UCF Press Release

November 5, 2002

ORLANDO - UCF put a difficult 38-35-weekend loss to Syracuse behind them and began preparations to resume play in the Mid-American Conference as they head to Buffalo this weekend. The team held position meetings, began film study and then proceeded to hold a 12-period practice on Monday.

One player that got off to a somewhat different start this week was fullback Dee Brown. The coaches informed Brown that he would be lining up on the opposite side of the ball and would be making the switch to linebacker.

"Whatever it takes to help the team," said Brown. "The coaches told me this morning (Monday), it's fine I don't really have a preference, offense or defense, just being on the field."

With only four weeks remaining Brown, who has rushed for 162 yards on the season, will certainly get a crash course defensively.

"I felt more comfortable toward the end of practice today," stated Brown. "It is just a matter of getting used to the terminology, other than that it is just flying to the football."

Brown certainly knows about flying to the football. As a senior at Brooksville's Hernando High School, he was named the district defensive player of the year after registering 130 tackles and three interceptions.

Defensive coordinator Bill D'Ottavio is eager to get his new pupil up to speed and make him a part of the defensive unit.

"Right now depth-wise we have got to be able to play more people and do some things," stated D'Ottavio. "He (Brown) has got a background at linebacker and he has always been in the back of our minds as being able to play there, so we want to take a look at him. It may also help to free up some people to return to positions they are more prone to."

The coaches are optimistic that Brown will adhere to an accelerated timetable as far as learning the position and being able to contribute on the field.

"We will see how fast it goes," added D'Ottavio. "We will put in extra time with him at practice and in meetings and see how fast it happens. We have done things like this before and you just go with it."

In addition to his 162 yards rushing, Brown also tallied 167 yards receiving on the year.
The team will begin practice on Tuesday at approximately 3:15 when kickers and punters take to the field.


OTHER NOTES:
After his 440 yard passing performance on Saturday, quarterback Ryan Schneider went from 14th in the nation in total offense (278.57) to seventh, averaging 299.13 yards a game.

Punter Ryan Flinn enters the weekend leading the MAC in net punting average with a mark of 37.3, his 41.4-yard average puts him second.



 

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