UCF Press Release

November 14, 2002

ORLANDO - UCF continued preparations for a home game against Kent State on Saturday with a two-and-a-half hour workout in helmets and shoulder pads on Wednesday afternoon. The goal of winning the final three games remains even though UCF's chances for a league title were diminished with Miami's loss to Marshall Tuesday evening.

"Obviously our kids are disappointed, but that's football," UCF coach Mike Kruczek said. "We still have goals to reach and there is still an opportunity. Marshall still has two games to play and they are both in conference."

UCF can still win the MAC's East Division and host the championship game if the Golden Knights win their final three games and Marshall loses its final two games (at Ohio and against Ball State). "You can't worry about the things you can't control," Kruczek said. "We have to focus on what we can do and that begins Saturday night against Kent State."

At 4-5, UCF will have to win its final three games to finish with a winning record for the third consecutive year. The team will conclude final preparations for Saturday's 6 p.m. game in the Citrus Bowl against Kent State on Thursday with punters and kickers hitting the field at approximately 3:15.

Other Notes:
The battle for field position on Saturday will be an interesting development to watch. Senior punter Ryan Flinn remains first in the league in both net-average per punt (37.8) as well as overall average at 41.8 and has had five punts downed inside the 20 -yard line. Kent State's punter Jared Fritz averages 39 yards a punt, but the team is ranked 10th in the conference with a net average of 33.1. Although UCF may set itself up with good field position, penalties have hurt the Knights as they set themselves back nearly 62 yards a game in penalties-12th worst in the conference. The Golden Flashes 59.4 yards a game. UCF is also middle-of-the-pack in punt returns (7th) with 10.9 return yards a game, while Kent is 11th with an 8.3 yard average. UCF and Kent rank 11th and 18th in kick return average, putting up 18.2 and 15.8 yards respectively.

The UCF defense has a trio of sophomore stoppers, as two players are ranked in the top 10 in the conference in tackles and three in the top 15. Sophomore Stanford Rhule is tied for fifth averaging 11.6 stops a game, while sophomore defensive back Atari Bigby is 10th with 10.1 tackles a game. The Golden Knights add one more player in sophomore Peter Sands in the top 15 as he enters the Kent game in 15th with 9.9 tackles a game.

Center Mike Mabry practiced Wednesday for the first time this week after spraining his right ankle at Buffalo. He is expected to start against Kent State.


 

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