker room scenes after victories at the Bounce House generally are loud, upbeat affairs, encouraged by head coach Gus Malzahn's musical endorsements.
It's safe to say there hasn't been much Bachman-Turner Overdrive emanating from the sound system of late.
Too bad.
That 1973 BTO hit "Takin' Care of Business" would have told the story of the Knights' 49-14 drubbing of Connecticut Saturday night as well as anything.
As UCF played its 500th football game on Military Appreciation Day (with Knight coaches wearing camouflage hats and visors and players sporting helmets with a red, white and blue stacked logo as well as similar-colored stripes down the middle), the visiting Huskies (now 1-10) never came close to recording a second win in 2021.
Instead, the Knights did exactly what they needed to do to discourage the visitors. They roared to a 21-0 lead before UConn even chalked up a first down and rolled up 191 yards (111 on the ground) in the opening period alone (to 44 for the Huskies). It was 35-14 at halftime.
That's all it took to send UCF (7-4 overall, 4-3 in American Athletic Conference play) on its way to an easy 49-17 triumph over its former conference rival.
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"Let's play fast, and let's adjust," Malzahn told his charges before the contest.
"Let's get after these guys. We're ready."
It didn't take long.
After a three-and-out sequence by UConn (followed by a 21-yard Huskie punt), UCF quarterback Mikey Keene completed his first five throws, Parker Navarro converted another fourth-down run and Johnny Richardson finished it off with a nine-yard scoring run.
UConn's second possession ended on the first play when Justin Hodges picked off Steven Krajewski. Keene's career-long 30-yard TD rush made it 14-0 less than six minutes into the action.
After another Huskie three and out, Richardson's 38-yard run keynoted a 55-yard scoring drive that provided that quick three-touchdown advantage in less than 10 minutes.
Keene threw to Richardson for 17 yards and a score (to make it 28-0) less than two minutes into the second period—and the rout was on.
The Knights prospered with a bit of trickery—with former high school quarterback Ryan O'Keefe finding Brandon Johnson for 49 yards and a fifth first-half TD. Johnson became the first AAC receiver to reach double figures in scoring catches (he ranks eighth nationally).
Krajewski connected on seven of his eight throws in the second period for 107 yards--but they weren't nearly enough. UCF had 318 yards at intermission, Knight quarterbacks were an ultra-efficient 17 of 20 throwing for 187 yards and the home team intercepted three UConn passes in the first half (also picks by Divaad Wilson and Cam Goode).
"It's a matter of getting first downs and just going with it," said Malzahn at halftime.
"Good half of football. Keep battling—and do not let up. Keep your game face on, let's finish these guys off and it's gonna be a fun night of football."
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Neither team scored in the third period, though UCF outgained the Huskies 142-17 (maybe the highlight was a 32-yard run by Navarro down the Knights' sideline).
Navarro's five-yard TD run on the first play of the last period made it 42-14.
Richardson added a 29-yard run (on his way to a 147-yard night) and Keene finished it off in the middle of the last quarter with a three-yard toss to Amri Johnson for the last of the seven Knight TDs.
Brandon Johnson had a career night with 125 receiving yards. A depleted Knight linebacker corps survived as veteran Tatum Bethune made 14 tackles and first-time starter Jon Powell had five. Six different Knight defenders had quarterback hurries and the home team finished with five sacks and nine tackles for loss.
Seven UConn possessions lasted three or fewer plays—and the Huskies converted only three times on third down on 17 tries (one for nine after halftime).
Keene had one of his most solid nights, completing 23 of 29 attempts for 208 yards. O'Keefe led the Knights with nine grabs for 56 yards.
"Number seven, alright?" said Malzahn, whose broken leg maybe pained him a bit less, given the final score. He again coached from an elevated sideline table at the 50-yard line.
"I loved the way you took care of business early. All three phases contributed, it was a heck of a win.
"Now we got a big one (rival South Florida at 3:30 p.m. ET Friday at the Bounce House and on ESPN) coming up and it's a short turnaround.
"But I couldn't be more proud of you guys--that was a super job."
All that was missing in the locker room was a little retro BTO.
And I'll be taking care of business (every day)Taking care of business (every way)I've been taking care of business (it's all mine)Taking care of business and working overtime, work out